Wearable modular device and method for multi-modal environmental and physiological monitoring

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a wearable modular device and method for multi-modal environment and physiological monitoring. The device comprises: a plurality of environment monitoring modules configured to collect environment information of a plurality of modalities; a physiological signal monitoring module configured to collect physiological signals of a target object; an expandable PCB module provided with a standardized interface and reserved expandable pins, the expandable PCB module being electrically connected with the environment monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module through the standardized interface; the expandable pins being electrically connected with the expandable pins; the expandable PCB module being configured to: distribute working voltage to the environment monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module for power supply, synchronously receive the environment information of the modalities using a serial bus communication protocol and receive the physiological signals using an analog signal acquisition channel; and a master control module being electrically connected with the expandable PCB module, configured to provide working voltage to the expandable PCB module, receive the environment information of the plurality of modalities and the physiological signals sent by the expandable PCB module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of wearable monitoring devices and embedded hardware integration technology, specifically to a wearable modular device and method for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the Internet of Things, embedded systems, and mobile sensing technologies, environmental monitoring equipment is gradually evolving from traditional fixed-site data collection towards portability, mobility, and wearability. In practical applications, relying solely on monitoring a single environmental parameter is insufficient to meet the comprehensive analysis needs of the human body's environmental state and its physiological responses in complex scenarios. Therefore, integrating visual information, environmental parameters, and physiological signals into a single device platform has become an important development direction for mobile monitoring equipment.

[0003] Among related technologies, some devices are already capable of portable acquisition of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and light intensity, while others can monitor physiological signals such as electrocardiograms. These technical solutions have certain practical value in terms of portable deployment, local fixation, and basic data acquisition. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a wearable modular device and method for mobile scenarios, used for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring.

[0005] The first aspect of this disclosure provides a wearable modular device for multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring, comprising: multiple environmental monitoring modules configured to collect environmental information of multiple modalities; a physiological signal monitoring module configured to collect physiological signals of a target object; an expandable PCB module having a standardized interface and reserved expandable pins, the expandable PCB module being electrically connected to the multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module through the standardized interface; expandable pins being electrically connected to each other; the expandable PCB module being configured to: distribute operating voltage to the multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module for power supply, synchronously receive environmental information of multiple modalities using a serial bus communication protocol, and receive physiological signals using an analog signal acquisition channel; and a main control module electrically connected to the expandable PCB module, configured to provide operating voltage to the expandable PCB module and receive environmental information and physiological signals of multiple modalities sent by the expandable PCB module.

[0006] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring method applied to an expandable PCB module, comprising: receiving a working voltage provided by a main control module; distributing the working voltage to multiple environmental monitoring modules and a physiological signal monitoring module for power supply, so that the multiple environmental monitoring modules collect environmental information of multiple modalities and the physiological signal monitoring module collects physiological signals of a target object; synchronously receiving environmental information of multiple modalities and receiving physiological signals using an analog signal acquisition channel using a serial bus communication protocol; and sending the environmental information and physiological signals of multiple modalities to the main control module; wherein the expandable PCB module is provided with a standardized interface and reserved expandable pins, and the expandable PCB module is electrically connected to the multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module through the standardized interface; the expandable pins are electrically connected to each other; the expandable PCB module is electrically connected to the main control module and is configured to provide a working voltage to the expandable PCB module.

[0007] A third aspect of this disclosure also provides an electronic device, including: one or more processors; and a memory for storing one or more programs, wherein when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors perform the above-described multimodal environment and physiological monitoring method.

[0008] A fourth aspect of this disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the above-described multimodal environment and physiological monitoring method.

[0009] A fifth aspect of this disclosure also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described multimodal environment and physiological monitoring method.

[0010] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become clearer from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates one of the structural block diagrams of a wearable modular device for multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 2 A second structural block diagram of a wearable modular device for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically.

[0014] Figure 3 A top-level view of a double-sided PCB according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically.

