Ring-shaped skin sensor

• US 9,833,164 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Justice, Gregory Kim, Shariff, Farah, Dallmeyer, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Piateski, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US14/292,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 600301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/06 Arrangements of multiple sensors of different types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/14 Coupling media or elements to improve sensor contact with skin or tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• 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 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6813 Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part A61B5/6802 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist

Abstract

A sensory-and-logic system includes a ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor sized and shaped to form an electrical connection with human skin, and an electrical component surrounded by the ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor.

Claims

1. A sensory-and-logic system, comprising:

a first contact sensor module comprising a first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor surrounding a first electrical component, the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor sized and shaped to form an electrical connection with human skin;

a second contact sensor module comprising a second ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor surrounding a power and data connector, the second ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor sized and shaped to form an electrical connection with human skin; and

a wrist band assembly, the first and second contact sensor modules supported by opposing and distally-spaced portions of the wrist band assembly.

2. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical component comprises an optical pulse rate sensor.

3. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 1, wherein the power and data connector comprises a universal serial bus port.

4. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 3, wherein the universal serial bus port provides charging contacts for charging an energy-storage cell interposed between the first and second contact sensor modules.

5. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 1, further comprising a display device proximate the first contact sensor module.

6. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system, the first and second contact sensor modules each operably coupled to the compute system.

7. A sensory-and-logic system, comprising:

an optical pulse rate sensor;

a first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor surrounding the optical pulse rate sensor, the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor sized and shaped to form an electrical connection with human skin;

a universal serial bus port;

a second ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor surrounding the universal serial bus port, the second contact sensor module distally located relative to the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor and sized and shaped to form an electrical connection with human skin; and

a wrist band assembly distally supporting the optical pulse rate sensor and the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor from the universal serial bus port and the second ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor.

8. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 7, wherein the wrist band assembly includes one or more flexible regions between the optical pulse rate sensor and the universal serial bus port.

9. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 8, wherein the universal serial bus port and the second ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor are constituent components of a rigid display module and the optical pulse rate sensor and the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor are constituent components of a rigid clasp module.

10. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 9, wherein the rigid clasp module includes a pillow housing the optical pulse rate sensor and the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor.

11. The sensory-and-logic system of claim 7, further comprising a computer system operably coupled to each of the first ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor, second ring-shaped, electrically-conductive skin sensor, optical pulse rate sensor, and universal serial bus port.