Cognitive Function Evaluation Using Non-Imaging Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems cannot accurately estimate the position and action of a subject within a room without capturing images, while also protecting privacy, and fail to evaluate cognitive functions effectively.
Innovation Solution
An estimation system utilizing first and second sensors, such as Doppler radio wave sensors, to detect activity levels within a room and on a bed, respectively, which estimates the subject's position and action without images, and a cognitive function evaluation system that calculates feature values from these estimates to assess cognitive function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image capturing devices are used to estimate position and action, then estimation accuracy is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical/image-based detection systems with sensor-based detection systems. Specifically, it uses sensors (such as motion sensors, weight sensors, or other non-imaging detectors) to detect physical quantities like movement, position, and action states without capturing visual images. This substitution maintains the ability to estimate position and action while eliminating privacy concerns associated with image capture and storage.
2Device complexity
If simple sensors are used to detect activity, then device complexity is reduced, but position and action estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection task into multiple segments by using different types of sensors for different detection purposes. First sensors detect activity in the room, second sensors detect activity on the bed, and third sensors detect activity in specific areas. This segmentation allows each sensor to be relatively simple while the combination provides comprehensive and accurate position and action estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs sensors that can serve multiple functions. The same sensor system is used to detect both activity presence and activity intensity, and to determine both position and action type. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive estimation capability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to improve estimation accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring space into distinct zones (room-level, bed-level, and specific area zones) and assigns different sensors to each zone. First sensors monitor the entire room, second sensors focus on the bed area, and third sensors monitor specific regions. This spatial segmentation improves measurement precision through comprehensive coverage while managing complexity by organizing sensors in a hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an estimation device that acts as an intermediary between the multiple sensors and the final output. This estimation device processes data from multiple sensors, integrates the information, and produces the position and action estimates. The intermediary simplifies the system architecture by centralizing the complex processing logic and providing a clear interface between sensing and output.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately estimates the position and action of subjects without image capture, enabling effective cognitive function evaluation by determining stay times and action times, thus improving privacy protection and cognitive assessment accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
An estimation system according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a first sensor that detects a first amount of activity that is an amount of activity of a subject in a room
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor that detects a second amount of activity that is an amount of activity of the subject on a bed in the room
Data Source
AI summary
An estimation system includes: a first sensor that detects a first amount of activity that is an amount of activity of a subject in a room; a second sensor that detects a second amount of activity that is an amount of activity of the subject on a bed in the room; and an estimation device that estimates at least one of a position and an action of the subject in association with a position in the room based on the first amount of activity detected by the first sensor and the second amount of activity detected by the second sensor, and outputs an estimation result obtained from the estimation. The first sensor and the second sensor are sensors other than two-dimensional image sensors.