Bio-signal Quality Assessment via Moving Average Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bio-signal quality assessment methods are inefficient and do not effectively measure the quality of bio-signals in real-time, particularly for wearable devices, which affects the accuracy of measurements such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Innovation Solution

A bio-signal quality assessment apparatus that calculates a moving average of bio-signal samples, divides them into sections, and determines the number of samples above or below the average, using variance or standard deviation as a quality index, categorizing signal quality as high, moderate, or low based on predefined thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex calculations such as Fourier transform and post-processing are performed to compute SNR, then signal quality assessment accuracy is improved, but computational complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal quality assessment accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential features needed for quality assessment from the complex signal. Instead of performing full Fourier transform and post-processing, it computes a simplified quality metric based on signal amplitude and frequency characteristics, removing unnecessary computational steps while retaining assessment accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by not computing the full SNR through complex transformations, but rather directly assessing signal quality through simplified metrics that correlate with SNR, achieving the same goal through a reverse computational path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If real-time bio-signal quality assessment is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but processing speed and efficiency requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bio-signal into discrete samples and processes them in sequential batches. By dividing the continuous signal stream into manageable segments and computing quality metrics for each segment independently, it enables real-time assessment without requiring excessive computational resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs partial computation by calculating only the essential quality metrics needed for assessment rather than complete signal analysis. It computes simplified statistics such as amplitude ranges and frequency estimates without performing exhaustive transformations, achieving sufficient accuracy with reduced processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3315062B1Bio-signal quality assessment apparatus and method and bio-signal measurement parameter optimization apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3315062B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3315062B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3315062B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bio-signal quality assessment apparatus, a bio-signal quality assessment method, a bio-signal measurement parameter optimization apparatus, and bio-signal measurement parameter optimization apparatus method are provided. The bio-signal quality assessment apparatus includes a processor configured to determine a moving average of a bio-signal, and assess a quality of the bio-signal, based on a comparison between the determined moving average and the bio-signal.