Cognitive Level Evaluation via Toilet Behavior Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cognitive level evaluation systems require subjects to perform specific operations, making it difficult to assess cognitive levels based on real-life behaviors, particularly in everyday activities like using a toilet.

Innovation Solution

A cognitive level evaluation system that includes sensors and an operation device to detect and evaluate a subject's behavior in a toilet space, such as staying time, operation order, overlapping behaviors, and lacking behaviors, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of cognitive levels without requiring explicit task performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional diagnostic devices require subjects to perform specific operations, then cognitive level can be evaluated, but the evaluation does not reflect real-life behaviors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecognitive level evaluation accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects and evaluates cognitive levels by monitoring subjects performing their own daily toilet activities without requiring them to follow specific test instructions. The detector captures behavior data naturally occurring during self-care routines, and the evaluator automatically processes this data to assess cognitive function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual diagnostic operations with automatic sensor-based detection. Instead of requiring subjects to perform structured tasks and operators to interpret results, the system uses detectors to automatically capture behavior data and evaluates cognitive levels through automated processing of this data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If specific diagnostic operations are required, then cognitive evaluation can be performed, but the system becomes less adaptable to natural daily activities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation context flexibilityVSAvoidevaluation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system is designed to evaluate cognitive levels across multiple contexts by detecting various types of behaviors during toilet activities. The detector can capture different behavior patterns (staying time, operation order, overlapping behaviors, lacking behaviors), making the system versatile for assessing cognitive function in natural daily life settings rather than being limited to specific test scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If structured diagnostic tasks are used, then cognitive assessment is possible, but the evaluation process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidcognitive level measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential evaluation elements from complex diagnostic procedures. Instead of requiring subjects to perform multiple structured tasks, the system focuses on detecting key behavior patterns during natural toilet activities, such as staying time, operation sequence, and presence of overlapping or lacking behaviors, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining evaluation precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20220361805A1Cognitive level evaluation system, cognitive level evaluation method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.11.17 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A cognitive level evaluation system includes a detector and a cognitive level evaluator. The detector is configured to detect a behavior of a subject in a toilet space. The cognitive level evaluator is configured to evaluate a cognitive level of the subject based on a detection result of the detector.