Biological signal monitoring system with detachable electronic component and wireless rechargeable battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a bio-signal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wireless rechargeable battery. Systems and methods for sensing and processing biological signals are described. An example system may include a first device configured to sense at least one biosignal and a second device. The second device may receive at least one biosignal from the first device. The second device may receive power via the first wireless interface. The second device may charge the rechargeable battery using the received power. The second device may receive a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes the user credentials. The second device may demodulate the signal to decode the user credentials. The second device may authenticate the user credentials. The second device may communicate at least one bio-signal to the user device via the second wireless interface in response to authentication of the user credential.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 585,270, filed on September 26, 2023. U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 585,270 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and devices having detachable electronic components and wirelessly rechargeable batteries that implement biosignal monitoring systems, such as continuous glucose monitoring systems.

[0004] Biosignal monitoring systems may include sensors and various electronic components for measuring biosignals. An example of a biosignal monitoring system may be a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system for continuously monitoring blood sugar. The measurement and monitoring of biosignals (such as blood sugar levels) are essential for users with specific medical conditions (such as diabetes). Continuous biosignal monitoring systems can provide non-invasive, automatic and continuous monitoring without requiring users to perform invasive measurements (such as manually obtaining blood samples from users). For example, some continuous biosignal monitors may be implanted, or placed on the patient's skin (such as the upper arm), and electrodes may be used to penetrate the skin. These continuous biosignal monitors may need to be removed periodically, such as removed every two weeks, and completely discarded-including the electronic components in the biosignal monitor. The discarding of biosignal monitors including electronic components may bring considerable costs and may increase environmental pollution. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a conventional biological signal monitoring system.

[0006] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a biosignal monitoring system having detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0007] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example implementation of a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0008] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example implementation of a biosignal monitoring system using a biosignal sensor, a user device, and a peripheral device with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery, in one embodiment.

[0009] Figure 5Ais a diagram illustrating the exchange of security certificates and / or security keys between a biosignal monitor and a user device using a near-field wireless interface when a biosignal monitoring system is implemented using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0010] Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating the exchange of security credentials and / or security keys between a peripheral device and a user device using a near-field wireless interface when a bio-signal monitoring system is implemented using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 5C is a diagram illustrating the exchange of encrypted data using a far-field wireless interface between a bio-signal monitor, a peripheral device, and a user device when a bio-signal monitoring system is implemented using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0012] Fig. 6A is a diagram illustrating the exchange of certificates and / or security keys between a biosignal monitor and a peripheral device using a near-field wireless interface when a biosignal monitoring system is implemented using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 6B is a diagram showing data exchange between a biosignal monitor and a peripheral device using a far-field wireless interface when a biosignal monitoring system is implemented using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0014] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating another example implementation of a biosignal monitoring system having detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 8A is a diagram illustrating wireless battery charging using a near-field wireless interface when a bio-signal monitoring system is implemented using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0016] Figure 8B is a diagram illustrating wireless battery charging using a near-field wireless interface when a bio-signal monitoring system is implemented in a peripheral device using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8C is a diagram illustrating wired battery charging when a bio-signal monitoring system is implemented in a peripheral device using a detachable electronic component and a wireless charging battery in one embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 9A flow chart illustrating a process of implementing a bio-signal monitoring system using detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Summary of the invention

[0019] In one embodiment, a device for sensing and processing biosignals is outlined. The device may include an analog front end configured to receive at least one biosignal from one or more biosignal sensors. The device may also include a wireless communication receiver including a first wireless interface. The wireless communication receiver may be configured to receive power via the first wireless interface. The wireless communication receiver may also be configured to charge a rechargeable battery using the received power. The wireless communication receiver may also be configured to receive a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user certificate. The device may also include a second wireless interface. The device may also include one or more controllers configured to demodulate the signal to decode the user certificate. The one or more controllers may also be configured to authenticate the user certificate. The one or more controllers may also be configured to, in response to authentication of the user certificate, communicate at least one biosignal from the analog front end to the user device via the second wireless interface.

[0020] In one embodiment, a system for sensing and processing biosignals is outlined. The system may include a first device configured to sense at least one biosignal. The system may also include a second device configured to receive at least one biosignal from the first device. The second device may also be configured to receive power via a first wireless interface. The second device may also be configured to charge a rechargeable battery using the received power. The second device may also be configured to receive a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user certificate. The second device may also be configured to demodulate the signal to decode the user certificate. The second device may also be configured to authenticate the user certificate. The second device may also be configured to, in response to authentication of the user certificate, communicate at least one biosignal to a user device via a second wireless interface.

[0021] In one embodiment, a method for operating a biosignal monitoring system is outlined. The method may include receiving at least one biosignal from a biosignal sensor. The method may also include receiving power via a first wireless interface. The method may also include charging a rechargeable battery using the received power. The method may also include receiving a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user certificate. The method may also include demodulating the signal to decode the user certificate. The method may also include authenticating the user certificate. The method may also include, in response to authenticating the user certificate, communicating at least one biosignal to a user device via a second wireless interface.

