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US 6,575,902 B1Granted
Vigilance monitoring system
AssigneeCompumedics Limited
InventorDavid Burton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for determining a vigilance state of a subject such as a driver of a vehicle or the like. The apparatus includes means (1 to 11) for monitoring one or more physiological variables such as EEG, EMG and EOG signals associated with the subject. The apparatus also includes means (13 to 16) for deriving from the one or more variables data representing physiological states of the subject corresponding to the or each variable and means (17) for determining from the data with the vigilance state of the subject is below a predetermined threshold. The apparatus may include means for intervening with the control of the vehicle in the event that the vigilance state of the driver is below the predetermined threshold.
Claims27
An apparatus for determining a vigilance state of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
- a first sensor capable of being operatively coupled to a subject wherein said first sensor monitors at least one physiological variable of said subject and provides a first output signal related to said at least one physiological variable;
- a second sensor capable of being operatively coupled to the subject and wherein said second sensor monitors the at least one physiological variable of said subject and provides a second output signal related to said at least one physiological variable of the subject;
- a computer processor for receiving said first and second output signals wherein said computer processor compares the first and second output signals to a reference data set, said reference data set being related to the at least one physiological variable of said subject and having been obtained when said subject is in a relaxed or a fatigued physiological state, to generate a data set representing a physiological state of said subject corresponding to said at least one physiological variable of the subject;
- and
- a threshold vigilance state signal set to a low vigilance state in the event that said data set decreases below a predetermined low vigilance state threshold value.
2 more elements
A method for determining a vigilance state of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring at least one physiological variable of a subject by placing a plurality of sensors on a steering wheel of a vehicle, wherein each of said plurality of sensors provide a corresponding plurality of output signals;
- deriving from said at least one physiological variable a data set representing at least one of a set of physiological states of said subject corresponding to the at least one physiological variable;
- determining from said data set when a vigilance state of said subject crosses a predetermined vigilance threshold value by comparing the set of output signals from said plurality of sensors with a reference data set, wherein said reference data set includes information from said subject in a relaxed state or a fatigued state;
- and,
- providing a vigilance state output signal when the vigilance state of said subject crosses the predetermined vigilance threshold value.
2 more elements
An apparatus for determining a vigilance state of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one sensor operatively coupled to a subject wherein said at least one sensor monitors at least one physiological variable of said subject and provides a first output signal related to said at least one physiological variable;
- a computer processor coupled to said first output signal wherein said computer processor applies a select criteria to said first output signal and generates a data set representing a physiological state of said subject corresponding to said at least one physiological variable of the subject;
- and
- a threshold vigilance state signal set to a low vigilance state in the event that said data set decreases below a predetermined low vigilance state threshold value,
- said low vigilance state being set pursuant to a vigilance algorithm operable by the computer processor, said vigilance algorithm being adapted to correlate said data set or apply a combinational logic sequence to said data set to detect a pattern in said data set which is associated with a vigilance state of the subject that is below said predetermined low vigilance state threshold value,
- said vigilance algorithm further comprising at least one look up table and said at least one look up table including a reference movement data set correlated to a set of vigilance states with a first one of said set of vigilance states above said predetermined low vigilance state threshold value and a second one of said set of vigilance states below said predetermined low vigilance state threshold value.
3 more elements
An apparatus for determining a vigilance state of a subject, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one sensor operatively coupled to a subject wherein said at least one sensor monitors at least one physiological variable of said subject and provides a first output signal related to said at least one physiological variable;
- a computer processor coupled to said first output signal wherein said computer processor applies a select criteria to said first output signal and generates a data set representing a physiological state of said subject corresponding to said at least one physiological variable of the subject;
- and
- a threshold vigilance state signal set to a low vigilance state in the event that said data set decreases below a predetermined low vigilance state threshold value,
- said low vigilance state being set pursuant to a vigilance algorithm operable by the computer processor, said vigilance algorithm providing a vigilance state probability factor output as a function of a weighted set of movement data values.
2 more elements
A method for determining a vigilance state of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring at least one physiological variable of a subject;
- deriving from said at least one physiological variable a data set representing a one of a set of physiological states of said subject corresponding to the at least one physiological variable;
- determining from said data set when a vigilance state of said subject crosses a predetermined vigilance threshold value;
- and,
- providing a vigilance state output signal when the vigilance state of said subject crosses the predetermined vigilance threshold value;
- wherein at least said step of determining is performed by a digital computer processor, said step of determining being performed by a vigilance algorithm operable by the digital computer processor, and wherein said vigilance algorithm is adapted to correlate said data set or apply a combinational logic sequence to said data set to detect a pattern in said data set which is associated with a low vigilance state of the subject that is below said predetermined vigilance threshold value;
- and
- wherein said vigilance algorithm incorporates at least one look up table which comprises a reference movement data set and a set of vigilance states with one state of said set of vigilance states above said predetermined low vigilance state threshold value and another state of said set of vigilance states below said predetermined low vigilance state threshold value.
5 more elements
A method for determining a vigilance state of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring at least one physiological variable of a subject;
- deriving from said at least one physiological variable a data set representing a one of a set of physiological states of said subject corresponding to the at least one physiological variable;
- determining from said data set when a vigilance state of said subject crosses a predetermined vigilance threshold value;
- and,
- providing a vigilance state output signal when the vigilance state of said subject crosses the predetermined vigilance threshold value;
- wherein at least said step of determining is performed by a digital computer processor, said step of determining being performed by a vigilance algorithm operable by the digital computer processor, said vigilance algorithm being adapted to determine a vigilance probability factor output as a function of a weighted set of movement data values.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.