FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for detecting a stress in a living being. More
particularly, the present invention discloses a bio-electronic device and a method for
5 detecting mental stress in students while studying, and other human beings during their day
to day routine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
10 Mental stress is increasing day by day in the life of millions of people. Stressful situations are
often found in the workplace and at home. Many kids are also found in metal stress while
studying, which is not good for their health and development at the early age of life.
Bio feedback systems are known in the art for use in detecting levels of stress in subjects
15 and providing the appropriate stimuli to affect and alter the flow of brain wave patterns. Bio
feedback systems monitor and process bioelectrical signals generated in specific topological
regions of a human subject's nervous system and produce a sensory stimulus when the
system detects the presence or absence of certain characteristics in the signal. These
characteristics may be correlated with a desired condition of the human subject's nervous
20 system.
The bio-feedback devices operate on the basis of internal stimuli, that is stimuli produced in
response to bioelectrical signals generated by the human subject, the success of the bio
feedback device depends upon a human subject attempting to consciously control a state of
25 stress. Many people cannot affect such control over their involuntary nervous systems. Also,
the bio-feedback systems are usually expensive, require complex equipment, and require an
expert to operate.
Therefore, there is a need of portable, easy to use low cost bio-electronic device for
30 detecting mental stress in students while studying and other human beings during their day
to day routine.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a portable bio-electronic device
which can detect the mental stress in students while studying and other human beings
5 during their day to day routine through observing the muscle tension.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable bio-electronic device for
detecting mental stress in students while studying and other human beings during their day
to day routine.
10
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a low cost bio-electronic device for
detecting mental stress in students while studying and other human beings during their day
to day routine.
15 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bio-electronic device for
detecting mental stress in students while studying and other human beings during their day
to day routine; which can be easily used and maintained. j
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bio-electronic device which
20 allows a human being to easily self-monitor the excessive tension and stress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes a bio-electronic device for detecting a stress in a living
25 being. The device comprises of a sensing unit, a controlling unit and a coupling means. The
sensing unit comprises of at least one galvanic skin response sensor, is in band form worn
on or attached to the living being through a velcro strip. The controlling unit is coupled to
the sensing unit by the coupling means. The controlling unit comprises of a microprocessor,
an inbuilt fed or preset value /data, LCD display, an alarm, an on/off button and a reset
30 button.
3
The present invention also describes a method of detecting stress in a living being. The
sensing unit measures a change in the physical properties in living being. The i
microprocessor in the controlling unit process the data received from the sensing unit and
processes the data by comparing it with preset data/value. LCD displays the value on the
5 screen of said controlling unit and an alarm in the controlling unit alerts the user of the
device. Thus, the present invention is to provide a bio-electronic device which allows a
human being to easily self-monitor the excessive tension and stress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
10
The aforementioned aspects and other features of the present disclosure will be explained
in the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bio-electronic device for detecting a stress
15 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram of method for detecting a stress according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
20 Figure 3 illustrates a flow diagram of method for detecting a stress according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure. |
i
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
25 The following presents a detailed description of a preferred embodiment (as well as some
alternative embodiments) of the present invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with reference to
30 the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not limited to these
embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the present subject matter to
4
the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, like
reference numerals are used to indicate like components.
One embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure-1 provides a bio-electronic
5 device for detecting a stress in living being by sensing physical properties like sweat and
blood pressure in a living being. The device comprises of at least one sensing unit (11), at
least one controlling unit (13) and a coupling means (12).
The sensing unit (11) having at least one galvanic skin response sensor, is in band form worn on or
10 tied or attached directly to the living being through a velcro strip. The sensors in sensing unit
measures the change in the physical properties like sweat and blood pressure in living being.
I
The controlling unit (13) comprises of a microprocessor, an inbuilt fed data, LCD display (14), an
alarm, an on/off button (15) and a reset button (16). The controlling unit is coupled to the sensing
15 unit for processing the data received from the sensing unit. The microprocessor in the controlling
unit (13) receives signals from said sensing unit (11) and process the received data by comparing it
with preset data/value. The LCD (14) displays the result value on the screen of said controlling unit
(13). The on/off button (15) is used to turn on and turn off said device. The reset button (16) is for
resetting the device after display of result. The alarm in the controlling unit is for producing a signal
20 or sound when the value showing stress is more than preset normal value.
I
I
The connecting mean (12) is selected from a group comprises at least one wire, a bluetooth and any
of other wireless means. A connecting mean is used for connecting the sensing unit and the
controlling unit.
