Invention for the Recognition and Facilitation of the Documentation of Dreams

Inventor: Jesse Jackson

Applicant / NA

Application #: 6662000

Ipc Class: A61B 005/04;

Class:   600/544; 600/545; 600/300;

Field of Search:  600/544,300,545,546 607/045
 
 

An invention for the recognition and facilitation of the documentation of dreams. An powered by a 110v electricplug, an electroencephalogram (EEG) is connected to an alarm / alarm clock apparatus with  a tape recorder device. The alarm and EEG are set to monitor and alert the user to changes in their brain wave activity. Specifically, monitoring shifts from strong wave, or rapid eye movement (REM) brain wave activity  to slow wave or light sleep brain wave activity.  At a certain point in the sleep state of the user (determined by the user him/herself) the user is awakened by an alarm. A tape recorder  is simultaneously triggered enabling the user to verbally document via audio tape the dream which s/he has just had.
 
 

• An electrical plug (standard US 110 volts) powering an Electroencephalogram
• Volt meter to monitor the the electrical output of the EEG
• Programmable computer chip to interpret and direct the values of the voltmeter and to assign specific behaviors to those values including: 1. The trigging of the alarm;  2. The de/activation of the tape recorder.
• 1 ohm speaker for play back of tape recorded information.
• Single tone device for alarm function
• Microphone for the recording of dream accounts
• Tape recorder
• Time piece / digital display of time piece
• Four square buttons for the programing of the clock and alarm (2 for ascending values 2 descending values)

1. Field of invention: To create an alarm system that alerts one to/at specific points in their circadian sleep cycle.
2. Background: Dreams have historically and continue to be embued with deep significance across geography and chronology.  Weather they be perceived as omen, inspiration, the indicator of the collective unconsciousness of humanity or a window into the sub conscience of the individual, the waking mind never ceases to to reflect upon the sleeping one. While dreams may be a subject if not of import then at very least of interest, they frequently go undocumented and forgotten. While diaries and journals have been used to record the proceedings of the REM sleep state they pose two very serious drawbacks: 1; Dreams are almost always recorded hours after they have occurred and are there by obscured by other dreams and the simple passage of time. 2; Writing is a slower process which requires greater prescience of mind both in terms of physical mechanics and psychological directness.
    An EEG alarm and automatic recording apparatus circumvent the pitfalls of traditional graphic recording devices.
By alerting and documenting minutes after the dreamer has completed a sleep cycle the following are achieved:
    1. One awakened directly after dreaming has improved recall by virtue of the chronological immediacy of the said event.
    2. By awakening one at strategic breakpoints in their circadian cycle the recorder is more refreshed mentally and is thus more articulate.
    3. Tape recording is the fastest and least obtrusive method of documenting phenomenon such as dreams.
 
 

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US5995868: (Dorfmeister, Frei, Lerner, Osorio, Ralston) System for the prediction, rapid detection, warning, prevention, or control of changes in activity states in the brain of a subject.
US5626627: (Krystal) Electroconvulsive therapy method Using ictal EEG data as ect seizure adequacy.
 

Patent Drawings