METHODS AND APPARATUS TO GATHER AND ANALYZE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC DATA

• US 20160007918A1
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Badower, Yakob, Lawrence, Bradley R., Male, Marcos, Jovanovic, Marko, Olrik, Jakob
• Granted Patent: US 9,622,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles

Abstract

Example headsets and methods for gathering electroencephalographic signals are disclosed herein. An example headset includes an adjustment assembly including a first support to be disposed on a first side of a head of a person and a second support to be disposed on a second side of the head of the person. The example headset also includes an adjustor operatively coupled to the first support. Further, the example headset includes an electrode strip and a tension strap having a first end operatively coupled to the adjustor and a second end operatively coupled to the second support.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a first strip to be disposed over a head of a person; and

a first electrode unit operatively coupled to the first strip, the first electrode unit including a first housing and a first electrode pin that is retractable into the first housing, the first housing including a first channel to receive a first tension strap.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a second channel to receive a second tension strap.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the first tension strap and the second tension strap traverse along a longitudinal axis of the first strip, and the first channel and the second channel are substantially parallel.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein tightening the first tension strap pulls the first electrode unit toward the head of the person, and the first electrode pin retracts into the first housing as the first electrode unit is pulled toward the head of the person.

5. The headset of claim 4, wherein the first electrode pin is biased against the head of the user.

6. A headset comprising:

a first strip to be disposed over a head of a person;

a first electrode unit operatively coupled to the first strip, the first electrode unit including a first housing and a first electrode pin, the first electrode pin being retractable into the first housing;

a first tension strap slidably coupled to the first strip;

a first support to be disposed on a first side of the head of the person; and

a second support to be disposed on a second side of the head of the person, a first end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the first support and a second end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the second support.

7. The headset of claim 6, further including a first adjustor operatively coupled to the first support, the first end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the first adjustor.

8. The headset of claim 7, further including a second adjustor operatively coupled to the second support, the second end of the first tension strap operatively coupled to the second adjustor.

9. The headset of claim 8, further including a second tension strap slidably coupled to the first strip, a first end of the second tension strap operatively coupled to the first adjustor and a second end of the second tension strap operatively coupled to the second adjustor.

10. The headset of claim 6, further including a third support operatively coupled to the first support and the second support via a second tension strap.

11. The headset of claim 10, further including a first adjustor operatively coupled to the third support to change a tension of the second tension strap to move the first support and the second support in a first direction.

12. The headset of claim 11, wherein the first adjustor includes a wheel rotatably coupled to the third support.

13. The headset of claim 12, wherein rotation of the wheel changes the tension of the second tension strap.

14. The headset of claim 10, further including a second adjustor operatively coupled to the third support, the third support operatively coupled to the first support and the second support via a third tension strap, the second adjustor to change a tension of the third tension strap to move the first support and the second support in a second direction, different than the first direction.

15. A method comprising:

adjusting a first adjustor to change a first tension in a first tension strap operatively coupled between a first support and a second support, the first support to be disposed on a first side of a head of a person and the second support to be disposed on a second side of the head of the person, the first tension change to cause the first tension strap to slide relative to a first electrode strip including a first electrode pin to thereby cause the first electrode strip to move to adjust a first distance of the first electrode strip relative to the head; and

gathering a first set of signals from the head using the first electrode pin.

16. The method of claim 15, further including adjusting a second adjustor operatively coupled to the second support to change the tension in the first tension strap.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjusting of the first adjustor changes a second tension in a second tension strap operatively coupled between the first support and the second support, the change to the second tension to cause the second tension strap to slide relative to a second electrode strip including a second electrode pin to thereby cause the second electrode strip to move to adjust a second distance of the second electrode strip relative to the head.

18. The method of claim 15, further including changing an effective length of the first tension strap by adjusting the first adjustor, wherein the adjusting of the first adjustor includes at least one of:

rotating a wheel;

actuating an electric motor;

or

causing the first electrode pin to retract or extend from a first housing operatively coupled to the first electrode strip.

19. The method of claim 15, further including detaching the first adjustor from the first support to remove the first electrode strip.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first support is to be disposed above right ear of the person and the second support is to be disposed above a let ear of the person, further including adjusting a second adjustor, wherein adjusting the second adjustor changes the position of (1) a third support to be disposed under the right ear of the person and (2) a fourth support to be disposed under the left ear of the person relative to the first support.