Accessories for remote monitoring

• US 8,882,667 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Pal, Shin, Kun Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US11/436,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,098 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/549, 340/539.1, 348/218.1
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424

Abstract

An accessory for remote monitoring, including: a body capable of being placed on a human body; a measurement unit installed in the body and measuring a change in surroundings; a signal processing unit for processing a signal acquired from the measurement unit; and a wireless communication unit including a monopole antenna transmitting the signal processed by the signal processing unit and a ground installed along the body, corresponding to the monopole antenna. The signal processing unit and the monopole antenna are manufactured in a small size to be formed in the accessories body or periphery of the accessories body, and a space for wiring the ground may be obtained by using a band or the accessories body in an extended shape.

Claims

1. An accessory for remote monitoring, comprising:

a body capable of being placed on a monitored subject;

a measurement unit provided on the body to be in contact with the subject to measure at least one biosignal of the subject;

a signal processing unit to process a signal acquired from the measurement unit; and

a wireless communication unit including a monopole antenna to transmit the signal processed by the signal processing unit, and a ground installed in the body corresponding to the monopole antenna,

wherein the signal processing unit and the monopole antenna are provided on the body and electrically connected to the measurement unit provided on the body,

wherein the ground functions as a valid image antenna with respect to the monopole antenna,

wherein the ground is installed in the body to form a part of the body,

wherein the body has a strip to be hanged on the subject, and

wherein the ground electrically connected to the monopole antenna is built in the strip, and a length of the ground is greater than approximately λ

/4 of a frequency used by the wireless communication unit to transmit the signal processed by the signal processing unit.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the body is in a form of a necklace, a bracelet, a belt, a watch, a band, a ring, or a pair of glasses.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the ground is in the body along a periphery of the body.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the measurement unit measures at least one of an electrocardiogram, an electromyogram, an electroencephalogram, a galvanic skin response, an electrooculogram, a body temperature, a pulse, a blood pressure, and a physical movement.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit is in an integrated circuit (IC) chip on a printed circuit (PCB) substrate.

6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the monopole antenna is on the PCB.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit also receives information.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the monopole antenna is functionally connected to the ground.

9. An accessory for remote monitoring, comprising:

a body capable of being placed on a monitored subject;

a measurement unit provided on the body to be in contact with the subject to measure at least one biosignal of the subject;

a circuit unit including an integrated circuit chip to process a signal acquired from the measurement unit and a monopole antenna formed on the same substrate on which the integrated circuit chip is installed; and

a ground connected to the circuit unit and extended in the body, and the ground functions as a valid image antenna with respect to the monopole antenna,

wherein the circuit unit and the monopole antenna are provided on the body and electrically connected to the measurement unit provided on the body,

wherein the ground is installed in the body to form a part of the body,

wherein the body has a strip to be hanged on the subject, and

wherein the ground electrically connected to the monopole antenna is built in the strip, and a length of the ground is greater than approximately λ

/4 of a frequency used by the wireless communication unit to transmit the signal processed by the signal processing unit.

10. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the body is in a form of a necklace, a bracelet, a belt, a watch, a band, a ring, and a pair of glasses.

11. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the measurement unit measures at least one of an electrocardiogram, an electromyogram, an electroencephalogram, a galvanic skin response, an electrooculogram, a body temperature, a pulse, a blood pressure, and a physical movement.

12. A method of remote monitoring, comprising:

placing a body on a monitored subject;

measuring at least one biosignal of the object subject via a measurement unit provided on the body to be in contact with the subject ;

processing, via a signal processing unit, a signal acquired from the measurement unit; and

transmitting the signal processed by the signal processing unit via a wireless communication unit including a monopole antenna, and a ground installed in the body corresponding to the monopole antenna and functioning as a valid image antenna with respect to the monopole antenna,

wherein the signal processing unit and the monopole antenna are provided on the body and electrically connected to the measurement unit provided on the body,

wherein the ground is installed in the body to form a part of the body,

wherein the body has a strip to be hanged on the subject, and

wherein the ground electrically connected to the monopole antenna is built in the strip, and a length of the ground is greater than approximately λ

/4 of a frequency used by the wireless communication unit to transmit the signal processed by the signal processing unit.