IT202300003147A1 - INTERACTIVE SENSORIZED DEVICE FOR EMOTIONAL CONNECTION BASED ON THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS RELATED TO EMOTIONS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

?INTERACTIVE SENSORIZED DEVICE FOR EMOTIONAL CONNECTION BASED ON THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS RELATED TO EMOTIONS?

Description

Field of technique

The new invention falls within the field of emotional connectivity technology and physiological parameter detection, and aims to promote an intimate and pleasant emotional connection between two users by detecting the synchronization of their physiological parameters, such as heart rate and breathing.

Known art

The idea of facilitating and therefore measuring some kind of emotional connection between two people bound by an emotional bond is fascinating and has already been explored in various ways by some existing technologies. Two distant people can now be put in touch not only by a common voice call, but also by chat and videoconferencing applications. Furthermore, there are already wearable devices available that monitor physiological parameters such as heart rate and temperature, which can be used to improve the well-being and health of users. These devices can also be used to monitor stress and anxiety levels, and to help users relax and improve the quality of their sleep. However, in general, beyond simply seeing each other or simply talking to each other through the use of technology, which also represents an important moment for the continuation of an emotional relationship at a distance, the idea of combining the potential of sensors for the detection of physiological parameters with the human need to feel emotionally connected, or "affectively synchronized", is not yet a reality. has been sufficiently explored by current technology.

Among the interesting devices from this point of view, we point out ?Pillow Talk?: it is a bracelet that detects the heartbeat of a user and transmits it to a small remote speaker to be placed under the pillow of his partner. In this way, two people wearing two devices can hear each other's heartbeat, perhaps when they are far away. However, it does not have bio-feedback tools that can detect a connection between two people. Among the patents, we mention CN206080518U and CN105852864A, both relating to breathing monitoring systems carried out through wearable devices connected to computer systems for examining the data, both however lacking the characteristic of detecting an emotional connection connected to respiratory activity. Patent US20180032126A1, which describes ?a dedicated processing device for collecting biological data together with other data available on the Internet, where the measurement of emotion is ? measured, derived or calculated based on the data collected and/or any historical measurements of the person. The result can be shared with a list of contacts selected by the person who can also view their own result.? However, this is also a self-contained detection device, which shows no relation to the emotions possibly experienced by a partner.

Finally, we mention the patent US10735831B2, which describes a wearable device that detects the heartbeat and associates it with haptic feedback but, once again, for medical or health monitoring purposes.

Our invention therefore appears to present both similarities and important differences with respect to the prior art. In terms of similarities, all the inventive concepts examined describe wearable devices that detect the physiological parameters of the users, such as the heart rate. Furthermore, all the patents use this information to provide feedback to the users. However, there are some important differences: our invention has the form of an interactive scarf equipped with sensors and has as its main objective that of promoting and showing an existing emotional connection between two users, showing not so much the values of their physiological parameters, but rather their synchronization. This information is distinctive, because it intends to explicitly show an emotional connection (social-emotional engagement) that even involves the biological aspect (biofeedback) of the two people and is visually shown through a harmonious and pleasant bright color. Furthermore, the inventive concept described below also has the ability to connect to the Internet, which allows two physically distant users to wear the device and visualize their emotional connection, triggering a virtuous visual-affective-emotional circle that feeds on the joy and satisfaction of mutual feedback and leads to a shared feeling of well-being. This, in particular, is a feature not present in known technology, which is limited to detecting physiological parameters for medical, sports or other purposes, without ever investigating the emotional aspect.

Description of the invention

The present patent application for industrial invention is intended to describe and claim a device equipped with at least one new and alternative solution to the solutions known to date and/or to satisfy one or more needs perceived in the art and in particular deducible from what is reported above. To achieve this purpose, the inventors have developed an interactive sensorized device capable of promoting and showing the emotional connection between two users through the detection of physiological parameters notoriously connected to the emotional state and collected in a non-invasive way from the hands. These parameters, easily measurable and functionally known in physiology, are identified in the following: - the heartbeat, detected through a pulse oximeter applied to a finger (or equivalent device or electrode), is the parameter that is most commonly associated with emotional involvement;

- skin temperature, detected through a temperature sensor, shows variations that occur in response to activation of the autonomic nervous system; these variations can be associated with emotional involvement;

- muscle activity, detected through hand contractions by means of an infrared electromyograph, can be associated with an emotional state such as tension;

