KR102282881B1 - Biological signal measurement apparatus and system - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a biosignal measuring device and a system therefor. A biosignal measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: at least one EEG sensor for measuring the EEG signal of the user by contacting the user's head; and an earphone for providing a reference signal and a ground signal for measuring the user's EEG signal from the EEG sensor, wherein the earphone has an ear tip in contact with the user's ear made of a conductive material containing conductive silicone and a contact area in which the EEG sensor contacts the user may be 50% or more of a contact area in which the earphone contacts the user.

Description

Biosignal measuring device and its system {BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a biosignal measurement technology, and more particularly, measures and provides a user's brain wave signal (EEG signal) and heart rate signal (Heart Rate), and provides customized sound sources according to the measurement results and interpretation information on the measurement results. It relates to an apparatus and system for measuring biosignals that can be provided to a user.

Today, modern people live under stress due to schoolwork, housework, personal relationships, and excessive work. Due to these stresses, modern people cannot get a good night's sleep and suffer from insufficient sleep time. In addition, after the increase in the spread of computers and smartphones, the quality of sleep has fallen sharply, and the number of patients visiting hospitals complaining of sleep disorders is on the rise.

Human thinking and behavior are regulated by the function of the cerebrum, and the function of the cerebrum depends on the activity of many brain neurons. The activity of these brain neurons is called an electroencephalogram (EEG) or 'brain potential'. These brain waves are used in the field of neurophysiology as an index for spatially and temporally grasping fluctuations in brain activity. Because it is changed by the activity of neurons in the brain, it shows a specific pattern that changes according to the state of consciousness and mental activity. Therefore, examining EEG means spatially and temporally identifying whether brain activity is increasing or decreasing by expressing the level of brain activity as an objective indicator. In particular, in general, brain waves are delta waves (δ, 0.5-4 Hz), theta waves (θ, 4-8 Hz), alpha waves (α, 8-13 Hz), beta waves (β, 13-30 Hz), and gamma waves depending on the frequency band. It is classified as a wave (γ, 30~50Hz). In addition, based on the alpha wave, less than 8 Hz is classified as a slow wave, and above 13 Hz is classified as a fast wave. Spontaneous EEG, which has been studied by EEG, appears as brain activity such as sensation in general physiological phenomena, and evoked EEG can be observed by artificially inducing brain activity to examine the state of brain activity.

Delta Wave is an EEG in the 0.5 to 4 Hz band that appears predominantly in deep sleep in which brain functions are completely relaxed. do. In the anterior frontal region, the activity of delta waves is high because it is affected by eye movements.

Theta wave refers to brain waves in the 4 to 8 Hz band, and generally refers to a state in which the body and consciousness are hazy or an intermediate state between drowsiness and waking. In theta wave state, it is accompanied by a dreamlike image, and the image is sometimes experienced as a vivid memory. Theta wave, which appears during awakening, awakens attention, provides ideas for problem solving, and is sometimes linked to creative power. In some cases, it enters a realm that transcends the limits of time and space and is caused by flashes or inspiration. Theta waves are also associated with deeply internalized and quiet states of physical, emotional and thought activity.

Alpha Wave is an EEG in the 8~13Hz band, which is a fundamental wave that reflects the neurophysiologically stable state of the brain and is less affected by noise waves. has been used for

Beta waves are brain waves in the 13-30Hz band, appearing in wakefulness, activity, and stress, and are also affected by auditory, tactile, and emotional stimuli. Beta waves are normally well recorded in the frontal lobe and appear extensively throughout the brain during mental activity with concentration.

Gamma Wave is an EEG that occurs relatively frequently in the frontal and parietal lobes in a state of strong stress such as anxiety and excitement as external consciousness in the 30~50Hz band. In addition, gamma waves are characteristic brain waves that occur when we get out of a transcendental state of mind or relaxation and mobilize by activating a new state of consciousness, Neural Resources, that is, when we concentrate mentally.

The present invention proposes a biosignal measuring device capable of accurately measuring such an EEG signal.

