Compact wearable biological sensor modules

• US 9,332,940 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Bolognia, David Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle I
• Application Number:
  US14/589,685
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A sensor module can include a battery housing comprising a battery cavity sized and shaped to receive a battery. The battery cavity can be defined at least in part by a wall to be disposed about at least a portion of a periphery of the battery. A package housing can be disposed on the wall of the battery housing, the package housing smaller than the battery housing. An integrated device package can be disposed in or coupled with the package cavity. The integrated device package can include one or more integrated device dies. An interfacing feature can be coupled with the battery housing and extending transverse to the wall. The interfacing feature can be configured to transduce a biological signature into a signal to be processed by the integrated device package. An interconnect assembly can electrically connect the interfacing feature to the integrated device package.

Claims

1. A sensor module comprising:

a battery housing comprising a battery cavity sized and shaped to receive a battery, the battery cavity defined at least in part by a wall configured to be disposed about at least a portion of a periphery of the battery;

a package housing disposed on the wall of the battery housing, the package housing smaller than the battery housing and comprising a package cavity;

an integrated device package disposed in or coupled with the package cavity, the integrated device package comprising one or more integrated device dies;

an interfacing feature coupled with the battery housing and extending transverse to the wall, the interfacing feature configured to transduce a biological signature into a signal to be processed by the integrated device package; and

an interconnect assembly that electrically connects the interfacing feature to the integrated device package.

2. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the interfacing feature comprises an electrode.

3. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the interconnect assembly comprises a contact configured to electrically connect to an external device.

4. The sensor module of claim 3, wherein the contact is exposed on a bottom side of the battery housing by an aperture formed through the battery housing.

5. The sensor module of claim 4, further comprising a cover coupled with the battery housing over the battery cavity to define a top side of the battery housing, the cover comprising the interfacing feature.

6. The sensor module of claim 4, wherein the external device comprises the interfacing feature, the interfacing feature mechanically coupled to a platform on the bottom side of the battery housing, the interfacing feature electrically coupled with the contact through the aperture.

7. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the package cavity is on a side of the wall opposite the battery cavity.

8. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a second interfacing feature coupled with the battery housing and extending transverse to the wall, the second interfacing feature disposed on a side of the battery housing opposite the interfacing feature.

9. The sensor module of claim 8, wherein the interfacing feature comprises a first electrode and the second interfacing feature comprises a second electrode.

10. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the battery housing and the package housing comprise a unitary body.

11. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a third interfacing feature on an exterior surface of the integrated device package, the third interfacing feature comprising a capacitive touch sensor, an antenna, or an optical sensor.

12. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the one or more integrated device dies comprises at least one of a processor die configured to analyze the signal to determine a heart rate of a user of the sensor module, a communications die configured to transmit data regarding the heart rate to an external computing device, and a motion sensor die to detect motion of a user of the sensor module.

13. A ring for measuring one or more biological signatures of a user, the ring comprising:

a curved ring body sized and shaped to be worn by the user; and

the sensor module of claim 1, the sensor module mounted to a support structure of the ring body.

14. A sensor module comprising:

one or more housings sized and shaped to receive a battery;

an integrated device package disposed in or coupled with the one or more housings; and

an interfacing feature exposed on an exterior surface of the one or more housings and configured to transduce a biological signature into a signal to be processed by the integrated device package,

wherein the integrated device package comprises a processor configured to analyze the signal and a wireless communications die configured to provide wireless communication with an external device, and

wherein the sensor module is sized and shaped to have a volume less than about 3300 cubic millimeters.

15. The sensor module of claim 14, wherein the integrated device package comprises a motion sensor die configured to detect motion of a user.

16. The sensor module of claim 15, wherein the sensor module is sized and shaped to have a volume in a range of about 1500 cubic millimeters to about 3000 cubic millimeters.

17. A sensor module comprising:

one or more housings sized and shaped to receive a battery having a battery volume V_B;

an integrated device package disposed in or coupled with the one or more housings; and

an interfacing feature exposed on an exterior surface of the one or more housings and configured to transduce a biological signature into a signal to be processed by the integrated device package,

wherein the integrated device package comprises a processor configured to analyze the signal and a wireless communications die configured to provide wireless communication with an external device, and

wherein the sensor module has a module volume V_M that is larger than the battery volume V_B by a factor K such that V_M=K*V_B, wherein the factor K is in a range of about 1.1 to about 3.5.

18. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein the factor K is in a range of about 1.5 to about 3.

19. The sensor module of claim 17, wherein the integrated device package comprises a motion sensor die configured to detect motion of a user.

20. The sensor module of claim 17, further comprising the battery.