Biosignal Sensor Polarizer Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biosignal sensors face performance degradation due to noise caused by positional changes between the skin and the sensor resulting from motion, which affects the accuracy of bio-information acquisition.

Innovation Solution

A biosignal sensor design incorporating a light-transmitting layer with varying elastic moduli and polarizers oriented at specific angles to selectively block or transmit polarized light, reducing noise from skin motions and enhancing signal fidelity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sensor is made flexible to attach to skin, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to positional changes from motion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin attachment capabilityVSAvoidbiosignal detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmitting layer is divided into multiple regions with different elastic moduli (first region with higher elasticity, second region with lower elasticity). This segmentation allows different parts of the sensor to have different mechanical properties, enabling the sensor to accommodate skin motion while maintaining stable optical contact for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the light-transmitting layer are assigned different elastic moduli to perform different functions. The first region with higher elastic modulus provides structural stability for the optical components, while the second region with lower elastic modulus provides flexibility to accommodate skin motion, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and measurement stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If polarizers are added to reduce motion noise, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidoptical component configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Polarizers are introduced as intermediary optical components between the light source and the skin, and between the skin and the light sensor. These polarizers selectively transmit or block light based on polarization direction, acting as mediators to filter out noise caused by skin motion while allowing the useful biosignal to pass through.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The polarization state of light is changed as it passes through the polarizers. By controlling the polarization parameters of the light (transmitting certain polarization directions and blocking others), the system can distinguish between light signals affected by skin motion and those containing useful biosignal information, thereby improving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If regions with different elastic moduli are used, then measurement precision is improved by reducing motion noise, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidelastic modulus distribution control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light-transmitting layer is segmented into distinct regions with different elastic moduli. This segmentation can be achieved through manufacturing techniques such as using different materials for different regions or creating structural variations (e.g., solid vs. mesh patterns). The clear regional division simplifies the control of elastic modulus distribution during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-transmitting layer employs composite material structures with different elastic moduli in different regions. By selecting appropriate materials or material configurations (such as varying the density or composition of the polymer matrix), the desired elastic modulus distribution can be achieved while maintaining manufacturability and consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

The solution effectively reduces noise and improves the accuracy of bio-information acquisition by minimizing the impact of skin motions on the sensor's performance, leading to more reliable biosignal detection.

Implementation Method 1

a first polarizer configured to linearly polarize the light emitted from the light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarisation: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

a second polarizer configured to block the linearly polarized light passing through the first polarizer when a polarization direction of the second polarizer is different from a polarization direction of the linearly polarized light passing through the first polarizer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarisation: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentEP3939501B1Biosignal sensor
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3939501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3939501B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3939501B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A biosignal sensor includes a light sensor, a first polarizer configured to linearly polarize incident light emitted, and a second polarizer configured to linearly polarize light flowing into the light sensor. The biosignal sensor may include a light source that may emit light in a first direction and at least partially overlaps the first polarizer in the first direction, the light sensor at least partially overlapping the second polarizer in the first direction.