Headphone Biometric Sensing for Mental State and Gesture Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems lack the ability to comfortably and user-friendlily monitor neural signals, brain signals, and muscle signals to infer a user's mental state and determine input commands outside of a laboratory or research environment.

Innovation Solution

An Analytics Engine that receives data from electrodes in headphones, extracts features, and feeds them into machine learning models to determine mental states and facial gestures, allowing for passive monitoring and control of computing devices through biometric data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional systems are used for monitoring neural signals and brain signals, then measurement capability is limited to laboratory environments, but comfort and user-friendliness deteriorate due to complex equipment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneural signal monitoring capabilityVSAvoiduser-friendliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical and electronic monitoring equipment with a wearable headphone device that integrates electrodes for EEG signal detection. This substitution transforms neural signal monitoring from a laboratory-based mechanical system into a portable, user-friendly wearable device that can be used in everyday environments while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The headphone device serves multiple functions: it provides audio output while simultaneously monitoring neural signals through integrated electrodes. This multi-functionality allows the device to be used as a normal consumer product while also serving as a neural monitoring tool, thereby improving ease of operation without sacrificing measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If specialized laboratory equipment is used for detecting brain signals and muscle signals, then detection accuracy is maintained, but device complexity increases making it unsuitable for everyday use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiometric data detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the neural signal detection function with a common wearable headphone device. The electrodes are integrated into the headphone structure, combining the complexity of neural monitoring equipment with the simplicity of a consumer audio device. This merging allows accurate biometric data detection while keeping the overall system complexity low and suitable for everyday use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrodes are integrated into flexible headphone components that can conform to the user's head and ear structure. This flexible integration allows the complex sensing elements to be embedded within a simple, comfortable wearable form factor, maintaining detection accuracy while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If traditional input devices are used for computing device control, then ease of operation is maintained, but adaptability to capture mental states and facial gestures deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput device usabilityVSAvoidmental state detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service operation where the user's natural facial gestures and mental states are automatically detected and translated into computing device commands without requiring manual input device operation. The wearable device continuously monitors biometric data and autonomously generates control signals, allowing users to interact with computing devices through natural physiological expressions while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables comfortable and user-friendly monitoring of mental states and facial gestures, allowing for accurate inference of user inputs and actions, enhancing interaction with computing devices in everyday settings.

Implementation Method 1

one or more electrodes detect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, electromyography (EMG) signals, and/or Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11609633B2Monitoring of biometric data to determine mental states and input commands

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 NEURABLE INC

AI summary

Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an Analytics Engine that receives one more signal files that include neural signal data of a user based on voltages detected by one or more electrodes on a set of headphones worn by a user. The Analytics Engine preprocesses the data, extracts features from the received data, and feeds the extracted features into one or more machine learning models to generate determined output that corresponds to at least one of a current mental state of the user and a type of facial gesture performed by the user. The Analytics Engine sends the determined output to a computing device to perform an action based on the determined output.