Non-invasive, non contact system, electronic control unit, and associated methodology for minimizing muscle stress and improving circulation

• US 9,854,995 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Demirdjian, David, Varri, Chenna K.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOWA, RENE T
• Application Number:
  US12/479,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,133 Days
• Field of Search: 600587, 600549, 600595, 340576, 219202, 219217
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0022 for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0023 for detection of driver fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0278 using sensors external to the seat for measurements in relation to the seat adjustment, e.g. for identifying the presence of obstacles or the appropriateness of the occupants position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/18 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/30 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/30 using a neural network

Abstract

A method, system, and process are described to decrease muscle fatigue and improve circulation of an individual resting on a support device, such as an adjustable chair or bed. The body pose and heat distribution of the individual are determined and used to estimate muscle fatigue and circulation. The estimated muscle fatigue and circulation are then used to determine settings for the support device or the temperature of the environment.

Claims

1. A method of minimizing muscle stress or increasing blood circulation of a person resting on a support device in an environment, the method comprising:

sensing, by a body pose sensor, a body pose of the person using a first image sensor located above head level of the person and a second image sensor located below the head level of the person in order to capture a three-dimensional image of at least a torso of the person, the three-dimensional image being used to determine the body pose of the person;

sensing, by a body temperature sensor, a body heat distribution of the person over a plurality of different body parts of the person;

determining, by circuitry, at least one of a muscle stress estimate and a blood circulation estimate of the person based only on the sensed body pose and the sensed body heat distribution; and

controlling a positional adjustment of the support device according to the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support device is an adjustable seat.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support device is a hospital bed.

4. An electronic control unit (ECU) implementing the method according to claim 1, wherein the support device is a vehicle seat.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a setting of a temperature of the environment based on the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate.

6. A system configured to minimize muscle stress or improve blood circulation of a person on a support device in an environment, the system comprising:

a body pose sensor configured to sense a body pose of the person, the body pose sensor including a first image sensor located above head level of the person and a second image sensor located below the head level of the person in order to capture a three-dimensional image of at least a torso of the person, the three-dimensional image being used to determine the body pose of the person;

a body temperature sensor configured to sense a body heat distribution of the person over a plurality of different body parts of the person;

circuitry configured to

determine at least one of a muscle stress estimate and a blood circulation estimate of the person based only on the sensed body pose and the sensed body heat distribution; and

control a positional adjustment of the support device according to the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the body temperature sensor is a heat-detecting imaging device.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the support device is a vehicle seat.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the support device is a hospital bed.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry includes a controller that is part of an electronic control unit (ECU).

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine a setting of a temperature of the environment based on the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate by matching body heat concentration patterns to predetermined rules regarding at least one of muscle stress and blood circulation.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is configured to

identify different body parts of the person based on the sensed body pose of the person, and

determine the body heat distribution over the identified body parts.

14. The system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is configured to implement

an estimator configured to determine the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate, and output the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate to a controller, and

the controller is configured to determine a setting for the support device based on the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate output by the estimator.

15. The system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine both the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation based only on the sensed body pose and the sensed body heat distribution.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a process of minimizing muscle stress or improving blood circulation of a person on a support device in an environment, the process comprising:

sensing a body pose of the person using a first image sensor located above head level of the person and a second image sensor located below the head level of the person in order to capture a three-dimensional image of at least a torso of the person, the three-dimensional image being used to determine the body pose of the person;

sensing a body heat distribution of the person over a plurality of different body parts of the person;

determining at least one of a muscle stress estimate and a blood circulation estimate of the person based only on the sensed body pose and the sensed body heat distribution; and

controlling a positional adjustment of the support device according to the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the process further comprises:

determining a setting of a temperature of the environment based on the at least one of the muscle stress estimate and the blood circulation estimate.