Physiological monitoring system

Abstract

The physiological monitoring system includes a sensing device, a rectifier, and a signal output device. The sensing device includes multiple first to third sensing units. The first sensing units extend along a first direction and are separated from each other in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction. A second sensing unit, used to generate an induced current, is located between the first and third sensing units, extends along the second direction, and is separated from each other in the first direction. A third sensing unit extends along the first direction and is separated from each other in the second direction. The first and third sensing units include multiple sensors for outputting physiological sensing signals. The rectifier is coupled to the sensing device and rectifies the induced current to output a rectified current. The signal output device is coupled to the sensing device and the rectifier, driven by the rectified current to process the physiological sensing signals and output the sensing results.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure document relates to a physiological monitoring system, and more particularly to a physiological monitoring system having an interlaced structure and a self-powered function. [Previous Technology]

[0002] With the aging of society and the increasing demand for long-term home care, the awareness of health management in today's society is gradually increasing, leading to a corresponding increase in the demand for physiological monitoring devices. Wearable physiological monitoring systems have become the choice of many people due to their high convenience and real-time reporting capabilities.

[0003] However, due to the structural limitations of some physiological monitoring devices, physiological monitoring can only be carried out through a single-point sensing system, which can easily lead to insufficient sensing data, that is, low sensing resolution, resulting in inaccurate sensing results and causing false alarms or missed alarms.

[0004] In addition, since some physiological monitoring devices still need to be powered and charged by an external power source, users need to remove the physiological monitoring devices from time to time to charge them in order to maintain the operation of the physiological monitoring devices. This phenomenon may cause discontinuous monitoring results, and there may also be situations where accidents occur to users while they are removing the physiological monitoring devices, and the information cannot be reported in time. [Summary of the Invention]

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this disclosure provides a physiological monitoring system comprising a sensing device, a rectifier, and a signal output device. The sensing device includes a plurality of first sensing units, a plurality of second sensing units, and a plurality of third sensing units. The plurality of first sensing units extend along a first direction and are separated from each other in a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. The plurality of second sensing units are used to generate induced currents, wherein the plurality of second sensing units extend along the second direction and are separated from each other in the first direction. The plurality of third sensing units extend along the first direction and are separated from each other in the second direction, wherein the plurality of second sensing units are located between the plurality of first sensing units and the plurality of third sensing units in a third direction, which is different from both the first and second directions. Each of the plurality of first sensing units and the plurality of third sensing units includes a plurality of sensors for outputting a plurality of physiological sensing signals. The rectifier is coupled to the sensing device for rectifying the induced current to output a rectified current. The signal output device is coupled to the sensing device and the rectifier, driven by the rectified current to process the plurality of physiological sensing signals, thereby outputting a sensing result.

[0006] The physiological monitoring system disclosed herein can achieve multi-point sensing through the interlaced structure of the sensing devices therein, thereby improving the sensing resolution, and can be self-powered by the rectifier and sensing devices therein without the need for an additional external power supply, so as to achieve long-term continuous operation.

Implementation Method

[0007] In this disclosure, when an element is referred to as a "connection" or "coupled," it may mean an "electrical connection" or "electrical coupling." "Connection" or "coupled" may also be used to indicate the operation or interaction between two or more elements. Furthermore, although this disclosure uses terms such as "first," "second," etc., to describe different elements, these terms are only used to distinguish elements or operations described using the same technical terms. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, these terms do not specifically refer to or imply order or sequence, nor are they intended to limit this disclosure.

[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the relevant drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or method flows.

[0009] Figure 1 is a simplified functional block diagram of a physiological monitoring system 100 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the physiological monitoring system 100 includes a sensing device 110, a rectifier 120, and a signal output device 130. The sensing device 110 includes a plurality of sensing units L1, a plurality of sensing units L2, and a plurality of sensing units L3. Each sensing unit L1 and each sensing unit L3 includes a plurality of sensors S for outputting a plurality of physiological sensing signals to the signal output device 130. The sensing unit L2 is used to generate an induced current to the rectifier 120.

