Computer device for wearing on the human body, as well as sensor device

Abstract

A ring-shaped computer device (1) for wearing on the human body, in particular on a finger, which is designed to continuously collect vital parameters and / or bioactive markers of a wearer and make them available to a connected device, comprising: a ring-shaped base body (2) with an at least partially optically transparent inner surface (3) which faces the skin of the carrier; a first sensor (14) for optically detecting vital parameters, in particular heart rate, via the skin of the wearer, wherein the first sensor (14) is separated from the skin of the wearer by at least one optically transparent detection area (5) of the inner surface (3); and a second sensor (15) for determining electrical properties of the wearer's skin by means of electrical contacts (9), wherein the electrical contacts (10,11) are applied to the optically transparent inner surface (3) of the base body (2).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a ring-shaped computer device for wearing on the human body, in particular on a finger, and to a sensor device for recording vital parameters and / or bioactive markers on the human body. background

[0002] Wearable computing devices are known from the prior art (e.g., from US 2016 / 0 213 267 A1 or US 2015 / 0 220 109 A1) that continuously collect vital signs and / or biomarkers from a wearer's finger and make them available to the user via connected devices. The wearable computing devices utilize various sensors to record the wearer's psychological and physiological state. In particular, the devices utilize, among other things, optical sensors for measuring heart rate, acceleration sensors and gyroscopes for time-dependent spatial positioning of the computing device, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one sensor for measuring the wearer's emotional and physiological state via the electrical properties of the wearer's skin. Portable computer devices of the type mentioned above are also known from the documents US 9 711 060 B1, US 10 517 536 B1, US 2013 / 0 183 646 A1 and US 2019 / 0 298 172 A1.

[0003] When an optical sensor is used to measure heart rate, this requires an interference-free optical measuring path between the sensor and the wearer's skin, at least in the wavelength range of the light emitted by the sensor. In the current state of the art, this measuring path is implemented via an opening in the surface of the wearable computing device. This opening is transparent at least for the wavelength range of the light emitted by the optical sensor. This solution increases the complexity of manufacturing the device and may also result in the opening not being able to be sealed airtight and watertight. Further embodiments of the prior art are designed such that at least the part of the housing of the wearable computing device facing the wearer's body is designed as an optically transparent component.In order to integrate a sensor for detecting electrodermal activity in addition to an optical sensor, the state of the art also proposes additional openings in the housing surface of the device to insert electrically conductive contacts into the surface. This again leads to greater component complexity and potential air and water permeability.

[0004] The invention aims to at least mitigate these disadvantages. Brief description of the invention

[0005] This object is achieved by the invention defined in the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, a ring-shaped computer device is created for wearing on the human body, in particular on a finger, which is designed to continuously collect vital parameters and / or bioactive markers of a wearer and to make them available to a connected device, comprising a ring-shaped base body with an at least partially optically transparent inner surface facing the skin of the wearer, a first sensor for optically detecting vital parameters, in particular a heart rate, via the skin of the wearer, wherein the first sensor is separated from the skin of the wearer by at least one optically transparent detection region of the inner surface; and a second sensor for determining electrical properties of the wearer's skin by means of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are applied to the at least partially optically transparent inner surface of the base body.

[0007] According to the invention, the non-conductive, transparent inner surface of the computing device can be used to support electrical sensor contacts of an EDA sensor. The inner surface of the computing device can have at least one optically transparent region, which serves to detect the heart rate by the optical sensor. The electrical contacts can be applied on the inside of the ring-shaped computing device directly to the at least partially transparent region, which can also be at least partially used by an optical sensor. The electrical contacts can be arranged or configured such that they do not obstruct the measuring path of the optical sensor. The inner surface of the ring-shaped sensor offers sufficient space to arrange electrical contacts thereon, which can securely contact the wearer's skin.In this embodiment, the optically transparent base body represents a component that forms at least part of the outer casing of the portable computing device. This base body is designed to be largely transparent, at least to electromagnetic radiation of the wavelengths required for the measurement principle of the heart rate sensor (PPG). To enable measurement of the electrodermal activity (EDA) or the (psycho-)galvanic skin response of the wearer, two galvanically isolated electrical contacts are applied to the surface of this base body. This makes it possible to design the surface, or part of the surface, of the device as a transparent component while simultaneously enabling the measurement of the wearer's electrodermal activity. No large openings in the surface are necessary, and the computing device can be hermetically sealed.

