Apparatus for detecting body condition

• US 8,951,191 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kaasinen, Jussi, Karlsson, Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): VOORHEES, CATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US12/084,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20110257544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,385 Days
• Field of Search: 600/508, 600/301, 607/30, 607/32, 607 59- 60, 607/20, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting body condition has a communication unit capable of being worn by the body to be detected. The communication unit includes at least one sensor for detecting a signal indicative of the body condition. The apparatus has also a pickup coil of a component of a mobile phone arranged to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving the signal from the communication unit so that said pickup coil is further operable for said component in order to operate the mobile phone. An existing coil in the mobile phone is used for receiving the signal indicative of the body condition from the detector telemetrically. Therefore there is no need to add new components. Existing component can thus be used to detect the signal telemetrically at the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a body condition, comprising:

a communication unit including at least one sensor, the communication unit being configured to being worn by a user;

a mobile device comprising,

a component configured to operate based on one or more signals, the one or more signals including one or more signals related to the body condition and one or more signals unrelated to the body condition, and

a pickup coil of the component, the pickup coil being configured to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving a first signal indicative of the body condition from the communication unit; and

a signal detection system configured to separate the received first signal from among the one or more signals unrelated to the body condition.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pickup coil is further configured to operate the component in order to operate the mobile device, and operation of the mobile device creates the one or more unrelated signals from sources unrelated to the body condition.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the component comprises a vibramotor of the mobile device and the pickup coil is from the vibramotor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the component comprises a loudspeaker of the mobile device and the pickup coil is from the loudspeaker.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit including the at least one sensor comprises a biosensor measurement detection device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device is attachable to a wrist of the user.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device comprises a wrist watch.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device is attachable to a chest of the user.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device comprises a belt.

10. The system according to claim 5, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device includes a user interface configured to display information relating to the mobile device, the information being received from the mobile device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the information comprises caller identification information.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted inductively between the communication unit and the pickup coil.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an amplifier for amplifying the received first signal.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises signal detection means for processing the first signal so that the body condition is indicated.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a user interface of the mobile device for presenting the detected body condition.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pickup coil is further configured to inductively receive a second signal indicative of a lightning or a thunderbolt and the signal detection system is further configured to detect the received second signal from among the one or more signals used for operating the component.

17. A mobile device for detecting a body condition, comprising:

a component configured to operate based on one or more signals, the one or more signals including one or more signals related to the body condition and one or more signals unrelated to the body condition;

a pickup coil of the component, the pickup coil being configured to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving a first signal indicative of the body condition; and

a signal detection system configured to separate the first signal indicative of the body condition from among the one or more signals unrelated to the body condition after the first signal has been received at the pickup coil.

18. A system for monitoring a body condition, the system comprising:

a biosensor measurement device configured to being worn by a user, the biosensor measurement device comprising a communication unit, the communication unit including at least one sensor;

a mobile device, comprising,

a component configured to operate based on one or more signals, the one or more signals including one or more signals related to the body condition and one or more signals unrelated to the body condition,

a pickup coil of the component, the pickup coil being configured to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving a first signal indicative of the body condition from the biosensor measurement detection device, and

a signal detection system configured to separate the first signal from among the one or more signals after the first signal unrelated to the body condition has been received at the pickup coil; and

a computer arranged to communicate with the mobile device via a communication network so that the body condition is remotely monitorable via the computer.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the computer sends instructions in response to the detected body condition, which detected body condition is communicated to the computer.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the computer remotely arranges the monitoring of the body condition by a person operating the computer.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the computer receives the detected body condition, presents the detected body condition, and sends the instructions to the mobile phone.

22. A method for detecting a body condition, the method comprising:

inductively receiving one or more signal including a first signal indicative of the body condition at a pickup coil of a component of a mobile device; and

separating the first signal indicative of the body condition from among the one or more signals, the one or more signals including one or more signals related to the body condition and one or more signals unrelated to the body condition.