[0010] In some embodiments, the rectifier 120 is coupled to each sensing unit L1 to L3 in the signal output device 130 and the sensing device 110 to rectify the induced current generated by the sensing unit L2, so as to output rectified current to the sensing unit L1, the sensing unit L3 and the signal output device 130.

[0011] The signal output device 130 is coupled to the sensing device 110 and the rectifier device 120, and is driven by rectified current to process multiple physiological sensing signals, thereby outputting sensing results. In some embodiments, the signal output device 130 can output sensing results using suitable wired or wireless communication methods, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VPN, Universal Sequence Bus, and / or Ethernet. In other embodiments, the signal output device 130 further includes a shift register (not shown) made of thin-film transistor to drive multiple sensors S.

[0012] The sensing units L1 to L3 in the sensing device 110 of this disclosure overlap each other in the vertical direction. In other words, the sensing units L1 to L3 are located on different horizontal planes and overlap each other. To clearly illustrate the structure of the sensing device 110, please refer to Figures 2A and 2B, wherein Figure 2A is a top view of the sensing device 110 according to some embodiments, and Figure 2B is a perspective view of region 210 in Figure 2A according to some embodiments.

[0013] In some embodiments, sensing unit L1 extends along a first direction X and is separated from each other in a second direction Y, wherein the first direction X is different from the second direction Y. Sensing unit L2 extends along the second direction Y and is separated from each other in the first direction X. Sensing unit L3 extends along the first direction X and is separated from each other in the second direction Y. In other words, as shown in Figure 2A, sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 extend parallel to each other along the first direction X, and both sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 intersect with sensing unit L2.

[0014] Referring to Figure 2B, in some embodiments, sensing unit L2 is stacked on top of sensing unit L1 along the third direction Z, and sensing unit L3 is stacked on top of sensing unit L2 along the third direction Z. That is, sensing unit L2 is located between sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 in the third direction Z, where the third direction Z is different from the first direction X and the second direction Y. Therefore, sensing units L1 to L3 form an interwoven structure in sensing device 110.

[0015] In some embodiments, the vertical projection of sensing unit L2 onto an imaginary plane parallel to sensing unit L1 does not overlap with the vertical projection of sensor S in sensing unit L1 onto this imaginary plane. In other words, the vertical projections of sensing unit L2 and sensor S in sensing unit L1 onto this imaginary plane are located at different positions. In some embodiments, the vertical projection of sensor S of sensing unit L3 onto an imaginary plane parallel to sensing unit L1 overlaps with the vertical projection of sensing unit L2 onto this imaginary plane.

[0016] In some embodiments, sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 are arranged alternately in the second direction Y, with one sensing unit L1 and one sensing unit L3 alternating (as shown in Figure 2A). Therefore, in this embodiment, the positions of the sensors S in sensing unit L1 in the first direction X and the second direction Y are different from the positions of the sensors S in sensing unit L3 in the first direction X and the second direction Y. In other words, the sensors S in sensing unit L1 and the sensors S in sensing unit L3 are arranged in a checkerboard pattern in Figure 2A.

[0017] By using the positional relationship between the sensing units L1 to L3 and the arrangement of the sensors S, the interlaced structure of the sensing device 110 proposed in this disclosure can be realized to achieve the function of multi-point sensing and improve the sensing resolution.

[0018] Referring again to Figure 2B, in some embodiments, each sensing unit L1 and each sensing unit L3 includes a power supply electrode PE, a sensing wire SL, and a triboelectric layer M1. The power supply electrode PE is coupled to a plurality of sensors S to receive rectified current from the rectifier 120 to drive the plurality of sensors S. The sensing wire SL is coupled to the plurality of sensors S to receive a plurality of physiological sensing signals from the plurality of sensors S and to transmit the plurality of physiological sensing signals to the signal output device 130. The triboelectric layer M1 overlaps the power supply electrode PE and overlaps and covers the plurality of sensors S, wherein the triboelectric layer M1 has a first polarity.

