Wearable device with combined sensing capabilities

• US 10,168,219 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2015
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Sun, Chih-Ming, Tsai, Ming-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Manish S
• Application Number:
  US14/726,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20160273967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,312 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0214 Biosensors; Chemical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0235 Accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0242 Gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0278 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0025 Protection against chemical alteration
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0061 suitable for fluid transfer from the MEMS out of the package or vice versa, e.g. transfer of liquid, gas, sound
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/02 containing distinct electrical or optical devices of particular relevance for their function, e.g. microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS] B81B7/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/027 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor parts or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/14 Electrical features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/16151 : Cap comprising an aperture, e.g. for pressure control, encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/16153 : Cap enclosing a plurality of side-by-side cavities [e.g. E-shaped cap]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/16235 : Connecting to a semiconductor or solid-state bodies, i.e. cap-to-chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wearable device with combined sensing capabilities, which includes a wearable assembly and at least one multi-function sensor module. The wearable assembly is suitable to be worn on a part of a user'"'"'s body. The wearable assembly includes at least one light-transmissible window. The multi-function sensor module is located inside the wearable assembly, for performing an image sensing function and an infrared temperature sensing function. The multi-function sensor module includes an image sensor module for sensing a physical or a biological feature of an object through the light-transmissible window by way of image sensing; and an infrared temperature sensor module for sensing temperature through the light-transmissible window by way of infrared temperature sensing.

Claims

1. A wearable device with combined sensing capabilities, comprising:

a wearable assembly for being worn on a part of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the wearable assembly has at least two light-transmissible windows, one of the at least two light-transmissible windows is provided at an upper surface of the wearable assembly, and another one of the at least two light-transmissible windows is provided at a lower surface of the wearable assembly; and

at least two multi-function sensor modules located inside the wearable assembly, wherein, the at least two multi-function sensor modules are respectively corresponding to the two light-transmissible windows, wherein, the at least two multi-function sensor modules are for performing an image sensing function and an infrared temperature sensing function, each of the at least two multi-function sensor modules including;

an image sensor module for sensing a physical or a biological feature of an object through the at least one light-transmissible window by way of image sensing; and

an infrared temperature sensor module for sensing temperature through the corresponding light-transmissible window by way of infrared temperature sensing;

wherein, the multi-function sensor module corresponding to the light-transmissible window provided at the upper surface performs non-contact type temperature sensing through the corresponding light-transmissible window at the upper surface, and wherein the multi-function sensor module corresponding to the light-transmissible window provided at the lower surface performs contact type temperature sensing through the corresponding light-transmissible window at the lower surface;

whereby, the wearable device integrates both non-contact type temperature sensing and contact type temperature sensing into the one single wearable assembly.

2. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the image sensor module is for sensing heart rate, blood oxygen concentration, blood pressure or breathing rate.

3. A wearable device with combined sensing capabilities, comprising:

a wearable assembly for being worn on a part of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the wearable assembly has a light-transmissible window at an upper surface of the wearable assembly; and

at least one multi-function sensor module located inside the wearable assembly, for performing an image sensing function and an infrared temperature sensing function, the multi-function sensor module including;

an image sensor module for sensing a physical or a biological feature of an object through at least one of the light-transmissible windows by way of image sensing;

an infrared temperature sensor module for sensing temperature through the light-transmissible window by way of infrared temperature sensing; and

a contact type temperature sensor, for sensing temperature a temperature contact point located at the lower surface, for directly contacting the object, the temperature contact point being coupled to the contact type temperature sensor;

wherein, the temperature contact point located at the lower surface and the light-transmissible window located at the upper surface are at different sides of the multi-function sensor module;

wherein, the multi-function sensor module performs non-contact type temperature sensing through the light-transmissible window at the upper surface and performs contact type temperature sensing through the temperature contact point at the lower surface;

whereby, the wearable device integrates both non-contact type temperature sensing and contact type temperature sensing into one single wearable assembly.