- breathing, detected through an optical sensor: this type of sensor uses spectroscopy technology to detect variations in the concentration of oxygen in the blood, which are an indicator of the respiratory rate; these variations are translated into electrical signals that can be processed by a microcontroller to calculate the respiratory rate and other metrics related to breathing; breathing, together with the heart rate and other related parameters, can detect greater or lesser emotional involvement;

- the handshake, monitored through a force or pressure sensor that can be tightened with more or less force based on the intensity of the emotional connection; this is a voluntary parameter and underlines the emotional involvement;

- Skin resistivity, detected by a GSR sensor, can be influenced by the activity of the autonomic nervous system and can be associated with emotional state; the GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) sensor is in fact a device capable of measuring the electrical resistance of the skin, which changes based on sweating caused by the activation of the sweat glands. This change in resistance is used to indicate the activity of the autonomic nervous system, which is associated with emotions, thoughts and behaviors.

According to one embodiment of the device, it has the shape of a scarf to be worn around the neck and has two sensorized pockets at the ends, preferably made so as to be soft, comfortable for the hands and pleasant to look at, such as two furry balls containing a slot for the insertion of the hands. Inside each pocket are inserted at least the pulse oximeter, or an equivalent electrode, for the detection of the heartbeat, and the optical sensor for the detection of the respiratory rhythm; in other variants, the presence of all or a combination of the other sensors previously indicated is foreseen.

Just below the fabric and positioned on each pocket, there are at least two colored LED strips and a vibrating motor. These represent the main biofeedback of the invention and their function is to indicate the emotional connection through vibration, coloration and rhythm. The LED strips and the vibrating motor can in fact physically represent the synchronization of physiological parameters in various ways, which will be examined below.

The characterizing element of this inventive concept is the presence of a small and light circuit positioned in the middle portion of the scarf that goes around the neck and which has the purpose of controlling the entire functioning of the device.

This circuit includes at least one processor, a memory, a rechargeable battery, a USB port for charging and a Bluetooth module, and is connected to all the sensors, as well as to at least two LED strips and the vibrating motor present in each pocket, through wires that pass inside the fabric along the scarf. The circuit receives the information detected by the sensors and passes it, by means of said Bluetooth module, to a dedicated remote software running on a device such as a tablet or a remote computer. This analyses the parameters and sends signals to the feedback devices present in the two pockets, i.e. to the LED strips and the vibrating motors, which consequently physically represent the current emotional state. Said dedicated software is also capable of displaying and recording all the detected parameters, as well as allowing the connection to the Internet between two separate devices.

A single device can be used by two people in close proximity, for example, hugging, or on a bed, sofa, or anywhere they like, simply by wrapping it around their neck or body so that each person can put their hand in one of the two pockets. As the sensors come into contact with the skin, they start sending signals to the circuit, which sends them to the remote application running. The signals are processed and a visual representation of them is sent to the feedback devices on the pockets, so that the two users can see and feel them. When the parameters are in sync, the feedback devices signal the emotional connection through a combination of lights and pleasant and gratifying tactile feedback that the users can share with each other to their mutual satisfaction.

Another characterizing element of the present invention is the possibility of connecting two separate sensorized devices, worn by two physically distant people, to detect their emotional connection even from great distances. This feature can be used not only when someone moves away from their family, for example, for a trip, but can also be useful in extreme missions such as those carried out at the poles for scientific research or in space.

For remote connection, two separate interactive sensorized devices will obviously be needed, each connected to its control application via Bluetooth, and an Internet connection. Each application, connected to its device via Bluetooth, connects to the network and identifies the target application by means of a server, or a remote address.

When remotely connecting two distant devices, both users can place both hands in both pockets of their sensorized interactive device, viewing visual and tactile representations of both their own and the other user's biofeedback.

As for the bio-feedback display mode, in all cases of use the software installed on the remote device interprets the emotional connection when the values detected by the two users align or even synchronize with each other. Since some interpret "emotional involvement" as a state of greater relaxation, while others, on the contrary, as a state of greater tension associated perhaps with enthusiasm or happiness, it was decided not to emphasize the increase or decrease in absolute terms (i.e. the variation) of the detected physiological values, but rather their alignment and synchronization. The increase or decrease in the detected values can indicate, in fact, emotional states in absolute terms; therefore, they are able to tell us whether the users are in a state of tension or relaxation. But it is not possible to predict how the users who use the device will interpret their emotional involvement: for some, a greater state of tension could indicate greater involvement, for others it may not. What is highlighted by feedback devices, rather, is the emotional "connection", that is, the synchrony that occurs when both users experience a similar or even the same physiological state, regardless of how they interpret it. What can reasonably be said is that, in any case, if they are experiencing a similar physiological state, they are probably in a state of emotional connection, that is, they are experiencing a similar emotion.