[0019] In some embodiments, the sensor S may include a thin-film transistor (TFT) and / or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), and may be connected to the sensing wire SL and the power supply electrode PE by die bonding and / or flip-chip methods. In some embodiments, the sensor S is used to generate a physiological sensing signal based on the user's physiological state (e.g., pulse) through piezoresistive, piezoresistive, and / or piezoelectric methods, and transmit the physiological sensing signal to the signal output device 130 through the sensing wire SL. For example, when the sensing device 110 is attached to the user's skin, the user's pulse will cause a change in the resistance value in the piezoresistive sensor, thereby determining the user's pulse and causing the sensor S to output a corresponding physiological sensing signal to the signal output device 130.

[0020] Referring again to Figure 2B, in some embodiments, each sensing unit L2 includes an energy harvesting electrode CE and a triboelectric layer M2. The energy harvesting electrode CE is used to generate an induced current and transmit the induced current to the rectifier 120. The triboelectric layer M2 covers the energy harvesting electrode CE and has a second polarity opposite to the first polarity.

[0021] In some embodiments, the triboelectric layer M1 may be composed of a skin-friendly flexible elastic material, such as any skin-friendly flexible elastic material or a combination of at least one of the above, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyimide (PI), etc., so that the sensing device 110 has a first polarity and can be attached to the user's skin so that the sensor S can perform sensing.

[0022] In some embodiments, the triboelectric layer M2 may be composed of a material having a polarity opposite to the first polarity, such as aniline formaldehyde resin, polyoxymethylene (POM), ethyl cellulose (EC), polyamide (PA), or a combination thereof, such that the triboelectric layer M2 has a second polarity opposite to the first polarity.

[0023] The self-powered function of the physiological monitoring system 100 can be realized through the triboelectric layers M1 and M2 with opposite polarities of the sensing units L1, L2 and L3. The operation mode will be explained below.

[0024] In operation, when sensing unit L1 or sensing unit L3 undergoes displacement (e.g., sliding) relative to sensing unit L2, an induced current is generated because the first polarity of the triboelectric layer M1 in sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 is opposite to the second polarity of the triboelectric layer M2 in sensing unit L2. At this time, the energy harvesting electrode CE in sensing unit L2 collects this induced current and outputs the induced current to the rectifier 120.

[0025] When the rectifier 120 receives the induced current, it will rectify the induced current and transmit the rectified current to the output device 130 and provide it to the sensor S through the power supply electrode PE in the sensing device 110, so as to maintain the operation of the signal output device 130 and the sensor S in the sensing device 110.

[0026] In this disclosure, a sensing unit L1 and a sensing unit L3 with multiple microstructures are provided to increase the magnitude of the induced current between the triboelectric layer M1 and the triboelectric layer M2, thereby improving the efficiency of the self-powered function. For the microstructures in the sensing unit L1 and the sensing unit L3, please refer to Figure 3 and Figures 4A-4B.

[0027] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L2 according to some embodiments, along section line AA' of Figure 2A. In some embodiments, each sensing unit L1 further includes a plurality of microstructures B1 and a plurality of microstructures B2, wherein microstructures B1 and B2 belong to a triboelectric layer M1, and microstructure B1 has a height h1 in the third direction Z, and microstructure B2 has a height h2 in the third direction Z that is lower than the height h1. In some embodiments, the vertical projection of microstructure B1 on an imaginary plane parallel to sensing unit L1 at least partially overlaps the vertical projection of sensor S on this imaginary plane, and sensing unit L2 partially overlaps microstructure B2 (as shown in Figure 3). In some embodiments, microstructures B1 and B2 are arranged along a first direction X extending from sensing unit L1, and are arranged alternately in a manner that alternates one microstructure B1 and one microstructure B2.

[0028] In operation, since the microstructure B2 belongs to the triboelectric layer M1 and has a first polarity, an induced current is generated between the overlapping sensing units L2 and the microstructure B2. It is worth mentioning that the presence of the microstructure B2 increases the contact area between the sensing units L1 and L2, thereby further increasing the magnitude of the induced current and improving the efficiency of the self-powered function. On the other hand, the presence of the microstructure B1 increases the contact area between the sensing unit L1 and the user's skin, which not only helps to improve the sensing effect but also allows the sensing device 110 to fit more stably against the user's skin.

