Radar Thermography Vital Parameter Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contactless vital parameter measurement technologies, such as thermal imaging cameras and radar units, often provide inaccurate results due to movement and environmental factors, leading to potential misjudgments in health status and increased risk of disease spread.
Innovation Solution
A device combining a radar unit for detecting vital parameters like heart rate and breathing rate with a thermography unit to record micro-body movements, using frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar and thermal long-wave infrared cameras, and an evaluation unit to correct measurements based on these movements, ensuring more precise data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radar measurements are used for contactless vital parameter detection, then personnel safety is improved and measurement distance is increased, but measurement precision deteriorates due to movement superposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar unit and thermography unit into a single measurement system. The radar detects vital parameters like respiratory rate and heart rate, while the thermography unit detects micro-body movements. By merging these two measurement modalities, the system achieves both contactless operation and improved measurement precision through cross-validation and error compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation unit uses feedback from the thermography unit's micro-body movement detection to correct the radar measurements. When the thermography unit detects that the person is moving beyond acceptable thresholds, it provides feedback signals that trigger re-measurement or correction algorithms in the radar system, thereby maintaining measurement precision despite the contactless nature of the measurement.
2Ease of operation
If frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar is used for vital parameter measurement, then contactless measurement is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental influences and movement superposition
Solution Approach 1:
The thermography unit acts as an intermediary that monitors micro-body movements and provides correction data to the radar measurement system. This intermediary component enables the radar to maintain precision by compensating for movements that occur during contactless measurement, without requiring physical contact with the person being measured.
3Reliability
If thermal imaging cameras are used for body temperature measurement, then contactless measurement is achieved and personnel safety is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges thermal imaging camera functionality with radar measurement capabilities. The thermal imaging component provides contactless body temperature measurement while the radar component provides additional vital parameter data. The evaluation unit integrates both data streams, allowing the system to compensate for environmental influences on temperature measurement using the complementary radar measurements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple measurement parameters are recorded simultaneously, then comprehensive health assessment is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to overlapping parameters from environmental conditions and movements
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system segments the detection functions between two specialized units: the radar unit focuses on vital parameters (respiratory rate, heart rate, chest movement amplitude) while the thermography unit focuses on body temperature and micro-body movements. This segmentation allows each unit to optimize for its specific measurement type, and the evaluation unit then integrates these segmented measurements, reducing parameter overlap and improving individual parameter precision while maintaining comprehensive health assessment capability.
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
The device enables accurate, contactless measurement of vital parameters, reducing health risks for operators and improving throughput, while minimizing the spread of diseases by providing reliable health assessments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one radar unit for detecting at least one first vital parameter of the person, in particular heart rate, respiratory rate, and/or chest movement amplitude, wherein the detection is carried out by means of radar measurements
Implementation Method 2
at least one thermography unit, in particular for detecting another vital parameter of the person, for example, body temperature, wherein micro-body movements of the person can be detected by means of the thermography unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for the contactless measurement of at least one vital parameter of at least one person (16, 16a), comprising at least one radar unit (2, 2a) for detecting at least one first vital parameter of the person (16, 16a), in particular a heart rate, a respiratory rate and/or an amplitude of a chest movement of the person (16, 16a), by means of radar measurements. The device further comprises at least one thermographic unit (3), in particular for detecting a further vital parameter of the person (16, 16a), for example, body temperature, and an evaluation unit (4) which is operatively connected to the at least one radar unit (2, 2a) and the thermographic unit (3), wherein micro-body movements of the person (16, 16a) can be detected by means of the thermographic unit (3).The evaluation unit (4) is further configured to correct the recorded first vital parameter depending on the recorded micro-body movements. The invention further relates to a method for the contactless measurement of at least one vital parameter of at least one person (16, 16a).