System and method for observing heart rate of passenger

• US 8,706,204 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Transys Incorporated, Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Dymos Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.), Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Inventors: Seo, Sang Man, Kim, Gil Ju, Lee, In Ho, Kim, Hee Chan, Yang, Tae Hyoung, Noh, Seung Woo, Yoon, Chi Yul
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US13/682,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02255 the pressure being controlled by plethysmographic signals, e.g. derived from optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/364 Detecting abnormal ECG interval, e.g. extrasystoles, ectopic heartbeats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A system and method is provided for observing a heart rate of a passenger. The system for observing a heart rate of a passenger includes a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back, and a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveforms for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy at each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate.

Claims

1. A system for observing a heart rate of a passenger, comprising:

a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back; and

a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveforms for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy for each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate;

wherein the heart rate sensors comprise electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors;

wherein respective pairs of ECG sensors are provided on the seat back and the seat cushion;

wherein the control unit configures a plurality of ECG measurement circuit leads by combining the plurality of ECG sensors, thus deriving a plurality of waveforms related to the ECG; and

wherein the control unit measures magnitudes of an R-peak and a P-peak of each waveform related to the ECG, and selects a waveform, in which a magnitude of an R-peak is five times or more as large as that of a P-peak, as a representative ECG waveform.

2. A system for observing a heart rate of a passenger, comprising:

a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back; and

a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveforms for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy for each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate;

wherein the heart rate sensors comprise electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors;

wherein respective pairs of ECG sensors are provided on the seat back and the seat cushion;

wherein the control unit configures a plurality of ECG measurement circuit leads by combining the plurality of ECG sensors, thus deriving a plurality of waveforms related to the ECG; and

wherein the control unit measures magnitudes of an R-peak and a T-peak of each waveform related to the ECG, and selects a waveform, in which a magnitude of an R-peak is three times or more as large as that of a T-peak, as a representative ECG waveform.

3. A system for observing a heart rate of a passenger, comprising:

a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back; and

a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveforms for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy for each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate;

wherein the heart rate sensors comprise ballistocardiogram (BCG) sensors; and

wherein the BCG sensors include a plurality of BCG sensors, and the control unit derives a plurality of waveforms related to the BCG for respective BCG sensors, compares a magnitude of an I-J signal with a magnitude of a noise signal for each waveform, and selects a waveform, in which a magnitude of an I-J signal is seven times or more as large as that of a noise signal, as a representative BCG waveform.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the BCG sensors are individually provided on the seat back and on the seat cushion.

5. A system for observing a heart rate of a passenger, comprising:

a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back; and

a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveforms for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy for each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate;

wherein the heart rate sensors comprise phonocardiogram (PCG) sensors; and

wherein the PCG sensors include a plurality of PCG sensors, and the control unit derives a plurality of waveforms related to the PCG for respective PCG sensors, compares a maximum amplitude of a first cardiac sound with a magnitude of a noise signal for each waveform, and selects a waveform, in which a maximum amplitude of a first cardiac sound is five times or more as large as that of a noise signal, as a representative PCG waveform.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the PCG sensors are provided on the seat back.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the PCG sensors include a plurality of PCG sensors in series on the seat back in a vertical direction.

8. A system for observing a heart rate of a passenger, comprising:

a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back; and

a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveforms for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy for each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate;

wherein the heart rate sensors comprise phonocardiogram (PCG) sensors; and

wherein the PCG sensors include a plurality of PCG sensors are provided, and the control unit derives a plurality of waveforms related to the PCG for respective PCG sensors, compares a maximum amplitude of a second cardiac sound with a magnitude of a noise signal for each waveform, and selects a waveform, in which a maximum amplitude of a second cardiac sound is three times or more as large as that of a noise signal, as a representative PCG waveform.

9. A system for observing a heart rate of a passenger, comprising:

a plurality of different types of heart rate sensors provided on a seat cushion or a seat back; and

a control unit for collecting waveforms of the heart rate sensors for respective sensor types, computing accuracies of the waveform for respective sensor types at each unit time, selecting a waveform having a highest accuracy for each unit time, and then calculating a heart rate;

wherein the heart rate sensors comprise photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors; and

wherein the PPG sensors include a plurality of PPG sensors are provided, and the control unit derives a plurality of waveforms related to the PPG for respective PPG sensors and selects a waveform having a largest number of frequency components ranging from 0.5 to 2 Hz, from among the plurality of waveforms, as a representative PCG waveform.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the PPG sensors are provided in a portion of the seat cushion coming into contact with thighs of the passenger.