[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical contacts are designed to be in contact with the wearer's skin, and the computing device further comprises internal components such as a circuit board for accommodating the sensors and a data interface, a processor, and at least two battery modules for supplying power to the circuit board and the processor, which are interconnected to form an overall battery. The electrical contacts can be part of the EDA sensor, which has further components arranged together with other components inside the computing device. For example, and not exclusively, the computing device can comprise a circuit board on which the optical sensor and / or at least part of the EDA sensor is arranged. Furthermore, a processor and a data interface can be connected to the circuit board or arranged on it.The circuit board can be flexible to adapt to the ring-shaped form of the computing device. The processor can receive and process the raw data from the sensors, and forward it via the data interface (e.g., Bluetooth®) to a connected device such as a smartphone and / or a server. The computing device can further comprise one or more battery modules to power the electrical components. Multiple battery modules can be interconnected to form a single battery.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical contacts are formed by an electrically conductive thin film, and / or the base body is optically transparent and the electrical contacts are applied to the optically transparent base body. In this embodiment, the optically transparent base body represents a component which forms at least part of the outer casing of the portable computer device. The electrical contacts are applied to a surface of the base body using thin-film technology. The electrically conductive layers which form the contacts can be applied, for example, by chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or galvanic processes, as well as by a combination of these or other processes. This makes it possible toto make part of the surface of the device transparent and at the same time enable the measurement of the wearer's electrodermal activities.

[0010] In particular, the base body is designed in such a way that it is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of the wavelengths required for the measuring principle of the heart rate sensor, in particular a photoplethysmogram (PPG).

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical contacts are arranged over a large area distributed over the entire inner surface of the base body, and the detection zone of the first sensor is left free of the electrical contacts. In particular, the electrical contacts can be designed to have a very large area, i.e., with the exception of the detection zone (i.e., the minimum required free optical measuring path of the optical sensor), they can cover the entire inner surface of the computer device. This leads to improved contact between the wearer's skin and the EDA contacts. This is especially true when the wearer of the ring is moving and temporarily only parts of the inner housing surface, i.e., the inner surface of the device, are in contact with the wearer's skin.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical contacts are formed in a serpentine shape on the transparent inner surface of the base body, and / or the computer device comprises two groups of electrical contacts arranged distributed over the inner surface.

[0013] The contacts can be designed in a snake-like or serpentine shape on the inner surface. This ensures that the wearer's skin is securely contacted, i.e. there are sufficiently large contact possibilities, but material can be saved compared to a contact designed as a surface. Furthermore, the electrical contacts can each comprise several groups of sub-contacts, whereby the sub-contacts of each group are electrically connected to one another and the groups are galvanically isolated from one another. The sub-contacts of each group can be arranged intermittently with the sub-contacts of the other group. It is also possible to form "contact focal points" by arranging sub-contacts in a group in clusters. This can help to improve contact with the skin in specific sports, for exampleone-sided loads act on the computer device and therefore skin contact on the opposite side is limited.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer device comprises a through-hole in the inner surface of the base body for contacting the internal electronics, in particular the circuit board. The through-hole can be as small as a hole through the inside of the base body. However, if this hole leads the contacts into the interior of the base body, it is completely sealed, e.g., by electroplating. This avoids larger openings, keeping the interior of the base body hermetically sealed.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the computer device comprises a guide for the contact terminals over an end face of the base body into the interior of the base body for contacting the internal electronics, in particular the circuit board, through the electrical contacts. The contact terminals can also initially be guided away from the inner surface to an end face of the base body. This avoids drilling on the inside and further improves sealing.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, a sensor device for recording vital parameters and / or bioactive markers on the human body is provided, comprising a first sensor for optically detecting vital parameters, in particular a heart rate, comprising at least one optically transparent detection area; and a second sensor for determining electrical properties of the wearer's skin by means of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are at least partially applied to the optically transparent detection area of ​​the first sensor.

