Class I infrared eye blinking detector

Eyes blinking detectors are often used to monitor the drowsiness or the fatigue during any activity. Therefore, sensor has to be as safe and less intrusive as possible in order to avoid additional annoyance and hazards. The proposed detector has been developed according to the Class I specifications of IEC 60825-1 standard on the safety of LASER and LED products in order to work until 8 h in a safety condition for the user. The sensor used is a commercial infrared emitting diode coupled to an infrared photodiode, embedded in the same device and usually used for data link, clipped on the rod of the glasses and placed closed to the eye. The sensor uses the technique of the modulation of the infrared beam to be less sensitive to the head movements and changes of environmental light. Actually a cable connects the sensor to the control board that sends the eye blinking signal to a personal computer in order to be recorded. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.