Electroencephalogram (EEG) Cluster Electrodes

• US 20110257937A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Company (US) LLC (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: LEE, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include a sensor electrode comprising a plurality of contacts positioned adjacent one another to form a pattern. Signal outputs are coupled to the plurality of contacts. A signal output is connected to each contact of the sensor electrode. One or more processors are coupled to the signal outputs. The processor separately processes each signal output of the plurality of signal outputs.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor electrode comprising a plurality of contacts positioned adjacent one another to form a pattern;

a plurality of signal outputs coupled to the plurality of contacts, wherein a signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected to each contact of the plurality of contacts; and

at least one processor coupled to the plurality of signal outputs, wherein the at least one processor separately processes each signal output of the plurality of signal outputs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises four contacts and the pattern comprises a rectangle, wherein a contact is positioned in each corner region of the rectangle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises five contacts and the pattern comprises a rectangle, wherein a contact is positioned in each corner region of the rectangle, and a contact is positioned in a center region of the rectangle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a distance between a first contact in a first corner and a second contact in a second corner is approximately 1.25 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor separately processes the signal outputs of each of the plurality of contacts.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor forms a plurality of processed signals by separately processing the signal outputs of each of the plurality of contacts, and forms a combined signal by combining the plurality of processed signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises gold contacts.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an input of single-ended amplifier coupled to a signal output of at least one contact of the plurality of contacts.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a biasing circuit coupled to the input of the single-ended amplifier, wherein the biasing circuit comprises a resistor coupled between a voltage source and the input of the single-ended amplifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a voltage balancing circuit coupled to a signal output of at least one contact of the plurality of contacts.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the voltage balancing circuit comprises a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series and coupled to the signal output of the at least one contact, wherein a first diode couples the first resistor to a first voltage source, wherein a second diode couples the second resistor to a second voltage source.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the voltage balancing circuit comprises an output of a single-ended amplifier coupled to the signal output of the at least one contact, and a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series between a first voltage source and a second voltage source and coupled to an input of the single-ended amplifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a direct current elimination circuit coupled to at least one contact of the plurality of contacts.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the direct current elimination circuit comprises a capacitor coupled between an input of a single-ended amplifier and a signal output of the at least one contact.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the direct current elimination circuit comprises a biasing circuit coupled to the contact and the single-ended amplifier, wherein the biasing circuit comprises a resistor coupled between a voltage source and the input of the single-ended amplifier.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a wireless transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits data of the plurality of contacts.

17. A system comprising:

a housing that is removeably attachable to a subject;

a sensor electrode positioned in the housing, the sensor electrode comprising a plurality of contacts positioned adjacent one another to form a pattern;

a plurality of signal outputs coupled to the plurality of contacts, wherein a signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected to each contact of the plurality of contacts;

at least one control circuit positioned in the housing and coupled to the plurality of signal outputs; and

at least one processor positioned in the housing and coupled to the at least one control circuit, wherein the at least one processor separately processes each signal output of the plurality of signal outputs.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises four contacts and the pattern comprises a rectangle, wherein a contact is positioned in each corner region of the rectangle.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises five contacts and the pattern comprises a rectangle, wherein a contact is positioned in each corner region of the rectangle, and a contact is positioned in a center region of the rectangle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a distance between a first contact in a first corner and a second contact in a second corner is approximately 1.25 inches.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor separately processes the signal outputs of each of the plurality of contacts.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor forms a plurality of processed signals by separately processing the signal outputs of each of the plurality of contacts, and forms a combined signal by combining the plurality of processed signals.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises gold contacts.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises a single-ended amplifier with an input coupled to a signal output of at least one contact of the plurality of contacts.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises a biasing circuit coupled to the input of the single-ended amplifier, wherein the biasing circuit comprises a resistor coupled between a voltage source and the input of the single-ended amplifier.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises a voltage balancing circuit coupled to a signal output of at least one contact of the plurality of contacts.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the voltage balancing circuit comprises a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series and coupled to the signal output of the at least one contact, wherein a first diode couples the first resistor to a first voltage source, wherein a second diode couples the second resistor to a second voltage source.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the voltage balancing circuit comprises an output of a single-ended amplifier coupled to the signal output of the at least one contact, and a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series between a first voltage source and a second voltage source and coupled to an input of the single-ended amplifier.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises a direct current elimination circuit coupled to at least one contact of the plurality of contacts.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the direct current elimination circuit comprises a capacitor coupled between an input of a single-ended amplifier and a signal output of the at least one contact.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the direct current elimination circuit comprises a biasing circuit coupled to the contact and the single-ended amplifier, wherein the biasing circuit comprises a resistor coupled between a voltage source and the input of the single-ended amplifier.

32. The system of claim 17, comprising a wireless transmitter positioned in the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits data of the subject received by the sensor electrode.

33. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises two sub-housings, wherein a first sub-housing includes the sensor electrode, and a second sub-housing includes at least one additional sensor electrode.