[0017] All embodiments of the computer device according to the invention can also be applied to the second aspect of the invention. Short description of the drawings

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. the Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a computer device with internal electrical contacts according to the invention; the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b shows cutaway drawings of various exemplary sensor arrangements on the inner surface of the computer device according to the invention; the Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment according to the invention; the Fig. 4 is a sectional drawing of a further embodiment according to the invention; the Fig. 5a to 5c show exemplary sensor arrangements on the inner surface of the computer device according to the invention. Character description

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a computer device 1 in the form of a finger ring according to the invention. The computer device 1 comprises a base body 2 with an inner surface 3 and an end face 4. The inner surface 3 is formed in one piece and is at least partially optically transparent. The inner surface 3 comprises a detection area 5, which is required at least in the wavelength range for the optical detection of a wearer's heart rate using a photoplethysmogram (PPG). A sensor assembly 7, which comprises a PPG sensor and at least parts of an EDA sensor, is arranged in an interior space 6 of the computer device 1. The sensor assembly 7 is arranged below the detection area 5 to enable the PPG sensor to detect the heart rate over a measuring path 8. Electrical contacts 9, which are galvanically spaced from one another, are applied to the inner surface 3.In the example shown, the electrical contacts 9 are designed as thin, electrically conductive layers. A first electrical contact 10 is applied to a first half of the inner circumferential surface (inner surface 3) and a second electrical contact 11 is applied to a second half of the inner surface 3. The contacts 10, 11 are spatially and galvanically spaced from one another and electrically separated in the region of the detection area 5, as well as in a region 12 opposite the detection area 5. The electrical contacts 10, 11 are formed by a thin film and are distributed over a large area over the respective halves of the inner surface 3. The detection area 5 is not covered by the contacts 10, 11. If contacts 10, 11 are used which are not flat but track-shaped, in particular serpentine, the detection area can also be provided with contacts.can be reduced to a minimum necessary to obtain the measuring section 8.

[0020] The Fig. Figure 2a shows a possible arrangement of the electrical contacts 9 on the inner surface 3 of the computer device 1. The electrical contacts 10 and 11 are applied as serpentine tracks to the inner surface 3 of the base body 2 and are galvanically isolated. The contacts 10, 11 are guided into the interior 6 of the base body 2 by means of vias 13. The vias 13 are located in the vicinity of the sensor assembly 7 and can also be located within the optically transparent detection area 5 of the optical sensor 14. The vias 13 are connected to at least one second sensor 15 (EDA sensor) (not shown).

[0021] The Fig. 2b shows another possible arrangement of the electrical contacts 9 on the inner surface 3 of the computer device 1. The contacts 10, 11 are guided to the end face 4 of the base body 2 via a guide 16.

[0022] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a further embodiment according to the invention. In addition to the electrical contacts 10, 11 and the sensor assembly 7 (outlined by a dashed line), the computer device 1 comprises a printed circuit board 17. The printed circuit board 17 is connected to the sensor assembly 7. A processor 18 and a data interface 19 are arranged on the printed circuit board 17. The sensor assembly 7 comprises the optical sensor 14 and the EDA sensor 15. Furthermore, at least two battery modules 20 are arranged in the interior 6 of the base body 2, which are interconnected to form an overall battery.

[0023] The Fig. 4 shows a further possible arrangement of the electrical contacts 9 on the inner surface 3 of the computer device 1. The contacts 10, 11, which are designed as a flat, thin layer, are guided via the guide 16 to the end face 4 of the base body 2 and there, by means of through-contacts 13, are guided into the interior 6 of the base body 2 and connected to the sensor assembly 7, in particular to the EDA sensor 15.