Embodiments of the present invention measure and provide a user's brain wave signal (EEG signal) and heartbeat signal, and a biosignal measuring device and system capable of providing a customized sound source according to the measurement result and interpretation information on the measurement result to the user provides

A biosignal measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: at least one EEG sensor for measuring the EEG signal of the user by contacting the user's head; and an earphone for providing a reference signal and a ground signal for measuring the user's EEG signal in the EEG sensor.

When the earphone is worn on the user's ear, one ear region of the user's both ears may be provided as a reference signal, and the other ear region may be provided as a ground signal.

In the earphone, an ear tip contacting the user's ear may be made of a conductive material including conductive silicone.

A contact area in which the EEG sensor contacts the user may be 50% or more of a contact area in which the earphone contacts the user.

Furthermore, the biosignal measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first wireless communication module for transmitting the user's EEG signal measured by the EEG sensor; a second wireless communication module for receiving a sound source for output to the earphone; and a power supply means for supplying power to the device configuration means for EEG measurement including the EEG sensor and the first wireless communication module and the device configuration means for providing a sound source including the second wireless communication module can

The power supply means may supply power to the device configuration means for providing the sound source through the device configuration means for measuring brain waves.

The earphone may include a heart rate sensor for measuring the heart rate of the user when the earphone is inserted into the user's ear.

The biosignal measuring system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one EEG sensor for measuring the user's EEG signal by contacting the user's head and a reference for measuring the user's EEG signal from the EEG sensor a biosignal measuring device including an earphone providing a signal and a ground signal; and a terminal paired with the biosignal measuring device to receive the user's EEG signal from the biosignal measuring device and provide a preset sound source to the biosignal measuring device.

The biosignal measuring device includes: a first wireless communication module for transmitting the user's EEG signal measured by the EEG sensor to the terminal; and a second wireless communication module for receiving a sound source for output to the earphone from the terminal, wherein the terminal can pair the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module at the same time.

In the earphone, the ear tip in contact with the user's ear is made of a conductive material including conductive silicon, and the size of the ear tip may be adjustable in consideration of impedance matching with the EEG sensor.

When the earphone is worn on the user's ear, one ear region of the user's both ears may be provided as a reference signal, and the other ear region may be provided as a ground signal.

The earphone may include a heart rate sensor for measuring the heart rate of the user when the earphone is inserted into the user's ear.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a user's brain wave signal (EEG signal) and heartbeat signal are measured and provided, and a customized sound source according to the measurement result, for example, a binaural beat and interpretation information on the measurement result, is provided to the user. can provide

According to embodiments of the present invention, by providing a reference signal and a ground (or ground) signal for measuring the user's EEG signal using an eartip of an earphone made of a conductive material, for example, conductive silicon, the user's EEG signal can be accurately measured.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the size of the ear tip made of a conductive material for performing impedance matching between the earphone and the EEG sensor for measuring the EEG signal is adjusted in consideration of the contact area with the user's ear and the contact area of the EEG sensor By doing so, the size of the ear tip can be adjusted according to the size of the user's ear, and impedance matching through the size of the ear tip can be easily performed to accurately measure the user's EEG signal.

1 shows an exemplary diagram of a system for explaining the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary diagram for explaining a detailed configuration of the biosignal measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .
3 shows the configuration of a biosignal measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various different forms, and only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” refers to a referenced component, step, operation and/or element of one or more other components, steps, operations and/or elements. The presence or addition is not excluded.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used with the meaning commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in a commonly used dictionary are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless specifically defined explicitly.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and repeated descriptions of the same components are omitted.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a reference signal and a ground (or ground) signal for measuring the user's EEG signal using a conductive material, for example, an ear tip of an earphone made of conductive silicon, thereby accurately providing the user's EEG signal. The point is to measure it.

The present invention includes a communication module, for example, a Bluetooth module, for providing a measured EEG signal to a terminal, and a communication module, for example, a Bluetooth module, for receiving a sound source, for example, a binaural beat from the terminal, Bluetooth modules can be used by pairing with one terminal.

Furthermore, the present invention may determine the contact area of the ear tip of the earphone in consideration of the contact area of the EEG sensor in order to perform impedance matching between the component device for the EEG sensor including the EEG sensor and the component device for the earphone, and such a contact area In consideration of the impedance matching between the earphone and the EEG sensor, it is possible to accurately measure the EEG signal.

