Wearable Personal Computer and Healthcare Devices

• US 20160324487A1
• Filed: 11/27/2014
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: GUO, Mao, ZHAO, Junfeng, SKINNER, Michael P., XIAO, Ke, TANG, Jiamiao, LIU, Bin, DENG, Li
• Application Number:
  US14/779,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20160324487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/063 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1072 measuring distances on the body, e.g. measuring length, height or thickness A61B5/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 : via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/224 : Paging receivers with visible signalling details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 : Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 : using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Embodiments described herein may fully integrate personal computing and health care into a wearable waistband having a length sensor, a pressure sensor, and a motion sensor; or into a wearable “mesh” having an array of sound sensors, which will create convenient and seamless access to a personal computer and biofeedback of the wearer. Such biofeedback from the waistband may include determining respiration rate, waist length, food quantity of a meal, sitting or sleep time, and frequency of visits to the bathroom. Such biofeedback from the mesh or array may include determining whether there is or has been damage or other issues of the heart, lungs, bones, joints, jaw, throat, arteries, digestive tract, and the like. Such biofeedback may also detect whether whether a person has an allergic reaction at a location, is drinking (and what volume of fluid), is walking, is jogging or is running.

Claims

1. A wearable computer device capable of being worn around a person'"'"'s waist, the device comprising:

a computer processor disposed in a buckle;

a flexible data bus electronically coupled to the processor and extending along a belt, the belt coupled to the buckle;

a plurality of sensors disposed along the belt and electronically coupled to the data bus, the sensors configured to sense a biometric environment of a person wearing the device and output an output signal based on the sensed environment;

the data bus to communicate the output signals from the sensors to the processor;

an alarm coupled to the bus, the alarm capable of notifying a person of an alert;

wherein the processor includes circuitry to receive the output signals and send an alert signal to the alarm if an output signal is greater than a threshold or includes a profile.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wearable computer device includes a waistband or belt;

wherein the plurality of sensors are located at selected locations on an inside surface of the device to sense a physiological environment of the person;

wherein the flexible data bus includes a flexible printed circuit board (PCB);

wherein the data bus is to communicate electronic signals to the alarm from the processor; and

wherein the alarm is to communicate the alert signal to the person.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a length sensor, a pressure sensor, and an accelerometer;

and wherein the processor includes circuitry to receive the signals output by the sensors and determine respiration rate, waist length, food quantity of a meal, sitting or sleep time, and frequency of visits to the bathroom.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured or programmed to receive signals output by the pressure sensor, and one of:

(1) determine a respiration rate of a person wearing the device based on the signals output by the pressure sensor, and send an indication of the rate to a device, or (2) determine whether an amount of food and drink consumed by a person wearing the device is greater than a threshold based on the signals, and send a too much food alert signal to the alarm if the amount is greater than a threshold.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals output by the length sensor, and one of:

(1) determine a waist length of a person wearing the device based on the signals output by the length sensor, and send a too large alert signal to the alarm if the waist length is greater than a threshold, or (2) determine a waist length of a person wearing the device based on the signals output by the length sensor over a period of time, and send a quick change alert signal to the alarm if the waist length changes by an amount greater than a threshold over the period of time.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals output by the motion sensor, and one of:

(1) determine motion of a person wearing the device over a period of time based on the signals output by the motion sensor, and send an exercise alert signal to the alarm if the motion is less than a threshold over the period of time, or (2) determine motion of a person wearing the device over a period of time at night based on the signals output by the motion sensor, and send a not enough good sleep alert signal to the alarm if the motion is greater than a threshold over the period of time.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals output by the length and pressure sensors, and determine number of times a person wearing the device uses the bathroom over a period of time based on the signals output by the length and pressure sensors, and send a drink more water alert signal to the alarm if the number of times is less than a threshold over the period of time.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the alert signal is transmitted by the processor to one of a vibrator disposed in the buckle, speaker disposed in the buckle, a universal serial bus (USB) port disposed in the buckle, or a wireless transceiver;

and wherein the alert signal causes vibration of the vibrator, an alert sound by the speaker, a data transmission by the USB port, or a wireless alert signal transmission by the wireless transceiver to a smart phone.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sound sensor disposed in the belt;

wherein the processor is configured to receive signals output by the sound sensor, (1) to detect an indicator sound or profile sound of an organ of a person wearing the device over a period of time at night based on the signals output by the sound sensor, and send an alert signal to the alarm if the an indicator sound or profile sound is detected.

10. A method of determining a biometric reading comprising:

locating a waistband including a processor around a waist of a person;

sensing a biometric environment using the sensors;

outputting electronic output signals from the sensors based on the sensed environment;

communicating the output electronic signals from the sensors to a processor; and

outputting an alert signal to an alarm if an electronic output signal is greater than a threshold or includes a profile.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein locating the waistband includes locating the plurality of sensors at desired locations around the waist, and wherein outputting the alert signal includes alerting the person of the alert signal using an alarm.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensors include a length sensor, a pressure sensor, and an accelerometer;

and further comprising;

receiving the output signals at the processor; and

the processor determining one of a respiration rate, waist length, food quantity of a meal, sitting or sleep time, or frequency of visits to the bathroom based on the output signals.

13. A wearable computer device capable of being worn on person'"'"'s body, the device comprising:

a computer processor;

a communications system to communicate with the processor;

a plurality of sound sensors disposed in an array to be worn by the person, the sensors configured to sense sounds from a person wearing the device and output output signals based on the sensed sounds;

the communications system to communicate the output signals from the sensors to the processor;

wherein the processor includes circuitry to receive the output signals and send an alert signal to the alarm if an output signal is greater than a threshold or includes a profile sound.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the wearable computer device includes one of a mesh, clothing, or patches to be worn on the skin of the person;

wherein the plurality of sensors are located at selected locations on an inside surface of the device to sense sounds from organs of the person;

wherein the communications system is wired or wireless;

further comprising an alarm to communicate the alert signal to the person.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein each sound sensor includes a carrier patch, a microphone, and one of a wired or wireless a communication module.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured or programmed to:

(1) receive the output signals and determine one of damage to or other issues related to one of a heart, lungs, bone joint, jaw, mouth, nose, throat, veins or arteries of a person wearing the device based on the output signals, and send an indication of the rate to a device; and

(2) determine whether an output signal of an organ of a person wearing the device is greater than a threshold or includes a profile sound over a period of time.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the sound sensors are microphones having an audio input port directed towards the inside of the mesh and coupled to the processor through wires or through a wireless transceivers disposed in each microphone.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the sensors have an antennae or other circuitry for determining their location relative to each other.

19. A method of determining a biometric indicator sound of a person comprising:

locating an array of sound sensors at desired locations on the person based on sensing an indicator sound;

sensing sounds from organs of the person using the sensors;

outputting electronic output signals from the sensors based on the sensed sounds;

communicating the output electronic signals from the sensors to a processor; and

outputting an alert signal to an alarm if an electronic output signal is greater than a threshold or includes a profile, or includes an indicator sound.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein locating the an array of sound sensors includes locating sensors at desired locations to directly or indirectly hear a sound expected to be heard from an organ of the person;

wherein the indicator sound (1) includes an output signal indicating a sound is greater than a threshold or includes a profile sound, and (2) indicates damage to or other issues related to one of a heart, lungs, bone joint, jaw, mouth, nose, throat, veins or arteries of a person wearing the device; and

further comprising using an alarm to alert the person of the alert signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensed sounds include sounds from joints, footfalls and lungs, and wherein outputting an alert signal includes outputting an alert signal that the person is walking, jogging or running.

22. (canceled)