[0015] Figure 4 A schematic bottom view of a double-sided PCB according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the lightweight housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0017] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically.

[0018] Figure 7 A block diagram of an electronic device for a multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0020] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. The terms “comprising,” “including,” etc., as used herein indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, or components.

[0021] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of this specification, and not in an idealized or overly rigid way.

[0022] The accompanying drawings show some block diagrams and / or flowcharts. It should be understood that some blocks or combinations thereof in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device, so that when executed by the processor, these instructions can create means for implementing the functions / operations described in these block diagrams and / or flowcharts.

[0023] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of those different embodiments or examples.

[0024] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0025] In the technical solution disclosed herein, all data involved (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) are information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties. Furthermore, the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, and application of the relevant data comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standards, necessary confidentiality measures have been taken, and they do not violate public order and good morals. Corresponding operation entry points are provided for users to choose to authorize or refuse.

[0026] In the process of realizing this disclosure, it was discovered that the related technologies still have some problems in the design of wearable devices for joint monitoring of multimodal environments and physiology.

[0027] For example, wearable devices lack integration: existing devices are mostly built around a single monitoring task, such as image monitoring or temperature and humidity monitoring. Devices that integrate multiple sensor modules also typically adopt a distributed or spliced ​​structure, lacking an integrated device architecture suitable for combined visual, environmental, and physiological monitoring.

[0028] For example, it is difficult to balance the wearability and scalability of wearable devices: mobile monitoring devices need to meet the requirements of lightweight, comfort and stability when worn by the human body, while also having modular scalability to adapt to different task scenarios. However, existing solutions usually only focus on one or a few of these aspects, making it difficult to meet the needs of long-term wear and multi-module access.

[0029] For example, wearable devices lack a unified connection method and layout logic for their measurement modules: existing devices often have independent layouts for different measurement modules with different interface forms, which is not conducive to forming a stable, maintainable, and reusable device structure, and increases the operational costs of device installation and expansion.

[0030] For example, the overall architecture of wearable devices lacks a systematic design for mobile scenarios: existing technologies mostly focus on local mechanical structures or single module installation methods, and there is still insufficient consideration for the coordination between shell space organization, module installation, power supply connection, interface reservation, heat dissipation design and environmental contact conditions, making it difficult to meet the requirements of continuous mobile monitoring tasks for the overall structure of the device.

[0031] In view of this, this disclosure proposes a wearable modular device for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring. This device is a wearable device that uses an expandable PCB module as the connection core, a one-piece lightweight shell structure as the load-bearing foundation, a modular assembly relationship as the organization method, and human wearing as the deployment method. It enables the stable integration, flexible expansion, and convenient maintenance of multiple different types of monitoring modules on the same device, thereby meeting the comprehensive requirements of lightweight, modularity, robustness, and adaptability in mobile monitoring scenarios. The wearable modular device for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0032] It should be noted that the sequence numbers of the operations in the following methods are for descriptive purposes only and should not be considered as indicating the execution order of the operations. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the method does not need to be executed in the exact order shown.

[0033] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates one of the structural block diagrams of a wearable modular device for multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the wearable modular device for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring in this embodiment may include, for example, an environmental monitoring module, a physiological signal monitoring module, an expandable PCB module, and a main control module.

[0035] The environmental monitoring module is configured to collect environmental information in multiple modalities.

[0036] The physiological signal monitoring module is configured to collect physiological signals from the target object.

[0037] The expandable PCB module features standardized interfaces and reserved expansion pins. It connects electrically to multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules via these standardized interfaces, and the expansion pins are electrically connected to each other. The expandable PCB module is configured to: distribute operating voltage to multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules for power supply; synchronously receive environmental information from multiple modalities using a serial bus communication protocol; and receive physiological signals using an analog signal acquisition channel.

[0038] The main control module is electrically connected to the expandable PCB module and is configured to provide operating voltage to the expandable PCB module and receive environmental information and physiological signals of multiple modes sent by the expandable PCB module.

