Seamlessly embedded heart rate monitor

• US 8,615,290 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Nakajima, Taido, Rahul, Pareet, Hodge, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALTER MORSCHAUSER, ALYSSA MARGO
• Application Number:
  US12/358,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20100113950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 607/36, 340/5.82
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers

Abstract

This is directed to an electronic device having an integrated sensor for detecting a user'"'"'s cardiac activity and cardiac electrical signals. The electronic device can include a heart sensor having several leads for detecting a user'"'"'s cardiac signals. The leads can be coupled to interior surfaces of the electronic device housing to hide the sensor from view, such that electrical signals generated by the user can be transmitted from the user'"'"'s skin through the electronic device housing to the leads. In some embodiments, the leads can be coupled to pads placed on the exterior of the housing. The pads and housing can be finished to ensure that the pads are not visibly or haptically distinguishable on the device, thus improving the aesthetic qualities of the device. Using the detected signals, the electronic device can identify or authenticate the user and perform an operation based on the identity of the user. In some embodiments, the electronic device can determine the user'"'"'s mood from the cardiac signals and provide data related to the user'"'"'s mood.

Claims

1. An electronic device operative to detect a user'"'"'s cardiac signal, comprising:

a housing;

a bezel that comprises a first portion and a second portion and that is coupled to the housing to form at least a portion of an enclosure for the electronic device;

a heart sensor operative to detect the user'"'"'s cardiac signal, the heart sensor comprising;

a first lead embedded in the first portion, wherein the first lead is configured to detect a first electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal via the user'"'"'s contact with at least one of the first lead and the first portion; and

a second lead embedded in the second portion, wherein the second lead is configured to detect a second electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal via the user'"'"'s contact with at least one of the second lead and the second portion; and

a processor coupled to the heart sensor and operative to receive and process the detected cardiac signal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion and the second portion are located on opposite sides of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first portion is electrically isolated from the second portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the bezel further comprises a third portion, and wherein:

the first portion is separated from the second portion by the third portion;

at least the third portion of the bezel is constructed from a material having a first conductivity; and

the first conductivity is insufficient to transmit the first electrical signal from the first lead to the second lead via the third portion.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the material having the first conductivity comprises one of aluminum and steel, and wherein the second lead is constructed from a silver based compound.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the second lead is configured to detect the second electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal via the user'"'"'s contact with an exterior surface of the second portion;

the second lead is positioned from the exterior surface of the second portion by a thickness of the second portion of the bezel;

at least the thickness of the second portion of the bezel is constructed from a material having a second conductivity; and

the second conductivity is defined such that the second electrical signal is not transmitted over a distance substantially larger than the thickness of the second portion of the bezel.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first lead and the second lead are positioned apart from one another at a distance substantially larger than the thickness of the second portion of the bezel.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the bezel further comprises at least one pocket underneath an outer surface of the bezel; and

at least one of the first lead and the second lead is placed within the at least one pocket.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the bezel comprises an exterior surface of the first portion, and wherein the first lead is positioned underneath the exterior surface of the first portion.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first lead is configured to detect the first electrical signal via the user'"'"'s contact with the exterior surface of the first portion.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is positioned within the enclosure.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a third lead embedded in the housing, wherein the third lead is configured to detect a third electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal via the user'"'"'s contact with at least one of the third lead and the housing.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, wherein the bezel supports the display, and wherein the housing forms an exterior surface of the electronic device behind the display; and

a third lead embedded with the display, wherein the third lead is configured to detect a third electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal via the user'"'"'s contact with at least one of the third lead and the display.

14. A bezel for use in an electronic device operative to detect a user'"'"'s cardiac signal, the bezel operative to be coupled to a housing to form an electronic device enclosure, the bezel comprising:

a first portion;

a second portion;

a first heart sensor lead positioned within the first portion of the bezel, wherein the user'"'"'s contact with at least one of the first heart sensor lead and the first portion of the bezel provides a first electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal to the first heart sensor lead; and

a second heart sensor lead positioned within the second portion of the bezel, wherein the user'"'"'s contact with at least one of the second heart sensor lead and the second portion of the bezel provides a second electrical signal of the user'"'"'s cardiac signal to the second heart sensor lead.

15. The bezel of claim 14, wherein the bezel is constructed from a conductive material.

16. The bezel of claim 15 further comprising a third portion, wherein:

the first portion is separated from the second portion by the third portion; and

a conductivity of the third portion of the bezel is defined to prevent a transmission of the first electrical signal from the first portion to the second portion via the third portion.

17. The bezel of claim 14, wherein:

at least one of the first portion and the second portion comprises a first finish; and

at least one of the first heart sensor lead and the second heart sensor lead comprises a second finish that matches the first finish.

18. The bezel of claim 14, further comprising an isolating layer placed between the first portion of the bezel and the first heart sensor lead, wherein the isolating layer prevents the first electrical signal from being transmitted to the first portion.

19. The bezel of claim 14, wherein the bezel is constructed from one of steel and aluminum.

20. The bezel of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first pad and the second pad is constructed from a silver based compound.