Button sensor

• US 9,572,532 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Matsumori, Barry Alan, Kaskoun, Kenneth, Nowak, Matthew, Yu, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/358,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,951 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600372-391, 128903-905, 128/920
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2300/32 using hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0438 Sensor means for detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A hermetically sealed electronic closure device, or button, includes a self-renewing power source, a sensor for measuring a metric, a memory storing information, a data processing circuit for controlling operations of the device, and a transceiver for sending and receiving information. The device is a standard part of a clothing item that is inconspicuous to a wearer of the clothing item.

Claims

1. A button adapted for use on a garment, comprising:

a sensor configured to sense multiple metrics operable to provide data of at least one metric to monitor health of a wearer of the garment;

a transceiver coupled to the sensor and being operable to transmit the data and to receive commands;

a power source having multiple sources of power generation coupled to the sensor and being operable to provide power to the transceiver, wherein a source of power generation for at least one of the sensor and transceiver is selectable from the multiple sources of power generation based on a location of the sensor on the wearer of the garment;

a power storage device coupled directly to the power source;

a controller configured to direct the transceiver as to when to transmit the data; and

a hermetically sealed housing including the sensor, the transceiver, the controller, the power source, and the power storage device within the hermetically sealed housing, the hermetically sealed housing being configured to be secured to a portion of the garment.

2. The button of claim 1, wherein the button is adapted to relay the data received by an external receiver to the transceiver.

3. The button of claim 1, wherein a hole is defined through the button to allow the button to be secured to the portion of the garment.

4. The button of claim 1, further comprising:

a post having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to a portion of the button; and

a base adapted to be coupled to the distal end of the post, wherein the base is spaced apart from the button and the post and the base are adapted to secure the button to the portion of the garment.

5. The button of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the power source is disposed in the base.

6. The button of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the sensor is disposed in the base and the sensor comprises multiple sensors.

7. The button of claim 1, further comprising a memory operable to store the data of one or more metrics related to the wearer of the garment and coupled to the sensor and to the transmitter.

8. The button of claim 1, further comprising an antenna coupled to the transmitter.

9. The button of claim 1, wherein the metric comprises temperature, oxygen content, blood component content, blood sugar content, heart rate, breathing rate, apnea, brain activity, velocity, movement, distance, and/or location.

10. The button of claim 1, wherein the housing is further configured to secure the portion of the garment to a second portion of the garment.

11. The button of claim 1, wherein the garment is at least one of the following:

shirt, pair of pants, hat, mask, underwear, brassiere, hospital gown, vest, belt, jewelry, hand bag, wallet, jacket, sweat band, socks, shoes, boots.

12. The button of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to direct the power source having multiple sources of power generation.

13. The button of claim 12, wherein the at least one metric to be sensed selects the source of power generation for the button.

14. A button adapted for use on a garment, comprising:

a sensor configured to sense multiple metrics operable to provide data of at least one metric to monitor health of a wearer of the garment, wherein the sensor is comprised of multiple sensors, each sensing a different metric as directed by a controller and further wherein a metric to be sensed determines a source of power generation;

a transceiver coupled to the sensor and being operable to transmit the data and to receive commands;

the source of power generation having multiple sources of power generation coupled to the sensor and being operable to provide power to the transceiver;

a power storage device coupled directly to the power source;

the controller configured to direct the transceiver as to when to transmit the data; and

a hermetically sealed housing including the sensor, the transceiver, the controller, the power source, and the power storage device within the hermetically sealed housing, the hermetically sealed housing being configured to be secured to a portion of the garment.

15. A method of manufacturing a button, comprising:

selecting a housing;

locating, inside the housing, a sensor configured to sense multiple metrics operable to measure data of at least one metric related to monitor health of a wearer of a garment;

locating, inside the housing, a transceiver coupled to the sensor and being operable to transmit the data to an external receiver and to receive commands;

locating, inside the housing, a controller configured to direct the transceiver as to when to transmit the data;

locating, inside the housing, a power source having multiple power generation sources being operable to provide power to the controller and transceiver, or to the controller, transceiver, and sensor, wherein a source of power generation for at least one of the sensor and transceiver is selectable from the multiple sources of power generation based on a location of the sensor on the wearer of the garment;

locating, inside the housing, a power storage device connected directly to the power source; and

hermetically sealing the sensor, the transceiver, the controller, and the power source inside the housing, wherein the housing is configured to be secured to a portion of the garment as the button.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the button is hermetically sealed by injection molding.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the power source is selected based on a location of the button on the garment.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the power source is a type that generates power from solar power, thermocouple power, kinetic power, ambient radio frequency (RF) power, directed RF power, piezoelectric power, and/or chemical power.

19. A method of manufacturing a button, comprising:

selecting a housing;

locating, inside the housing, a sensor configured to sense multiple metrics operable to measure data of at least one metric related to monitor health of a wearer of a garment;

locating, inside the housing, a transceiver coupled to the sensor and being operable to transmit the data to an external receiver and to receive commands;

locating, inside the housing, a controller configured to direct the transceiver as to when to transmit the data;

locating, inside the housing, a power source having multiple power generation sources being operable to provide power to the controller and transceiver, or to the controller, transceiver, and sensor, wherein the power source having multiple power generation sources is configured to select a power generation source based on a type of metric to be measured by the sensor;

locating, inside the housing, a power storage device connected directly to the power source; and

hermetically sealing the sensor, the transceiver, the controller, and the power source inside the housing, wherein the housing is configured to be secured to a portion of the garment as the button.

20. A button adapted for use on a garment, comprising:

means for sensing data of a metric related to health of a wearer of the garment, wherein the means for sensing is configured to sense multiple metrics;

means for transceiving the data coupled to the sensing means;

means for providing power from multiple power generation sources to the transceiving means coupled to the sensing means, wherein the means for providing power from multiple power generation sources is configured to select a source of power generation based on a location of the sensor on the wearer of the garment;

means for storing power, wherein the means for storing power is directly connected to the means for providing power; and

means for hermetically housing the sensing means, the transceiving means, and the power providing means, and the power storing means within a housing means, the housing means being configured to be secured to a portion of the garment.