Furthermore, the present invention can measure and provide a user's brain wave signal (EEG signal) and heart rate signal, and provide a customized sound source according to the measurement result and interpretation information on the measurement result to the user.

Here, the interpretation information means an explanation that interprets the results of measuring the user's brain waves and heartbeat for easy understanding by the user. Content for relieving stress, such as content may also be included), may be provided to the user.

The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 as follows.

1 shows an exemplary diagram of a system for explaining the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the system includes a biosignal measuring device 100 and a terminal 200 .

The biosignal measuring apparatus 100 is in close contact with the user's head, for example, the user's forehead, and measures the EEG sensor, for example, the EEG sensor, the earphone, and the user's heart rate for measuring the user's EEG signal. A heart rate sensor, for example, an HR sensor.

In this case, the biosignal measuring apparatus 100 may include a communication module for EEG, for example, a first Bluetooth module and a communication module for earphones, for example, a second Bluetooth module, and a first Bluetooth module and a second Bluetooth module. All modules are paired with one terminal to provide the user's EEG signal measured through the first Bluetooth module to the terminal, and provide the user's heartbeat signal measured through the second Bluetooth module to the terminal and provided from the terminal For example, a binaural beat may be received and output to the user through earphones.

Here, the binaural beat refers to a psychoacoustic therapy method in which the brain waves are controlled as much as the waves of the difference in frequency as the binaural beat is the principle of causing EEG changes by transmitting two sounds with different frequencies to the nucleus of the brainstem.

The biosignal measuring device 100 includes a first device including an EEG sensor and a first Bluetooth module, an earphone, and a second Bluetooth module, for example, an EEG component device through one power supply means, for example, a battery Power is supplied to all of the second devices, and the first device becomes the master device and the second device becomes the slave device, and power is supplied to the second device through the first device.

In addition, the earphone constituting the biosignal measuring device 100 provides a reference signal and a ground signal of the EEG sensor by forming the ear tip in contact with the user's ear of a conductive material, for example, conductive silicon, and thus using the EEG sensor. When measuring, it is measured while the earphone is plugged into the user's ear, and since the reference signal and the ground signal are provided through the ear tip of the earphone, there is no need to provide a separate means for providing the reference signal and the ground signal, and the earphone and the EEG sensor The accuracy of the EEG signal to be measured can be improved through impedance matching between the two.

At this time, the earphone may provide a reference signal through one ear tip, for example, a right ear tip, and a ground signal through the other ear tip, for example, a left ear tip, and EEG to perform impedance matching. The contact area of the ear tip may be adjusted so that the contact area of the sensor with the user is 50% or more, for example, 55% of the contact area of the ear tip with the user. Of course, the ear tips of the earphone may be provided in various sizes according to the size of the user's ear, and the sizes of the ear tips provided in this way may also be determined in consideration of impedance matching with the EEG sensor.

Further, the earphone may be a heart rate sensor for measuring a user's heart rate signal when the earphone is worn on the ear, for example, a heart rate measuring earphone equipped with a PPG sensor, and the user's heart rate signal measured by the heart rate sensor is the second device's It may be provided to the terminal through the Bluetooth module.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the biosignal measuring device 100 measures the user's ear region contacted through the eartip of the earphone when the earphone is placed in contact with both ears of the user after being worn on the user's head as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . By holding the reference and ground, the user's EEG signal can be measured using the 2-channel EEG sensor.

At this time, the contact area of the ear tip for providing the reference signal, for example, the right ear tip, and the contact area for the left ear tip, for example, the ear tip for providing the ground signal may be different, and the EEG signal with minimal noise may be generated. In order to measure, the body contact area of the EEG sensor may be 50% or more of the body contact area of the ear tip.

Such a biosignal measuring device may include at least one display means, for example, a main LED and an audio LED as shown in FIG. 2 .

Here, the main LED may display the charging, power on/off state, EEG Bluetooth connection state, etc. of the corresponding device, and the audio LED may display the audio Bluetooth connection state.

Table 1 shows the display states of the main LED and audio LED. As can be seen from Table 1, the main LED displays red when the biosignal measuring device is being measured, green when charging is complete, and the power It can be seen that white is displayed when this is on, red is flashed when the battery is low, and blue is displayed when EEG Bluetooth is connected to the terminal. In addition, it can be seen that the audio LED is displayed in blue when the audio Bluetooth is connected to the terminal.

In this case, the main LED may be provided on the right side of the biosignal measuring device, and the audio LED may be provided on the left side of the biosignal measuring device.

Furthermore, the biosignal measuring device 100 may include a reset means for resetting the biosignal measuring device and a charging port for charging the biosignal measuring device, for example, a USB charging port.

Of course, the biosignal measuring apparatus 100 of the present invention is not limited to the band type as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and may be manufactured in various forms.

The terminal 200 is paired with two communication modules of the biosignal measuring device 100, for example, an EEG Bluetooth module and an audio bluetooth module, and measured by the biosignal measuring device through communication using the paired two bluetooth modules. By receiving the user's brainwave signal and heartbeat signal, and transmitting a sound source required by the user, for example, a binaural beat, the binaural beat can be output through the earphone.

Here, the terminal 200 may be an analysis device capable of analyzing the received user's brain wave signal as well as a heartbeat signal, or may be a user terminal including a smart phone.

Furthermore, the terminal 200 may provide not only a customized sound source according to the measurement result of the user's brain wave signal and heartbeat signal, but also interpretation information on the measurement result to the user.

Here, the terminal 200 may provide the user with content for relieving stress, such as an abdominal breathing guide, meditation, video, and functional games (which may also include VR healing content), as well as a user-customized sound source.

As described above, the biosignal measuring apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention measures the heartbeat signal according to the user's EEG signal and provides it to the terminal, and is customized according to the measurement result of the user's EEG signal and heartbeat signal. For example, it is possible to provide the user with interpretation information about the measurement result as well as the binaural beat.

In addition, the biosignal measuring device according to the embodiments of the present invention provides a reference signal and a ground (or ground) signal for measuring a user's EEG signal using an ear tip of an earphone made of a conductive material, for example, conductive silicon. By doing so, it is possible to accurately measure the user's EEG signal.

In addition, the biosignal measuring device according to the embodiments of the present invention determines the size of the ear tip made of a conductive material for impedance matching between the earphone and the EEG sensor for measuring the EEG signal and the contact area with the user's ear and the EEG sensor. By adjusting in consideration of the contact area, the size of the ear tip can be adjusted according to the size of the user's ear, and impedance matching through the size of the ear tip can be easily performed to accurately measure the user's EEG signal.

3 shows the configuration of a biosignal measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the biosignal measuring apparatus 100 of the present invention includes a power supply unit 310 , a first device 320 including an EEG sensor 321 and a first Bluetooth module 322 , and an earphone 331 . ) and a second device 330 including a second Bluetooth module 332 and a switching means 340 .

The power supply means 310 is a means for supplying power to the biosignal measuring device, and may include a battery, and supplies power to both the first device and the second device with one power supply means.

At this time, the power supply means 310 uses the first device 320 as a master and the second device 330 as a slave to power the second device 330 as a slave through the first device 320 as the master. can supply Of course, the power supply means may be controlled by the power supply by the power switch of the device.

The first device 320 is a device for measuring an EEG signal, and the EEG sensor 321 measures the user's EEG signal by contacting the user's head, for example, the forehead, and the first Bluetooth module 322 is the EEG The user's brain wave signal measured by the sensor 321 is transmitted to a paired terminal, for example, a user terminal.

Here, when the earphone 331 is worn on the user's ear, the EEG sensor 321 may measure the user's EEG signal based on the reference signal and the ground signal provided through the ear tip of the earphone.

The second device 330 is a device for providing an audio signal to the user. The earphone 331 has an ear tip made of a conductive material, and when the earphone 331 is worn on the user's ear, brain waves are transmitted through the ear tip of the conductive material. A reference signal and a ground signal for signal measurement are provided, and when a sound source, for example, a binaural beat is received from the terminal through the second Bluetooth module 332 , the corresponding sound source is provided to the user.

