Bio-sensor Integration in Portable Electronic Device Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional portable electronic devices lack sophisticated sensors to monitor user health metrics or physiological conditions, limiting their ability to provide real-time health information during usage.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a bio-sensor within the device, utilizing a translucent layer with micro-perforations and an opaque layer to transmit and receive light, allowing for the detection of health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygenation, and blood pressure by analyzing reflected light from the user's body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional portable electronic devices are used without integrated bio-sensors, then the device structure remains simple and manufacturing is easier, but the ability to monitor user health metrics is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bio-sensor components (light source, light receiver, opaque layer with micro-perforations) directly into the device housing structure. The translucent layer is integrated into the housing, and the bio-sensor components are positioned within the housing to work through this layer, merging the sensing function with the structural elements of the device rather than adding separate sensor modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The device housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection, acts as a mounting structure for the bio-sensor components, and the translucent layer serves as both a protective cover and an optical transmission medium. The housing structure is designed to accommodate the bio-sensor integration while maintaining its primary protective and structural roles.
2Reliability
If visible sensors are added to the device surface, then health monitoring function is improved, but the sleek design and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The translucent layer is applied locally to the specific region where the bio-sensor needs to transmit light, rather than making the entire device transparent. The opaque layer with micro-perforations is positioned only in the sensor area, allowing optical transmission where needed while maintaining the normal appearance of the rest of the device housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent layer changes the optical properties of the device housing in the sensor region, allowing light to pass through while maintaining a subtle appearance. The material properties are modified locally to enable optical transmission without creating a visually obvious sensor opening or component.
3Shape
If the opaque layer completely blocks light, then device appearance is maintained, but light transmission for sensing is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque layer is designed with a micro-perforated structure, creating a porous configuration at the microscopic level. This allows light to pass through the perforations to reach the bio-sensor components while the overall layer maintains its opaque appearance from a distance, blocking light in the macroscopic view.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution uses a composite structure combining the opaque layer with micro-perforations and the translucent layer. This composite material system allows the opaque layer to maintain its light-blocking appearance while the micro-perforations provide light transmission paths, and the translucent layer enhances optical transmission efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables discreet and continuous monitoring of user health information, adjusting power states and illuminating input devices as needed, while maintaining a sleek design by using the existing device surfaces for sensing without visible sensors.
Implementation Method 1
A light source transmits light or other optical energy through the micro-perforations into a body part of a user. A light receiver receives the light that is reflected back from the body part of the user
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a translucent layer that forms a portion of an exterior of the electronic device, an opaque material positioned on the translucent layer that defines micro-perforations, and a processing unit operable to determine information about a user via the translucent layer. The processing unit may be operable to determine the information by transmitting optical energy through a first set of the micro-perforations into a body part of the user, receiving a reflected portion of the optical energy from the body part of the user through a second set of the micro-perforations, and analyzing the reflected portion of the optical energy.