WEARABLE DEVICE WITH COMBINED SENSING CAPABILITIES

• US 20160273967A1
• Filed: 05/30/2015
• Published: 09/22/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,168,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 one light-transmissible window; 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 the at least one light-transmissible window by way of image sensing; and

an infrared temperature sensor module for sensing temperature through the at least one light-transmissible window by way of infrared temperature sensing.

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. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the multi-function sensor module further includes a substrate, a cap and at least one partitioning member, the cap covering a part of the substrate and the at least one partitioning member being on the substrate, to form at least two chambers for accommodating the image sensor module and the infrared temperature sensor module, respectively, wherein each of the at least two chambers has a light-transmissible zone, and a light beam is allowed to transmit between the light-transmissible zone and the light-transmissible window of the wearable assembly.

4. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 3, wherein the image sensor module includes a light source and an image sensor, the cap covering a part of the substrate and the at least one partitioning member being on the substrate, to form at least three chambers for accommodating the light source, the image sensor and the infrared temperature sensor module, respectively, wherein each of the at least three chambers has a light-transmissible zone, and a light beam is allowed to transmit between the light-transmissible zone and the light-transmissible window of the wearable assembly.

5. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the image sensor module includes a light source and an image sensor, the image sensor and the infrared temperature sensor module being integrated as one single module.

6. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 5, wherein the multi-function sensor module further includes a substrate, a cap and at least one partitioning member, the cap covering a part of the substrate and the at least one partitioning member being on the substrate, to form at least two chambers for accommodating the light source and the single module, respectively, wherein each of the at least two chambers has a light-transmissible zone, and a light beam is allowed to transmit between the light-transmissible zone and the light-transmissible window of the wearable assembly.

7. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 4, wherein the light source, the image sensor and the infrared temperature sensor module are not covered with a filler material.

8. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 5, wherein the light source, the image sensor and the infrared temperature sensor module are not covered with a filler material.

9. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 4, wherein each of the light source and the image sensor is fully covered with or at least partially covered with a corresponding filler material, while the infrared temperature sensor module is not covered with a filler material.

10. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 5, wherein each of the light source and the image sensor is fully covered with or at least partially covered with a corresponding filler material, while the infrared temperature sensor module is not covered with a filler material.

11. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 4, wherein each of the light source, the image sensor and the infrared temperature sensor module is fully covered with or at least partially covered with a corresponding filler material.

12. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 5, wherein each of the light source, the image sensor and the infrared temperature sensor module is fully covered with or at least partially covered with a corresponding filler material.

13. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 3, wherein the light-transmissible zone corresponding to the infrared temperature sensor module is sealed entirely or partially with a light filtering material.

14. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 4, wherein the light-transmissible zone corresponding to the infrared temperature sensor module is sealed entirely or partially with a light filtering material.

15. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 3, wherein a protection cap layer is connected above the infrared temperature sensor module, wherein a space between the protection cap layer and the infrared temperature sensor module is not filled with any filler material.

16. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 4, wherein a protection cap layer is connected above the infrared temperature sensor module, wherein a space between the protection cap layer and the infrared temperature sensor module is not filled with any filler material.

17. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 3, further comprising a protection ring between the infrared temperature sensor module and the light-transmissible zone corresponding to the infrared temperature sensor module, the protection ring surrounding a lateral periphery of a space between the infrared temperature sensor module and the corresponding light-transmissible zone.

18. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 4, further comprising a protection ring between the infrared temperature sensor module and the light-transmissible zone corresponding to the infrared temperature sensor module, the protection ring surrounding a lateral periphery of a space between the infrared temperature sensor module and the corresponding light-transmissible zone.

19. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the multi-function sensor module further includes a Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) device for providing one of the following functions:

a sweat sensor, an ultraviolet light sensor, a gas sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an altimeter or a pedometer.

20. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the light-transmissible window is at an upper surface, a lower surface or a lateral surface of the wearable assembly.

21. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the wearable assembly has a light-transmissible window at an upper surface of the wearable assembly and a light-transmissible window at a lower surface of the wearable assembly, and wherein the multi-function sensor module further includes a contact type temperature sensor, for sensing temperature through the two light-transmissible windows at the upper surface and the lower surface of the wearable assembly.

22. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 21, wherein the multi-function sensor module includes 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.

23. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the wearable assembly has a light-transmissible window at an upper surface of the wearable assembly and another light-transmissible window at a lower surface of the wearable assembly, and wherein the infrared temperature sensor module senses temperature through the two light-transmissible windows at the upper surface and the lower surface.

24. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 23, wherein the multi-function sensor module includes a temperature contact point located at the lower surface, for directly contacting the object, the temperature contact point being coupled to the infrared temperature sensor module via a signal transmission structure.

25. The wearable device with combined sensing capabilities of claim 1, wherein the infrared temperature sensor module includes an infrared sensor, a temperature sensing switch and a thermopile circuit;

wherein;

when the temperature sensing switch receives a temperature signal higher than a predetermined threshold through the infrared sensor, the thermopile circuit is enabled to perform a real time temperature sensing function; and

when the thermopile circuit is not enabled, the thermopile circuit is in a stand-by mode for saving power.