[0039] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the main control module can serve as the core control unit of the entire machine, and the expandable PCB module can serve as the connection core. The main control module is connected to the expandable PCB module for unified management of various functional modules.

[0040] The expandable PCB module serves as an intermediary between the main control module and various monitoring modules, handling signal transmission and power supply connections for each module. For power supply, the expandable PCB module distributes the operating voltage provided by the main control module to all monitoring modules via a unified power distribution circuit, achieving centralized power management. Regarding signal transmission, for environmental monitoring modules using a serial bus communication protocol, the expandable PCB module enables unified access for multiple modules through a shared communication bus, with each module addressing and distinguishing itself using an independent device address. For physiological signal monitoring modules using analog signal output, the expandable PCB module provides an analog signal acquisition channel. By setting standardized interfaces on the expandable PCB module, multiple monitoring modules can be efficiently connected to the main control module, reducing structural clutter, inconsistent assembly, and maintenance difficulties caused by traditional distributed wiring and temporary connections.

[0041] Expandable PCB modules, by reserving expansion positions (extension pins), provide a foundation for adding monitoring modules, replacing existing modules, or adjusting module configurations in the future. This allows the device to have good expandability, adaptability, and maintainability while maintaining the stability of the overall structural framework. In other words, expandable PCB modules not only serve as electrical connections but also play a role in the internal structural organization and functional expansion of the device, making them a crucial core component for achieving modular integration in wearable modular devices.

[0042] According to embodiments of this disclosure, by setting up expandable PCB modules, an internal connection core is established for the unified access and expansion of multiple monitoring modules. This enables external units with different communication protocols, such as various monitoring modules, to be connected and assembled in a unified manner. This reduces the structural chaos, space occupation, assembly complexity, and maintenance difficulties caused by traditional distributed wiring and temporary connection methods, thereby improving the consistency and inheritance efficiency of the overall structure, as well as its subsequent expansion and upgrade capabilities. The unified modular structural framework also allows the device to flexibly adjust module configurations according to different monitoring tasks and supports module replacement, maintenance, and subsequent upgrades. This is conducive to forming a reusable, serializable, and continuously iterative hardware platform, thereby improving the device's application adaptability and engineering promotion value.

[0043] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates a second structural block diagram of a wearable modular device for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the expandable PCB module is also configured to send an enable control signal to the physiological signal monitoring module via a digital control channel to check the working status of the physiological signal monitoring module.

[0045] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the expandable PCB module sends an enable control signal of a specified level to the physiological signal monitoring module through an independent digital control channel, and simultaneously collects the response level / status feedback signal of the physiological signal monitoring module. The main control module can quickly determine whether the physiological signal monitoring module is in a normal power-on and signal acquisition ready working state based on the response level / status feedback signal sent by the expandable PCB module, without relying on subsequent analog physiological signal output results for indirect judgment.

[0046] According to embodiments of this disclosure, by setting up an expandable PCB module, a module self-test can be quickly completed before the formal acquisition of physiological signals such as electrocardiograms, thereby locating faults such as module power failure and poor contact in advance and avoiding invalid data acquisition. By setting up an expandable PCB module, specific physiological signal monitoring modules can be started and stopped individually as needed, reducing the overall power consumption of the system, while avoiding signal crosstalk caused by inactive modules and improving the acquisition accuracy of analog physiological signals.

[0047] Continue to participate Figure 2 In some embodiments, the device may further include: a power supply module disposed inside the lightweight housing and electrically connected to the main control module, the power supply module being used to supply power to the main control module and to provide operating voltage to multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules.

[0048] In some embodiments, the expandable PCB module includes a double-sided PCB with a dual-row pin header interface along its edge as a standardized interface. Multiple environmental monitoring modules are disposed in a first region on the first side of the double-sided PCB. A physiological signal monitoring module is disposed in a second region on the first side of the double-sided PCB, the first and second regions being separated from each other. The first side of the double-sided PCB has traces for signal routing and power distribution networks, effectively connecting power lines supplying power to the multiple environmental and physiological signal monitoring modules, the serial communication bus of the multiple environmental monitoring modules, and the analog signal lines of the physiological signal monitoring module to the dual-row pin header interface.

