Multi-point multiple sensor array for data sensing and processing system and method

• US 9,866,941 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Frstner, Friedrich Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerez Lora, William A
• Application Number:
  US15/290,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56, 381 58, 381 941, 381 942
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/256 of results relating to different input data, e.g. multimodal recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/04 Denoising
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/12 Classification; Matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

A method for enhancing sensor measurements includes performing measurements utilizing sensors of wireless earpieces, analyzing the measurements to determine statistical confidence in the measurements, and determining whether the measurements are accurate utilizing the statistical confidence. The measurements may be biometric measurements of a user utilizing the wireless earpieces. The measurements may be environmental measurements. A wireless earpiece may include a frame for fitting in an ear of a user, a tonic engine controlling functionality of the wireless earpiece, and a plurality of sensor performing biometric measurements of the user. The logic engine perform measurements utilizing a plurality of sensors of the wireless earpiece, analyzes the measurements to determine a statistical confidence interval of the measurements, determines whether the measurements are accurate utilizing the statistical confidence interval, and optimizes the measurements to determine a biometric reading of the user in response to determining the measurements are not accurate.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing sensor measurements, the method comprising:

performing measurements utilizing sensors of wireless earpieces;

analyzing the measurements to determine statistical confidence in the measurements;

determining whether the measurements are accurate utilizing the statistical confidence;

optimizing signal extraction for the measurements in response to determining that the measurements are not accurate; and

filtering noise from the measurements utilizing additional measurements from a first sensor of the sensors of wireless earpieces, wherein the first sensor is of a different type than a second sensor of the sensors of wireless earpieces that performs the measurements and first measurement properties associated with the additional measurements differ from second measurement properties associated with the measurements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements are biometric measurements of a user utilizing the wireless earpieces.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements are environmental measurements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors of the wireless earpieces are an array of sensors, wherein the wireless earpieces include a left wireless earpiece and a right wireless earpiece.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the additional measurements from the sensors of the wireless earpieces in response to determining the measurements are not accurate.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

aggregating the measurements made by the sensors to optimize a biometric reading made utilizing the measurements.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing biometric analysis of a user utilizing the wireless earpieces from the measurements.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

shifting between measurements of the sensors to find one of the measurements with the least noise and distortion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is an accelerometer and the second sensor is a pulse oximeter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless earpieces communicate with one or more external devices to optimize the measurements using external device measurements from an external device sensor associated with the one or more external devices.

11. A set of one or more wireless earpieces comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

perform measurements utilizing a plurality of sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces;

analyze the measurements to determine statistical confidence in the measurements;

determine whether the measurements are accurate utilizing the statistical confidence;

optimize the measurements in response to determining the measurements are not accurate; and

filter noise from the measurements utilizing additional measurements from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors, wherein the first sensor of the plurality of sensors that performs the additional measurements is a different type than a second sensor of the plurality of sensors that performs the measurements and first measurement properties associated with the additional measurements differ from second measurement properties associated with the measurements.

12. The set of one or more wireless earpieces of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions are further configured for determining one or more biometric readings of a user wearing the one or more wireless earpieces utilizing the measurements.

13. The set of one or more wireless earpieces of claim 11, wherein the one or more wireless earpieces include at least a left wireless earpiece and a right wireless earpiece, and wherein the first sensor is an accelerometer and the second sensor is a pulse oximeter.

14. The set of one or more wireless earpieces of claim 11, wherein the measurements are optimized by aggregating measurements taken by the plurality of sensors.

15. The set of one or more wireless earpieces of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to shift between measurements made by the plurality of sensors to find one of the measurements with the least noise and distortion.

16. The set of one or more wireless earpieces of claim 11, wherein the set of one or more wireless earpieces communicate with one or more external devices to optimize the measurements using external device measurements from an external device sensor associated with the one or more external devices.

17. A wireless earpiece, comprising:

a frame for fitting in an ear of a user;

a logic engine disposed within the frame for controlling functionality of the wireless earpiece; and

a plurality of sensors operatively connected to the logic engine for performing biometric measurements of the user;

wherein the logic engine performs the biometric measurements utilizing the plurality of sensors of the wireless earpiece, analyzes the biometric measurements to determine a statistical confidence interval of the biometric measurements, determines whether the biometric measurements are accurate utilizing the statistical confidence interval, optimizes the biometric measurements to determine a reading of the user in response to a determination that the measurements are not accurate, and filters noise from the biometric measurements utilizing additional measurements from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors, wherein the first sensor of the plurality of sensors that performs the additional measurements is a different type than a second sensor from the plurality of sensors that performs the biometric measurements and first measurement properties associated with the additional measurements differ from second measurement properties associated with the biometric measurements.

18. The wireless earpiece of claim 17 wherein the first sensor is an accelerometer and the second sensor is a pulse oximeter.