[0022] In the following, further features as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In the following description, many specific details, such as specific structures, components, materials, dimensions, processing steps and techniques are set forth to provide an understanding of the various embodiments of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various embodiments of the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures or processing steps are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present application.

[0024] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a conventional biological signal monitoring system. Figure 1 A conventional biosignal monitoring system in may be a CGM system that includes electrodes attached to the patient's skin, an analog front end (AFE), a microcontroller (MCU), an optional user interface including components such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and buttons, a non-rechargeable battery, a power rail, and a communication interface such as a radio frequency (RF) communication interface for communicating with a user device such as a mobile phone or an insulin pump. Figure 1 Traditional CGM systems in the healthcare industry may not be reusable and will become obsolete after a certain amount of time (such as when the sensing electrodes are coated by the body's immune response and / or the non-rechargeable battery is fully discharged).

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown in the conventional CGM system in , in addition to the high cost, each new CGM needs to be usually transmitted via a smart phone or portable device (such as Figure 1 ) is paired with an end-user application. Pairing can be accomplished using various authentication schemes, such as a personal identification number (PIN). The need to periodically pair new CGM sensors with user devices can become cumbersome and can increase network security risks, such as increasing the risk of the user device being hacked by a nearby Bluetooth sniffer or other hacker. As will be described in more detail below, the systems and devices described herein can provide improvements in reducing waste, reducing costs, increasing user convenience, and enhancing authentication, security, and privacy.

[0026] Figure 2 A system block diagram of a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment is shown. Figure 2The biosignal monitoring system 200 ("system 200") shown in the figure can be configured as a CGM system including detachable electronic components and a wireless rechargeable battery. The biosignal monitoring system 200 can also be configured to monitor various types of biosignals, such as blood glucose values, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, electroencephalogram (EMG) signals, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) or other biosignals. The system 200 may include a reusable part and a disposable part. The disposable part may include a biosignal sensor, which includes one or more electrodes 202 that can be attached to (e.g., implanted into) the skin of a user or patient 220 to obtain a biosignal (e.g., blood glucose value). The reusable part may include electronic components such as AFE 204, MCU or controller 206, a user interface 208 that selectively includes a light emitting diode (LED) and / or a button and / or a capacitive touch, a rechargeable battery 212, a wireless communication device 214, a power supply 216, a first wireless communication interface 218 ("NF-RF 218"), and a second wireless communication interface 210 ("FF-RF210"). The first wireless communication interface 218 can be a near field (NF) wireless communication interface, such as NFC or Qi. The second wireless communication interface 210 can be a far field (FF) wireless communication interface, such as Bluetooth or WiFi or a long term evolution (LTE) (e.g., low power LTE-M or NB-IoT) communication interface. The first wireless communication interface 218 can be used to facilitate authentication, exchange user certificates and / or encryption / decryption keys, and / or communicate low-speed data with a user device (such as a mobile phone or an insulin pump). The electrode 202 can be detachable from the AFE 204 and the rechargeable battery 212, and the rechargeable battery 212 can be charged by the wireless communication device 214 via the first wireless communication interface 218. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device 214 may include a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from a wireless power transmitter. The wireless communication device 214 can charge the rechargeable battery 212 using the wirelessly received power. Since the electrode 202 can be detached from the AFE 204, and since the rechargeable battery 212 and the wireless communication device 214 are included in the system 200, the AFE 204, the MCU 206, the user interface 208, the rechargeable battery 212, the wireless communication device 214, the power supply 216, and the first wireless communication interface 218 do not need to be discarded and can be reused multiple times. The electrode 202 can be detached and discarded, and a new electrode set 202 can be attached to various electronic components including the AFE 204. In addition, using the wireless communication device 214 and the first wireless communication interface 218 can allow the system 200 to perform communications with a user device (such as the user device 222) to exchange and / or obtain confidential information from the user device with enhanced security. By way of example, the wireless communication device 214 can be a near field communication (NFC) -WLC) protocol or The invention relates to a wireless power transmitter operating under the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol, which exploits the inherently short-range communication link so that the risk of network security attacks (such as man-in-the-middle attacks and Bluetooth sniffing) can be reduced.

[0027] In one embodiment, the electrode 202 can be part of a first device, wherein the first device can be a biosignal sensor that can be disposable. The reusable portion of the system 200, such as at least the AFE 204, the MCU 206, the user interface 208, the rechargeable battery 212, the wireless communication device 214, the power supply 216 and the first wireless communication interface 218 can form a reusable second device. The first device having a disposable portion (e.g., the electrode 202) and the second device having a reusable portion can be detachably attached to each other using at least one mechanical fixture 230. The electrode 202 can be attached to the reusable electronic portion (such as the AFE 204) of the system 200 using the mechanical fixture 230 and removed therefrom. When the mechanical fixture 230 is used to attach the first device and the second device, the electrical contacts of the first device and the second device will come into contact. The electrical contacts can be used to determine and / or measure the biosignals (such as blood sugar) acquired by the electrode 202 via the AFE 204. By way of example, if user 220 needs to change electrode 202, electrode 202 can be removed from a reusable electronic portion of system 200 (such as AFE 204), electrode 202 can be discarded, and a new electrode set that can be identified as electrode 202 can be attached to a reusable electronic portion of system 200 (such as AFE 204).

