Sensor system and method of operating the same

• US 10,085,669 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Chang Mok, Kim, Sang Joon, Mun, Min Young
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/059,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

Provided is a device for measuring a signal and a method of operating the same. The device may include electrodes attached to the device, and a control unit for determining the optimal pair of electrodes to be used for measuring the signal. Also, the device may include an output unit for measuring signals that are sensed by the electrodes.

Claims

1. A device for measuring a biological signal, the device comprising:

electrodes configured to collect measurements from a subject;

a single differential amplifier configured to measure a size of the measured biological signal; and

a controller configured to;

select electrode combinations, each of the electrode combinations including at least two electrodes selected from the electrodes;

control the single differential amplifier to connect to at least two electrodes included in each of the selected electrode combinations, wherein the single differential amplifier is configured to measure respective signal sizes from the at least two electrodes; and

determine, as an optimal electrode combination, a combination of a first electrode and a second electrode by comparing the respective signal sizes measured for each of the selected electrode combinations with each other, the optimal electrode combination having a determined largest biological signal size based on a result of the comparing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein

the biological signal is an electromyography (EMG) signal;

the electrodes are configured to be in contact with the subject; and

the optimal electrode combination is to be used to sense the EMG signal from the subject.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein

the controller selects the electrode combinations by grouping the electrodes in a sequential manner, the electrodes including the first electrode and the second electrode.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a guide processor configured to provide a command to move the subject from which the measurements are to be taken according to a pattern, wherein the controller compares the respective signal sizes of each of the selected electrode combinations without the movement having an effect on the comparing.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the pattern corresponds to one or a combination of a muscle contraction and a muscle relaxation.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the guide processor provides the pattern in a form of graphical information or audio information.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a bracelet member configured to be worn by the subject from whom the measurements are to be taken, and to support the electrodes with sensing surfaces of the electrodes being in contact with the subject; and

a switch provided on the bracelet member to connect and switch between the electrodes,

wherein the controller selects the electrode combinations using the switch.

8. A device for measuring a biological signal, the device comprising:

sensors configured to collect measurements from a subject;

a single differential amplifier configured to measure biological signals sensed by the sensors; and

a controller configured to determine an optimal pair of sensors, among the sensors, having a determined largest biological signal size, the determining of the optimal pair of sensors including selecting pairs of at least two sensors from the sensors, and sequentially connecting the selected at least two sensors to the single differential amplifier.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensors are arranged on a bracelet according to a shape.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the determining of the optimal pair of sensors further includes comparing sizes of the respective biological signals sensed by each of the selected pairs of the at least two sensors.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensors correspond to electrodes.