WEARABLE ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION UNIT

• US 20170031334A1
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Espenusa Products of California LLC
• Original Assignee: Heartmiles, LLC
• Inventors: MEDELIUS, Pedro J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,146,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless

Abstract

A wearable environmental interaction unit may include a plurality of sensors each being configured to provide an output indicative of at least one physiological aspect of an individual; a transmitter to establish a wireless communication path between the wearable environmental interaction unit and at least one environmental response unit located remotely with respect to the wearable environmental interaction unit; and a microcontroller. The microcontroller may be programmed to: analyze the outputs provided by the plurality of sensors; determine a state of being for the individual based on the outputs of the plurality of sensors; generate an environmental interaction control signal based on the determined state of being for the individual; and cause the transmitter to transmit the environmental interaction control signal to the at least one environmental response unit via the wireless communication path, the environmental interaction control signal being configured to cause a response by the environmental response unit including at least one change in an environmental condition.

Claims

1. A wearable environmental interaction unit, comprising:

a plurality of sensors each being configured to provide an output indicative of at least one physiological aspect of an individual;

a transmitter to establish a wireless communication path between the wearable environmental interaction unit and at least one environmental response unit located remotely with respect to the wearable environmental interaction unit; and

a microcontroller programmed to;

analyze the outputs provided by the plurality of sensors;

determine a state of being for the individual based on the outputs of the plurality of sensors;

generate an environmental interaction control signal based on the determined state of being for the individual; and

cause the transmitter to transmit the environmental interaction control signal to the at least one environmental response unit via the wireless communication path, the environmental interaction control signal being configured to cause a response by the environmental response unit including at least one change in a condition of an environment of the individual.

2. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the change in the condition of the environment of the individual includes one or more of a change in lighting or a change in sound within the environment of the individual.

3. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the change in the condition of the environment of the individual includes a change in lighting color or lighting intensity within the environment of the individual.

4. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the change in the condition of the environment of the individual includes a change in a sound volume or music type within the environment of the individual.

5. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the change in the condition of the environment of the individual includes at least one of a change in temperature, change in humidity, an adjustment of vehicle speed or control, a locking of a door, locking of a window, activation of a barrier, a presentation of a targeted advertisement, a presentation of an audible alert, a presentation of a visible alert, activation of product displays, a presentation of selected content via radio, a presentation of selected content via, television, a presentation of selected content via the Internet (on a smart phone or tablet, for example), a presentation of content recommendations, or a change in smell or fragrance within the environment of the individual.

6. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication path includes at least one of a radio frequency or optical connection.

7. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of an accelerometer, an infrared transceiver, a temperature sensor, a CO₂ sensor, a microphone, a photodetector, an EKG monitor, and EEG monitor, a GPS sensor, or a chemical sensor.

8. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the state of being includes at least one of a normal, stressed, calm, happy, angry, alert, sleepy, inattentive, or excited states.

9. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the determination of the state of being for the individual is based on a comparison of the outputs of the plurality of sensors Co baseline values for the plurality of sensors determined by the microcontroller for the specific individual.

10. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 9, wherein the determination of the state of being for the individual is based on comparing differences between the outputs of the plurality of sensors and the baseline values with corresponding predetermined thresholds.

11. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the determination of the state of being for the individual is based on one or more lookup tables that associate ranges of output values for the plurality of sensors with predetermined states of being.

12. The wearable environmental interaction unit of claim 1, wherein the environmental interaction control signal specifies the determined state of being for the individual.

13. An environmental response system comprising:

one or more environmental control devices configured to change at least one aspect of an environment;

a transceiver to receive an environmental control signal from one or more environmental interaction units each associated with an individual; and

a processing device programmed to;

receive and process the environmental control signal from the one or more environmental interaction units;

determine an environmental change to make based on the environmental control signal; and

cause the environmental change through control of the one or more environmental control devices.

14. The environmental response system of claim 13, wherein the environmental change includes at least one of a change in sound or a change in lighting associated with the environment.

15. The environmental response system of claim 13, wherein the processing device is further configured determine the environmental change to make based on an aggregation of environmental control signals received from a plurality of environmental interaction units.

16. The environmental response system of claim 13, wherein the one or more environmental control devices include at least one of a light or a sound speaker. 17, The environmental response system of claim 13, wherein the one or more environmental control devices include at least one of a throttle, brakes, steering mechanism, locks, air-bag, or comfort control for a vehicle, a display screen, a door or window lock control, a barrier activation, a thermostat, humidifier, a radio, a television, a tablet, a smart phone, or a smell or fragrance emitter.

18. The environmental response system of claim 13, wherein the environmental control signal specifies a state of being for an individual, the state of being including at least one of a normal, stressed, calm, happy, angry, alert, sleepy, inattentive, or excited state.