[0049] In some embodiments, the multiple environmental monitoring modules may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, and an ambient light intensity sensor. The temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and barometric pressure sensor may also be a three-in-one sensor, capable of simultaneously acquiring temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure information. The physiological signal monitoring module may include an analog signal sensor.

[0050] In some embodiments, a measurement electrode lead-out area is also provided on the side of the double-sided PCB, which is used to connect external measurement electrodes to collect physiological signals.

[0051] Multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules are surrounded by at least one of a bypass filter capacitor and a pull-up resistor. The bypass filter capacitor is used to filter out high-frequency power supply noise on the power line, and the pull-up resistor is used to provide a defined high level for the serial communication bus.

[0052] Figure 3 A top-level view of a double-sided PCB according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically. Figure 4 A schematic bottom view of a double-sided PCB according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0053] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, for example, the expandable PCB module can adopt a long, rectangular, double-sided PCB design, suitable for the layout of compact wearable device housings. The double-sided PCB edges are provided with dual rows of pin headers for connection with the corresponding pin headers of the main control module.

[0054] For example, in terms of component layout partitioning, such as the top-level view ( Figure 3As shown, multiple environmental monitoring modules (digital sensors) can be centrally arranged in the first area of ​​the top surface of the double-sided PCB, with a compact arrangement to shorten signal traces and reduce bus load. Analog signal sensors and their peripheral filtering circuits are arranged in the second area of ​​the top surface of the PCB, separated from the digital sensor area, to reduce interference from digital signal noise on the analog ECG signal. Passive components such as bypass filter capacitors and pull-up resistors are configured around each sensor to ensure signal quality and power supply stability. An ECG electrode lead-out connection area can be set on the right side of the double-sided PCB to facilitate contact between external measurement electrodes and the target object (human skin) to complete physiological electrical signal acquisition.

[0055] For example, such as the underlying view ( Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the bottom layer of the double-sided PCB mainly undertakes the copper foil traces of the signal routing and power distribution network, effectively connecting the communication bus, analog signal lines and power lines between the pin interface and each sensor, and the overall wiring is simple and orderly.

[0056] In some embodiments, the device further includes a lightweight housing configured to include multiple mounting areas for mounting multiple environmental monitoring modules, physiological signal monitoring modules, expandable PCB modules, and a main control module, wherein the number of mounting areas is greater than the total number of multiple environmental monitoring modules, physiological signal monitoring modules, expandable PCB modules, and main control modules.

[0057] The standardized interface of the expandable PCB module and the reserved expandable pins are located on one side of the lightweight housing. Multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules are connected to the standardized interface via pins.

[0058] The main control module is housed inside a lightweight housing, which has ventilation windows for heat dissipation.

[0059] Multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules are located on the outside of the lightweight housing and are concentrated in a heat dissipation area far away from the main control module. In the case of the target wearing the device, the environmental monitoring module can contact the external environment at the location of the lightweight housing, and the physiological signal monitoring module can contact the target object at the location of the lightweight housing.

[0060] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the wearable modular device, by setting a lightweight shell structure, enables the device to achieve multimodal functional integration while taking into account various requirements such as module load-bearing, sampling condition assurance, interface reservation, ventilation and heat dissipation, and overall weight control. This avoids the problems of large size, bloated structure, and excessive wearing burden that traditional devices tend to have after multi-module integration, thereby improving the portability, comfort, and practicality of the device in mobile scenarios.

[0061] In some embodiments, the lightweight housing is further provided with a fixing interface on its exterior.

[0062] The device also includes: a wearable fixing structure connected to a fixing interface, wherein the wearable fixing structure includes at least one of straps, buckles, clamps, back supports, and hanging components.