[0024] The Fig. 5a to 5c show further exemplary arrangements of the electrical contacts 9 on the inner surface 3 of the computer device 1. The first and second contacts 10, 11 are arranged alternately along the inner circumferential surface.

[0025] Fig. Figure 5b shows an embodiment in which the contacts 9 are serpentine-shaped and run as tracks next to each other on the inner surface 3. The first and second contacts 10, 11 each have serpentine-shaped sections 21 that are arranged offset.

[0026] Fig. Figure 5b shows an embodiment in which the contacts 9 comprise groups of first and second contacts 10, 11. The groups of first and second contacts 10, 11 can be formed as interconnected surfaces or serpentine sections 21 (not shown). For example, the group of first contacts 10 comprises three interconnected surface contacts each, while the group of second contacts 11 comprises two interconnected surface contacts. List of reference symbols 1 computer device 2 basic bodies 3 inner surface 4 Frontal surface 5 Detection range 6 Interior of the base body 7 Sensor assembly 8 measuring section 9 electrical contacts 10 first contact 11 second contact 12 opposite area 13 vias 14 optical sensor 15 EDA sensor 16 Guide 17 Circuit board 18 processor 19 Data interface 20 battery modules 21 serpentine sections

Claims

[1] A ring-shaped computer device (1) for wearing on the human body, in particular on a finger, which is designed to continuously collect vital parameters and / or bioactive markers of a wearer and to make them available to a connected device, comprising: an annular base body (2) with an at least partially optically transparent inner surface (3) facing a skin of the wearer; a first sensor (14) for optically detecting vital parameters, in particular a heart rate, via the skin of the wearer, wherein the first sensor (14) is separated from the skin of the wearer by at least one optically transparent detection area (5) of the inner surface (3); and a second sensor (15) for determining electrical properties of the wearer's skin by means of electrical contacts (9), wherein the electrical contacts (10,11) are applied to the optically transparent inner surface (3) of the base body (2). [2] Computer device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts (9) are designed to be in contact with the skin of the wearer, and wherein the computer device (1) further comprises internal components: a circuit board (17) for accommodating the sensors (7) and a data interface (19); a processor (18); and at least two battery modules (20) for supplying energy to the circuit board (17) and the processor (18), which are connected together to form an overall battery. [3] Computer device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical contacts (9) are formed by an electrically conductive thin film, and / or the base body (2) is optically transparent and wherein the electrical contacts (10, 11) are applied to the optically transparent base body (2). [4] Computer device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (2) is designed such that it is transparent to electromagnetic radiation of the wavelengths which are necessary for the measuring principle of the heart rate sensor (14), in particular a photoplethysmogram (PPG). [5] Computer device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contacts (9) are arranged distributed over a large area over the entire inner surface (3) of the base body (2), and wherein the detection area (5) of the first sensor is recessed from the electrical contacts (9). [6] Computer device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contacts are formed in a serpentine manner on the transparent inner surface (3) of the base body (2); and / or wherein the computer device (1) comprises two groups of electrical contacts (9) arranged distributed over the inner surface (3). [7] Computer device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a through-plating (13) in the inner surface (3) of the base body (2) for contacting the internal components, in particular the printed circuit board (17). [8] Computer device (1) according to one of claims 1-6, comprising a guide (16) of the electrical contacts (9) via an end face (4) of the base body (2) into the interior (6) of the base body (2) for contacting the internal components, in particular the printed circuit board (17), by means of the electrical contacts (9). [9] Sensor device (7) for recording vital parameters and / or bioactive markers on the human body, comprising: a first sensor (14) for optically detecting vital parameters, in particular a heart rate, comprising at least one optically transparent detection area (5); and a second sensor (15) for determining electrical properties of the wearer's skin by means of electrical contacts (9), wherein the electrical contacts (9) are at least partially applied to the optically transparent detection area (5) of the first sensor (14).

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