Adjustable Wearable System Having a Modular Sensor Platform

• US 20160022210A1
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Nuovo, Frank Settemo, Phillips, Sheldon George, Schuessler, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,136,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0247 for compensation or correction of the measured physiological value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 : Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units

Abstract

A wearable system and methods for measuring physiological data from a device worn about a body part of a user is provided comprising a base module, a first sensor module, and a second sensor module. The base module comprises a display and a base computing unit. The first sensor module measures a gravitational force experienced by the device. The second sensor module is spatially positioned relative to the base module and over a portion of the body part for measuring one or more physiological characteristics calibrated based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module. The base module is adjustably positioned by the user relative to the second sensor module such that the sensor module maintains its positioning over the body part for sufficient contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

Claims

1. A wearable system for measuring physiological data from a device worn about a body part of a user comprising:

a base module, the base module comprising a display and a base computing unit;

a first sensor module configured to measure a gravitational force experienced by the device;

a second sensor module spatially positioned relative to the base module and over a portion of the body part for measuring one or more physiological characteristics calibrated based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module;

the base module being adjustably positioned by the user relative to the second sensor module such that the second sensor module maintains its positioning over the body part for sufficient contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of an anthropometric size of the body part.

2. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is positioned over an underside of a wrist of the user.

3. The wearable system of claim 1, where in the second sensor module further maintains a pressure contact with skin of the user to allow for continuous use by the user.

4. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is removable.

5. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is replaceable with a different type of sensor module.

6. The wearable system of claim 5, wherein sensor units are removably coupled to a sensor plate of the second sensor module so that the sensor units may be individually replaced with different sensor units.

7. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module comprises a combination of electric and optical sensors.

8. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module comprises one or more of:

biological sensors, proximity detectors for detecting a proximity of objects, and environmental sensors.

9. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module comprises sensor units that further comprises any combination of optical sensor array, a thermometer, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor array, a bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array, and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor.

10. The wearable system of claim 9, wherein the optical sensor array is arranged on a band so that the optical sensor array straddles a blood vessel.

11. The wearable system of claim 10, wherein the bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array is arranged on the band so that the optical sensor array straddles a blood vessel.

12. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the base module further includes a base computing unit comprising a processor, memory, a communication interface and a set of sensors.

13. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is removably disposed on an interior surface of a strap.

14. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the second sensor module.

15. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the second sensor module, wherein the symmetrically adjustable band is a one-piece.

16. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands connect the base module and the second sensor module.

17. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein at least two symmetrically adjustable bands connect the base module and the second sensor module, wherein the symmetrically adjustable bands are one-piece bands.

18. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the second sensor module, and the second sensor module is co-molded to the symmetrically adjustable band.

19. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the second sensor module and the second sensor module is co-molded to the symmetrically adjustable band in a flexible gel.

20. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein at least two overlapping straps connect the base module and the second sensor module.

21. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the second sensor module.

22. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the second sensor module.

23. The wearable system of claim 22, wherein the second sensor module comprises sensor units housed on a sensor plate removably coupled to the band.

24. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is positioned on a forehead of the user and the display is oriented toward the user about a head of the user.

25. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module adheres to skin of a body part.

26. The wearable system of claim 25, wherein the second sensor module is positioned on an underside of a wrist.

27. The wearable system of claim 1, the base module comprises a thin, flexible display adhered to skin of a body part.

28. The wearable system of claim 25, wherein the base module is positioned on a top side of a wrist.

29. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the body part is a wrist and sizes of the wrist can range from 125 mm to 210 mm.

30. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the body part is an upper arm, waist, finger, ankle, neck, chest, foot or thigh.

31. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit positioned in the second sensor module for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module.

32. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module and the base module are connected via a wire for power and communicate data wirelessly.

33. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module and to a location remote from the wearable system.

34. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other.

35. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other and to a location remote from the wearable system.

36. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the base module wirelessly communicates with multiple sensor modules worn on different body parts of the user.

37. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the wearable system further transmits data to a remote architecture for multi-modal interactions.

38. The wearable system of claim 37, wherein the remote architecture comprises a layer of artificial intelligence between the wearable system and one or more of:

cloud devices, websites, online services, and applications.

39. The wearable system of claim 37, wherein the wearable system and the remote architecture communicate changes in user condition.

40. The wearable system of claim 37, wherein architecture interacts with the wearable system to provide information related to social media, sports, music, movies, email, text messages, hospitals and prescriptions.

41. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is a micro-adjustable sensor module.

42. The wearable system of claim 1, further comprising a power source, wherein the power source comprises a removable battery and a permanent battery.

43. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor module comprises at least one of an accelerometer. and a gyroscrope.

44. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physiological characteristics are calibrated based on a time differential from the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module.

45. The wearable system of claim 44, further comprising a timer configured to adjust a time duration used to measure the one or more physiological characteristics based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module, wherein the second sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the time duration adjusted with the timer.

46. The wearable system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physiological characteristics are calibrated based on a light speed differential from the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module.

47. The wearable system of claim 46, further comprising a light calibrator configured to adjust light emission based on the gravitational force, wherein the second sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the light emission adjusted with the light calibrator.

48. A wearable system for measuring physiological data from a device worn about a body part of a user comprising:

a base module, the base module comprising a display and a base computing unit;

a first sensor module configured to measure a gravitational force experienced by the device; and

a micro-adjustable sensor module spatially positioned relative to the base module and over a portion of the body part for measuring one or more physiological characteristics calibrated based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module;

the micro-adjustable sensor module configured to adjustably position in a first position of the body part of the user, and being adjustably relocated to a second position of the body part, relative to the first position, for sufficient contact with the body part at the second position for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of an anthropometric size of the body part.

49. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is positioned over an underside of a wrist of the user.

50. The wearable system of claim 48, where in the micro-adjustable sensor module further maintains a pressure contact with skin of the user to allow for continuous use by the user.

51. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is removable.

52. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is replaceable with a different type of sensor module.

53. The wearable system of claim 52, wherein sensor units are removably coupled to a sensor plate of the micro-adjustable sensor module so that the sensor units may be individually replaced with different sensor units.

54. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module comprises a combination of electric and optical sensors.

55. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module comprises one or more of:

biological sensors, proximity detectors for detecting a proximity of objects, and environmental sensors.

56. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module comprises sensor units that further comprises any combination of optical sensor array, a thermometer, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor array, a bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array, and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor.

57. The wearable system of claim 56, wherein the optical sensor array is arranged on a band so that the optical sensor array straddles a blood vessel.

58. The wearable system of claim 57, wherein the bioimpedance (BioZ) sensor array is arranged on the band so that the optical sensor array straddles a blood vessel.

59. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the base module further includes a base computing unit comprising a processor, memory, a communication interface and a set of sensors.

60. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is removably disposed on an interior surface of a strap.

61. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module.

62. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module, wherein the symmetrically adjustable band is a one-piece.

63. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein at least two symmetrically adjustable sub-bands connect the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module.

64. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein at least two symmetrically adjustable bands connect the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module, wherein the symmetrically adjustable bands are one-piece bands.

65. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module, and the micro-adjustable sensor module is co-molded to the symmetrically adjustable band.

66. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein a symmetrically adjustable band connects the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module and the micro-adjustable sensor module is co-molded to the symmetrically adjustable band in a flexible gel.

67. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein at least two overlapping straps connect the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module.

68. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module.

69. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein a band comprises at least four links connected by a flex connection, and the band connects the base module and the micro-adjustable sensor module.

70. The wearable system of claim 69, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module comprises sensor units housed on a sensor plate removably coupled to the band.

71. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is positioned on a forehead of the user and the display is oriented toward the user about a head of the user.

72. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module adheres to skin of a body part.

73. The wearable system of claim 72, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is positioned on an underside of a wrist.