[0063] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the wearable modular device, through the coordinated design between a lightweight shell structure and a wearable fixing structure, enables the device to be more stably fixed to suitable parts of the human body. It is less prone to loosening, shifting, or flipping during human activity, and also helps reduce the impact of wearing on human movement and comfort, thereby improving the stability and usability of the device in long-term continuous monitoring scenarios. Furthermore, the expandable PCB modules and modular assembly architecture proposed for the wearable modular device are not dependent on specific sensor models or fixed monitoring tasks. By adjusting the module configuration, it can adapt to different application scenarios such as industrial environmental monitoring, sports and health assessment, and scientific data collection, which is conducive to forming wearable hardware devices with continuous iteration and cross-scenario reusability.

[0064] In some embodiments, the device further includes: a visual monitoring module disposed outside the lightweight housing and connected to an expandable PCB module via a standardized interface. The visual monitoring module is configured to use visual information of the scene where the target object is located, wherein, when the target object wears the device, the position of the visual monitoring module in the lightweight housing is oriented toward the scene where the target object is located.

[0065] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the lightweight housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0066] like Figure 5 As shown, the lightweight housing structure is used to support the main control module, expandable PCB module, power supply module and various monitoring modules, and forms corresponding installation areas, interface reserved positions, sensing windows, ventilation areas and heat dissipation areas according to the functional requirements of different modules.

[0067] This shell structure is not simply an external covering, but a comprehensive load-bearing structure designed in coordination with the internal module layout, external sampling conditions, and human wearing requirements.

[0068] The visual monitoring module is positioned on the housing for easy access to information about the surrounding environment, ensuring its field of view and acquisition conditions. Multiple environmental monitoring modules are positioned on the housing for easy contact with the outside air or environment, ensuring effective acquisition of parameters such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and light intensity. The physiological signal monitoring module is positioned on the housing or connected via an extension structure for easy contact with the human body, ensuring the stability of physiological signal acquisition.

[0069] Internally, the monitoring modules are centrally located on the side furthest from the main control module's heat dissipation area. This avoids the monitoring modules' operating environment being affected by the main control module's heat dissipation and ensures unobstructed ventilation in the heat dissipation area. Each monitoring module is connected to the double-sided PCB via pins, achieving electrical connection while maintaining physical isolation, facilitating individual installation, removal, and replacement of each module. This housing organization, matching the module functions, allows the device to achieve all the functional configurations required for multimodal joint monitoring within a limited volume, while reducing mutual interference between different modules in terms of spatial layout, sampling conditions, and structural stress.

[0070] This wearable modular device employs a modular assembly structure, enabling each functional module to form a unified assembly logic around the main control module and expandable PCB module. The visual monitoring module, environmental monitoring module, and physiological signal monitoring module are not fixed and immutable units, but can be selectively configured, replaced, or added / removed according to the specific monitoring task requirements.

[0071] The visual monitoring module is positioned for easy acquisition of surrounding scene information, the environmental monitoring module is positioned for easy contact with the external environment, the physiological signal monitoring module is positioned for easy contact with the human body, and the main control module and power supply module are located in a relatively stable and protected area inside the housing. This layout reduces mutual interference between different modules in terms of spatial arrangement, sampling conditions, and structural stress, thereby improving the overall integration efficiency and operational stability of the device.

[0072] In its basic configuration, the device may include a main control module, an expandable PCB module, an environmental monitoring module, a power supply module, a lightweight housing structure, and a wearable mounting structure for continuous acquisition of environmental parameters. When simultaneous acquisition of human response information is required, a physiological monitoring module can be added to the above structure. When recording surrounding scene information is needed, a visual acquisition module can be further added, thus forming a multimodal integrated monitoring device that jointly acquires environmental, scene, and physiological information. Because all functional modules are organized around a unified PCB connection platform and a unified housing structure, the overall structure and assembly relationship remain consistent regardless of changes in specific configurations, avoiding the need to redesign the entire hardware structure for different tasks. Since the expandable PCB module uses standardized interfaces and a unified power supply method, its access capabilities are not limited to the specific sensor combinations mentioned above; other types of sensing modules can be replaced or added according to different monitoring targets.