[0029] Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of sensing units L1 to L3 according to some embodiments, along section line BB' of Figure 2A. In some embodiments, each sensing unit L3 further includes a plurality of microstructures B3. The microstructures B3 have a height h3 below the height h1 in the third direction Z, belong to the triboelectric layer M1, and are arranged along the first direction X extending from the sensing unit L3. On the other hand, the presence of the microstructures B3 increases the contact area between the sensing unit L3 and the user's skin, which not only helps to improve the sensing effect but also allows the sensing device 110 to fit more stably against the user's skin.

[0030] In some embodiments, the height h2 is between 0.2 times and 0.8 times the height h1, and the height h2 is greater than or equal to the height h3.

[0031] In some other embodiments, the height h2 is between 0.2 times and 0.8 times the height h1, and the height h2 is less than the height h3.

[0032] Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of sensing units L1 to L3 according to some embodiments, along section line BB' of Figure 2A. In some embodiments, the triboelectric layer M1 covers the power supply electrode PE and sensing wire SL of the sensing unit L3, and each sensing unit L3 further includes a plurality of microstructures B4. Microstructures B4 belong to the triboelectric layer M1 and are located on opposite sides of the triboelectric layer M1, respectively, and are arranged along the first direction X, wherein microstructures B4 are in contact with sensing unit L2.

[0033] Since microstructure B4 belongs to the triboelectric layer M1, it also has the first polarity. Therefore, an induced current will be generated between the overlapping sensing unit L2 and microstructure B4. The presence of microstructure B4 increases the contact area between sensing unit L3 and sensing unit L2, thus further increasing the magnitude of the induced current and improving the efficiency of the self-powered function.

[0034] Therefore, by using the microstructures B1~B4 in the sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3, the contact area between the sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 and the sensing unit L2 can be increased, thereby further improving the efficiency of the self-powered function.

[0035] Figure 5 is a simplified functional block diagram of a physiological monitoring system 500 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the physiological monitoring system 500 includes a sensing device 510, a rectifier 120, and a signal output device 130. The physiological monitoring system 500 in Figure 5 is similar to the physiological monitoring system 100 in Figure 1, except that the sensor S in the sensing device 110 in Figure 1 and the sensor S in the sensing device 510 in Figure 5 have different configurations. For the sake of brevity, the following description only focuses on the configuration differences of the sensor S.

[0036] In the embodiment of Figure 1, the sensors S in sensing unit L1 and sensing unit L3 are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Conversely, in the embodiment of Figure 5, the vertical projections of the sensors S in sensing unit L3 onto an imaginary plane parallel to sensing unit L1 partially overlap with the vertical projections of sensing unit L2 onto this imaginary plane, while other portions are located in the gaps between the multiple vertical projections of multiple sensing units L2 onto this imaginary plane. When viewed from above in the physiological monitoring system 500 of Figure 5, a portion of the sensors S in multiple sensing units L3 are spaced apart from the sensors S in sensing unit L1 along the second direction Y (for example, a sensor S of sensing unit L3 is placed between two adjacent sensors S of two adjacent sensing units L1 in the second direction Y), while another portion of the sensors S in multiple sensing units L3 are arranged along multiple sensing units L2 in the second direction Y and are not adjacent to the sensors S of sensing unit L1. In other words, compared to Figure 1, the multiple sensing units L3 in Figure 5 further include multiple sensors S that are located at the same position as the sensors S in sensing unit L1 in the first direction X, but at different positions from the sensors S in sensing unit L1 in the second direction Y.

[0037] In summary, the physiological monitoring systems 100 and 500 proposed in this disclosure achieve multi-point sensing and self-powered functions through interlaced sensing units L1~L3, without the need for an additional power supply device, and thus have the advantages of high sensing resolution and small size.

[0038] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this disclosure. Any equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of this disclosure shall fall within the scope of this disclosure. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0039] To make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of this disclosure more apparent and understandable, the accompanying drawings are described as follows: Figure 1 is a simplified functional block diagram of a physiological monitoring system according to some embodiments; Figure 2A is a top view of a sensing device according to some embodiments; Figure 2B is a perspective view of region 210 in Figure 2A according to some embodiments; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of sensing units according to some embodiments along section line AA' of Figure 2A; Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of sensing units according to some embodiments along section line BB' of Figure 2A; Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of sensing units according to some embodiments along section line BB' of Figure 2A; Figure 5 is a simplified functional block diagram of a physiological monitoring system according to some embodiments. [Biomaterial Storage]

[0041] Domestic storage information (please note in order of storage institution, date, and number): None. International storage information (please note in order of storage country, institution, date, and number): None.