[0028] System 200 can reduce the cost of biological signal monitoring system, because electronic components (such as AFE 204, MCU206, user interface 208, rechargeable battery 212, wireless communication device 214, power supply 216 and first wireless communication interface 218) can be reused, and in one or more embodiments, electrode 202 can be the only component that needs to be discarded and replaced. In addition, system 200 can provide positive environmental impact, because electronic components and batteries do not need to be discarded and can be reused for a large amount of time. In addition, in the absence of electrodes, reusable electronic components can also be sealed as a package to improve the reusability of reusable parts (such as waterproof packaging and dustproof packaging). In addition, compared to wired charging, choosing to wirelessly charge the rechargeable battery 212 can improve the safety of electricity use. In one embodiment, system 200 can be implemented in a peripheral device (such as an insulin pump). When system 200 is implemented in a peripheral device, in addition to wireless charging, the rechargeable battery 212 in the peripheral device can also be charged using a wired connection. Example wired connections that can be used for wired charging can include, for example, various types of universal serial bus (USB) protocols. In embodiments where wired charging is implemented in a peripheral device, the peripheral device may include a power interface (such as a USB interface or receptacle).

[0029] Utilizing the wireless communication device 214 to receive user credentials and / or keys can allow the MCU 206 to authenticate the user, obtain credentials and / or encryption keys before the biological signals (such as blood glucose values) acquired from the electrode 202 are delivered to the user device via the second wireless communication interface 210 using far-field wireless communication, thereby reducing network security risks by using a second physical medium. In addition, the wireless communication device 214 can increase the safety and ease of use of the system 200. Because the electronic components in the CGM system 200 are reusable, the wireless pairing with the user device 222 (such as a smartphone and / or peripheral device) can be maintained and may not need to be re-paired each time the electrode 202 is replaced.

[0030] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example implementation of a biosignal monitoring system 300 with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Figure 3 The description can be found in Figure 2 The components shown in Figure 3 The implementation method of the system 300 in may be in Figure 2 An example implementation of the system 200 shown in FIG. Figure 3The system 300 shown in the figure can be a biosignal monitoring system, which includes at least a controller 310, a memory 340, an AFE 320, a coil 302, a wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304, a rechargeable battery 306, a power supply 308, a wireless communication device 312, an antenna 314, one or more indicators 316, a user input 318, and a biosignal sensor 322. The controller 310 can be a microcontroller. The coil 302 and the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 can be Figure 2 . The wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 can be configured to operate and communicate using a near-field wireless communication protocol, such as NFC or Qi. The wireless communication device 312 can be configured to operate and communicate using a far-field wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low-power LTE-M or NB-IoT). In one embodiment, the wireless communication interface 312, the antenna 314, and the controller 310 can be independent components. The memory 340 can be configured to store an instruction set including source code and / or executable code, and the controller 310 can run the instruction set stored in the memory 340 to execute algorithms and / or applications that implement the processes, methods, calculations, operations, and / or functions described herein. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device 312 and / or the antenna 314 can be integrated within the controller 310. In one embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown in , the coil 302, the first near-field wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304, and the rechargeable battery 306 may be outside the controller 310. In another embodiment, the coil 302, the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304, and the rechargeable battery 306 may be integrated with the controller 310 as a battery block 330. The rechargeable battery 306 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery having a relatively small size (such as the size of a button).

[0031] The wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 may include a wireless power receiver with a first wireless interface (e.g., near field) and may operate under different wireless power transmission protocols (such as near field communication (NFC), Qi, or other wireless power transmission protocols). In an embodiment where the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 is external to the controller 310, the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 may include its own controller. In an embodiment where the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 is part of the controller 310, the controller 310 may be configured to operate the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304. By way of example, when the coil of the wireless power transmitter is within a certain distance from the coil 302, the coil of the wireless power transmitter and the coil 302 form a transformer that facilitates power transmission from the wireless power transmitter to the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304. The limited communication range of the near field communication protocol can reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities and potential hacker attacks. In addition, analog signals (such as amplitude shift keying (ASK) signals) can be transmitted from the wireless power transmitter to the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 via the coil 302, and vice versa. The battery charger in the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 may charge the rechargeable battery 306 using the wireless received power.

[0032] The power supply 308 can provide power to various components in the system 300. In one embodiment, the power supply 308 can include a voltage regulator (such as a DC-DC buck-boost regulator) configured to step up or step down the voltage for different components in the system 300. The voltage regulator can also ensure that all components in the system 300 are supplied with a constant voltage as long as the rechargeable battery 306 has enough charge. The indicator 316 can include, for example, LEDs of different colors, which can inform the user of different types of status of the system 300. By way of example, the indicator 316 can include an LED that can be turned on or flashed when the rechargeable battery 306 needs to be charged. In another example, the indicator 316 can include another LED that can be turned on when the bio-signal sensor 322 needs to be removed and replaced. In another example, the indicator can include an LED that turns on a first color to indicate that the rechargeable battery 306 needs to be charged and turns on a second color to indicate that the bio-signal sensor 322 needs to be removed and replaced. In another example, the LED may indicate wireless communication with the wireless power receiver device 304, the charging battery 306, and / or an external battery charger or transmitter (such as Figure 2 The success or failure of data communication and / or power transfer between the wireless charging and near field communication device 214 shown in FIG.