74. The wearable system of claim 48, the base module comprises a thin, flexible display adhered to skin of a body part.

75. The wearable system of claim 74, wherein the base module is positioned on a top side of a wrist.

76. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the body part is a wrist and sizes of the wrist can range from 125 mm to 210 mm.

77. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the body part is an upper arm, waist, finger, ankle, neck, chest, foot or thigh.

78. The wearable system of claim 48, further comprising a wireless communication unit positioned in the micro-adjustable sensor module for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module.

79. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module and the base module are connected via a wire for power and communicate data wirelessly.

80. The wearable system of claim 48, further comprising a wireless communication unit for transmitting physiological data via a wireless communications link to the base module and to a location remote from the wearable system.

81. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module and the base module each contain battery power sources and communicate wirelessly between each other.

82. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module and the base module each contains battery power sources and communicates wirelessly between each other and to a location remote from the wearable system.

83. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the base module wirelessly communicates with multiple sensor modules worn on different body parts of the user.

84. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the wearable system further transmits data to a remote architecture for multi-modal interactions.

85. The wearable system of claim 84, wherein the remote architecture comprises a layer of artificial intelligence between the wearable system and one or more of:

cloud devices, websites, online services, and applications.

86. The wearable system of claim 84, wherein the wearable system and the remote architecture communicate changes in user condition.

87. The wearable system of claim 84, wherein architecture interacts with the wearable system to provide information related to social media, sports, music, movies, email, text messages, hospitals and prescriptions.

88. The wearable system of claim 48, further comprising a power source, wherein the power source comprises a removable battery and a permanent battery.

89. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the first sensor module comprises at least one of an accelerometer. and a gyroscrope.

90. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the one or more physiological characteristics are calibrated based on a time differential from the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module.

91. The wearable system of claim 90, further comprising a timer configured to adjust a time duration used to measure the one or more physiological characteristics based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the time duration adjusted with the timer.

92. The wearable system of claim 48, wherein the one or more physiological characteristics are calibrated based on a light speed differential from the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module.

93. The wearable system of claim 92, further comprising a light calibrator configured to adjust light emission based on the gravitational force, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module is further configured to calibrate the measurements based on the light emission adjusted with the light calibrator.

94. A method for measuring physiological data from a wearable device worn about a body part of a user, the wearable device having a base module comprising a display and a base computing unit, a first sensor module, and a micro-adjustable sensor module, the method comprising:

measuring with the first sensor module a gravitational force experienced by the wearable device;

spatially and adjustably positioning the micro-adjustable sensor module relative to the base module and over a portion of the body part at a first position for measuring one or more physiological characteristics calibrated based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module; and

adjustably relocating the micro-adjustable sensor module from the first position to a second position of the body part, relative to the first position, for sufficient contact with the body part at the second position for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of an anthropometric size of the body part.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the micro-adjustable sensor module comprises a plurality of sensor units that are rotated to provide sufficient contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data regardless of the anthropometric size of the body part.

96. The method of claim 95, comprising relocating the plurality of sensor units relative to each other to improve contact with the body part for accurate measurements of physiological data.

97. A method of claim 94, wherein the first sensor module comprises at least one of an accelerometer. and a gyroscrope.

98. A method of claim 94, further comprising calibrating the one or more physiological characteristics based on a time differential from the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module.

99. A method of claim 98, wherein calibrating the one or more physiological characteristic based on a time differential further comprises:

adjusting a time duration with a timer used to measure the one or more physiological characteristics based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module; and

calibrating the measurements based on the time duration adjusted with the timer.

100. A method of claim 94, further comprising calibrating the one or more physiological characteristics based on a light speed differential from the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module.

101. A method of claim 100, wherein calibrating the one or more physiological characteristic based on a light speed further comprises:

adjusting light emission with a light calibrator based on the gravitational force measured with the first sensor module; and

calibrating the measurements based on the light emission adjusted with the light calibrator.