Apparatus and sensors for attachment to the apparatus

• US 9,703,751 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Astley, Michael Robert, Borini, Stefano Marco, White, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US13/670,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 702127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/063 in a linear array
• 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 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• 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 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

An apparatus and plurality of sensors where the apparatus includes a plurality of coupling elements; a plurality of attachment portions configured to enable a plurality of sensors to be removably attached to the apparatus; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to individually address each of the plurality of coupling elements to obtain a reading from each of the plurality of sensors attached to the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of coupling elements;

a plurality of attachment portions configured to enable a plurality of sensors to be removably attached to the apparatus, where the coupling elements are configured to form wireless communication links with the sensors when the sensors are attached to the attachment portions;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program instructions;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to individually address each of the plurality of coupling elements to obtain a reading from each of the plurality of sensors, attached to the apparatus, via the wireless communication links.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of coupling elements is identical.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the coupling elements comprises an antenna.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of attachment portions are configured so that the separation between the sensor and the antenna is the same for each pairing of sensor and antenna.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of attachment portions are configured to enable a user of the apparatus to remove and replace the plurality of sensors.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of attachment portions are configured to enable a respective one of the sensors to be positioned in close proximity to a respective one of the coupling elements.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of attachment portions are configured to enable at least one of the sensors to be positioned close enough to a respective one of the coupling elements to enable near field coupling between the sensor and the coupling element.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of attachment portions comprises means for coupling to a corresponding attachment portion of a sensor.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of attachment portions comprises a portion configured to receive an adhesive portion of at least one of the sensors.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to be worn by a user.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a strap configured to enable the apparatus to be attached to a user'"'"'s body.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein a first subset of the plurality of sensors are provided on a first side of the strap and a second subset of the plurality of sensors are provided on a second side of the strap.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the apparatus is configured so that, when the apparatus is attached to the user'"'"'s body, the second subset of sensors is positioned to be adjacent to the skin of the user'"'"'s body.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a communications module configured to enable the apparatus to communicate with another apparatus.

15. A sensor configured to be attached to an apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

16. A sensor comprising:

a sensing portion;

at least one coupling element connected to the sensing portion such that a detection of a parameter by the sensing portion changes a frequency response of the at least one coupling element, where the at least one coupling element is configured to form at least one wireless communication link to an apparatus; and

an attachment portion configured to enable the sensor to be removably attached to the apparatus to enable the at least one coupling element to transfer data to the apparatus;

wherein the sensor is configured to transfer data to the apparatus both before and after the change in frequency response.

17. A sensor as claimed in claim 16 wherein the sensor portion is configured to sense the parameter and to provide a signal indicative of the sensed parameter to the coupling element.

18. A sensor as claimed in claim 16 wherein the coupling element comprises an antenna.

19. A method comprising:

removably attaching at least one sensor to an apparatus wherein the apparatus comprises;

a plurality of coupling elements;

a plurality of attachment portions configured to enable the at least one sensor to be removably attached to the apparatus, where the coupling elements are configured to form wireless communication links with the sensor(s) when the sensor(s) are attached to the attachment portions;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program instructions wherein the at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to individually address one of the coupling elements to obtain a reading from the at least one sensor, attached to the apparatus, via the wireless communication links; and

the at least one sensor comprises;

a sensing portion;

a sensing antenna connected to the sensing portion such that a detection of a parameter by the sensing portion changes a frequency response of the sensing antenna, where the sensing antenna is configured to form a wireless communication link from the at least one sensor to the apparatus; and

an attachment portion configured to enable the sensor to be removably attached to the apparatus.

20. A method comprising.:

removing a first sensor from an apparatus and replacing the first sensor with a second sensor, wherein the apparatus comprises;

a plurality, of coupling antennas;

a plurality of attachment portions configured to enable at least the first sensor to be removably attached to the apparatus, where at least one of the coupling antennas is configured to form a wireless communication link with each sensor when the sensor is attached to the apparatus;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program instructions wherein the at least one memory and the computer program instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to individually address at least one of the coupling antennas to obtain a reading from each sensor attached to the apparatus via the wireless communication link; and

the sensors comprise;

a sensing portion;

a sensing coupling element configured to form the wireless communication link; and

an attachment portion configured to enable the sensors to be removably attached to the apparatus.