WEARABLE SENSOR APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES

• US 20160157779A1
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Baxi, Amit S., Mageshkumar, Vincent S., Ranganathan, Kumar
• Application Number:
  US14/563,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20160157779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for a wearable sensor apparatus. In one instance, the apparatus may comprise a first flexible substrate, including a first plurality of sensors disposed on a first side of the first flexible substrate to be in direct contact with a user'"'"'s body, and a first set of conductive connectors disposed on a second side of the first flexible substrate; and a second flexible substrate that includes a second set of conductive connectors disposed on a first side of the second flexible substrate compatibly to the first set of conductive connectors to mechanically and electrically couple the second flexible substrate with the first flexible substrate, and circuitry disposed on a second side of the second flexible substrate to receive and process readings provided by the sensors via the first and second sets of conductive connectors. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first flexible substrate attachable to a user'"'"'s body, wherein the first flexible substrate includes a first plurality of sensors disposed on a first side of the first flexible substrate to be in direct contact with the user'"'"'s body, and a first set of conductive connectors disposed on a second side of the first flexible substrate; and

a second flexible substrate that includes a second set of conductive connectors disposed on a first side of the second flexible substrate compatibly to the first set of conductive connectors to mechanically and electrically couple the second flexible substrate with the first flexible substrate, and circuitry disposed on a second side of the second flexible substrate to receive and process readings provided by the first plurality of sensors via the first and second sets of conductive connectors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible substrate further includes:

a second plurality of sensors disposed on the first side of the flexible substrate; and

a third set of conductive connectors disposed on the first side of the flexible substrate to mechanically and electrically couple the second plurality of sensors with the first flexible substrate, wherein the circuitry is further to receive and process readings provided by the second plurality of sensors via the first, second, and third sets of conductive connectors.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of sensors comprises washable devices, and wherein the second plurality of sensors comprises non-washable devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of sensors includes at least selected ones of:

optical photodiodes, electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes, electromyogram (EMG) electrodes, galvanic skin response (GSR) electrodes, piezo crystals, pressure sensors, or stretch sensors.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of sensors includes at least selected ones of:

temperature sensors, sweat chemical sensors, or motion sensors.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third sets of conductive connectors comprise a flexible stretchable substrate, including at least a selected one of:

elastic fabric, elastomer, or polymer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second flexible substrate further includes one or more sensors disposed on the second side of the second flexible substrate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes a sensor front end module to excite the first plurality of sensors and to pre-process signals comprising readings provided by the first plurality of sensors, wherein to pre-process includes to transduce, amplify, and condition the signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the circuitry further includes a digital front end node communicatively coupled with the sensor front end module to convert and further process the pre-processed signals provided by the sensor front end module.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the digital front end node is to provide the processed signals to an external aggregating device for further processing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible substrate comprises a first strap of a washable flexible material.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second flexible substrate comprises a second strap of a flexible material that is conformable to the first strap.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible substrate further comprises a first wiring arrangement embedded in the first flexible substrate to provide electric coupling between the first and second sets of conductive connectors and between the first plurality of sensors and the first set of conductive connectors.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wiring arrangement includes a selected one of:

conductive traces disposed inside the first flexible substrate or screen-printed in the first flexible substrate, conductive threads woven or embroidered on the first flexible substrate, or conductive patterns deposited on a third substrate, wherein the third substrate is moulded with the first flexible substrate.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second flexible substrate further comprises a second wiring arrangement disposed inside the second flexible substrate to route electric signals between the second set of conductive connectors and the circuitry.

16. A wearable strap system, comprising one or more apparatuses that include:

a first flexible substrate attachable to a user'"'"'s body, wherein the first flexible substrate includes a first plurality of sensors disposed on a first side of the first flexible substrate to be in direct contact with the user'"'"'s body, and a first set of conductive connectors disposed on a second side of the first flexible substrate; and

a second flexible substrate that includes a second set of conductive connectors disposed on a first side of the second flexible substrate compatibly to the first set of conductive connectors to mechanically and electrically couple the second flexible substrate with the first flexible substrate, and circuitry disposed on a second side of the second flexible substrate to receive and process readings provided by the first plurality of sensors via the first and second sets of conductive connectors.

17. The wearable strap system of claim 16, wherein the first flexible substrate further includes a second plurality of sensors disposed on the first side of the flexible substrate;

and a third set of conductive connectors disposed on the first side of the flexible substrate to mechanically and electrically couple the second plurality of sensors with the first flexible substrate, wherein the circuitry is further to receive and process readings provided by the second plurality of sensors via the first, second, and third sets of conductive connectors, wherein the first plurality of sensors comprises washable devices, and wherein the second plurality of sensors comprises non-washable devices.

18. The wearable strap system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry includes a sensor front end module to excite the first plurality of sensors and to pre-process signals comprising readings provided by the first plurality of sensors, and a digital front end node communicatively coupled with the sensor front end module to convert and further process the pre-processed signals provided by the sensor front end module and to provide the processed signals to an external aggregating device for further processing.

19. The wearable strap system of claim 18, wherein the first and second flexible substrates comprise first and second wearable straps, wherein the one or more apparatuses include one or more of:

a wearable knee strap apparatus, a wearable chest strap apparatus, a wearable neck strap apparatus, a wearable wrist strap apparatus, or a wearable foot strap apparatus, wherein the external aggregating device comprises a mobile computing device.

20. A method, comprising:

disposing a first plurality of sensors on a first side of a first flexible substrate to be in direct contact with a user'"'"'s body;

disposing a first set of conductive connectors on a second side of the first flexible substrate;

disposing a second set of conductive connectors on a first side of a second flexible substrate compatibly to the first set of conductive connectors to mechanically and electrically couple the second flexible substrate with the first flexible substrate; and

disposing circuitry on a second side of the second flexible substrate to receive and process readings provided by the first plurality of sensors via the first and second sets of conductive connectors.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

disposing a third set of conductive connectors on the first side of the first flexible substrate; and

attaching a second plurality of sensors to the first side via the third set of conductive connectors, wherein the circuitry is to receive and process readings provided by the second plurality of sensors via the first, second, and third sets of conductive connectors.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein disposing circuitry includes:

disposing a sensor front end module to excite the first plurality of sensors and pre-process signals comprising readings provided by the first and second plurality of sensors.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

communicatively coupling a digital front end node with the sensor front end module, to convert and further process the pre-processed signals provided by the sensor front end module.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

disposing a first wiring arrangement inside the first flexible substrate to provide electric coupling between the first and second sets of conductive connectors and between the first plurality of sensors and the first set of conductive connectors.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

disposing a second wiring arrangement inside the second flexible substrate to route electric signals between the second set of conductive connectors and the circuitry.