METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES FOR ACCURATE MEASUREMENT AND REAL-TIME FEEDBACK OF SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE

• US 20160363479A1
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute
• Original Assignee: Emmanuel Dumont, Shayak Banerjee
• Inventors: DUMONT, Emmanuel, BANERJEE, Shayak, CONTRERAS, Mauricio
• Granted Patent: US 9,880,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

System 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 and a mobile device, the system performing accurate measurement of UV exposure.

Claims

1. A wearable UV sensing device comprising:

a wearable housing that comprises a UV sensor and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor comprising a proximity light detector adapted to detect reflected light from a proximity light source.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the proximity light source is an infrared light source, and the proximity detector is an infrared detector.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the UV sensor is a UVI sensor.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the wearable housing further comprises a UVA sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a visible light sensor.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the proximity sensor and the light sensor are part of the same sensor.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the UV sensor is disposed in a central region of housing, in a top view of the device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is disposed closer to a periphery of the housing than the UV sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises the light source and the light detector.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the light source comprises an infra-red LED and the light detector comprises an infra-red detector.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an orientation sensor.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprises a storage device that stores a computer executable method, the computer executable method comprising

receiving information indicative of a signal from the proximity light detector, the information indicative of light reflected onto the proximity light detector from the proximity light source;

determining, based on the information received, if the proximity light source is covered by a material; and

initiating the sending of a signal to a remote device to alert a user of the determination that the proximity light source is covered and that the material should be removed from covering the proximity light source.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising an optical diffuser disposed between a top housing layer and the UV sensor and proximity sensor.

14. A computer executable method of determining if a UV sensing device is at least partially covered, comprising:

receiving information indicative of a signal from a proximity light detector that is disposed within a wearable UV sensing device, the information indicative of light reflected onto the proximity light detector from a proximity light source disposed in the wearable UV sensing device;

determining, based on the information received, if the proximity light source is covered by a material; and

sending a signal to a remote device to initiate an alert to a user of the determination that the proximity light source is covered and that the material should be removed from covering the proximity light source.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the determining step comprises characterizing an amount of light reflected onto the proximity light detector from the proximity light source.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein characterizing an amount of light reflected onto the proximity light detector comprises comparing the amount of light received with a proximity threshold.

17. A computer executable method for automatically entering sleep mode on a wearable UV sensor, comprising:

receiving information indicative of a signal from a visible light sensor that is disposed in a wearable UV sensing device;

using the information to determine if a condition of darkness adjacent the UV sensor has persisted for a period of time; and

initiating a sleep mode for the wearable UV sensor if a determination has been made that a condition of darkness has persisted for a period of time.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein using the information to determine if a condition of darkness adjacent the UV sensor has persisted for a period of time 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.

19. The method of claim 17, 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 has not persisted for the period of time.

20. The method of claim 17, 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.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving information indicative of a signal from a proximity sensor in the UV sensing device and determining if a material covering the device is responsible for the condition of darkness.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein initiating a sleep mode comprises decreasing the use of the UV sensor.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein initiating a sleep mode comprises maintaining a use of the visible light sensor.