Reflective surfaces for PPG signal detection

• US 10,092,197 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Han, Chin San
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, JOANNE M
• Application Number:
  US14/470,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20160058309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00

Abstract

Reflective surfaces for the apertures of PPG optical components in PPG systems is disclosed. In a PPG system or device, the addition of reflective surfaces around, under, or near the apertures of the optical components can enhance the amount of light received by the light detector. As a result, the measured PPG signal strength can be higher and more accurate compared to the same PPG device without reflective surfaces. The reflective surfaces can reflect and/or recycle light that is incident upon the reflective surfaces back into the skin for eventual capture of the light by the light detectors. In some examples, the reflective surfaces can be diffuse or specular reflectors and/or can be configured to selectively reflect one or more wavelengths of light. In some examples, the back crystal and/or component mounting plane of the PPG system can be made of the same material as the reflective surfaces.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

one or more apertures configured to provide one or more openings through a housing of the device, the one or more apertures including an outer region and an inner region;

one or more ledges formed from a portion of the housing of the device and located in the outer region of the one or more apertures;

one or more windows having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface opposite to the front surface and the rear surface located closer to one or more light emitters than the front surface, wherein a portion of the rear surface of the one or more windows is attached to the one or more ledges, wherein the one or more windows are separate and distinct from the one or more ledges, wherein a width of the one or more windows along the front and rear surfaces is greater than a width of the inner region of the one or more apertures;

the one or more light emitters configured to generate one or more light through the one or more apertures and the one or more windows;

one or more sensors configured to detect a reflection of the one or more light;

one or more reflective surfaces included in the device, in contact with the one or more apertures, located on an exterior surface of the housing of the device, and disposed on the front surface of the one or more windows, wherein the one or more reflective surfaces are separate and distinct from the one or more apertures, the one or more reflective surfaces are located in the outer region of the one or more apertures; and

logic coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to detect a signal from the one or more reflected light.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces is a diffuse reflector, and the diffuse reflector is a white ink.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces is a specular reflector.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the specular reflector is a silver foil.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces includes a grating or pattern.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the grating or pattern is configured to change an angle of at least one of the one or more reflected light.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces is a combination of diffuse and specular reflectors.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces is configured to selectively reflect one or more wavelengths.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein a color of the at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces is associated with the selectively reflected one or more wavelengths.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more apertures is a different size than another of the one or more apertures.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a back crystal in contact with the one or more apertures; and

a component mounting plane configured for attaching to the one or more light emitters and the one or more sensors,

wherein at least one of the back crystal and the component mounting plane is reflective.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the back crystal and the component mounting plane is a same material as at least one of the one or more reflective surfaces.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more windows are configured to cover the one or more light emitters and the one or more sensors, the device further comprises:

a reflective adhesive configured to attach the one or more windows to the electronic device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more apertures has a diameter between 3.9 mm-4.9 mm.

15. A method for determining a physiological signal from an electronic device, the method comprising:

emitting light using one or more light emitters through an inner region of one or more apertures and through a first portion of one or more windows to generate one or more light, wherein the first portion of the one or more windows is located in the inner region of the one or more apertures;

the one or more apertures configured to provide one or more openings through a housing of the device, wherein a second portion of a rear surface of the one or more windows is attached to one or more ledges, wherein the one or more ledges are formed from a portion of the housing of the device and are separate and distinct from the one or more windows,

wherein the one or more ledges are located in an outer region of the one or more apertures,

wherein the rear surface of the one or more windows is located closer to the one or more light emitters than a front surface of the one or more windows,

wherein a width of the one or more windows along the front and rear surfaces is greater than a width of the inner region of the one or more apertures;

receiving light using one or more sensors from a reflection of the one or more light off at least one or more reflective surfaces included in the device, the reflective surfaces in contact with the one or more apertures, located on an exterior surface of the housing of the device, and disposed on the front surface of the one or more windows, wherein the reflective surfaces are separate and distinct from the one or more apertures; and

determining the physiological signal from the received light.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device further includes:

a back crystal, wherein the back crystal is in contact with the one or more apertures,

a component mounting plane, wherein the component mounting plane is in contact with the one or more light emitters and the one or more sensors, and

an adhesive configured to attach the one or more windows to the electronic device,

the method further comprising receiving light from a reflection off at least one of the back crystal, the component mounting plane, and the adhesive.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising changing an angle of at least one of the one or more reflected light.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively reflecting one or more wavelengths of the light.

19. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

generating a reflected signal indicative of the received light;

sending, to a second device, the reflected signal; and

receiving, from the second device, a physiological signal.