Biometric sensor ring for continuous wear mobile data applications

• US 9,711,060 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senstream, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Senstream, Inc.
• Inventors: Lusted, Hugh, Proctor, David W., Roy, Jashojit
• Primary Examiner(s): Yip, Jack
• Application Number:
  US14/799,487
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 600344, 600300, 600301, 600509, 345156, 36167903, 607 6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 : Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 : worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 : worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 : Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 : for medicine

Abstract

A biometric sensing apparatus for estimating the emotional state of a user. A self-contained biometric sensing ring is worn on the finger (or fingers) of the user during their normal activities. Biometric information is collected and sent wirelessly to the user'"'"'s mobile device configured with application programming for analyzing and displaying the biometric information. The biometric ring is configured with sensors that the structure of the ring retains at a proper pressure against the finger of the user. The sensors comprise at least electrodermal response (EDR), photoplethysmograph (PPG), temperature, and acceleration. The ring has a self-contained power source, and is configured for adjustably fitting a wide range of users.

Claims

1. A biometric sensing ring apparatus for estimating emotional state of a user for display on a mobile device, said apparatus comprising:

a biometric sensing ring configured for wearing on the finger of the user over extended periods while allowing the user to perform normal activities;

a housing of said biometric sensing ring, wherein said housing comprises an upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing configured for retaining a power storage device, and a lower band portion of the housing which is “

U”

shaped;

wherein said upper shoulder/setting portion is configured for receiving ends of said “

U”

shaped lower band portion so that one or both ends of this “

U”

shaped lower band portion are inserted to a desired depth into said upper shoulder/setting portion so that the interior of the ring closes down on the finger sufficient to assure proper sensor contact on both the top and bottom surfaces of the finger;

a plurality of sensors retained in said housing of said biometric sensing ring to extend into its interior for establishing secure skin contact on a portion of the finger of the user while the biometric sensing ring is being worn;

wherein said plurality of sensors comprise an electrodermal activity (EDA), photoplethysmograph (PPG), temperature;

an acceleration sensor configured for sensing accelerations in three dimensions as the user performs normal activities;

a control circuit configured for collecting biometric information from said plurality of sensors and said acceleration sensor, for storage in a memory and for communication to the mobile device;

wherein said power storage device is configured for supplying power to said plurality of sensors, said acceleration sensor, and said control circuit; and

a communications interface coupled to, or integrated with, said control circuit, said communications interface configured for communicating data from said biometric sensing ring to the mobile device having an application program configured for displaying estimated emotional state of the user;

wherein a flexible circuit board is retained within said lower band portion of the biometric sensing ring, wherein said flexible circuit board electrically interconnects sensors within said plurality of sensors;

wherein said flexible circuit board is disposed around at least one half of the periphery of said biometric sensing ring to interconnect sensors configured for sensing the underside of the user'"'"'s finger, with sensors configured for sensing the upper side of the user'"'"'s finger; and

wherein said flexible circuit is configured for retaining circuit elements distributed along said flexible circuit board and flex spaces between said circuit elements.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured for analyzing biometric information and displaying the results of the analysis.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said communications interface comprises a low power a Bluetooth communications circuit for performing low power radio frequency (RF) communication between said biometric sensing ring and the mobile device.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ends of said “

U”

shaped lower band portion is configured to electrically connect said circuit elements on said flexible circuit to said upper shoulder/setting portion.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said communications interface is retained in said upper shoulder/setting disk portion of said biometric sensing ring and coupled to, or integrated with, said control circuit, wherein said communications interface is configured for communicating data from said biometric sensing ring to the mobile device having an application program configured for displaying estimated emotional state of the user.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said EDA sensor generates a tonic signal and a phasic signal as an indication of arousal and mood.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said PPG sensor measures user cardiac pulse from which heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and respiratory rate are determined.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors further comprises a chemical sensor configured for detecting certain chemical levels in user sweat.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said chemicals being detected by said chemical sensor are selected from the group of chemicals consisting of blood sugar, cortisol, and metabolic products from drugs or hormones.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said chemical sensor is mounted on the top interior of the ring for retention upon the upper side of the user'"'"'s finger.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said power storage device retained in said biometric sensing ring makes said biometric sensing ring self-contained so that the user is not tethered by external electrical connections that could hamper normal activities.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said biometric sensing ring is configured for interconnecting multiple biometric sensing rings worn on a single finger of the user, or on different fingers of the user, or a combination with rings on multiple fingers and at least one finger having more than one ring.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said multiple biometric sensing rings are configured for integration within a biometric sensing glove to be worn over the hand of the user whose fingers are disposed within said multiple biometric sensing rings.