From a visual point of view, as we said, the two pockets of the device each have two distinct LED strips capable of changing color.

When a single device is used by two users who are physically close or in an embrace, each of them puts a hand inside one of the pockets and each of the pockets shows the physiological state of the partner on one LED strip and their own physiological state on the other LED strip. In this way, by looking at any pocket, both can see both their own state and that of their partner. When the two users are not emotionally connected, the two LED strips show two distinct colors, preferably blue and red, which pulse in rhythm with the respective detected heartbeats. As the various parameters align on similar or equal values, the two strips on each pocket begin to converge towards a single color, preferably purple, and pulse more and more synchronously, until they become a single color that pulses in unison. When complete synchrony is achieved, the vibrating motor adds a pleasant vibration to both pockets, confirming that both partners are experiencing the same emotion.

When two separate devices are connected to the Internet and each is used by a user, the biofeedback does not change: both users will have both hands in both pockets and each pocket will show, by means of the two LED strips, the emotional state of one user with one color and the emotional state of the other user with the other color. As happened in the case where the two users were physically close and used a single device, also in this case each pocket visually shows both emotional states that tend to merge into a single color and to pulsate at the same rhythm as the detected physiological values overlap. And also in this case, when synchrony is detected, all four vibrating motors will provide pleasant tactile feedback to the hands of both users. In a variant of the inventive concept that is the subject of this industrial patent application, the interactive sensorized device for emotional connection takes the form of a garment, such as a T-shirt; without modifying the inventive concept, both users, instead of wearing a T-shirt, will be able to feel the same emotional state. having a scarf around their neck and putting their hands in their pockets, each wears a sensorized garment inside which all the sensors described are applied, directly in contact with the skin of the body. The same small circuit is fixed in an invisible point inside the garment, for example behind the neck, and connected to the sensors positioned on the inside of the fabric, just like in the original version. The emotional connection, however, rather than being highlighted by the LED strips and the vibrating motor previously described, absent in this variant, can be shown visually on a dedicated remote application running on the screen of a mobile phone or equivalent device, for example through a pleasant graphic animation of a creative nature. Said application can send a notification to the two mobile phones connected to the devices, so as to warn users that their physiological parameters have synchronized.

The advantages offered by the present invention are evident in light of the description set forth thus far and will be even clearer thanks to the attached figures and the relative detailed description.

Description of the figures

The foregoing advantages, as well as other advantages and features of the present invention, will be illustrated by reference to the attached drawings, which are to be considered purely illustrative and not limiting or binding for the purposes of the present patent application, in which:

- FIGURE 1 shows the possible realization of an interactive sensorized device 1 for emotional connection having the shape of a scarf, at the ends of which are arranged two identical sensorized pockets for the hands containing the sensors 50-100 and the two bio-feedback devices 20-21 and 25; said scarf comprising a circuit 10 hidden in its median segment, connected to said sensors 50-100 and to said bio-feedback devices 20-21 and 25 by means of electric cables 18;

- FIGURE 2 illustrates the operating diagram of two distinct devices 1 when connected to each other via the Internet by means of a dedicated remote device application 500, which in turn is connected to device 1 by means of a Bluetooth connection.

Detailed description of the invention

It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modifications can be made to what has been described (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as it appears in the appended claims.

The present invention will now be illustrated, purely by way of example but not limiting or binding with respect to the present inventive concept, as a fabric scarf at the ends of which are placed two identical and sensorized pockets, the purpose of which is to detect and show the emotional connection between two users through the detection of those biological parameters that in physiology are considered to be related to emotional states.

For this purpose, inside the median segment of said scarf, hidden from view, there is a circuit 10 capable of receiving all the readings made by the sensors 50-100, forwarding them to a dedicated software running on a remote device 500 and receiving from it the information to be sent to the feedback devices 20-25, comprising at least one processor 11, a memory 12, a Bluetooth transmitter 13 capable of communicating with the remote device 500, a rechargeable battery 14, a USB port 15, and connected via a wired connection 18 to the sensors 50-100 and to the bio-feedback devices 20, 21, 25; said sensors 50-100 and devices 21-25 being all present on both pockets.

