Methods and apparatus to gather and analyze electroencephalographic data

• US 9,668,694 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Badower, Yakob
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cardinal, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US15/078,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20160228059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 600393, 600383, 439 39
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/002 Magnetic fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

Example apparatus and methods for gathering electroencephalographic signals are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a band to be worn on a head of a person and a first strip adjustably coupled to the band. The example apparatus also includes a first set of electrodes coupled to the first strip to gather a first set of signals from the head and a magnetic fastener to couple the first strip to the band.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a band to be worn on a head of a person;

a first strip adjustably coupled to the band;

a first set of electrodes coupled to the first strip to gather a first set of signals from the head; and

a magnetic fastener to couple the first strip to the band, the magnetic fastener including;

a first housing slidably coupled to the band;

a first magnetic element coupled to the first housing;

a second housing coupled to the first strip; and

a second magnetic element coupled to the second housing, the second magnetic element to magnetically couple to the first magnetic element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element is integral with the first housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes an aperture to receive the band.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first housing is slidable along a length of the band.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a protrusion to engage the band.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the protrusion includes a leaf spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first magnetic element or the second magnetic element includes a metal plate and the other of the first magnetic element or the second magnetic element includes a magnet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first strip is adjustably coupled to the second housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a support, the first strip slidably coupled to the support.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further including a second strip having a second set of electrodes, the second strip adjustably coupled to the band and slidably coupled to the support.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first strip and the second strip are independently adjustable relative to the band.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first strip and the second strip are independently slidable relative to the support.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a processor, the first set of electrodes communicatively coupled to the processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a first reference electrode communicatively coupled to the processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first reference electrode is coupled to a first terminal having a first connector, and the first terminal is couplable to the processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first connector includes a magnetic connector.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first connector includes a first pin and the processor includes a first aperture to receive the first pin.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a second reference electrode communicatively coupled to the processor, the second reference electrode coupled to a second terminal having a second connector, the second terminal coupled to at least one of the processor or the first terminal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second connector includes a magnetic connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first connector includes a first pin, the processor includes a first aperture to receive the first pin, the second connector includes a second pin, and the first connector includes a second aperture to receive the second pin.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a band to be worn on a head of a person;

a strip adjustably coupled to the band;

a set of electrodes coupled to the strip to gather a set of signals from the head; and

a magnetic fastener to couple the strip to the band, the magnetic fastener including;

a first housing coupled to the band, the first housing including a first cavity;

a first magnetic element disposed in the first cavity;

a second housing coupled to the strip, the second housing including a second cavity; and

a second magnetic element disposed in the second cavity, one of the first housing or the second housing including a rim defining the respective first cavity or the second cavity, wherein, to couple the strip to the band, the rim of the first housing or the second housing is inserted into the first cavity or the second cavity of the other of the first housing or the second housing and the second magnetic element is to magnetically couple to the first magnetic element.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a band to be worn on a head of a person;

a strip adjustably coupled to the band, the strip to be disposed over the head of the person;

a set of electrodes coupled to the strip to gather a set of signals from the head;

a strap coupled to the strip; and

a magnetic fastener to couple the strip to the band, the magnetic fastener including;

a first housing coupled to the band;

a first magnetic element coupled to the first housing;

a second housing coupled to the strip and having an opening to receive the strap, the strap movable through the opening to adjust a force applied by the strip to the head of the person; and

a second magnetic element coupled to the second housing, the second magnetic element to magnetically couple to the first magnetic element.