[0073] To meet the requirements for wearing stability and comfort in mobile monitoring scenarios, the device further incorporates a wearable fixing structure that integrates with a lightweight shell structure. This fixing structure can take the form of straps, buckles, clamps, back supports, hangers, or combinations thereof, and connects to pre-drilled fixing interfaces on the shell, allowing the device to be secured to the chest, shoulder, waist, arm, head, or other suitable body parts. In this structural relationship, the shell not only houses and protects the internal modules but also serves as the load-bearing foundation and mounting base for the fixing structure. Through coordinated design of the shell's shape, module center of gravity distribution, and fixing interface positions, the device maintains high stability during human activity, preventing loosening, shifting, or tipping, while minimizing the impact on the wearer's movements and comfort, thereby improving the device's usability in continuous monitoring tasks.

[0074] In summary, the wearable modular device disclosed herein uses an expandable PCB module as the internal connection core, a lightweight shell structure as the load-bearing foundation, a modular assembly relationship as the organization method, and a wearable fixed structure as the deployment method. This allows multiple functional units required for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring to be integrated, expanded, and maintained within the same platform.

[0075] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically.

[0076] like Figure 6 As shown, the multimodal environment and physiological monitoring method of this embodiment can be applied to expandable PCB modules, including operations S610 to S640.

[0077] When operating the S610, it receives the operating voltage provided by the main control module.

[0078] When operating the S620, the operating voltage is distributed to power multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules, so that the multiple environmental monitoring modules can collect environmental information of multiple modalities and the physiological signal monitoring modules can collect physiological signals of the target object.

[0079] When operating the S630, a serial bus communication protocol is used to synchronously receive environmental information from multiple modes, and an analog signal acquisition channel is used to receive physiological signals.

[0080] When operating the S640, environmental information and physiological signals from multiple modalities are sent to the main control module.

[0081] It should be noted that the method embodiment part and the device part in the embodiments of this disclosure are related and their specific implementation details are the same, and will not be repeated here.

[0082] Any one or more of the modules, submodules, units, and subunits according to embodiments of the present disclosure, or at least part of the functions of any one or more of them, can be implemented in one module. Any one or more of the modules, submodules, units, and subunits according to embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented by dividing them into multiple modules. Any one or more of the modules, submodules, units, and subunits according to embodiments of the present disclosure can be at least partially implemented as hardware circuitry, such as a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Array (PLA), a System-on-Chip, a System-on-a-Substrate, a System-on-Package, an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or implemented in hardware or firmware by any other reasonable means of integrating or packaging circuitry, or implemented in software, hardware, or firmware, or in any suitable combination of any of these three implementation methods. Alternatively, one or more of the modules, submodules, units, and subunits according to embodiments of the present disclosure can be at least partially implemented as computer program modules, which, when run, can perform corresponding functions.

[0083] Figure 7 A block diagram of an electronic device for a multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown schematically.

[0084] like Figure 7 As shown, an electronic device 700 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor 701, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 702 or a program loaded from a storage portion 708 into a random access memory (RAM) 703. The processor 701 may include, for example, a general-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a CPU), an instruction set processor and / or an associated chipset and / or a special-purpose microprocessor (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), etc. The processor 701 may also include onboard memory for caching purposes. The processor 701 may include a single processing unit or multiple processing units for performing different actions of the method flow according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0085] RAM 703 stores various programs and data required for the operation of electronic device 700. Processor 701, ROM 702, and RAM 703 are interconnected via bus 704. Processor 701 performs various operations of the method flow according to embodiments of the present disclosure by executing programs in ROM 702 and / or RAM 703. It should be noted that the programs may also be stored in one or more memories other than ROM 702 and RAM 703. Processor 701 may also perform various operations of the method flow according to embodiments of the present disclosure by executing programs stored in said one or more memories.