[0033] The user input 318 may include switches and / or buttons and / or capacitive touch elements to control different components and operations of the system 300. By way of example, the user input 318 may include a button to turn the system 300 on or off. When the system 300 is turned off, the power supply 308 and / or the rechargeable battery 212 may be disconnected from the controller 310 and the AFE 320 to ensure that the user can safely remove the bio-signal sensor without the risk of erroneous measurements. The user input 318 may include various other mechanical inputs for changing and / or being informed of optional display elements of the system 300.

[0034] The wireless communication device 312 may include a second wireless interface (e.g., far field) that is different from the first wireless interface of the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304. The wireless communication device 312 may operate under a different wireless protocol and / or air interface (such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low power LTE-M or NB-IoT)) from the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304. By way of example, the wireless communication device 312 may be a wireless transceiver operating under a wireless protocol (such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low power LTE-M or NB-IoT)). The wireless communication device 312 may be configured to communicate with user devices outside the system 300 via an antenna 314. The wireless communication device 312 and / or the antenna may be independent of the controller 310 or may be part of the controller 310. In addition, the wireless communication device 312 may also have its own integrated microcontroller and / or memory to handle wireless protocols and tasks offloaded from the main controller 310.

[0035] In one embodiment, the biosignal sensor 322 can be a blood glucose monitor including a plurality of electrodes 324. The electrode 324 can include a working electrode (WE), a reference electrode (RE) and a counter electrode (CE). The electrode 324 can be attached to (e.g., implanted into) the patient's skin to obtain a blood glucose value. In one embodiment, the biosignal sensor 322 can be removed from the remaining electronic components of the AFE 320 and the system 300. In one embodiment, one or more mechanical fixtures 328 can be used to connect the biosignal sensor 322 to the electronic components including the AFE 320 of the system 300. In one embodiment, the mechanical fixture 328 can be, for example, a magnet (such as a neodymium magnet). In one embodiment, the mechanical fixture 328 can be a detachable and stable plastic buckle with a lock or release lever. The electrode 324 can be electrically connected to the AFE 320 via a plurality of contacts 326. In one embodiment, the contact 326 can be a conductive contact (such as a gold-plated contact). The biosignal sensor 322 can be removed from the AFE 320. When the bio-signal sensor 322 is detached, the electrode 324 may also be detached and the mechanical fixture 328 on the bio-signal sensor 322 and the AFE 320 may also be separated.

[0036] Since the biosignal sensor 322 is detachable and since a rechargeable battery 306 for near field communication and power transmission and a wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 are included, the electronic components of the system 300 do not need to be discarded and can be reused. The biosignal sensor 322 can be disassembled and discarded, and a new biosignal sensor 322 can be attached to the AFE 320. In one embodiment, the AFE 320 can be configured to detect whether the biosignal sensor 322 is attached to the AFE 320 or whether it is detached from the AFE 320. If the biosignal sensor 322 is attached to the AFE 320, the AFE 320 can receive the biosignal measured by the electrode 324 via the contact 326. The AFE 320 can measure, evaluate and / or communicate the received biosignal to the controller 310. In one embodiment, the reusable components of the system 300 can be sealed as a package so that the reusable components can be waterproof and dustproof.

[0037] In one embodiment, when the coil 302 is close to (e.g., within the range of a wireless power transmission standard (such as NFC or Qi standard)) a user device including a transmitting coil, the magnetic field between the transmitting coil and the coil 302 can allow the user device to transmit a signal to the wireless communication and wireless power receiving device 304, and vice versa. The wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 can receive or transmit user certificates and / or keys from / to the user device to allow the wireless communication device 312 to communicate with the user device, and the user certificates and / or keys include but are not limited to authentication data (such as passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs), encryption keys for obtaining permission or authentication). The wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 304 can communicate the user certificates and / or keys and / or authentication data to the controller 310. The controller 310 can authenticate the user certificates using various authentication methods. In one embodiment, the user device can send a signal (e.g., amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation) encoding the user certificates, and the controller 310 can be configured to decode the signal to obtain the user certificates for authentication.

[0038] If the controller 310 fails to authenticate the user credentials, or the user credentials are incorrect, the controller 310 may not communicate the bio-signal from the AFE 320 to the user device. If the controller 310 authenticates the user credentials, or the user credentials are correct, the controller 310 may pair the system 300 with the user device via the wireless communication device 312 to transmit data. The controller 310 may communicate the bio-signal from the AFE 320 to the paired user device and / or peripheral device via the wireless communication device 312 and the antenna 314. In one embodiment, the controller 310 may store the bio-signal from the AFE 320 in the memory 340 of the controller 310 regardless of whether the user credentials are authenticated. Some examples of user devices that can be paired with the system 300 may include, but are not limited to, smartphones, insulin pumps, tablets, laptops, wearable devices, personal computers, or other user devices. The use of wireless communication for obtaining user credentials and the wireless power receiver device 304 provides energy transfer for charging the rechargeable battery 306, and provides a secure coupling between the user device and the system 300 for communicating sensitive information (such as bio-signals).

