Alertness sensing spectacles

• US 7,815,311 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SDIP Holdings Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sleep Diagnostics Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Brown, Aaron, Johns, Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US12/063,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 351200-246
• US Class Current: 351/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

Spectacles for use in an eye monitoring system include a pair of ocular frames and a sensor unit adapted to be positioned adjacent an eye of the wearer. A nose bridge connects the ocular frames and incorporates an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the sensor unit relative to the eye. A frame arm extends from the outer edge of each ocular frame and is adapted to fit over the ear of a wearer. The sensor unit incorporates two infra red emitters at different angles and an infra red detector recessed into the surface of the unit to reduce the proportion of signal received by said detector which is not from the signal emitter reflected by the eye or eyelids.

Claims

1. A spectacle frame for use in an eye monitoring system which includes

a) a nose bridge connecting a pair of ocular frames

b) a sensor unit adjustably attached to said nose bridge said sensor unit incorporating a signal emitter and a signal detector recessed into the surface of the unit to reduce the proportion of signal received by said detector which is not from the signal emitter reflected by the eye or eyelids

c) said nose bridge incorporating an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of said sensor unit relative to the eye

d) a frame arm extending from the outer edge of each ocular frame adapted to fit over the ear of a wearer wherein one of said frame arms incorporates a microprocessor for controlling the sensor unit.

2. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the adjustment mechanism includes a variably sized component that supports the nose bridge on the nose of the wearer.

3. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor unit is mounted on the free end of an arm which is attachable at its other end to a range of locations on the nose bridge to fine tune the positioning of the sensor unit relative to the eye.

4. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor unit is connected to the microprocessor by a cable located in the ocular frame and frame arm containing the microprocessor.

5. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor unit includes at least one infra red emitter and one collector of reflected infra red light.

6. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 5 in which there are two infra red emitters and one infra red sensor which are set into recesses in the ocular frame.

7. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 6 in which the frame material around the sensor unit absorbs infra red wavelengths.

8. A spectacle frame for use in an eye monitoring system which includes

a) a pair of ocular frames at least one of which has a sensor unit adapted to be positioned adjacent an eye of the wearer

b) a nose bridge connecting said ocular frames and incorporating an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of said sensor unit relative to the eye

c) a frame arm extending from the outer edge of each ocular frame adapted to fit over the ear of a wearer said frame arm being pivotally connected to said ocular member by a hinge that is adjustable

d) said sensor unit incorporating a light emitter and a light detector recessed into the surface of the unit to reduce the proportion of signal received by said detector which is not from the signal emitter reflected by the eye or eyelids.

9. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 8 in which the sensor unit includes at least one infra red emitter and one collector of reflected infra red light.

10. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 9 in which there are two infra red emitters and one infra red sensor which are set into recesses in the ocular frame.

11. A spectacle frame as claimed in claim 9 in which one frame arm incorporates an electronic device for controlling the infra red emitter and for receiving the signals received by the collector.