[0086] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the electronic device 700 may further include an input / output (I / O) interface 705, which is also connected to a bus 704. The electronic device 700 may also include one or more of the following components connected to the I / O interface 705: an input section 706 including a keyboard, mouse, etc.; an output section 707 including a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., and a speaker, etc.; a storage section 708 including a hard disk, etc.; and a communication section 709 including a network interface card such as a LAN card, modem, etc. The communication section 709 performs communication processing via a network such as the Internet. A drive 710 is also connected to the I / O interface 705 as needed. A removable medium 711, such as a disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, semiconductor memory, etc., is installed on the drive 710 as needed so that computer programs read from it can be installed into the storage section 708 as needed.

[0087] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which may be included in the device / apparatus / system described in the above embodiments; or it may exist independently and not assembled into the device / apparatus / system. The computer-readable storage medium carries one or more programs that, when executed, implement the method according to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0088] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the computer-readable storage medium may be a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, such as including, but not limited to: portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In this disclosure, the computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. For example, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the computer-readable storage medium may include ROM 702 and / or RAM 703 and / or one or more memories other than ROM 702 and RAM 703 described above.

[0089] Embodiments of this disclosure also include a computer program product comprising a computer program containing program code for performing the methods shown in the flowchart. When the computer program product is run on a computer system, the program code is used to cause the computer system to implement the identification method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0090] When the computer program is executed by the processor 701, it performs the functions defined in the system / apparatus of this disclosure embodiments. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the systems, apparatuses, modules, units, etc., described above can be implemented by computer program modules.

[0091] In one embodiment, the computer program may rely on a tangible storage medium such as an optical storage device or a magnetic storage device. In another embodiment, the computer program may also be transmitted and distributed in the form of signals over a network medium, and may be downloaded and installed via the communication section 709, and / or installed from a removable medium 711. The program code contained in the computer program can be transmitted using any suitable network medium, including but not limited to: wireless, wired, etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0092] In such an embodiment, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via the communication section 709, and / or installed from the removable medium 711. When the computer program is executed by the processor 701, it performs the functions defined in the system of this disclosure embodiment. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the systems, devices, apparatuses, modules, units, etc., described above can be implemented by computer program modules.

