Head-Mounted Thermal Camera for Dominant Nostril Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to effectively identify and maintain awareness of respiratory parameters indicative of a user's emotional and physiological state, particularly the dominant nostril, which is crucial for optimizing brain activity and activity choice between 'right-brain' and 'left-brain' tasks.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing inward-facing head-mounted thermal cameras to take thermal measurements of the face, identifying the dominant nostril by detecting the shape of the exhale stream and differentiating between various shapes, which reflects the user's mental, physiological, and energetic state, and providing feedback for activity optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermal measurements are taken to identify the dominant nostril, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical or manual methods of determining dominant nostril (such as visual observation or subjective reporting) with thermal imaging technology. The thermal camera detects temperature differences in the nasal region caused by exhaled air, automatically identifying which nostril is dominant based on thermal patterns without requiring mechanical intervention or subjective user input.
2Loss of information
If the thermal camera continuously monitors respiratory parameters, then awareness of physiological state is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of respiratory parameters through thermal imaging rather than continuous monitoring. The thermal camera captures thermal patterns at intervals to detect dominant nostril and respiratory state changes, reducing energy consumption while maintaining sufficient awareness of physiological changes. This periodic sampling approach balances information quality with energy efficiency for head-mounted operation.
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 users to choose activities based on their current brain activity state by accurately determining the dominant nostril, improving task performance and overall well-being by aligning tasks with optimal brain hemisphere engagement.
Implementation Method 1
A system utilizing inward-facing head-mounted thermal cameras to take thermal measurements of the face, identifying the dominant nostril by detecting the shape of the exhale stream
Data Source
AI summary
Brain activity, and in particular which hemisphere is relatively more effective, is correlated with the dominant nostril (i.e., the nostril through which most of the air is exhaled when breathing through the nose). Thus, identifying which of the nostrils is dominant may have various applications. Described herein are systems and methods for identifying the dominant nostril. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one inward-facing head-mounted thermal camera (CAM) and a computer. The at least one CAM does not occlude any of the user's mouth and nostrils and is used to take thermal measurements of first and second regions below the right and left nostrils (THROI1 and THROI2, respectively). The computer identifies the dominant nostril based on THROI1 and THROI2. Optionally, the computer detects, utilizing THROI1 and THROI2, the three-dimensional (3D) shape of the exhale stream from at least one of the nostrils.