25
Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of detecting stress in a living being. The method
comprises steps of associating one sensing unit having at least one galvanic skin response sensor to
said living being, connecting at least one controlling unit to the sensing unit by coupling means,
measuring change in the physical properties like sweat and blood pressure in living being, processing
30 and comparing the data using microprocessor in a said controlling unit and displaying the result on
the display of said controlling unit and alerting the user. The sensing unit having galvanic skin
response sensor is attached to a body of the living being through a band and velcro. The controlling
unit having a microprocessor, an inbuilt fed data or preset value data, LCD display (14), an alarm, an
5
I
on/off button (15) and a reset button (16) is coupled to the sensing unit (11) by using coupling |
means (12) like a wire, a bluetooth or any of other wireless means. Thereafter, the device is turn on I
using on/off button built in the controlling unit. The sensors in the sensing unit measures the change
in the physical properties like sweat and blood pressure in a living being. The data then transferred
i
5 to the microprocessor of the controlling unit through the coupling means like a wire, a bluetooth or j
any of other wireless means. The microprocessor in the controlling unit (13) receives signals from
sensor of the sensing unit (11) and process the received data by comparing it with preset data/value.
If the value produced by the sensor is low or high as compared to the inbuilt data,
determines the condition of the person under stress. An alarm or a system will give a warning
10 to the people close to that person through a buzzer and speaker that the person is suffering
from mental stress.
Figure 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for detection of stress in a living being
according to another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present
15 invention describes a system containing a velcro strip worn on the upper part of arms such
that it comes in contact with some part of under arms so it can measure sweat. There are
electrodes in the strip which measures sweat and blood pressure. These electrodes will
continuously check the sweat and blood pressure and display the value on the screen. If the
measured value is exceeding the pre-set value, the system will indicate that the person is
20 under stress. The galvanic skin response of a person changes as the person is under stress.
The skin resistance is measured by the galvanic skin response sensor. If the skin resistance is
high the person is not stressed but as the skin resistance detected changes to low, it means
the person is under stress. The system is so programmed that it continuously senses the
sweat and blood pressure. And it is displayed on the screen. Here there can be four
25 possibilities:
1) Sweat detected (low resistance on GSR), normal blood pressure.
2) Sweat detected (low resistance on GSR), high blood pressure.
3) Sweat not detected but high blood pressure.
4) Sweat not detected (high resistance on GSR), normal blood pressure.
30
From the above four conditions if condition 2 or condition 3 is satisfied, then it can be said
that the person is under mental stress. Thus the system will give a warning to the people
6
close to that person through a buzzer and speaker that the person is suffering from mental
i
stress. This is because if there is only sweat resistance measurement the person may not be
under stress it may be perspiration due to heat so both sweat and blood pressure detection
j
is incorporated in the system. j
5
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a portable bio-electronic device
which can detect the mental stress in students while studying and other human beings
during their day to day routine through observing the muscle tension. The device will be so
compact in nature that it could be attached to the clothing of the human subject by velcro
10 or by a clip-on device, or directly to the body of the human subject using a band with a
velcro fastener. Embodiment of present invention discloses a battery powered device
which comprises of one or more electrodes, amplifier for amplifying the potential
difference, an electronic controller for comparing the potential difference with the pre-set
value for normal condition and some digital or audio alarm to produce a signal when the
15 mental stress is more than preset normal value.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this
description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the
disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become
20 apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is
therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the present invention as defined.
25
30
7
I Components:
[11] sensing unit
[12] coupling means
5 [13] controlling unit
[14] LCD display
[15] on/off button
[16] reset button
10
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15
1
20 !
25
30
8
processing and comparing the data using microprocessor in a said controlling unit;
displaying the result on the display of said controlling unit and alerting the user.

We Claim:
1. A bio-electronic device for detecting a stress of living being comprising: 3 *
at least one sensing unit for measuring change in the physical properties in living being;
5
at least one controlling unit coupled to said sensing unit for processing the received
data; and
a coupling means for connecting said sensing unit and said controlling unit; wherein said
10 device detect stress by sensing physical properties in living being.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing unit having at least one galvanic skin
response sensor, is in band form worn on/tied/attached to the living being through a Velcro
strip.
15
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling unit comprises of a
microprocessor, an inbuilt fed data, LCD display, an alarm, an on/off button and a reset
button.
20 4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said microprocessor receives signals from said
sensing unit and process the received data by comparing it with preset data/value.
5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said LCD displays the value on the screen of said
controlling unit.
25
6. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said on/off button turn on and turn off said device.
7. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reset button is for resetting the device after
display of result.
30
8. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said alarm is for producing a signal or sound when
the stress is more than preset normal value.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting mean is selected from a group
35 comprises at least one wire, a bluetooth and any of other wireless means.
10. A method of detecting stress in living being comprising:
associating one sensing unit having at least one galvanic skin response sensor to said
40 living being;
connecting at least one controlling unit to said sensing unit by coupling means:
measuring change in the physical properties in living being;