EEG Electrode Calibration via Optical Landmark Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) using electroencephalography (EEG) face challenges with sensitivity to noisy data, requiring extensive training and cumbersome calibration processes due to inter-subject, inter-session, and inter-task variation, leading to inefficient and time-consuming initial setup and calibration for users.

Innovation Solution

A method and controller system that determines the calibration of EEG electrode positions by comparing estimated positions to reference signals, using a difference in properties such as distance, time of arrival, or phase values to accurately place electrodes, thereby simplifying and streamlining the calibration process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual calibration of EEG electrode positions is performed to ensure measurement precision, then the accuracy of electrode placement is improved, but the time required for calibration and the complexity of the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode placement accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning and visual estimation of electrode locations with an automated optical measurement system. The system uses cameras to capture images of the subject's head and automatically calculates electrode positions based on anatomical landmarks, eliminating the need for manual calibration while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic self-calibration by having the subject simply position their head in the scanner while the system autonomously identifies anatomical landmarks and calculates electrode positions without requiring manual intervention or expert calibration, making the process self-service oriented.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If extensive training is provided to improve BCI performance and reduce sensitivity to noisy data, then the reliability of the system is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the cumbersome and tedious calibration process

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveBCI performanceVSAvoidcalibration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the tedious manual calibration process with an automated computer-based system that automatically processes images and calculates electrode positions, significantly reducing the operational burden on users while maintaining or improving measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital model of the subject's head anatomy by capturing images and generating a 3D representation, which is then used to automatically determine electrode positions. This digital copy eliminates the need for physical manual positioning and enables automated, repeatable calibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If individual training sessions are conducted for each subject to achieve good BCI performance, then the measurement precision is improved, but the productivity and efficiency of the system deteriorates due to the time-consuming nature of the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual calibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual individual calibration procedures with an automated system that can rapidly process multiple subjects sequentially, maintaining individualized precision while dramatically increasing throughput by eliminating the need for manual intervention in each calibration session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic anatomical landmark identification and electrode position calculation in advance of actual BCI use, creating a pre-calibrated digital model that can be stored and reused, eliminating the need for repeated individual training sessions while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240041378A1Calibration of Positions of EEG Electrodes on a Subject

Publication Date: 2024.02.08 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

There is provided mechanisms for determining calibration of positions of EEG electrodes on a subject. A method is performed by a controller. The method comprises obtaining a set of signals representative of estimated positions for the EEG electrodes when placed on the subject. Each of the estimated positions represents a position of one of the EEG electrodes relative to the subject. The method comprises comparing the set of signals representative of estimated positions to a set of reference signals representative of reference positions. The set of reference positions represents intended positions for the EEG electrodes when placed on the subject. The method comprises determining the calibration of positions of the EEG electrodes using a difference between a property of the obtained signals and the set of reference signals.