As regards the sensors 50-100, positioned inside the pockets so that each one comes into contact with the hand or fingers of the user according to its function, there is a pulse oximeter 50 or equivalent sensor, suitable for detecting the heartbeat; a temperature sensor 60, suitable for detecting small variations in temperature that may be associated with emotional involvement; an electromyograph sensor 70, preferably infrared, suitable for detecting muscle contractions associated with tension; an optical sensor 80, suitable for detecting variations in the concentration of oxygen in the blood, which are an indicator of the respiratory rate; a force or pressure sensor 90, suitable for monitoring the voluntary grip of the hand, associated with emotional involvement; a GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) sensor, suitable for measuring the resistivity of the skin, which is associated with emotions; each of these said sensors 50-100 in both pockets being connected, through a cable 18 passing inside the said scarf, to the said circuit 10.

While, as regards bio-feedback, preferably positioned between two layers of fabric so that they diffuse the light through it, there are at least two coloured LED strips 20 and 21, each connected to the said circuit 10 and each representing the emotional state of one of the two users of the device 1; said LED strips preferably showing a blue and red colour respectively, pulsating at the respective heart rhythms, until no synchronisation of the physiological parameters is achieved; and tending to a uniform colour preferably purple and pulsating in unison as the alignment of the detected physiological parameters occurs; and a vibrating motor 25, also positioned between two layers of fabric inside the pocket and connected to the said circuit 10, suitable for providing a pleasant tactile feedback when a synchronisation of the physiological parameters is detected.

The entire device 1 is managed by dedicated software running on a remote device 500, which connects to the circuit 10 by means of the Bluetooth transmitter 13. Said dedicated software is capable of displaying and recording all the detected parameters on a digital screen, as well as allowing the connection to the Internet between two distinct devices for remote emotional connection.

When used by two users who are physically close together, possibly hugging each other, device 1 is wrapped around the neck or body and each user places a hand inside one of the two pockets. Upon contact with the skin, sensors 50-100 begin to send their readings to said circuit 10 which, by means of Bluetooth device 13, sends them to said remote device 500 on which the dedicated software is running. This displays and records the physiological states of both users on a digital screen, sending, again by means of Bluetooth device 13, feedback to feedback devices 20-25. As the physiological values align, the two said LED strips 20 and 21 tend to become the same color, preferably purple, and to pulse in synchrony. When synchrony occurs, vibrating motor 25 also starts working, providing a pleasant tactile sensation to users.

Two separate sensorized devices 1 may be used by two separate users far from each other for the purpose of detecting an emotional connection at a distance. In this case, both users will place both hands in both pockets. The two devices 1 may be connected to the Internet by means of said dedicated software running on the remote device 500 and the emotional connection is detected and indicated as described above.

It is clear that modifications, additions or variations obvious to a person skilled in the art may be made to the invention described herein without thereby departing from the scope of protection provided by the attached claims.

Claims (9)