[0039] The controller 310 may be configured to control various aspects of the system 300 (such as by executing instructions stored in the memory 340). In one embodiment, the controller 310 may be configured to execute an application that controls the AFE 320 to acquire biosignals from the biosignal sensor 322. In addition, the controller 310 may be configured to store user authentication and / or encryption keys or the like that have been authenticated so that the user device can remain paired even when the biosignal sensor 322 is removed and replaced with a new biosignal sensor.

[0040] Advantageously, the use of wireless communication with the wireless power receiver device 304 in the system 300 can achieve secure transmission of sensitive information (such as user credentials). By way of example, the wireless communication with the wireless power receiver device 304 can be near field communication (NFC) or under the Qi protocol, and is an appropriate physical interface so that the risk of network security attacks (such as man-in-the-middle attacks and Bluetooth sniffing) can be reduced. The system 300 can provide a secure transmission of sensitive information (such as user credentials) in the system 300. By way of example, the wireless communication with the wireless power receiver device 304 can be near field communication (NFC) or under the Qi protocol, and is an appropriate physical interface so that the risk of network security attacks (such as man-in-the-middle attacks and Bluetooth sniffing) can be reduced. Figure 2 Other advantages are similar to those of the system 200 described herein.

[0041] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example implementation of a biosignal monitoring system using a biosignal sensor, a user device, and a peripheral device with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The systems 200 and 300 shown in FIG. 1 and 2 respectively may be implemented as a biosignal monitor 402. In one embodiment, the different wireless interfaces used in the biosignal monitor 402 (or in the systems 200 and 300) may communicate with a user device 404 (e.g., a smartphone) and a peripheral device (e.g., an insulin pump). Figure 4In the example embodiment shown in , the biosignal monitor 402 can use a first wireless interface (such as NFC or Qi) operating in a near field range to communicate with the user device 404 and the peripheral device 406. The biosignal monitor 402 can also use a second wireless interface (such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low-power LTE-M or NB-IoT)) operating in a far field range to communicate secure data and / or encrypted data with the user device 404 and the peripheral device 406. The user device 404 can also use the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface to communicate with the peripheral device 406. The ability of the biosignal monitor 402 to use both the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface can enhance the communication and security between the biosignal monitor 402, the user device 404, and the peripheral device 406. For example, the first wireless interface, which is an NFC interface, can allow the biosignal monitor 402 to perform a handshake with the user device 404 and the peripheral device 406 before communicating sensitive information (such as a biosignal) from the biosignal monitor 402 to the user device 404 and the peripheral device 406. Furthermore, visualization data and / or control information may be exchanged between the user device 404 , the bio-signal monitor 402 , and / or the peripheral device 406 .

[0042] Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating the exchange of security certificates and / or security keys between a biosignal monitor and a user device using a near-field wireless interface when implementing a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Figure 5A In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the biosignal monitor 502 can be implemented in Figure 2 Neutralization Figure 3200 and system 300 shown in FIG. The biosignal monitor 502 can exchange certificates with a user device 504, which can be a smartphone or other analog with a graphical user interface (GUI). In one embodiment, the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 can exchange certificates and / or encryption keys using a near-field wireless communication interface (such as NFC or Qi). The exchanged certificates can be internally authenticated in the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504. If both the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 authenticate the exchanged certificates, the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 can be paired. In response to the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 being paired, the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 can establish a data communication link and exchange data using a far-field wireless communication interface (such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low-power MTE-M or NB-IoT)). In one embodiment, data communication using the far-field wireless communication interface can be protected and / or encrypted using an encryption key obtained via the near-field communication interface. The utilization of two different physical wireless communication devices under two different wireless communication protocols (one is near field for low-speed data (such as certificates and / or security keys), and one is far field for high-speed data (such as digital data representing biosignals)) can reduce the risk of cyber attacks because sensitive information is exchanged within the near field range, in a relatively short time frame, and on different media or wireless channels. In one embodiment, in order to pair the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504, the near-field wireless communication protocol used by the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 needs to be the same. For example, if the biosignal monitor 502 uses NFC, the user device 504 needs to use NFC to perform pairing. In addition, pairing occurs before any data communication link is established using the far-field wireless communication interface.

[0043] Figure 5B1 is a diagram showing the exchange of security certificates and / or security keys between a peripheral device and a user device using a near-field wireless interface when implementing a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. A peripheral device 506 (such as an insulin pump) may also exchange certificates with a user device 504, which may be a smartphone or an analog with a GUI. In one embodiment, the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 may exchange certificates using a near-field wireless communication interface (such as NFC or Qi). The exchanged certificates may be internally authenticated in the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504. If both the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 authenticate the exchanged certificates, the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 may be paired. In response to the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 being paired, the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 may establish a data communication link and exchange secure data and / or encrypted data using a far-field wireless communication interface (such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low-power LTE-M or NB-IoT)). In one embodiment, data communications using the established communication link can be protected and / or encrypted using an encryption key obtained via the near field communication interface. In one embodiment, in order to pair the peripheral device 506 with the user device 504, the near field wireless communication protocol used by the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 needs to be the same. For example, if the peripheral device 506 uses NFC, the user device 504 needs to use NFC to perform pairing. In addition, pairing occurs before any data communication link is established using the far field wireless communication interface.

