SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20140257129A1
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Sang Joon, CHOI, Chang Mok, MUN, Min Young
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

Provided is a device for measuring a signal and a method of operating the same. The device may include electrodes attached to the device, and a control unit for determining the optimal pair of electrodes to be used for measuring the signal. Also, the device may include an output unit for measuring signals that are sensed by the electrodes.

Claims

1. A device for measuring a biological signal, the device comprising:

electrodes configured to collect measurements from a subject; and

a control unit configured to select electrode combinations, each of the electrode combinations comprising at least two electrodes, and to determine an optimal electrode combination by comparing signal sizes measured for the selected electrode combinations.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein

the biological signal is an electromyography (EMG) signal;

the electrodes are configured be in contact with the subject; and

the optimal electrode combination is to be used to sense the EMG signal from the subject.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein

the electrodes comprise an electrode and other electrodes;

and

the control unit selects the electrode combinations by grouping the electrode with each of the other electrodes in a sequential manner.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the control unit determines that a combination of the electrode and one of the other electrodes is the optimal electrode combination in response to that combination measuring a largest signal size.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a single differential amplifier to measure a signal size by connecting the single differential amplifier with the at least two electrodes of the electrode combination.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a guide unit configured to provide a command to move the subject from which measurements are to be taken according to a pattern,

wherein the control unit compares a signal size of the electrode combinations without the movement having an effect on the comparing.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the pattern corresponds to one or a combination of a muscle contraction and a muscle relaxation.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the guide unit provides the pattern in a form of graphical information or audio information.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a bracelet member configured to be worn by a subject from whom measurements are to be taken, and to support the electrodes with sensing surfaces of the electrodes being in contact with the subject; and

a switch provided on the bracelet member to connect and switch between the electrodes,

wherein the control unit selects the electrode combinations using the switch.

10. A method of operating a sensing device for measuring a biological signal, the method comprising:

providing electrodes configured to collect measurements from a subject;

selecting electrode combinations, each of the electrode combinations comprising at least two electrodes; and

determining an optimal electrode combination by comparing signal sizes measured for the selected electrode combinations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

the biological signal is an electromyography (EMG) signal;

the providing of the electrodes comprises providing electrodes that are configured to be in contact with the subject; and

the determining of the optimal electrode combination comprises determining the optimal electrode combination to be used to sense the EMG signal from the subject.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein

the electrodes comprise an electrode and other electrodes;

and

the selecting of the electrode combinations comprises selecting the electrode combinations by grouping the electrode with each of the other electrodes in a sequential manner.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining of the optimal electrode combination comprises determining that a combination of the electrode and one of the other electrodes is the optimal electrode combination in response to that combination measuring a largest signal size.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

controlling a single differential amplifier to measure a signal size by connecting the single differential amplifier with the at least two electrodes of the electrode combination.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a command to move the subject from which measurements are to be taken according to a pattern; and

comparing a signal size of the electrode combinations without the movement having an effect on the comparing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing of the command comprises providing a command to move the subject according to a pattern corresponding to one or a combination of a muscle contraction and a muscle relaxation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing of the command comprises providing the pattern in a form of graphical information or audio information.

18. A device for measuring a signal, the device comprising:

sensors configured to collect measurements from a subject; and

an output unit configured to measure signals sensed by the sensors,

wherein pairs of the sensors are sequentially connected to the output unit for determining a pair of sensors having an optimal signal.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the sensors are arranged on a bracelet according to a shape.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the optimal signal is determined by comparing signal sizes of signals sensed by each pair of the pairs of the sensors.