Apparatus for Detecting Body Condition

• US 20110257544A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Karlsson, Matti, Kaasinen, Jussi
• Granted Patent: US 8,951,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting body condition has a communication unit capable of being worn by the body to be detected. The communication unit includes at least one sensor for detecting a signal indicative of the body condition. The apparatus has also a pickup coil of a component of a mobile phone arranged to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving the signal from the communication unit so that said pickup coil is further operable for said component in order to operate the mobile phone. An existing coil in the mobile phone is used for receiving the signal indicative of the body condition from the detector telemetrically. Therefore there is no need to add new components. Existing component can thus be used to detect the signal telemetrically at the mobile phone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting body condition, comprising

a pickup coil of a component of a mobile device arranged to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving a signal indicative of the body condition from a communication unit capable of being worn by the body to be detected, said communication unit including at least one sensor for detecting said signal, and

a signal detection system for detecting said signal to be separate from signals from other sources.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pickup coil is further operable for said component in order to operate the mobile device in a mobile communications network.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said component comprises a vibramotor of the mobile device and said pickup coil is from the vibramotor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said component comprises a loudspeaker of the mobile device and said pickup coil is from the loudspeaker.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit including the at least one sensor comprise a biosensor measurement detection device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device is attachable to a wrist of the user.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device comprises a wrist watch.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device is attachable to a chest of the user.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the biosensor measurement detection device comprises a belt.

10. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for sending information relating to the mobile device to user interface of the biosensor detection device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said information comprises caller identification.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted inductively between the communication unit and the pickup coil.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an amplifier for amplifying the received signal.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises signal detection means for processing the signal so that the body condition is indicated.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a user interface of the mobile device for presenting the detected body condition.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pickup coil is further arranged to inductively receive a second signal, such as a signal indicative of a lightning or a thunderbolt, and said signal detection system further comprises means for identifying said second signal.

17. A mobile device for detecting body condition, comprising:

a pickup coil of a component of said mobile device arranged to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving a signal indicative of the body condition from a communication unit capable of being worn by the body to be detected, said communication unit including at least one sensor for detecting said signal, and

a signal detection system for detecting said signal to be separate from signals from other sources.

18. A system for monitoring body condition, the system comprising

a mobile device, comprising:

a pickup coil of a component of said mobile device arranged to operate as an inductive antenna for receiving a signal indicative of the body condition from a communication unit capable of being worn by the body to be detected, said communication unit including at least one sensor for detecting said signal, and

a signal detection system for detecting said signal to be separate from signals from other sources,

a computer arranged to communicate with said mobile device via a communication network so that the body condition is remotely monitorable via the computer.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the computer comprises means for sending instructions in response to the detected body condition, which detected body condition is communicated to the computer.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the computer comprises means for remotely arranging the monitoring of the body condition by a person operating the computer.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the computer comprises means for receiving the detected body condition, means for presenting the detected body condition, and means for sending the instructions to the mobile phone.

22. A method for detecting body condition, the method comprising

detecting a signal indicative of the body condition,

sending said signal indicative of the detected body condition,

inductively receiving said signal by a pickup coil of a component of a mobile device,

detecting said signal so that said signal is identifiable from another signal further operating said component for operating said mobile device, and

operating said mobile device by said component.