[0044] Figure 5Cis a diagram showing encrypted data exchange using a far-field wireless interface among a biosignal monitor, a peripheral device, and a user device when implementing a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. In one embodiment, in response to the biosignal monitor 502 and the user device 504 being paired, and the peripheral device 506 and the user device 504 being paired, the biosignal monitor 502 can also be paired with the peripheral device 506. A secure data communication link using a far-field wireless communication interface can be established among the biosignal monitor 502, the user device 504, and the peripheral device 506. In one embodiment, data communication using the established communication link can be protected and / or encrypted using an encryption key obtained via a near-field communication interface. The established communication link can be used to communicate data (such as a biosignal sensed by the biosignal monitor 502) from the biosignal monitor 502 to the user device 504 and to the peripheral device 506. In one embodiment, the biosignal provided to the peripheral device 506 can provide parameters that may be required to operate the peripheral device 506. By way of example, if peripheral device 506 is an insulin pump, the biosignal provided to peripheral device 506 may control the amount of insulin pumped by peripheral device 506. The infusion may need to be approved by the patient using user device 504 (eg, according to medical regulations).

[0045] Fig. 6A is a diagram illustrating the exchange of certificates and / or security keys between a biosignal monitor and a peripheral device using a near-field wireless interface when implementing a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Fig. 6A In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the biosignal monitor 602 can be implemented in Figure 2 and Figure 3200 and system 300 shown in FIG. The biosignal monitor 602 can exchange certificates with a peripheral device 604, which can be an insulin pump. In one embodiment, the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 can exchange certificates and / or keys using a near-field wireless communication interface (such as NFC and Qi). The exchanged certificates can be internally authenticated in the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604. If both the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 authenticate the exchanged certificates, the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 can be paired. In response to the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 being paired, the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 can use a far-field wireless communication interface (such as Bluetooth or WiFi or LTE (e.g., low-power LTE-M or NB-IoT)) to establish a data communication link and exchange data. In one embodiment, in order to pair the biosignal monitor 602 with the peripheral device 604, the near-field wireless communication protocol used by the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 needs to be the same. For example, if the bio-signal monitor 602 uses NFC as the near field wireless communication technology, the peripheral device 604 needs to use NFC to perform pairing. In addition, pairing occurs before any data communication link is established using the far field wireless communication interface.

[0046] Figure 6B 6 is a diagram showing data exchange between a biosignal monitor and a peripheral device using a far-field wireless interface when a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery is implemented in one embodiment. In one embodiment, in response to the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604 being paired, a secure (e.g., protected, encrypted, and / or authenticated) data communication link using a far-field wireless communication interface can be established between the biosignal monitor 602 and the peripheral device 604. The established communication link can be used to communicate communication data (such as a biosignal sensed by the biosignal monitor 602) from the biosignal monitor 602 to the peripheral device 604. In one embodiment, the biosignal provided to the peripheral device 604 can provide parameters that may be needed to operate the peripheral device 604. By way of example, if the peripheral device 604 is an insulin pump, the biosignal provided to the peripheral device 604 can control the amount of insulin pumped by the peripheral device 604.

[0047] Figure 7 is a diagram showing another example implementation of a biosignal monitoring system having detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Figure 7 The implementation method of the system 700 in Figure 2 The system 200 shown in FIG. Figure 3The system 300 shown in FIG. Figure 7 The system 700 shown in the figure may be a biosignal monitoring system, which includes at least a controller 710, a coil 702, a wireless communication device and a wireless power receiver device 704, a rechargeable battery, a power supply 708, a wireless communication device 712, an antenna 714, a user input 718, a biosignal sensor 722, a power switch 706, a load switch 730, one or more sensors 732 (e.g., temperature, humidity sensor), a transimpedance amplifier 734, an instrumentation amplifier 736, and an instrumentation amplifier 738. In one embodiment, the sensor 732, the transimpedance amplifier 734, the instrumentation amplifier 736, and the instrumentation amplifier 738 may form an AFE, such as in Figure 2 and Figure 3 AFE 204 and AFE 320 are shown in FIG.

[0048] The controller 710 can be used with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The coil 702 may be operated in a manner similar to the MCU 206 and controller 310 shown in FIG. Figure 3 The wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 704 can be used with Figure 3 The wireless communication shown in FIG. 1 operates in a similar manner to the wireless power receiver device 304. Figure 7 Rechargeable batteries marked as lithium-ion can be used with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The power source 708 may be similar to the rechargeable battery 212 and the rechargeable battery 306 shown in FIG. Figure 3 The wireless communication device 712 may operate in a manner similar to the power supply 308 shown in FIG. Figure 2 Neutralization Figure 3 710 and 712. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device 712 may also be part of the controller 710. The antenna 714 may be connected to the wireless communication device 210 and the wireless communication device 312 shown in FIG. Figure 3 The user input 718 may be similar to the antenna 314 shown in FIG. Figure 3 The biosignal sensor 722 may be similar to the user input 318 shown in FIG. Figure 3 The bio-signal sensor 322 shown in FIG.

