Headset That Shows Your Brain's Focus Level
A wearable device, like smart glasses, that measures your brain activity to understand your attention or mood, then shows you real-time feedback to help you train yourself.
Original patent title: “Wearable Monitoring and Training System for Focus and/or Mood”
A wearable device, like smart glasses, that measures your brain activity to understand your attention or mood, then shows you real-time feedback to help you train yourself. Owned by Individual with 25 claims and 41 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2034.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a wearable device that includes at least one sensor (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) to measure attributes like attention, focus, or mood from a subject's head (Claim 1). The device has a computerized display (Claim 1), which can be a heads-up display (Claim 2), modified glasses (Claim 3), or goggles (Claim 4). It provides "neurofeedback" (Claim 7) to the user, showing how well they are performing in terms of focus or mood. For example, if you're wearing smart glasses with this technology, it could show you a visual indicator that changes color or size based on how focused your brainwaves are, helping you learn to concentrate better. The system can also use two sensors, one near the frontal lobe and another at a more electrically-neutral position like an ear (Claim 11, 12), to calculate a "difference brainwave signal" and an "Attention Indicator signal" (Claim 13).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover devices that measure attributes like attention or mood without using a wearable display for neurofeedback.
- Does not cover systems where brainwave signals are measured but not processed *within* the wearable device itself.
- Does not cover devices that measure physiological variables other than brainwaves for attention or mood.
- Does not cover devices that provide feedback through non-visual means, such as haptic (vibration) or auditory feedback.
- Does not cover systems that don't specifically measure attributes like attention, focus, concentration, alertness, or mood.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining wearable brainwave sensing with an integrated heads-up or projected display to provide immediate, interactive neurofeedback directly to the user's field of vision, particularly by using a differential brainwave measurement to derive a specific "Attention Indicator signal" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 13).
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Neurofeedback training systems
Smart glasses for cognitive enhancement
Wearable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)
Mind-controlled gaming accessories
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant for the field of neurofeedback and brain-computer interfaces, especially for consumer applications. It outlines a system for real-time, personalized brain training that could help individuals improve cognitive functions like focus or manage mood. Such technology has potential applications in education, mental wellness, and performance enhancement.
Filed
July 3, 2014
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Muse (InteraXon) develop consumer-grade EEG headbands for meditation and focus training. Other companies like BrainCo are working on brain-sensing headbands for education and performance. Research institutions and startups are also exploring augmented reality glasses with integrated brain-sensing capabilities for cognitive assistance.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the growing field of consumer neurotechnology, enabling the development of more integrated and user-friendly brain training devices. While not creating a new market category single-handedly, it supported the trend towards wearable cognitive enhancement tools. It also highlighted the potential for real-time, visually-driven neurofeedback, influencing product design in this niche.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a wearable device that includes at least one sensor (Claim 1) to measure attributes like attention, focus, or mood from a subject's head (Claim 1). The device has a computerized display (Claim 1), which can be a heads-up display (Claim 2), modified glasses (Claim 3), or goggles (Claim 4). It provides "neurofeedback" (Claim 7) to the user, showing how well they are performing in terms of focus or mood. For example, if you're wearing smart glasses with this technology, it could show you a visual indicator that changes color or size based on how focused your brainwaves are, helping you learn to concentrate better. The system can also use two sensors, one near the frontal lobe and another at a more electrically-neutral position like an ear (Claim 11, 12), to calculate a "difference brainwave signal" and an "Attention Indicator signal" (Claim 13).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining wearable brainwave sensing with an integrated heads-up or projected display to provide immediate, interactive neurofeedback directly to the user's field of vision, particularly by using a differential brainwave measurement to derive a specific "Attention Indicator signal" (Claim 13).
What it does not cover
- Does not cover devices that measure attributes like attention or mood without using a wearable display for neurofeedback.
- Does not cover systems where brainwave signals are measured but not processed *within* the wearable device itself.
- Does not cover devices that measure physiological variables other than brainwaves for attention or mood.
- Does not cover devices that provide feedback through non-visual means, such as haptic (vibration) or auditory feedback.
- Does not cover systems that don't specifically measure attributes like attention, focus, concentration, alertness, or mood.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
32/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
17/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$257K – $824K
Midpoint $515K · 7.8 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
25 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Cowan, J. D. Headset That Shows Your Brain's Focus Level (U.S. Patent No. 20,150,079,560). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20150079560/wearable-monitoring-and-training-system-for-focus-andor-mood
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Headset That Shows Your Brain's Focus Level cover?
A wearable device, like smart glasses, that measures your brain activity to understand your attention or mood, then shows you real-time feedback to help you train yourself.
Who owns patent US 20150079560?
This patent is owned by Individual.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 3, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20150079560 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 41 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant for the field of neurofeedback and brain-computer interfaces, especially for consumer applications. It outlines a system for real-time, personalized brain training that could help individuals improve cognitive functions like focus or manage mood. Such technology has potential applications in education, mental wellness, and performance enhancement.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover devices that measure attributes like attention or mood without using a wearable display for neurofeedback.
Same assignee
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