Detection of signs of attempted deception and other emotional stresses by detecting changes in weight distribution of a standing or sitting person

• US 20020193707A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan Atlas, Gideon L. Miller
• Original Assignee: Dan Atlas, Gideon L. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Gideon L., Atlas, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 6,852,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1101 Detecting tremor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/164 Lie detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4884 inducing physiological or psychological stress, e.g. applications for stress testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of non-obtrusive detection of emotional stress of an individual in general, and signs of emotional stress associated with attempted deception by an individual in particular. The invention includes a monitoring apparatus that is positioned beneath a monitored individual who is standing or seated, the apparatus having attached sensors for sensing parameters reflecting changes in preferably at least one of posture, sway, weight distribution, cardiac function and respiratory function of the monitored individual. The sensors are preferably at least one of strain gauges, piezo electric pressure sensors, optical pressure sensors, and other pressure and weight sensors. The monitoring apparatus also includes a unit for receiving signals from the sensors, and for converting them into data into a computer-readable format, and for storing the data in a computer-readable medium. The monitoring apparatus also includes systems for synchronizing the computer-readable data with information about questions asked of the monitored individual or other interrogation stimuli administered to the monitored individual. The monitoring apparatus can also include systems for analyzing the synchronized computer-readable data and interrogation stimuli to identify patterns likely to indicate heightened anxiety induced by specific questions or interrogation stimuli.

Claims

1. A method for detection of emotional stress of a human subject in response to cognitive stimuli by measuring variations in pressure distribution across said subject'"'"'s footprint, said method comprising the steps of

causing the subject to apply force on a flat surface, said surface embedding a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors;

connecting said pressure sensitive sensors to a signal analysis processor;

presenting the subject with cognitive stimuli his disposition to which is of interest in the context of a given interview;

monitoring variations in pressure distribution between said sensors;

filtering the variation signals to reduce the effect of pressure variations caused by causes other than emotional stress; and

matching the filtered variation signals to a pattern that represent emotional stress.

2. A method as in claim 1 where said flat surface is a mat.

3. A method as in claim 1 where said mat is embedded in a chair and said subject is sitting in said chair.

4. A method as in claim 3 where more than one mat is used and the subject is touching each mat with a different part of his or her body.

5. A method as in claim 4 where the legs of said chair are positioned upon mats.

6. A system for detection of emotional stress of a human subject, in response to cognitive stimuli by measuring variations in pressure distribution in said subject'"'"'s footprint, said system comprising

a flat surface applied to which are a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors;

a signal conditioning processor coupled to said flat surface;

a signal analysis processor coupled to said signal conditioning processor; and

a display coupled to said signal analysis processor.

7. A system as in claim 6 where said sensors are high-capacitance piezo electric pressure sensors.

8. A system as in claim 6 where said sensors are fiber-optic pressure sensors.

9. A system as in claim 6 where said sensors are strain gauges.

10. A system as in claim 6 where said signal analysis processor includes expert system software that identifies pressure change correlates of flight-or-fight responses.