Ear-worn Device Alertness Mode for Fatigue Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to effectively detect and address the non-alert states of users operating machinery, leading to potential accidents due to drowsiness or impairment, with existing systems generating false positives and lacking personalized thresholds.

Innovation Solution

Ear-worn electronic devices equipped with sensors and a controller that monitor user data, including motion, sound, and ambient light, to determine alertness states and initiate corrective actions, such as audible alerts or autonomous operation, based on user-specific thresholds and historical data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alertness detection is continuously monitored without mode limitation, then user safety is improved, but false positive alerts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safetyVSAvoidalert accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the alertness detection mode based on operational context. The controller activates alertness mode only when operational data indicates the device is being used for critical tasks, transforming a static continuous monitoring system into a dynamic conditional monitoring system that reduces false positives while maintaining safety during critical operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of alertness detection based on device state. When operational data shows the device is in a critical operation mode, the system enables alertness monitoring with specific sensitivity thresholds; when not in critical mode, monitoring is suspended or reduced, thereby adjusting detection parameters to match operational requirements and reduce false alerts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If alertness mode is activated continuously, then detection coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous alertness monitoring, the system implements periodic activation based on operational triggers. The controller periodically evaluates operational data and activates alertness mode only when critical operations are detected, transforming continuous energy-consuming monitoring into periodic on-demand monitoring that maintains detection coverage during critical periods while conserving energy during non-critical periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of operational data before activating alertness mode. The controller analyzes operational parameters in advance to determine whether critical operations are underway, and only then activates the energy-intensive alertness detection functions, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring detection coverage is ready when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If standardized alertness thresholds are used, then system simplicity is improved, but false positive rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidthreshold accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different alertness thresholds based on local operational context rather than using universal standardized thresholds. The controller adjusts detection sensitivity and threshold values according to the specific operational mode detected (e.g., different thresholds for surgical procedures versus routine tasks), making the system locally adapted to each operational context while maintaining overall structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The threshold parameters are dynamically adjusted based on operational data rather than remaining static. The controller modifies alertness thresholds in real-time according to the detected operational mode, transforming a simple static threshold system into a dynamic adaptive system that maintains precision across different operational contexts without requiring complex manual configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11647925B2Alertness mode initiation for non-alert detection using ear-worn electronic devices

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 STARKEY LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

Techniques to detect a non-alert state of a user may include receiving sensor data from an ear-worn electronic device worn by a user, automatically determining whether to initiate an alertness mode of the ear-worn electronic device based on the sensor data, and determining an alertness state of the user in response to determining to initiate the alertness mode.