Systems and methods for controlling a device using detected changes in a neural-related signal

Systems and methods of controlling a device using detected changes in a neural-related signal of a subject are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a device or software application comprises detecting a first change in a neural-related signal of a subject, detecting a second change in the neural-related signal, and transmitting an input command to the device upon or following the detection of the second change in the neural-related signal. The neural-related signal can be detected using a neural interface implanted within a brain of the subject.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US2021365117A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

• Interface and electrodes

  Electrodes and arrays · Peripheral interfaces

• Decoding

  Motor decoding

• Application

  Assistive and control applications

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B5/0031, A61B5/031, A61B5/293, A61B5/6862, A61B5/6868). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

Interface and electrodes

Everything downstream works with what the contacts pick up. Their number, size and distance from the neurons set the ceiling on the signal. The problem behind it: more contacts, closer to neurons, that still record after years in tissue that reacts to them.

Decoding

This is the step that turns brain activity into a command or a word. Its accuracy and speed are what a user experiences. The problem behind it: accuracy that holds over months without frequent recalibration, for more than one user and one task.

Application

A decoded signal is useful only when it operates something a person wants to use, every day, without an engineer in the room. The problem behind it: dependable everyday use outside the laboratory, with set-up a user or carer can manage.

Why the layer matters to the field, not a judgement of this filing. A patent family shows that protection was sought. It does not show that the technology was built, is used in a product, or works in people. The whole stack

One invention, published 24 times in 7 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

• International (PCT)a route to several countries, not a countryWO2021202915A17 Oct 2021
• United StatesUS2021365117A125 Nov 2021US11550391B210 Jan 2023 · grantUS2023107850A16 Apr 2023US12554326B217 Feb 2026 · grantUS20260099204A19 Apr 2026
• AustraliaAU2021246506A120 Oct 2022AU2021246506B219 Feb 2026AU2026203773A14 Jun 2026
• IsraelIL296939A1 Dec 2022IL296939B11 Mar 2026IL296939B21 Jul 2026
• European Patent Officea route to several countries, not a countryEP4111294A14 Jan 2023EP4111294A420 Mar 2024EP4678097A214 Jan 2026EP4678097A318 Mar 2026EP4111294B110 Jun 2026 · grantEP4111294C010 Jun 2026
• ChinaCN115698906A3 Feb 2023CN115698906B17 Apr 2026 · grantCN122431522A21 Jul 2026
• JapanJP2023519968A15 May 2023JP2025178328A5 Dec 2025JP7781766B28 Dec 2025 · grant

1. 1 Apr 2020First filingEarliest priority, at United States. The family is counted in this year.
2. 1 Apr 2021ApplicationsFiled at International (PCT), Australia, European Patent Office, China, Japan.
3. 9 Aug 2021ApplicationFiled at United States.
4. 7 Oct 2021First publicationWO2021202915A1, International (PCT).
5. 16 Nov 2021Owner recordedUnited States, on US2021365117A1: assignment; owner named: SYNCHRON AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED, AUSTRALIA.
6. 29 Sep 2022ApplicationFiled at Israel.
7. 6 Dec 2022ApplicationFiled at United States.
8. 17 Jun 2025Office recordJapan, on JP2023519968A: notification of reasons for refusal.
9. 16 Sep 2025ApplicationFiled at Japan.
10. 8 Dec 2025Grant publishedJP7781766B2, Japan.
11. 11 Dec 2025ApplicationFiled at United States.
12. 11 Dec 2025Owner recordedUnited States, on US20260099204A1: assignment; owner named: SYNCHRON AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED, DELAWARE.
13. 17 Feb 2026Grant publishedUS12554326B2, United States.
14. 17 Apr 2026Grant publishedCN115698906B, China.
15. 15 May 2026ApplicationFiled at Australia.
16. 10 Jun 2026Grant publishedEP4111294B1, European Patent Office.
17. 22 Jul 2026Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4678097A2: party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred); owner named: SYNCHRON AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED.
18. 26 Aug 2026Owner recordedEuropean Patent Office, on EP4111294A1: party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred); owner named: SYNCHRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.

Dates as the offices published them. Office records are in the offices' own words and are a selection: refusals, lapses and withdrawals, and records that name an owner. Each concerns one member of the family, not the family as a whole, and another member in the same office may stand. Whether a patent is in force today is not assessed.

Organisation

Synchron · 28 families identified

• Bibliographic data, family members and office records: European Patent Office, Open Patent Services (the DOCDB and INPADOC databases), read 7 Oct 2026.
• The record itself, with its claims and description: US2021365117A1 in Espacenet
• Counted as a BCI patent family: uses the field's wording; classified G06F3/015 (input arrangements based on nervous-system activity); filed by 澳大利亚同步企业有限公司, an organisation already in the graph; describes neural hardware or methods without naming the field; cites a family already accepted. How families are found and judged