SENSOR FOR CONTACTLESS ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT

• US 20150057556A1
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: EILEBRECHT, Benjamin, LEM, Jeroen, MATHISSEN, Marcel, LINDNER, Achim, VOGT, Rainer, WALTER, Marian, LEONHARDT, Steffen
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/62 Accessories for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266

Abstract

A sensor for contactless electrocardiographic measurement on a person includes a carrier for mounting to a seat, an electrode for registering a measurement signal, a pressure sensor supporting the electrode on the carrier, and moisture and temperature sensors mounted to the carrier to detect conditions adjacent to the electrode and the subject person. The moisture sensor and the temperature sensor may be adjacent to at least one opening in the electrode. A processing unit receives information generated by the pressure sensor, the moisture sensor, and the temperature sensor, and filters the measurement signal based on the information. An acceleration sensor may also be mounted to the carrier and/or electrode and send signals to the processor.

Claims

1. A contactless electrocardiographic sensor, comprising:

a carrier for mounting to an object;

an electrode attached to the carrier;

a pressure sensor disposed to detect pressure between the electrode and the carrier; and

a moisture sensor and a temperature sensor mounted to at least one of the carrier and the electrode to detect conditions adjacent to the electrode.

2. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a processing unit receiving information generated by the pressure sensor, the moisture sensor, and the temperature sensor, and filtering a measurement signal registered by the electrode based on the information.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the processing unit utilizes the information to at least one of:

a) eliminate an undesired component of the measurement signal;

b) compensate for an undesired component of the measurement signal;

c) highlight a desired component of the measurement signal; and

d) adapt transfer properties of subsequent signal processing.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor and the temperature sensor are mounted to the carrier and are adjacent to at least one opening in the electrode.

5. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor supports the electrode on the carrier.

7. A contactless electrocardiographic sensor, comprising:

a carrier for mounting to a seat;

an electrode for registering a measurement signal;

a pressure sensor supporting the electrode on the carrier;

a moisture sensor and a temperature sensor mounted to the carrier to detect conditions adjacent to the electrode; and

a processing unit receiving information generated by the pressure sensor, the moisture sensor, and the temperature sensor, and filtering the measurement signal based on the information.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the processing unit utilizes the information to at least one of:

a) eliminate an undesired component of the measurement signal;

b) compensate for an undesired component of the measurement signal;

c) highlight a desired component of the measurement signal; and

d) adapt transfer properties of subsequent signal processing.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the moisture sensor and the temperature sensor are adjacent to at least one opening in the electrode.

10. The sensor of claim 7, further comprising an acceleration sensor.

11. A seat for a motor vehicle having a sensor array for contactless electrocardiographic measurement, the sensor array comprising:

a carrier mounted to the seat;

an electrode for registering a measurement signal;

a pressure sensor supporting the electrode relative to the carrier;

a moisture sensor and a temperature sensor mounted to the carrier to detect conditions adjacent to a measuring surface of the electrode; and

a processing unit receiving information generated by the pressure sensor, the moisture sensor, and the temperature sensor, and filtering the measurement signal based on the information.

12. The seat of claim 11, wherein the processing unit utilizes the information to at least one of:

a) eliminate an undesired component of the measurement signal;

b) compensate for an undesired component of the measurement signal;

c) highlight a desired component of the measurement signal; and

d) adapt transfer properties of subsequent signal processing.

13. The seat of claim 11, wherein the moisture sensor and the temperature sensor are adjacent to at least one opening in the electrode.

14. The seat of claim 11, wherein the sensor array further comprises an acceleration sensor mounted to at least one of the carrier and the electrode, and the processing unit further receives information generated by the acceleration sensor.