Wearable system for detecting and measuring biosignals

• US 10,806,400 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMOTIV Inc.
• Original Assignee: EMOTIV Inc.
• Inventors: Le, Tan, Mackellar, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xie, Dacheng
• Application Number:
  US16/227,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20190117158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/245 specially adapted for magnetoencephalographic [MEG] signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6835 Supports or holders, e.g., articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker

Abstract

A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user comprising: a set of sensors configured to detect bioelectrical signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors configured to provide non-polarizable contact at the body of the user; an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to distribute power to the system and a signal processing module configured to receive signals from the set of sensors; a set of sensor interfaces coupling the set of sensors to the electronics subsystem and configured to facilitate noise isolation within the system; and a housing coupled to the electronics subsystem, wherein the housing facilitates coupling of the system to a head region of the user.

Claims

1. A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user and reducing noise, comprising:

a set of sensors configured to detect bioelectrical signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors proximal to a region of a scalp of the user;

a set of sensor interfaces coupled to the set of sensors, wherein the set of sensor interfaces is configured to receive the bioelectrical signals, each of the set of sensor interfaces comprising a pre-gain alternating current (AC) coupling and level shift configured to block direct current (DC) signals;

an electronics subsystem coupled to the set of sensor interfaces, the electronics subsystem comprising;

an analog electronics subsystem configured to receive the bioelectrical signals from the set of sensor interfaces, the analog electronics subsystem comprising a hum remover configured to;

superimpose an ambient signal, from the set of sensor interfaces, with a predetermined signal having a frequency outside of a frequency range of the bioelectrical signals, to produce a calibration signal; and

apply the calibration signal to the user through at least one sensor of the set of sensors to determine a contact impedance of each individual sensor;

a digital electronics subsystem distinct from and connected to the analog electronics subsystem; and

a housing comprising a set of arms configured to position the set of sensors proximal to the scalp of the user upon coupling of the system to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inter-board connection, wherein the digital electronics subsystem is connected to the analog electronics subsystem through the inter-board connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the set of sensor interfaces further comprises an amplifier and a post-gain AC coupling and level shift coupled to the amplifier.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronics subsystem further comprises a mid-rail generator, the post-gain AC coupling and level shift configured to restore signal balance to a mid-rail voltage provided by the mid-rail generator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of sensors comprises a common mode sensor, wherein the common mode sensor is configured to detect the ambient signal through the scalp.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the calibration signal comprises a driven right leg signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the predetermined signal is between 80 and 150 Hertz.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined signal is a square wave signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein noise-producing electronics elements are isolated to one of the digital electronics subsystem and the analog electronics subsystem.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the digital electronics subsystem comprises elements producing noise above a threshold level, the digital electronics subsystem including:

an on-off controller configured to transition the system between an on-configuration and an off-configuration, a voltage detector coupled to the on-off controller and a battery, and a voltage regulator in communication with the voltage detector and configured to maintain a voltage provided to the digital electronics subsystem and the analog electronics subsystem, wherein an output of the voltage regulator is coupled to a low equivalent series resistance bypass capacitor, thereby facilitating noise reduction in the system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital electronics subsystem is further configured to couple to a motion sensing module comprising a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer, thereby enabling absolute position and motion sensing at the motion sensing module.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog electronics subsystem further comprises a protecting circuit integrated with the hum remover and comprising a unipolar transient-voltage suppression diode that prevents transmission of a transient voltage to elements of the electronics subsystem.

13. A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user and reducing noise, comprising:

a set of sensors configured to detect bioelectrical signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors proximal to a region of a scalp of the user;

a set of sensor interfaces coupled to the set of sensors, wherein the set of sensor interfaces is configured to amplify and shift bioelectrical signal voltages transmitted to an electronics subsystem;

the electronics subsystem coupled to the set of sensor interfaces, the electronics subsystem comprising;

an analog electronics subsystem configured to receive the preprocessed bioelectrical signals from the set of sensor interfaces, the analog electronics subsystem comprising a hum remover configured to;

superimpose an ambient signal, received from the set of sensor interfaces, with a predetermined signal to produce a calibration signal; and

apply the calibration signal to the user through at least one sensor of the set of sensors;

a digital electronics subsystem distinct from and coupled to the analog electronics subsystem through an inter-board connection; and

a housing comprising a set of arms configured to position the set of sensors proximal to the scalp of the user upon coupling of the system to the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the set of sensor interfaces comprises a pre-gain alternating current (AC) coupling and level shift configured to block direct current (DC) signals.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronics subsystem further comprises an amplifier and wherein each of the set of sensor interfaces further comprises a post-gain AC coupling and level shift coupled to the amplifier.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronics subsystem further comprises a mid-rail generator, the post-gain AC coupling and level shift configured to restore signal balance to a mid-rail voltage provided by the mid-rail generator.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the inter-board connect comprises a pin-strip coupling, the pin-strip coupling configured to:

allow power transmission between the digital electronics subsystem and the analog electronics subsystem; and

limit signal transmission between the digital electronics subsystem and the analog electronics subsystem.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the calibration signal comprises a driven right leg signal.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the frequency of the predetermined signal is above a frequency of the bioelectrical signals, wherein the predetermined signal comprises a square wave signal.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein noise-producing electronics elements are isolated to one of the digital electronics subsystem and the analog electronics subsystem.