Headset apparatus for detecting multi-biosignal

• US 10,213,156 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SOSO Company Limited
• Original Assignee: SOSO Company Limited
• Inventors: Min, Dong-Bin, Lee, Jae-Yong, Keum, Dae-Sik, Hwang, Yoon-Ha, Kim, Won-Pyo, Kim, Sang-Tak, Jung, Yoo-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Messersmith, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US14/843,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20160262704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe

Abstract

The invention relates to a headset apparatus for detecting a multi bio-signal comprising: a headset body configured to be mounted on a user'"'"'s head; a plurality of electrodes which are exposed on an outer surface of the headset body so as to be in contact with a forehead of a user when the headset body is mounted on a user'"'"'s head; a brainwave detection unit which is embedded in the headset body and which detects a brainwave signal based on a signal detected by the plurality of electrodes; a heartbeat detection module which extends from the headset body through a signal cable and which is configured to be mounted on a user'"'"'s ear to detect a heartbeat signal; and a headset controller to determine a complex stress index based on the brainwave signal detected by the brainwave detection unit and the heartbeat signal detected by the heartbeat detection module. Accordingly, the apparatus can measure a user'"'"'s stress index accurately by measuring a multi bio-signal such as a brainwave and can be manufactured in the form of a wearable device.

Claims

1. A headset apparatus for detecting a multi bio-signal, comprising:

a headset body configured to be mounted on a head of a user;

a plurality of electrodes which are exposed on an outer surface of the headset body so as to be in contact with a forehead of the user when the headset body is mounted on the head of the user;

a brainwave detection sensor embedded in the headset body, and configured to detect a brainwave signal based on a signal detected by the plurality of electrodes;

a heartbeat detection sensor extending from the headset body through a signal cable, and configured to be mounted on an ear of the user to detect a heartbeat signal; and

a headset controller configured to

analyze frequencies of the brainwave signal to extract an alpha wave and a beta wave,

calculate a brainwave stress index based on the alpha wave and the beta wave,

calculate a heartbeat stress index based on a variation of an R-peak interval of the heartbeat signal,

respectively apply predetermined weight factors to the brainwave stress index and the heartbeat stress index to generate a weighted brainwave stress index and a weighted heartbeat stress index, and

add the weighted brainwave stress index and the weighted heartbeat stress index to calculate a complex stress index.

2. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the headset controller is further configured to divide the brainwave stress index into ten levels and divide the heartbeat stress index into five levels, and the headset controller is further configured to divide a complex stress index into ten levels by calculating the complex stress index using the following formula:

SI=ROUND(((n×

SI_B)+(m×

SI_H))/2,1)

wherein SI is a complex stress index, SI_B is the brainwave stress index, SI_H is the heartbeat stress index, n is a weight factor among the weight factors for the brainwave stress index, m is a weight factor among the weight factors for the heartbeat stress index, and ROUND( )is a round-off function to raise decimals to a next whole number.

3. The headset apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the headset controller is further configured to divide the brainwave stress index into the ten levels by calculating the brainwave stress index by the following formula:

SI_B=ROUND((α

/β

)×

10,1)

wherein α

is a magnitude of the alpha wave and β

is a magnitude of the beta wave.

4. The headset apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the headset controller is further configured to measure the R-peak interval from the heartbeat signal for a predetermined time, to calculate a Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of a histogram of the R-peak interval, and to calculate the heartbeat stress index by normalizing the FWHM to a value ranging from 0 to 1, by multiplying the normalized value by 5 and then by omitting decimals, such that the heartbeat stress index is divided into five levels.

5. The headset apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a headset transceiver embedded in the headset body, wherein the headset controller is further configured to send the complex stress index to an external device through the headset transceiver.

6. The headset apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a headset transceiver embedded in the headset body, wherein the headset controller comprises a headset control module embedded in the headset body to send the brainwave signal and the heartbeat signal to an external device through the headset transceiver and a stress measuring program installed on the external device to measure the complex stress index based on the brainwave signal and the heartbeat signal.

7. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heartbeat detection sensor comprises a clamp configured to be mounted on the ear of the user.

8. The headset apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a permanent magnet disposed on either one of an outer surface of the heartbeat detection sensor and an outer surface of the headset body; and

a magnetic material disposed on the other of the outer surface of the heartbeat detection sensor and the outer surface of the headset body,

wherein the heartbeat detection sensor is configured to be detachably coupled to the headset body by the permanent magnet and the magnetic substance.