Methods, systems, and apparatuses for accurate measurement and real-time feedback of solar ultraviolet exposure

• US 9,880,052 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute
• Original Assignee: The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute
• Inventors: Dumont, Emmanuel, Banerjee, Shayak, Contreras, Mauricio
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEIN, ABRA S
• Application Number:
  US15/247,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20160363479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 250372
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0403 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements; Scanning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4266 for measuring solar light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Systems and methods for accurate measurement and real-time feedback of solar ultraviolet exposure for management of ultraviolet dose. The systems can include a wearable device including a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor used to initiate an alert that the proximity sensor is covered. The systems can include a visible light sensor, the visible light sensor used to enter into a sleep, or night, mode.

Claims

1. A wearable UV sensing device comprising:

a wearable housing that comprises a UV sensor, a visible light sensor, a proximity sensor, and a storage device that has stored thereon a computer executable method for automatically causing the wearable UV sensing device to enter a sleep mode, the computer executable method comprising;

receiving information indicative of a signal from the visible light sensor;

using the information to determine if a condition of darkness adjacent the UV sensor exists;

receiving information indicative of a signal from the proximity sensor and determining if a material covering the device is responsible for the condition of darkness; and

initiating the sleep mode if a determination has been made that a condition of darkness exists and it is not caused by a material covering the proximity sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein using the information to determine if a condition of darkness adjacent the UV sensor exists comprises:

comparing the information with a visible light threshold;

incrementing a counter if the information is not above the visible light threshold; and

comparing counts from the counter with a threshold count,

wherein the initiating step comprises initiating a sleep mode if the counts are greater than the threshold count.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining an active mode of the UV sensing device if a determination has been made that a condition of darkness adjacent the UV sensor does not exist.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after initiating sleep mode, initiating an active mode in which a UV sensor is activated based on the information indicative of a signal from the visible light sensor if the information is greater than a visible light threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating a sleep mode comprises decreasing the use of the UV sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating a sleep mode comprises maintaining a use of the visible light sensor.