Headsets and electrodes for gathering electroencephalographic data

• US 10,506,974 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Jovanovic, Marko, Fruitwala, Kashyap, Moradi, Mohammad, Bertho, Batia, Bausse, Reimond, Tirooni, Mehran Mahinpour, Badower, Yakob
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Joseph A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Antiskay, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US15/233,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20170258400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600378, 600382-384, 600386-393, 600544-545, 607115-118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal

Abstract

Example headsets and electrodes are described herein. Example electrode units described herein include a housing having a cavity defined by an opening in a side of the housing and an electrode. In some such examples, the electrode includes a ring disposed in the opening and an arm, where the arm has a first portion extending outward from the opening away from the housing and a second portion extending from an end of the first portion toward the housing and into the cavity, and the first and second portions connect at a bend.

Claims

1. An electrode unit comprising:

a housing having a cavity defined by an opening in a side of the housing; and

an electrode constructed of a conductive material, the electrode including;

a ring disposed in the opening; and

an arm coupled to the ring, the arm having;

a first end coupled to the ring;

a second end opposite the first end;

a bend between the first end and the second end;

a first portion between the first end and the bend, the first portion extending outward from the opening away from the housing; and

a second portion between the bend and the second end, the second portion extending from the bend toward the housing and into the cavity.

2. The electrode unit of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the arm extends through the ring and outward from the opening away from the housing.

3. The electrode unit of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the arm extends through the ring and into the cavity.

4. The electrode unit of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a channel extending into the housing.

5. The electrode unit of claim 4, wherein the second portion of the arm is movable into the channel when a force is applied to the bend.

6. The electrode unit of claim 1, further including a connector coupled to the housing around the opening to couple the housing to a band to be worn over a head of a subject.

7. The electrode unit of claim 6, wherein the ring is coupled between the connector and the housing.

8. The electrode unit of claim 6, wherein the connector is a magnet.

9. The electrode unit of claim 1, where the housing further includes a guide, the guide to extend through the ring of the electrode to align the electrode in the housing.

10. The electrode unit of claim 1, wherein the first portion is to move toward the second portion when a force is applied to the bend.

11. The electrode unit of claim 1, wherein the ring and the arm are integral.

12. A headset comprising:

the electrode unit of claim 1; and

a band to be disposed over a head of a subject, the band having an aperture extending through the band, the electrode unit coupled to the band and the first portion of the arm extending through the aperture.

13. The headset of claim 12, wherein the electrode unit further includes a first connector and the band includes a second connector, the first connector to be removably coupled to the second connector.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the first connector is a magnet and the second connector is a metal.

15. The headset of claim 14, wherein the second connector is a metal ring disposed around the aperture.

16. An electrode unit comprising:

a housing having a cavity defined by an opening in a side of the housing; and

an electrode constructed of a conductive material, the electrode including;

a ring disposed in the opening; and

an arm coupled to the ring, the arm having;

a first end coupled to the ring;

a second end opposite the first end;

a curve between the first end and the second end;

a first section between the first end and the curve, the first section extending outward from the opening away from the housing; and

a second section between the curve and the second end, the second section extending from the curve toward the housing and into the cavity.

17. The electrode unit of claim 16, wherein the first section of the arm extends through the ring and outward from the opening away from the housing.

18. The electrode unit of claim 17, wherein the second section of the arm extends through the ring and into the cavity.

19. The electrode unit of claim 16, wherein the cavity includes a channel extending into the housing, and wherein the second section of the arm is movable into the channel when a force is applied to the curve.

20. The electrode unit of claim 16, wherein the ring and the arm are integral.