HEARTBEAT MEASURING APPARATUS, HEARTBEAT MEASURING METHOD AND DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20150164364A1
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation, Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: KIM, Tae Wook, HAN, Hong Gul
• Application Number:
  US14/514,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20150164364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0228 Microwave sensors
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars

Abstract

A heartbeat measuring apparatus includes a receiver and a measurer. The receiver is configured to receive ultra wideband (UWB) signals penetrating a subject. The measurer is configured to measure a heartbeat of the subject using at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signals.

Claims

1. A heartbeat measuring apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive ultra wideband (UWB) signals penetrating a subject; and

a measurer configured to measure a heartbeat of the subject using at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signals.

2. The heartbeat measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurer includes:

a signal detector configured to detect a UWB signal penetrating a heart of the subject among the received UWB signals;

a signal analyzer configured to analyze a variation of at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the detected UWB signal; and

a heartbeat measurer configured to measure the heartbeat of the subject by monitoring the variation.

3. The heartbeat measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurer includes:

a signal detector configured to detect the UWB signal penetrating a heart of the subject among the received UWB signals;

a signal analyzer configured to analyze at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the detected UWB signal; and

a heartbeat measurer configured to measure the heartbeat of the subject by monitoring the at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the detected UWB signal.

10. The heartbeat measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurer is configured to determine whether or not a heart of the subject is contracted or relaxed by monitoring the at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signals.

4. A driver monitoring system, comprising:

a signal generating apparatus configured to generate and transmit an ultra wideband (UWB) signal; and

a heartbeat measuring apparatus configured to receive the UVB signal penetrating a subject and measure a heartbeat of the subject using at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signal.

5. The driver monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the heartbeat measuring apparatus is positioned opposite to the signal generating apparatus with respect to the subject.

6. The driver monitoring system according to claim 4, further comprising a breath measuring apparatus configured to receive the UWB signal reflected from the subject and measure a breath or a motion of the subject using a delayed amount of time of the received UWB signal.

11. The driver monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the heartbeat measuring apparatus is configured to determine whether or not the heart of the subject is contracted or relaxed by monitoring the at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signal.

7. A heartbeat measuring method, comprising:

receiving ultra wideband (UWB) signals penetrating a subject; and

measuring a heartbeat of the subject using at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signals.

8. The heartbeat measuring method according to claim 7, wherein the measuring of the heartbeat includes:

detecting a UWB signal penetrating a heart of the subject among the received UWB signals;

analyzing a variation of at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the detected UWB signal; and

measuring the heartbeat of the subject by monitoring the variation.

9. The heartbeat measuring method according to claim 7, wherein the measuring of the heartbeat includes:

detecting a UWB signal penetrating a heart of the subject among the received UWB signals;

analyzing at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the detected UWB signal; and

measuring the heartbeat of the subject by monitoring the at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the detected UWB signal.

12. The heartbeat measuring method according to claim 7, wherein the measuring of the heartbeat of the subject includes determining whether or not a heart of the subject is contracted or relaxed by monitoring the at least one of center frequency and amplitude of the received UWB signals.