[0093] According to embodiments of this disclosure, program code for executing the computer programs provided in embodiments of this disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. Specifically, these computational programs can be implemented using high-level procedural and / or object-oriented programming languages, and / or assembly / machine languages. Programming languages ​​include, but are not limited to, languages ​​such as Java, C++, Python, "C", or similar programming languages. The program code can execute entirely on a user's computing device, partially on a user's device, partially on a remote computing device, or entirely on a remote computing device or server. In cases involving remote computing devices, the remote computing device can be connected to the user's computing device via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or it can be connected to an external computing device (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0094] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in a different order than those indicated in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in a block diagram or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram or flowchart, may be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0095] Those skilled in the art will understand that the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of this disclosure can be combined or combined in various ways, even if such combinations or combinations are not explicitly described in this disclosure. In particular, the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of this disclosure can be combined or combined in various ways without departing from the spirit and teachings of this disclosure. All such combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0096] The embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. However, these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Although various embodiments have been described above, this does not mean that the measures in the various embodiments cannot be used advantageously in combination. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Various substitutions and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure, and all such substitutions and modifications should fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A wearable modular device for multimodal environment and physiological monitoring, characterized in that, include: Multiple environmental monitoring modules are configured to collect environmental information in multiple modalities; The physiological signal monitoring module is configured to collect physiological signals from the target object; An expandable PCB module is provided, which has a standardized interface and reserved expandable pins. The expandable PCB module is electrically connected to the multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module through the standardized interface; the expandable pins are electrically connected to each other; the expandable PCB module is configured to: distribute the operating voltage to the multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module for power supply, synchronously receive environmental information of the multiple modes using a serial bus communication protocol, and receive the physiological signals using an analog signal acquisition channel; The main control module, electrically connected to the expandable PCB module, is configured to provide the operating voltage to the expandable PCB module and receive environmental information of multiple modes and physiological signals sent by the expandable PCB module.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The expandable PCB module is also configured to send an enable control signal to the physiological signal monitoring module via a digital control channel to check the working status of the physiological signal monitoring module.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The expandable PCB module includes a double-sided PCB, and the edge of the double-sided PCB is provided with a double row of pin interfaces as the standardized interface. The plurality of environmental monitoring modules are disposed in the first region of the first side of the double-sided PCB; The physiological signal monitoring module is located in the second region of the first side of the double-sided PCB; the first region and the second region are separated from each other; The first side of the double-sided PCB is provided with traces for signal routing and power distribution networks. These traces are used to effectively connect the power lines supplying power to the plurality of environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module, the serial communication bus of the plurality of environmental monitoring modules, and the analog signal lines of the physiological signal monitoring module to the dual-row pin interface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The side of the double-sided PCB is also provided with a measurement electrode lead-out area, which is used to connect external measurement electrodes to collect the physiological signals; At least one of a bypass filter capacitor and a pull-up resistor is provided around the plurality of environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module. The bypass filter capacitor is used to filter out high-frequency power supply noise on the power line, and the pull-up resistor is used to provide a defined high level for the serial communication bus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device further includes: The lightweight housing is configured to include multiple mounting areas for mounting the multiple environmental monitoring modules, the physiological signal monitoring module, the expandable PCB module, and the main control module, wherein the number of mounting areas is greater than the total number of the multiple environmental monitoring modules, the physiological signal monitoring module, the expandable PCB module, and the main control module; The standardized interface and reserved expandable pins of the expandable PCB module are located on one side of the lightweight housing. The multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module are connected to the standardized interface via pins. The main control module is located inside the lightweight housing, and the lightweight housing is provided with ventilation windows for heat dissipation of the main control module; The plurality of environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module are disposed on the outside of the lightweight housing and are concentrated in a heat dissipation area away from the main control module. When the target object wears the device, the environmental monitoring module can contact the external environment at the position of the lightweight housing, and the physiological signal monitoring module can contact the target object at the position of the lightweight housing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lightweight housing is also provided with a fixing interface on its exterior; The device further includes: A wearable fixing structure is connected to the fixing interface, wherein the wearable fixing structure includes at least one of straps, buckles, clamps, back supports, and hanging components.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The device further includes: A visual monitoring module is disposed outside the lightweight housing and connected to the expandable PCB module through a standardized interface. The visual monitoring module is configured to use visual information of the scene where the target object is located. When the target object is wearing the device, the position of the visual monitoring module in the lightweight housing can be oriented towards the scene where the target object is located.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The device further includes: A power supply module is disposed inside the lightweight housing and is electrically connected to the main control module. The power supply module is used to supply power to the main control module and to provide operating voltage to the plurality of environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The multiple environmental monitoring modules include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, and an ambient light intensity sensor; The physiological signal monitoring module includes an analog signal sensor.

10. A multimodal environmental and physiological monitoring method, characterized in that, Applications include expandable PCB modules, including: Receives the operating voltage provided by the main control module; The operating voltage is distributed to power multiple environmental monitoring modules and physiological signal monitoring modules, so that the multiple environmental monitoring modules can collect environmental information of multiple modalities and the physiological signal monitoring modules can collect physiological signals of the target object. The environmental information of the multiple modalities is received synchronously using a serial bus communication protocol, and the physiological signals are received using an analog signal acquisition channel. The environmental information of the multiple modalities and the physiological signals are sent to the main control module; The expandable PCB module is equipped with a standardized interface and reserved expandable pins. The expandable PCB module is electrically connected to the multiple environmental monitoring modules and the physiological signal monitoring module through the standardized interface. The expandable pins are electrically connected to each other. The expandable PCB module is electrically connected to the main control module and is configured to provide the operating voltage to the expandable PCB module.

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