[0049] Transimpedance amplifier 734 may be an amplifier configured to convert an input current into an output voltage. Instrumentation amplifiers 736 and 738 may be precision differential voltage amplifiers whose inputs may not be affected by a common voltage. Sensor 732 may include a temperature and / or humidity sensor, which may be required for improving the calculation and / or other medical evaluation of a biosignal measured by biosignal sensor 722 signals.

[0050] The controller 710 may be configured (such as Figure 3 As shown, by executing instructions stored in the memory 340, the power switch 706 is controlled to connect or disconnect the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 704. The controller 710 may also be configured to control the load switch 730 to connect or disconnect the AFE, wherein the AFE includes a sensor 732, a transimpedance amplifier 734, an instrumentation amplifier 736, and an instrumentation amplifier 738. In one embodiment, the controller 710 may turn off or open the load switch 730 in response to a failure to authenticate the user credentials received by the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 704. The controller 710 may turn on or close the load switch 730 in response to authenticating the user credentials received by the wireless communication and wireless power receiver device 704.

[0051] Fig. 8A is a diagram illustrating wireless battery charging using a first near-field wireless interface when implementing a biosignal monitoring system having a detachable electronic component and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment. Fig. 8A In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the biosignal monitor 802 may be implemented in Figure 2 and Figure 3 800 and system 300 shown in FIG. 802 . The biosignal monitor 802 may include a rechargeable battery, a near-field wireless communication interface, and a far-field wireless communication interface. In order to charge the rechargeable battery in the biosignal monitor 802, the charger 804 may receive primary power from a power source (such as an external battery or power supply). The charger 804 may include a wireless power transmitter and a near-field wireless communication interface. The near-field wireless communication interface in the biosignal monitor 802 and the charger 804 is the same and may operate under a near-field wireless communication protocol (such as NFC or Qi). When the charger 804 is brought into a specific close distance (such as a distance that complies with the NFC or Qi protocol), the charger 804 may wirelessly provide power to charge the rechargeable battery in the biosignal monitor 802. In one embodiment, when the biosignal monitor 802 is charged by the charger 804, the AFE and controller in the biosignal monitor 802 may detect whether the biosignal sensor (e.g., electrode) of the biosignal monitor 802 is attached to the user.

[0052] Figure 8B 8 is a diagram showing wireless battery charging using a near-field wireless interface when a biosignal monitoring system having detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery is implemented in a peripheral device in one embodiment. A peripheral device 806 (such as an insulin pump) can be used simultaneously with a biosignal monitor, such as Figure 5C , Fig. 6A and Figure 6B . The peripheral device 806 may include a rechargeable battery. In one embodiment, the rechargeable battery in the peripheral device 806 may be charged using a higher power near field protocol (such as Qi) (when compared to NFC). On the one hand, the higher power near field charging can provide power to the rechargeable battery in the peripheral device 806, which may be larger and may require more power when compared to the biosignal monitor 802 (whose rechargeable battery may be much smaller). The charger 804 may receive primary power from a power source (such as an external battery or power supply). When the charger 804 is brought into a certain distance (such as a distance that complies with the Qi protocol), the charger 804 can provide power to charge the rechargeable battery in the peripheral device 806.

[0053] Figure 8C is a diagram illustrating wired battery charging when a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery is implemented in a peripheral device in one embodiment. In one embodiment, in addition to wireless charging, the rechargeable battery in the peripheral device 806 can also be charged using a wired connection. Example wired connections that can be used for wired charging can include, for example, various types of Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocols. In an embodiment where wired charging is implemented, the peripheral device 806 can include a power interface such as a USB port or socket. A power source 808, which can be a battery or other device (such as a smart phone, laptop, personal computer, or the like), can use a wired connection to directly provide primary power to the rechargeable battery in the biosignal monitor 802. In one embodiment, in situations where the user may not be able to leave the power source 808, Figure 8C The USB interface (I / F) shown in the figure can operate under the USB Type C power delivery (USB-C-PD) protocol to quickly charge the rechargeable battery in the peripheral device 806 (e.g., insulin pump), thereby keeping the charging time short. To ensure personal health and safety, the USB connection in one embodiment can be physically implemented using magnets and spring-loaded (e.g., gold) contacts. If the user moves farther than the charging cable allows, it will automatically detach without harming the user.

[0054] Fig. 9 A flow chart illustrating a process for implementing a biosignal monitoring system with detachable electronic components and a wirelessly rechargeable battery in one embodiment is shown. Fig. 9The process 900 shown in FIG. 1 may include one or more operations, behaviors, or functions, as illustrated by one or more blocks 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, and / or 914. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, eliminated, performed in a different order, or performed in parallel, depending on the desired implementation.