14. A biometric sensing ring apparatus for estimating emotional state of a user for display on a mobile device, said apparatus comprising:

a biometric sensing ring configured for wearing on the finger of the user over extended periods while allowing the user to perform normal activities;

a housing of said biometric sensing ring, wherein said housing comprises an upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing configured for retaining a power storage device, and a lower band portion of the housing which is “

U”

shaped;

wherein said upper shoulder/setting portion is configured for receiving ends of said “

U”

shaped lower band portion so that one or both ends of this “

U”

shaped lower band portion are inserted to a desired depth into said upper shoulder/setting portion so that the interior of the ring closes down on the finger sufficient to assure proper sensor contact on both the top and bottom surfaces of the finger;

a plurality of sensors retained in said housing of said biometric sensing ring to extend into its interior for establishing secure skin contact on a portion of the finger of the user while the biometric sensing ring is being worn;

wherein said plurality of sensors comprise an electrodermal activity (EDA), photoplethysmograph (PPG), temperature;

wherein said EDA sensor generates a tonic signal and a phasic signal as an indication of arousal and mood, and said PPG sensor measures user cardiac pulse from which heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and respiratory rate are determined;

an acceleration sensor configured for sensing accelerations in three dimensions as the user performs their activities;

a housing of said biometric sensing ring configured with a variable geometry for retaining said plurality of sensors at a desired mechanical contact pressure on the skin of a finger upon which the biometric sensing ring is being worn;

a control circuit configured for collecting biometric information collected from said plurality of sensors and said acceleration sensor for storage in a memory and for communication to the mobile device;

wherein said power storage device is configured for supplying power to said plurality of sensors, said acceleration sensor, and said control circuit; and

a communications interface coupled to, or integrated with, said control circuit, said communications interface configured for communicating data from said biometric sensing ring to the mobile device having an application program configured for displaying estimated emotional state of a user;

wherein a flexible circuit board is retained within said lower band portion of the biometric sensing ring spanning at least one half of its periphery, with said flexible circuit board electrically interconnecting sensors within said plurality of sensors; and

wherein said flexible circuit is configured for retaining circuit elements distributed along said flexible circuit board and flex spaces between the components.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the ends of said “

U”

shaped lower band portion is configured to electrically connect said circuit elements on said flexible circuit to said upper shoulder/setting portion.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said plurality of sensors further comprises a chemical sensor configured for detecting certain chemical levels in user sweat.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said chemicals being detected by said chemical sensor are selected from the group of chemicals consisting of blood sugar, cortisol, and metabolic products from drugs or hormones.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said chemical sensor is mounted on the top interior of the ring for retention upon the upper side of the user'"'"'s finger.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said power storage device retained in said biometric sensing ring makes said biometric sensing ring self-contained so that the user is not tethered by external electrical connections that could hamper normal activities.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said biometric sensing ring is configured for interconnecting multiple biometric sensing rings worn on a single finger of the user, or on different fingers of the user, or a combination with rings on multiple fingers and at least one finger having more than one ring.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said multiple biometric sensing rings are configured for integration within a biometric sensing glove to be worn over the hand of the user whose fingers are disposed within said multiple biometric sensing rings.

22. A biometric sensing ring apparatus for estimating emotional state of a user for display on a mobile device, said apparatus comprising:

a biometric sensing ring configured for wearing on the finger of the user over extended periods while the user performs their normal activities;

a housing of said biometric sensing ring having an upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing and a lower band portion of the housing;

wherein said upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing is configured for retaining a power storage device, and a lower band portion of the housing is “

U”

shaped;

a plurality of bio-sensors retained in the lower band portion of the housing facing upward into a ring finger-hole interior area for establishing secure skin contact on a portion of the finger of the user while the biometric sensing ring is being worn;

wherein said plurality of bio-sensors comprise an electrodermal response (EDA), photoplethysmograph (PPG), temperature;

an acceleration sensor configured for sensing accelerations in three dimensions as the user performs normal activities;

a control circuit configured for collecting biometric information from said plurality of bio-sensors and said acceleration sensor, for storage in a memory and for communication to the mobile device;

wherein said power storage device is configured for supplying power to said plurality of sensors, said acceleration sensor, and said control circuit; and

a communications interface retained in said upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing and coupled to, or integrated with, said control circuit, wherein said communications interface is configured for communicating data from said biometric sensing ring to the mobile device having an application program configured for displaying estimated emotional state of the user;

wherein said upper shoulder/setting portion is configured for receiving ends of said “

U”

shaped lower band portion so that one or both ends of this “

U”

shaped lower band portion are inserted to a desired depth into said upper shoulder/setting portion so that the interior of the ring closes down on the finger sufficient to assure proper sensor contact on both the top and bottom surfaces of the finger;

wherein one or both ends of said “

U”

shaped lower band portion is configured to electrically connect said circuit elements on said flexible circuit to said upper shoulder/setting portion; and

wherein said plurality of bio-sensors are connected on a flexible circuit which extends from an area of said lower band on up to make electrical connection with circuitry within said upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein a top surface of said upper shoulder/setting portion of the housing is configured for receiving one or more elements selected from the group of elements consisting of decorative elements, display indicators, and user input selectors.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said power storage device is configured for being readily removed, so that another battery can be reinserted to increase time periods over which biometric data is collected by said biometric sensing ring apparatus.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said plurality of sensors further comprise a chemical sensor configured for detecting certain chemical levels in user sweat.