Claims

1. A physiological monitoring system, comprising: a sensing device including: a plurality of first sensing units extending along a first direction and separated from each other in a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction; a plurality of second sensing units for generating an induced current, wherein the plurality of second sensing units extending along the second direction and separated from each other in the first direction; and a plurality of third sensing units extending along the first direction and separated from each other in the second direction, wherein when the sensing device is viewed from above along a third direction, the plurality of first sensing units, the plurality of second sensing units, and the plurality of third sensing units are respectively located on three horizontal planes that are different from each other in the third direction, wherein the third direction is different from both the first direction and the second direction, wherein the plurality of second sensing units are located between the plurality of first sensing units and the plurality of third sensing units in the third direction; wherein, Each of the plurality of first sensing units and the plurality of third sensing units includes a plurality of sensors for outputting a plurality of physiological sensing signals; A rectifier is coupled to the sensing device to rectify the induced current to output a rectified current; And a signal output device, coupled to the sensing device and the rectifier, driven by the rectified current to process the multiple physiological sensing signals, and then output a sensing result.

2. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical projection of the second sensing unit on an imaginary plane parallel to the plurality of first sensing units does not overlap with the vertical projection of the plurality of sensors of the plurality of first sensing units on the imaginary plane, and at least a portion of the vertical projections of the plurality of sensors of the plurality of third sensing units on the imaginary plane overlap with the vertical projections of the plurality of second sensing units on the imaginary plane.

3. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a portion of the plurality of sensors of the plurality of third sensing units is vertically projected onto the imaginary plane and overlaps with the vertical projection of the plurality of second sensing units onto the imaginary plane, and the vertical projection of another portion of the plurality of sensors of the plurality of third sensing units onto the imaginary plane is located between the vertical projections of the plurality of second sensing units onto the imaginary plane.

4. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of first sensing units and the plurality of third sensing units further comprises: a power supply electrode coupled to the plurality of sensors for receiving rectified current from the rectifier to drive the plurality of sensors; a sensing wire coupled to the plurality of sensors for receiving the plurality of sensing signals from the plurality of sensors and transmitting the plurality of sensing signals to the signal output device; and a first triboelectric layer overlapping the power supply electrode, overlapping and covering the plurality of sensors, wherein the first triboelectric layer has a first polarity.

5. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of second sensing units further comprises: an energy harvesting electrode for generating the induced current and transmitting the induced current to the rectifier; and a second triboelectric layer covering the energy harvesting electrode, wherein the second triboelectric layer has a second polarity opposite to the first polarity.

6. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of first sensing units further comprises: a plurality of first microstructures having a first height in the third direction, wherein the vertical projections of the plurality of first microstructures on the imaginary plane at least partially overlap the vertical projections of the plurality of sensors on the imaginary plane; and a plurality of second microstructures having a second height below the first height in the third direction, wherein the plurality of second sensing units partially overlap the plurality of second microstructures, wherein the plurality of first microstructures and the plurality of second microstructures belong to the first triboelectric layer and are alternately arranged along the first direction.

7. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of third sensing units further comprises: a plurality of third microstructures having a third height below the first height in the third direction, belonging to the first triboelectric layer, and arranged along the first direction.

8. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second altitude is between 0.2 times and 0.8 times the first altitude, and the second altitude is greater than or equal to the third altitude.

9. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second height is between 0.2 times and 0.8 times the first height, and the third height is greater than the second height.

10. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first triboelectric layer covers the power supply electrode and the sensing wire, and each of the plurality of third sensing units further comprises: a plurality of fourth microstructures belonging to the first triboelectric layer, which are respectively located on opposite sides of the first triboelectric layer in the third direction and arranged along the first direction, wherein the plurality of fourth microstructures are in contact with the plurality of second sensing units.

11. The physiological monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first triboelectric layer is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyimide (PI), or any combination thereof.

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