Claims 1. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, characterized by having preferably the shape of a scarf at the ends of which are placed two identical pockets for the hands and by comprising at least: - a circuit (10), positioned between two strips of fabric in the median segment of said scarf and comprising in turn at least one processor (11), a memory (12), a Bluetooth device (13) suitable for sending and receiving signals to and from a remote device (500) on which a dedicated software is running, a battery (14) preferably rechargeable and a USB port (15) mainly suitable for recharging said battery (14); - two pulse oximeters (50) or equivalent sensors, each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets so that it comes into contact with the user's finger or hand, suitable for detecting the heartbeat; - two optical sensors (80), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets so that it comes into contact with the user's finger or hand, suitable for detecting the respiratory rhythm; - two first LED strips (20), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned between two strips of fabric above one of the two said pockets so that it produces a coloured light visible from the outside, suitable for representing, through the colouring and rhythm of its illumination, the overall state of the physiological parameters of a first user whose hand is placed inside one of the two pockets; such colouring being preferably blue, and the rhythm being determined by the heartbeat of the first user; - second two second LED strips (21), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned between two strips of fabric above one of the two said pockets so that it produces a coloured light visible from the outside, suitable for representing, through the colouring and rhythm of its illumination, the overall state of the physiological parameters of a second user whose hand is placed inside the other of the two pockets; such colouring being preferably red, and the rhythm being determined by the heartbeat of the second user; said blue and red colourings relating to the first LED strips and to the second LED strips tending to conform to the preferably purple colouring as the physiological values of the two users align; and said rhythm tending to match as the heartbeats of the two users tend to synchronize; - two vibrating motors (25), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets between two flaps of fabric, designed to provide pleasant tactile feedback through vibration when the physiological parameters detected by at least said sensors (50) and (80) are synchronized; said device (1) being able, as a whole, to promote and represent an ongoing emotional connection between two users involved in a personal relationship, by detecting the synchronisation of the rhythms and values of the respective biological parameters traditionally known in physiology as being related to emotions. 2. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to the previous claim, characterized in that said dedicated software running on a remote device (500) equipped with a digital screen, is at least able to receive the physiological parameters detected by at least two said sensors (50) and (80), process them, display them and record them; said software also being able to detect any alignments and/or synchronizations between the physiological parameters and to send, again by means of said Bluetooth device (13), bio-feedback signals towards said LED strips (20) and (21) and towards said vibrating motor (25). 3. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two temperature sensors (60), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets so that it comes into contact with the user's finger or hand, capable of detecting small temperature variations that can be associated with emotional involvement. 4. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two electromyographic sensors (70) preferably infrared, each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets so that it comes into contact with the user's finger or hand, capable of detecting variations in the muscular contraction of the hand, associated with tension. 5. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two force or pressure sensors (90), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets so that it can be held by the user's hand, suitable for monitoring the voluntary hand grip, associated with emotional involvement. 6. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises two GSR, Galvanic Skin Response, sensors (100), each connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned inside one of the two said pockets so that it comes into contact with the user's finger or hand, suitable for measuring the resistivity of the skin which is associated with emotions. 7. Interactive sensorized device (1) for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is capable of connecting to a second identical sensorized device (1); said connection being mediated by said dedicated software running on the remote device (500); said remote connection being capable of detecting the emotional connection between two physically distant users, each equipped with a device (1); said users each being able to put their hands in the pockets of their device (1) connected to the Internet; the two said first LED strips (20) present on the first device (1) showing a representation of the physiological parameters of the first user; the two said second LED strips (21) present on the first device (1) showing a representation of the physiological parameters of the second user; said representation being repeated in the second remote device (1), so that both users can see the physiological representations of the other and receive mutual bio-feedback. 8. Interactive sensorized device for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, characterized by having the shape of a garment, preferably a T-shirt, and by comprising at least: - a circuit (10), positioned between two strips of fabric hidden from view and comprising in turn at least one processor (11), a memory (12), a Bluetooth device (13) capable of sending and receiving signals to and from a remote device (500) on which a dedicated software is running, a battery (14) preferably rechargeable and a USB port (15) primarily designed for recharging said battery (14); - a pulse oximeter (50) or equivalent sensor, connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned in contact with the user's skin, suitable for detecting the heartbeat; - an optical sensor (80) or equivalent sensor, connected to said circuit (10) by means of a cable (18) and positioned in contact with the user's skin, suitable for detecting the respiratory rhythm; said device having the preferable shape of a T-shirt having an identical analogue and having to be worn by two distinct users; said two identical analogue devices being connected, by means of said Bluetooth device (13), to a dedicated software running on at least one remote device (500) equipped with a digital screen; said software being at least capable of receiving the physiological parameters detected by the at least two said sensors (50) and (80) present on each T-shirt, processing them, displaying them and recording them; said software being capable of detecting any alignments and/or synchronizations between the physiological parameters and of showing on said digital remote device (500) an animated representation of a graphic, tactile and/or sound type of the alignment or synchronization of the values of the physiological parameters of the two users; said software being able to send notifications to the device, capable of drawing the attention of the users when the physiological parameters align or synchronize; said device being capable, as a whole, of promoting and displaying an ongoing emotional connection between two users involved in a personal relationship, by detecting the synchronisation of the rhythms and values of the respective biological parameters traditionally known in physiology as being related to emotions. 9. Interactive sensorized device for emotional connection based on the synchronization of physiological parameters relating to emotions, according to the sole previous claim 8, characterized in that it comprises all the sensors previously described (60, 70, 90 and 100) or a combination thereof, positioned inside said T-shirt in contact with the user's skin, connected via the cable (18) to said circuit (10) and managed by the dedicated software as previously described.