[0055] Process 900 may be performed by a device that may be reusable and connected to a disposable biosignal sensor (e.g., Figure 2 ) is performed using a reusable portion shown in . Process 900 may start at box 902. At box 902, the device may receive and / or evaluate at least one biosignal from a biosignal sensor (e.g., a disposable biosignal sensor). In one embodiment, the at least one biosignal may include a blood glucose value. Process 900 may proceed from box 902 to box 904. At box 904, the device may receive power via a first wireless interface. Process 900 may proceed from box 904 to box 906. At box 906, the device may charge a rechargeable battery using the received power. Process 900 may proceed from box 906 to box 908. At box 908, the device may receive a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user certificate. Process 900 may proceed from box 908 to box 910. At box 910, the device may demodulate the signal to decode the user certificate.

[0056] Process 900 may proceed from box 910 to box 912. At box 912, the device may authenticate the user credentials. Process 900 may proceed from box 912 to box 914. At box 914, in response to the authentication of the user credentials, the device may communicate at least one bio-signal to the user device via a second wireless interface. In one embodiment, the first wireless interface may be a near-field wireless interface and the second wireless interface may be a far-field wireless interface. In one embodiment, the first wireless interface may be one of a near-field communication (NFC) interface and a Qi wireless power transfer interface. The second wireless interface may be one of a Bluetooth interface or a WiFi interface or an LTE interface (e.g., low-power LTE-M or NB-IoT).

[0057] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functions and operations of possible implementation methods of the systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram can represent a part of a module, segment or instruction, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementation methods, the functions marked in the box may not occur in the order marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, depending on the functions involved, the two boxes shown in the continuous figure can actually be executed substantially simultaneously, or the boxes can sometimes be executed in the opposite order. It should also be noted that each box in the box in the block diagram and / or flowchart, and the combination of the boxes in the block diagram and / or flowchart can be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system, which performs a specified function or action, or performs a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0058] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in the text, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "comprise" and / or "comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups.

[0059] The corresponding structures, materials, actions, and equivalents (if any) of all means or method plus function elements in the appended claims are intended to include any structure, material, or action that performs a function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the disclosed form. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The implementation methods are selected and described in order to best explain the principles and practical applications of the present invention, and to enable other persons of ordinary skill in the art to understand the various embodiments of the present invention for various embodiments with various modifications suitable for the intended specific use.

Claims

1. A device comprising: an analog front end configured to receive at least one biosignal from one or more biosignal sensors; A wireless communication receiver, comprising a first wireless interface, wherein the wireless communication receiver is configured to: receiving power via the first wireless interface; charging a rechargeable battery using the received power; as well as receiving a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user credential; a second wireless interface; as well as One or more controllers, configured to: demodulating the signal to decode the user credentials; authenticating the user certificate; as well as In response to authentication of the user credentials, the at least one bio-signal is communicated from the analog front end to a user device via the second wireless interface. 2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless interface is a near-field wireless interface and the second wireless interface is a far-field wireless interface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The first wireless interface is one of a near field communication (NFC) interface and a Qi wireless power transmission interface; and The second wireless interface is one of a Bluetooth interface, a WiFi interface, and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) interface. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the analog front end is detachable from the bio-signal sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog front end is attached to the bio-signal sensor by at least one mechanical fixture. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one biological signal comprises a blood glucose value.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal further encodes at least one of an encryption key and authentication information.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to: responsive to authentication of the user credentials, encrypting the at least one biometric signal; and The encrypted bio-signal is communicated to the user device via the second wireless interface.

9. A system comprising: A first device configured to sense at least one biological signal; as well as The second device is configured as: receiving the at least one bio-signal from the first device; receiving power via a first wireless interface; charging a rechargeable battery using the received power; receiving a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user credential; demodulating the signal to decode the user credentials; authenticating the user certificate; as well as In response to authentication of the user credentials, the at least one biometric signal is communicated to a user device via a second wireless interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first wireless interface is a near-field wireless interface and the second wireless interface is a far-field wireless interface.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein: The first wireless interface is one of a near field communication (NFC) interface and a Qi wireless power transmission interface; and The second wireless interface is one of a Bluetooth interface, a WiFi interface, and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) interface.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second device is detachable from the first device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the second device is attached to the first device via at least one mechanical fixation.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one biological signal comprises a blood glucose value.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal further encodes at least one of an encryption key and authentication information.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the second device is further configured to: responsive to authentication of the user credentials, encrypting the at least one biometric signal; and The encrypted bio-signal is communicated to the user device via the second wireless interface.

17. A method for operating a biological signal monitoring system, the method comprising: receiving at least one biosignal from a biosignal sensor; receiving power via a first wireless interface; charging a rechargeable battery using the received power; receiving a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes a user credential; demodulating the signal to decode the user credentials; authenticating the user certificate; as well as In response to authentication of the user credentials, the at least one biometric signal is communicated to a user device via a second wireless interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first wireless interface is a near-field wireless interface and the second wireless interface is a far-field wireless interface.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein: The first wireless interface is one of a near field communication (NFC) interface and a Qi wireless power transmission interface; and The second wireless interface is one of a Bluetooth interface, a WiFi interface, and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) interface.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one biological signal comprises a blood glucose value.

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