Wearable device and method of providing information by using the wearable device

• US 9,892,609 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jae-hong, Min, Jin-hong, Lee, Jea-hyuck, Cho, Jae-geol, Kim, Ju-hee, Kim, Chang-hyun, Yoon, Kang-jin
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US15/151,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20160335871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911, 34053913, 3405731
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/181 using active radiation detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• 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

Abstract

A wearable device wearable on a body and a method and an apparatus for providing information by using the wearable device are provided. The wearable device includes at least two sensing units configured to sense detect biometric information of a wearer of the wearable device, and a connector electrically connecting the at least two sensing units to each other and having elasticity.

Claims

1. A wearable device comprising:

at least two sensors configured to detect biometric information of a wearer of the wearable device;

a connector electrically connecting the at least two sensors to each other and having elasticity;

a communicator configured to transmit the biometric information to an external apparatus; and

at least one processor configured to control the at least two sensors and the communicator,

wherein the at least two sensors are imbedded in a ring structure or a band structure comprising a fastening portion at two ends,

wherein each of the at least two sensors comprises;

an emitter configured to emit light, and

an optical receiver configured to receive the light emitted from the emitter,

wherein the connector electrically connects at least two of the emitter, the optical receiver, or the at least one processor, and

wherein a location of at least one of the emitter, the optical receiver, or the at least one processor changes according to a length of the connector

wherein the communicator is further configured to receive a short-distance wireless communication signal from an apparatus broadcasting identification (ID) information, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the communicator to transmit alarm information to the external apparatus based on a strength of the short-distance wireless communication signal.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein a distance between the at least two sensors changes according to a length of the connector.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver comprises a plurality of photodiodes (PDs) configured to receive an optical signal and convert the optical signal into an electric signal.

4. The wearable device of claim 3,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select one of the plurality of PDs based on the electric signal, and

wherein the biometric information is obtained by using the selected PD.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether the biometric information is within a normal range, and

control the communicator to transmit, when it is determined that the biometric information is not within the normal range, alarm information to the external apparatus.

6. The wearable device of claim 5, wherein the alarm information comprises at least one of information indicating that a state of the wearer is abnormal or information indicating that a wearing state of the wearable device is poor.

7. The wearable device of claim 6, wherein the communicator is further configured to transmit the alarm information to an apparatus matched to the wearable device or broadcast the alarm information.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the emitter or the optical receiver is moveable gradationally such that a distance between the emitter and the optical receiver changes.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a distance between the wearable device and the apparatus broadcasting the ID information based on the strength of the short-distance wireless communication signal, and

output, when the determined distance is lower than or equal to a threshold value, feedback comprising at least one of a sound, an image, or a vibration.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the communicator to request a first electronic apparatus to output the feedback when the determined distance is lower than or equal to the threshold value.

11. The wearable device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

re-determine the distance between the wearable device and the apparatus broadcasting the ID information after the output of the feedback is requested, and

request, when the re-determined distance is not increased compared to the determined distance, the first electronic apparatus to increase a strength of outputting the feedback.

12. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises at least one of a wrinkled flexible printed circuit board (PCB) or a stretchable PCB.

13. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising a stretchable outer cover,

wherein a material of the stretchable outer cover is any one of rubber, urethane, or silicon.