Sharing a single electrode between skin resistance and capacitance measurements
First Claim
1. A wearable device, comprising:
- a housing;
a mount configured to mount the housing to an external body surface;
first and second electrical contacts protruding from the housing, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are configured to contact skin at the external body surface when the housing is mounted on the external body surface; and
electronics disposed in the wearable device, wherein the electronics comprises;
a capacitor, wherein the capacitor has a specified capacitance;
an electronic switch in series with the capacitor, wherein the series combination of the capacitor and the electronic switch is electronically coupled to the first and second electrical contacts;
a resistance sensor configured to obtain a measurement relating to a resistance of the skin between the first and second electrical contacts when the electronic switch is closed and the wearable device is mounted to the external body surface; and
a capacitance sensor configured to obtain a measurement relating to a capacitance of the skin between the first and second electrical contacts when the electronic switch is open and the wearable device is mounted to the external body surface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Wearable devices are described herein including a housing and a mount configured to mount the housing to an external surface of a wearer. The wearable devices further include first and second electrical contacts protruding from the housing and configured such that the electrical contacts can be used to measure a Galvanic skin resistance of skin proximate to the electrical contacts when the wearable device is mounted to the external surface of the wearer. The electrical contacts are additionally configured to measure a capacitance between electrical contacts. The measured capacitance between the electrical contacts could be related to a capacitance of skin proximate to the electrical contacts when the wearable device is mounted to the external surface of the wearer. The wearable devices further include an electronically switched capacitor connected between the electrical contacts that can be operated to enable the Galvanic skin resistance and capacitance measurements described above.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wearable device, comprising:
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a housing; a mount configured to mount the housing to an external body surface; first and second electrical contacts protruding from the housing, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are configured to contact skin at the external body surface when the housing is mounted on the external body surface; and electronics disposed in the wearable device, wherein the electronics comprises; a capacitor, wherein the capacitor has a specified capacitance; an electronic switch in series with the capacitor, wherein the series combination of the capacitor and the electronic switch is electronically coupled to the first and second electrical contacts; a resistance sensor configured to obtain a measurement relating to a resistance of the skin between the first and second electrical contacts when the electronic switch is closed and the wearable device is mounted to the external body surface; and a capacitance sensor configured to obtain a measurement relating to a capacitance of the skin between the first and second electrical contacts when the electronic switch is open and the wearable device is mounted to the external body surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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mounting a wearable device to an external body surface, wherein the wearable device comprises;
(i) a housing, (ii) a mount configured to mount the housing to an external body surface, (iii) first and second electrical contacts protruding from the housing, (iv) a capacitor having a specified capacitance, (v) an electronic switch in series with the capacitor, wherein the series combination of the capacitor and the electronic switch is electronically coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, (vi) a resistance sensor configured to obtain a measurement relating to a resistance of skin between the first and second electrical contacts when the electronic switch is closed, (vii) a capacitance sensor configured to obtain a measurement related to a capacitance between the first and second electrical contacts when the electronic switch is open, wherein mounting the wearable device to an external body surface comprises mounting the housing to the external body surface using the mount such that the first and second electrical contacts contact skin at the external body surface;operating, during a first period of time, the electronic switch such that the electronic switch is closed; charging, during the first period of time, the capacitor using the resistance sensor; operating, during a second period of time, the electronic switch such that the electronic switch is closed; obtaining, during the second period of time, a measurement using the resistance sensor; determining a resistance of the skin between the first and second contacts based on the measurement obtained using the resistance sensor during the second period of time; operating, during a third period of time, the electronic switch such that the electronic switch is open; obtaining, during the third period of time, a measurement using the capacitance sensor; and determining a capacitance between the first and second electrical contacts based on the measurement obtained using the capacitance sensor during the third period of time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification