Noncontact Vision-Based 3D Cognitive Fatigue Measurement

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical bio-sensor system with an optical imaging system. Instead of using electrodes attached to the skin to detect neural signals (ERP) or cardiac signals (HEP), the system uses a camera to capture pupillary responses, which are optical images of the pupil. This substitution eliminates the need for complex bio-sensor attachment while maintaining the ability to measure cognitive fatigue through pupillary diameter changes that reflect neural processing load.

The patent creates an optical copy of the physiological state through pupillary imaging. Rather than directly measuring neural or cardiac activity with invasive sensors, the system measures the pupillary response, which is a visible optical manifestation of cognitive load. The pupillary diameter changes serve as a non-invasive proxy or copy of the underlying neural processing, allowing fatigue assessment without direct brain or heart measurement.

The patent replaces the time-consuming bio-sensor attachment process with a non-invasive optical imaging system. The camera-based pupillary response measurement requires no physical contact or sensor placement, eliminating the time and complexity associated with preparing and attaching electrodes or sensors to the participant's body.

The system enables self-service measurement by automatically capturing and analyzing pupillary responses without requiring operator intervention for sensor placement or calibration. The optical system passively records pupillary diameter changes during cognitive tasks, and the analysis is performed automatically through image processing algorithms, making the measurement process as easy as having the participant view stimuli while being filmed.