Apparatus for monitoring the condition of an operator and related system and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- one or more speaker units, each speaker unit configured to provide audio signals to an operator, each speaker unit comprising an ear cuff configured to contact the operator'"'"'s head;
a support structure configured to secure the apparatus to the operator'"'"'s head;
multiple sensors configured to measure (i), one or more physiological characteristics associated with the operator, (ii) one or more environmental characteristics surrounding the operator, and (iii) one or more operator behaviors, at least one of the sensors embedded within or attached to at least one ear cuff of at least one speaker unit, the sensors including an electrocardiography electrode embedded in or attached to a lower portion of at least one ear cuff so as to be in proximity to an artery of the operator when the at least one ear cuff is in contact with the operator'"'"'s head; and
at least one processing unit configured to (i) receive and analyze measurements associated with the one or more physiological characteristics, the one or more environmental characteristics, and the one or more operator behaviors and (ii) in response to the analyzed measurements, determine a measure of operator awareness associated with the operator and trigger feedback to the operator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a headset having one or more speaker units. Each speaker unit is configured to provide audio signals to an operator. Each speaker unit includes an ear cuff configured to contact the operator'"'"'s head. The headset further includes multiple sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics associated with the operator. At least one of the sensors is embedded within at least one ear cuff of at least one speaker unit. The sensors could include an electrocardiography electrode, a skin conductivity probe, pulse oximetry light emitting diodes and photodetectors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a temperature sensor. The apparatus could also include a processing unit configured to analyze audio signals captured by a microphone unit of the headset to identify respiration by the operator or at least one voice characteristic of the operator.
10 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more speaker units, each speaker unit configured to provide audio signals to an operator, each speaker unit comprising an ear cuff configured to contact the operator'"'"'s head; a support structure configured to secure the apparatus to the operator'"'"'s head; multiple sensors configured to measure (i), one or more physiological characteristics associated with the operator, (ii) one or more environmental characteristics surrounding the operator, and (iii) one or more operator behaviors, at least one of the sensors embedded within or attached to at least one ear cuff of at least one speaker unit, the sensors including an electrocardiography electrode embedded in or attached to a lower portion of at least one ear cuff so as to be in proximity to an artery of the operator when the at least one ear cuff is in contact with the operator'"'"'s head; and at least one processing unit configured to (i) receive and analyze measurements associated with the one or more physiological characteristics, the one or more environmental characteristics, and the one or more operator behaviors and (ii) in response to the analyzed measurements, determine a measure of operator awareness associated with the operator and trigger feedback to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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one or more speaker units, each speaker unit configured to provide audio signals to an operator, each speaker unit comprising an. ear cuff configured to contact the operator'"'"'s head; a support structure configured to secure the one or more speaker units to the operator'"'"'s head; multiple sensors configured to measure (i) one or more physiological characteristics associated with the operator, (ii) one or more environmental characteristics surrounding the operator, and (iii) one or more operator behaviors, at least one of the sensors embedded within or attached to at least one ear cuff of at least one speaker unit; and at least one processing configured to (i) receive and analyze measurements associated with the one or more physiological characteristics, the one or more environmental characteristics, and the one or more operator behaviors and (ii) in response to the analyzed measurements, determine a measure of operator awareness associated with the operator and trigger feedback to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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providing audio signals to an operator using one or more speaker units, each speaker unit comprising an ear cuff configured to contact the operator'"'"'s head, wherein a support structure is configured to secure the one or more speaker units to the operator'"'"'s head; measuring (i) one or more physiological characteristics associated with the operator, (ii) one or more environmental characteristics surrounding the operator, and (iii) one or more operator behaviors using multiple sensors, at least one of the sensors embedded within or attached to at least one ear cuff of at least one speaker unit, the sensors including an electrocardiography electrode embedded in or attached to a lower portion of at least one ear cuff so as to be in proximity to an artery of the operator when the at least one ear cuff is in contact with the operator'"'"'s head; receiving and analyzing measurements associated with the one or more physiological characteristics, the one or more environmental characteristics, and the one or more operator behaviors; and in response to the analyzed measurements, determining a measure of operator awareness associated with the operator and triggering feedback to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An apparatus comprising:
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a cover configured to be placed over at least a portion of a speaker unit, the speaker unit configured to be secured to an operator'"'"'s head, the cover comprising at least one sensor configured to measure (i) one or more physiological characteristics associated with the operator, (ii) one or more environmental characteristics surrounding the operator, and (iii) one or more operator behaviors, the at least one sensor embedded within or attached to the cover; and at least one processing unit configured to (i) receive and analyze measurements associated with the one or more physiological characteristics, the one or more environmental characteristics, and the one or more operator behaviors (ii) in response to the analyzed measurements, determine a measure of operator awareness associated with operator and trigger feedback to the operator.
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Specification