Head-Mounted Thermal Camera Forehead State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for acquiring thermal measurements on the forehead are hindered by user movements and require direct physical contact or occlusion, making them uncomfortable, aesthetically unacceptable, and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
The use of head-mounted thermal cameras that remain pointed at the user's forehead even during angular movements, allowing for non-contact, comfortable, and aesthetically acceptable thermal measurements, enabling differentiation between normal and abnormal cortical states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct physical contact or occlusion is used to take thermal measurements, then measurement precision may be improved, but user comfort and aesthetic acceptance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based thermal measurement systems with a non-contact optical system. A camera mounted on a head-worn device captures thermal radiation from the forehead through the air, eliminating the need for physical contact or occlusion while maintaining measurement capability. This substitution of mechanical measurement with optical detection resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and user comfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user's head makes angular movements, then natural behavior is maintained, but measurement reliability deteriorates with conventional approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through a processor that continuously analyzes thermal images captured by the camera. When the user's head moves angularly, the processor detects changes in the thermal pattern and determines whether these changes indicate abnormal cortical activity or are merely due to movement. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain measurement reliability even when the user moves naturally, resolving the contradiction between movement tolerance and measurement reliability.
3Ease of operation
If non-contact thermal measurement is used, then user comfort is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously capturing thermal images and establishing baseline thermal patterns before abnormal events occur. The processor compares real-time thermal measurements against these pre-established baselines, allowing it to distinguish between temperature changes caused by movement and those caused by abnormal cortical activity. This preliminary characterization of normal thermal patterns enables the system to maintain measurement precision while using comfortable non-contact measurement methods.
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 accurate and comfortable acquisition of thermal patterns on the forehead, overcoming movement-related challenges and providing effective monitoring of physiological and emotional states without direct contact or occlusion.
Implementation Method 1
Some types of normal and abnormal cortical activities generate different thermal patterns on the forehead
Data Source
AI summary
Often the physiological and emotional state of a person can be associated with certain cortical activity that can cause certain thermal patterns on the person's forehead. Thus, thermal measurements of the forehead may be used to differentiate between user states. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one inward-facing head-mounted thermal camera (CAM) that takes thermal measurements of at least first and second regions on the right side of a user's forehead (THR1 and THR2, respectively), and thermal measurements of at least third and fourth regions on the left side of the forehead (THL1 and THL2, respectively). The middles of the first and third regions are at least 1 cm above the middles of the second and fourth regions, respectively. The system also includes a computer that determines, based on THR1, THR2, THL1, and THL2, whether the user is in a normal state or an abnormal state.