MOBILE TERMINAL FOR MEASURING BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL

• US 20090182205A1
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang Hun, Cho, Chul Ho, CHO, Jae Geol, Jung, Sun Tae
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• 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 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal is disclosed. The mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal includes an electrocardiogram electrode unit having a first electrode provided in a front surface of a body of the mobile terminal and a second electrode provided in a first side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring an electrocardiogram signal through the first electrode and the second electrode, a sensor unit provided in a second side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring a pulse wave signal, a controller provided within the mobile terminal for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal received from the electrocardiogram electrode unit and the pulse wave signal received from the sensor unit and a radio frequency unit for transmitting an analyzed result by the control of the controller.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal, comprising:

an electrocardiogram electrode unit having a first electrode provided on a front surface of a body of the mobile terminal and a second electrode provided on a first side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring an electrocardiogram signal through the first electrode and the second electrode;

a sensor unit provided on a second side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring a pulse wave signal;

a controller provided within the mobile terminal for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal received from the electrocardiogram electrode unit and the pulse wave signal received from the sensor unit; and

a radio frequency (RF) unit for transmitting an analyzed result under the control of the controller.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the electrocardiogram electrode unit has a third electrode provided on the first side surface of the mobile terminal body adjacent to the second electrode,

wherein the first, second, and third electrodes represent a positive (+) electrode, negative (−

) electrode, and ground electrode, respectively.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a display unit provided on the front surface of the mobile terminal body adjacent to the first electrode,

wherein the controller controls the display unit to display the analyzed result.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises a reflective optical sensor.

5. A mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal, comprising:

an electrocardiogram electrode unit having;

a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a front surface of a body of the mobile terminal and a third electrode provided on a rear surface of the mobile terminal body, said electrodes provides means for measuring an electrocardiogram signal;

at least one sensor unit provided on a first side surface and at least one sensor unit provided on a second side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring a pulse wave signal;

a controller within the mobile terminal for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal received from the electrocardiogram electrode unit and the pulse wave signal received from the sensor unit; and

an RF unit for transmitting an analyzed result under the control of the controller.

6. A mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal, comprising:

at least one sensor unit provided on a first side surface of a body of the mobile terminal and at least one sensor unit provided on a second side surface of the mobile terminal body, said first and second side sensor units for measuring a pulse wave signal;

an electrocardiogram electrode unit having a first electrode and a second electrode provided in a front surface of the mobile terminal body and a third electrode provided in one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the mobile terminal body adjacent to the corresponding sensor unit, said electrocardiogram electrode unit measuring an electrocardiogram signal through the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode;

a controller for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal received from the electrocardiogram electrode unit and the pulse wave signal received from the sensor unit; and

an RF unit for transmitting an analyzed result under the control of the controller.

7. A mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal, comprising:

at least one sensor unit provided in a first side surface of a body of the mobile terminal and at least one sensor unit provided in a second side surface of the mobile terminal body, said first and second sensor units for measuring a pulse wave signal;

an electrocardiogram electrode unit having a first electrode provided in the first side surface and a second electrode provided in the second side surface of the mobile terminal body adjacent to the sensor units provided therein and a third electrode provided in the mobile terminal body, said first, second and third electrodes, in combination, measuring an electrocardiogram signal;

a controller provided for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal received from the electrocardiogram electrode unit and the pulse wave signal received from the sensor unit; and

an RF unit for transmitting an analyzed result under the control of the controller.

8. A device comprising:

a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including code, which when accessed by the processor causes the processor to;

receive a signal from each of a plurality of electrodes and determine an electrocardiogram signal from the received electrode signals;

receive a signal from each of at least one sensor unit and measuring a pulse wave signal from the received sensor unit signals;

determine a pulse wave transmission time period from the electrocardiogram signal and the pulse wave signal;

determine a length;

determine a body characteristic from said electrocardiogram signal, said pulse signal transmission time period and said length; and

provide at least said body characteristic to an external device.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said electrodes have different polarities.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein at least one of said electrodes represents a switch, which when contacted triggers measuring of said electrocardiogram signal.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said at least one sensor unit comprises:

at least one light source for emitting a light; and

at least one receiving device for measuring an amount of said emitted light that has been reflected.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one sensor unit provides a measure of at least one of:

subcutaneous fat thickness, a body fat rate, and a skin color.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said pulse wave transmission time period is a time period in which a pulsation pressure wave is transmitted from a main artery valve to a peripheral portion.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein said determined length represents a vein length.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said length is selected from one of:

a measured length and a provided length.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said external device is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a short-range communication device, a wireless transmission device and a display device.

17. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor further executes code for:

storing at least said body characteristic in said memory,

18. The device of claim 14, wherein said body characteristic is a vein elasticity degree.

19. The device of claim 8 further comprising:

housing for housing said processor and memory, and

a plurality of electrodes providing said electrodes signals to said processor, said electrodes being positioned on at least one surface of said housing.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said at least one sensor unit positioned on a side surface of said housing.

21. The device of claim 8, further comprising:

an input device for providing information to said processor.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said provided length is provided through said input device.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein said provided length is provided through a lookup table stored in said memory.

24. The device of claim 8, wherein said processor executes code for:

providing at least one of said electrocardiogram signal, said pulse wave signal and said pulse wave transmission time period to said external device.