Physiological detection system with adjustable signal source and operating method thereof

• US 10,244,987 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Chong, Sheau-Foong, Chen, Chun-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoffman, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US14/825,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence

Abstract

A physiological detection system including a light source module, a photo sensor and a processor is provided. The light source module is configured to provide light to illuminate a skin region. The photo sensor is configured to detect emergent light passing the skin region with at least one signal source parameter and output an image signal. The processor is configured to calculate a confident level according to the image signal to accordingly adjust the at least one signal source parameter.

Claims

1. A physiological detection system, comprising:

a physiological detection module comprising;

a light source configured to provide light to illuminate a skin region;

a photo sensor comprising a first pixel and a second pixel, and configured to detect emergent light passing the skin region with at least one signal source parameter and output an image signal, wherein the photo sensor further comprises opaque metal layers around the first pixel and the second pixel to respectively form an overhead first light tunnel toward the first pixel and a stepped second light tunnel toward the second pixel to cause the first pixel and the second pixel to receive the emergent light from the skin region at different first and second light receiving angles respectively, and the different first and second light receiving angles define the at least one signal source parameter, and

a first processor configured to calculate a first confident level according to the image signal and update the at least one signal source parameter according to the first confident level.

2. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first confident level comprises at least one of an average brightness value and uniformity.

3. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the at least one signal source parameter further comprises at least one of an exposure time, a gain value, a window of interest, and a focus length, and

the window of interest is a pixel area of the photo sensor having a higher confident level than other pixels or having brightness within a predetermined range.

4. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an emission wavelength of the light source is between 300 nm and 940 nm.

5. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one signal source parameter is further configured to control a light emitting intensity of the light source.

6. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physiological detection module further comprises a transmission interface coupled to the first processor,

the first processor is further configured to generate an intensity variation signal according to a plurality of image signals, and

the transmission interface is configured to output the intensity variation signal.

7. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the physiological detection system further comprises an application module coupled to the physiological detection module, and the application module comprises a second processor configured to calculate physiological characteristics according to the intensity variation signal.

8. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the physiological detection system further comprises an application module coupled to the physiological detection module, and the application module comprises a second processor configured to calculate a second confident level according to the intensity variation signal and update the at least one signal source parameter according to the second confident level.

9. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second confident level comprises at least one of a PPG signal amplitude and a signal to noise ratio.

10. The physiological detection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the application module is selected from a group consisting of a portable electronic device, a wearable electronic device, a home appliance, a vehicle device and a medical device.

11. An operating method of a physiological detection system, the physiological detection system comprising a physiological detection module which comprises a photo sensor having a first pixel and a second pixel, the operating method comprising:

detecting, by the physiological detection module, emergent light from a skin region with at least one signal source parameter to generate an image signal, wherein the photo sensor further comprises opaque metal layers around the first pixel and the second pixel to respectively form an overhead first light tunnel toward the first pixel and a stepped second light tunnel toward the second pixel to cause the first pixel and the second pixel to receive the emergent light from the skin region at different first and second light receiving angles respectively, and the different first and second light receiving angles define the at least one signal source parameter;

calculating, by the physiological detection module, a confident level according to the image signal;

comparing, by the physiological detection module, the confident level with at least one threshold; and

updating, by the physiological detection module, the at least one signal source parameter according to a comparison result of comparing the confident level and the at least one threshold.

12. The operating method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the confident level comprises at least one of an average brightness value and uniformity.

13. The operating method as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the at least one signal source parameter further comprises at least one of an exposure time, a gain value, a window of interest, and a focus length, and

the window of interest is a pixel area of the physiological detection module having a higher confident level than other pixels or having brightness within a predetermined range.

14. The operating method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

generating, by the physiological detection module, an intensity variation signal according to a plurality of image signals; and

outputting, by the physiological detection module, the intensity variation signal.

15. The operating method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the physiological detection system further comprises an application module coupled to the physiological detection module, and the operating method further comprises:

receiving the intensity variation signal with the application module; and

calculating, by the application module, physiological characteristics according to the intensity variation signal.

16. An operating method of a physiological detection system, the physiological detection system comprising a physiological detection module, which comprises a photo sensor having a first pixel and a second pixel, and an application module coupled to each other, the operating method comprising:

detecting, by the physiological detection module, emergent light from a skin region with at least one signal source parameter to generate an image signal, wherein the photo sensor further comprises opaque metal layers around the first pixel and the second pixel to respectively form an overhead first light tunnel toward the first pixel and a stepped second light tunnel toward the second pixel to cause the first pixel and the second pixel to receive the emergent light from the skin region at different first and second light receiving angles respectively, and the different first and second light receiving angles define the at least one signal source parameter;

calculating, by the physiological detection module, a first confident level according to the image signal;

outputting, by the physiological detection module, an intensity variation signal according to a plurality of image signals;

calculating, by the application module, a second confident level according to the intensity variation signal; and

updating the at least one signal source parameter according to the first confident level and the second confident level.

17. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first confident level comprises at least one of an average brightness value and uniformity, and the second confident level comprises at least one of a PPG signal amplitude and a signal to noise ratio.

18. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the at least one signal source parameter further comprises at least one of an exposure time, a gain value, a window of interest, and a focus length, and

the window of interest is a pixel area of the physiological detection module having a higher confident level than other pixels or having brightness within a predetermined range.

19. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

calculating, by the application module, physiological characteristics according to the intensity variation signal.

20. The operating method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

adjusting a light emitting intensity of a light source of the physiological detection module according to the at least one signal source parameter.