Method and system for biological signal analysis

• US 9,398,875 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fung, Kin C., Dick, Timothy J., Hall, Charles William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US14/074,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20150126818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A method for biological signal analysis, including providing a multidimensional sensor array disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a person, wherein the multidimensional sensor array includes a plurality of sensors and each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically coupled to a common structural coupling material. The method including selectively receiving an output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors, processing the output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors and outputting a biological signal based on the processing.

Claims

1. A method for biological signal analysis, comprising:

providing a multidimensional sensor array disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a person, wherein the multidimensional sensor array includes a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically coupled to a common structural coupling material;

selectively receiving an output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors;

processing the output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors; and

outputting a biological signal based on the processing, wherein each of the plurality of sensors are provided at a position on the multidimensional sensor array to define a center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array external to an area bounded by the plurality of sensors, wherein an ambient mechanical vibration registers in each sensor of the plurality of sensors in a plane with respect to another sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array being external to the area bounded by the plurality of sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array is defined by a weighted portion of the multidimensional sensor array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the output from each sensor is based on a cluster associated with each sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the position for sensing biological data is proximate to a thoracic region of the person.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the thoracic region is one of an upper cervico-thoracic region, a middle thoracic region or a lower thoraco-lumbar region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the multidimensional sensor array further includes providing more than one multidimensional sensor array, wherein each multidimensional sensor array is disposed at a different position for sensing biological data.

7. A system for biological signal analysis, comprising:

a multidimensional sensor array disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a person, wherein the multidimensional sensor array includes a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically coupled to a common structural coupling material; and

a filter for selectively receiving an output from each of the plurality of sensors, processing the output from each of the plurality of sensors and outputting a biological signal based on the processing, wherein each of the plurality of sensors are provided at a position on the multidimensional sensor array to define a center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array external to an area bounded by the plurality of sensors, wherein an ambient mechanical vibration registers in each sensor of the plurality of sensors in a plane with respect to another sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array being external to the area bounded by the plurality of sensors.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array is defined by a weighted portion of the multidimensional sensor array.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein processing the output from each sensor is based on a cluster associated with each sensor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the filter further includes a multiplexor for selectively receiving the output from each of the plurality of sensors.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the multidimensional sensor array is disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a thoracic region of the person.

12. The system of claim 11, further including more than one multidimensional sensor array, wherein each multidimensional sensor array is disposed at a different position for sensing biological data associated with a different thoracic region of the person.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the filter further includes a multiplexor for selectively receiving the output from each of the plurality of sensors based on the position of the multidimensional sensor array.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving an output from a multidimensional sensor array that is disposed in a position for sensing biological data associated with a person, wherein the multidimensional sensor array includes a plurality of sensors and a center of mass of the multidimensional sensor array is located external to a geometric center defined by the plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically coupled to a common structural coupling material;

selectively forwarding an output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors for processing;

processing the output based from each sensor of the plurality of sensors; and

outputting a biological signal based on the processing.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the processing further includes selectively filtering the output based on a cluster associated with each sensor.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein selectively forwarding an output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors is based on the position of the multidimensional sensor array.

17. A multidimensional sensor arrangement for biological Signal analysis, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, wherein a center of mass of the multidimensional sensor arrangement is located external to a geometric center defined by the plurality of sensors;

a common structural coupling material upon which each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically fixed; and

a filter operatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the filter configured to selectively receive output from each of the plurality of sensors and process the output, thereby outputting a biological signal.

18. The multidimensional sensor arrangement of claim 17, wherein the multidimensional sensor arrangement is disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a person.

19. The multidimensional sensor arrangement of claim 17, wherein the filter is further configured to process the output based on a cluster associated with each sensor.