Here, the second device 330 may receive power from the power supply means 310 through the first device 320 , and may include a capacitor to charge a part of the power of the power supply means 310 and use it. .

The earphone 331 may provide a reference signal through one ear tip, for example, a right ear tip, and provide a ground signal through the other ear tip, for example, a left ear tip, and EEG to perform impedance matching. The contact area of the ear tip may be adjusted so that the contact area of the sensor 321 with the user is 50% or more, for example, 55% of the contact area of the ear tip with the user. Of course, the ear tip of the earphone 331 may be provided in various sizes according to the size of the user's ear, and the size of the ear tips of various sizes provided in this way may also be determined in consideration of impedance matching with the EEG sensor. .

Furthermore, the earphone 331 may include a heartbeat sensor for measuring the heartbeat signal of the user when the earphone 331 is worn on the user's ear, and the heartbeat signal measured by the heartbeat sensor is the second Bluetooth module 332 . may be provided to the terminal through

The second Bluetooth module 332 is paired with the terminal to which the first Bluetooth module 322 is paired to provide a heartbeat signal to the terminal, and provides the sound source received from the terminal to the second device 330 , so that the corresponding sound source is the earphone can be made available to users.

In the switching means 340 , the voltage charged in the capacitor provided in the second device 330 is transferred to the second device 330 for a predetermined period of time even if the power supply means 310 is not supplied because the biosignal measuring device is turned off. By supplying power, the capacitor and the second device 330 are configured between the capacitor and the second device 330 to solve the problem of pairing with the terminal, and when the power supplied from the power supply means is cut off, the power charged in the capacitor is transferred to the second device ( 330) to prevent it from being supplied.

Here, the switching means 340 may be configured in the second device or may be configured separately, and the switching means 340 may be controlled on/off through switching control of the control means constituting the biosignal measuring device. there is.

Although the description of the biosignal measuring system is omitted, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the biosignal measuring system may include all the contents described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .

The system or apparatus described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and/or a combination of the hardware component and the software component. For example, the systems, devices and components described in the embodiments may include, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array (FPA). ), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions, may be implemented using one or more general purpose or special purpose computers. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to execution of the software. For convenience of understanding, although one processing device is sometimes described as being used, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the processing device includes a plurality of processing elements and/or a plurality of types of processing elements. It can be seen that can include For example, the processing device may include a plurality of processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as parallel processors.

Software may comprise a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, which configures a processing device to operate as desired or is independently or collectively processed You can command the device. The software and/or data may be any kind of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device, to be interpreted by or to provide instructions or data to the processing device. , or may be permanently or temporarily embody in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over networked computer systems, and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored in one or more computer-readable recording media.

The method according to the embodiments may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the embodiment, or may be known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic such as floppy disks. - includes magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language codes such as those generated by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described with reference to the limited embodiments and drawings, various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art from the above description. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and/or the described components of the system, structure, apparatus, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or other components Or substituted or substituted by equivalents may achieve an appropriate result.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (12)

at least one EEG sensor for measuring the EEG signal of the user in contact with the user's head; and
Earphone providing a reference signal and a ground signal for measuring the user's EEG signal in the EEG sensor
including,
The ear tip in contact with the user's ear is made of a conductive material for performing impedance matching between the earphone and an EEG sensor for measuring EEG signals,
When the earphone is worn on the user's ear, one ear area of the user's both ears is provided as a reference signal, and the other ear area is provided as a ground signal,
The contact area in which the EEG sensor is in contact with the user is
The biosignal measuring device, characterized in that the earphone is 50% or more of a contact area in contact with the user through the ear tip.
delete delete delete According to claim 1,
a first wireless communication module for transmitting the EEG signal of the user measured by the EEG sensor;
a second wireless communication module for receiving a sound source for output to the earphone; and
Power supply means for supplying power to the device configuration means for EEG measurement including the EEG sensor and the first wireless communication module and the device configuration means for providing a sound source including the second wireless communication module
A biosignal measuring device further comprising a.
6. The method of claim 5,
The power supply means
A biosignal measuring device, characterized in that for supplying power to the sound source providing device configuration means through the EEG measuring device configuration means.
delete delete delete delete delete delete

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