METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTACTING SKIN WITH SENSOR EQUIPMENT

• US 20170319136A1
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kosonen, Matti, Lasarov, Harri
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program, in which a body of a wearable apparatus is maintained maintaining by a link in place at a given part of skin of the user. A sensor platform is movably supported sandwiched between the body and the skin and supported by the body movably with relation to the body towards and away of the skin, when the apparatus is worn by the user. A sensor is supported by the sensor platform. The sensor produces sensor signals corresponding to a property of the skin or underlying matter. The position of the sensor platform is adjusted by an actuator with relation to the skin.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A sensor structure for a user wearable apparatus;

comprising;

a sensor platform configured to be sandwiched between the body of the wearable apparatus and skin of the user and supported by the body movably with relation to the body towards and away of the skin, when the sensor structure is mounted to the user wearable apparatus and the user wearable apparatus is worn by the user;

a sensor supported by the sensor platform and configured to produce sensor signals corresponding to a property of the skin or underlying matter; and

an actuator configured to adjust the position of the sensor platform with relation to the skin.

16. The sensor structure of claim 15, further comprising a processor configured to:

receive the sensor signals and to determine suitable compensating movement of the sensor platform from the sensor signals and to cause the actuator to adjust the position of the sensor platform.

17. The sensor structure of claim 15, further comprising a lateral float configured to enable lateral movement of the sensor platform with relation to the body so as to inhibit lateral movement of the sensor with relation to the skin.

18. The sensor structure of claim 15, further comprising a lateral actuator configured to compensate lateral movement of the body with relation to the skin.

19. The sensor structure of claim 15, wherein the actuator is configured to compensate centrifugal forces acting move the sensor away from the skin.

20. An apparatus comprising;

a sensor platform configured to be sandwiched between the body of the apparatus and skin of the user and supported by the body movably with relation to the body towards and away of the skin, when the sensor structure is mounted to the apparatus and the apparatus is worn by the user;

a sensor supported by the sensor platform and configured to produce sensor signals corresponding to a property of the skin or underlying matter; and

an actuator configured to adjust the position of the sensor platform with relation to the skin.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a link configured to maintain the body in place at a given part of skin of the user.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the link is selected from a group consisting of:

a strap;

a belt;

a sock;

a shoe;

a headphone frame;

a frame of eyeglasses or sun glasses;

a sleeve or a collar of a shirt or pullover; and

a waistband of trousers or skirt.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a processor configured to:

receive the sensor signals and to determine suitable compensating movement of the sensor platform from the sensor signals and to cause the actuator to adjust the position of the sensor platform.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a lateral float configured to enable lateral movement of the sensor platform with relation to the body so as to inhibit lateral movement of the sensor with relation to the skin.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a lateral actuator configured to compensate lateral movement of the body with relation to the skin.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the actuator is configured to compensate centrifugal forces acting move the sensor away from the skin.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving the sensor signals and determining suitable compensating movement of the sensor platform from the sensor signals and causing the actuator to adjust the position of the sensor platform.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising a lateral float configured to enable lateral movement of the sensor platform with relation to the body so as to inhibit lateral movement of the sensor with relation to the skin.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising a lateral actuator configured to compensate lateral movement of the body with relation to the skin.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the link is selected from a group consisting of:

a strap;

a belt;

a sock;

a shoe;

a headphone frame;

a frame of eyeglasses or sun glasses;

a sleeve or a collar of a shirt or pullover; and

a waistband of trousers or skirt.

32. The method of claim 23, further comprising compensating by the actuator centrifugal forces acting move the sensor away from the skin.

27. A method comprising:

maintaining by a link a body of a wearable apparatus in place at a given part of skin of the user;

movably supporting a sensor platform sandwiched between the body and the skin and supported by the body movably with relation to the body towards and away of the skin, when the apparatus is worn by the user;

supporting a sensor by the sensor platform and producing sensor signals corresponding to a property of the skin or underlying matter; and

adjusting by an actuator the position of the sensor platform with relation to the skin.

33. A computer program comprising computer executable program code configured to control a wearable device, when the computer executable program code is executed, to:

receive sensor signals corresponding to a property of skin or underlying matter from a sensor supported by a movably supported sensor platform that is adjustable with relation to a body of the wearable device with an actuator towards or away of skin of the user;

determine whether the sensor platform should be moved by the actuator; and

adjust by an actuator the position of the sensor platform with relation to the skin so that the operation of the sensor is enhanced.

34. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the enhancing of the operation of the sensor may comprise reducing pressing of the sensor platform against the skin so that blood flow obstruction is reduced.