Body Composition Analyzer Synthesizing Multi-Frequency Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current body composition measurement devices face challenges in balancing accuracy and measurement time, as increasing the number of signals used for impedance analysis improves accuracy but prolongs the measurement process.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device that determines the frequency of multiple signals based on user profile information, synthesizes these signals to generate a synthesis signal, and measures body impedance, allowing for accurate body composition analysis while reducing measurement time by considering skin contact impedance and using a combination of signals across different frequency ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple signals of various frequencies are sequentially applied to measure body impedance, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody composition measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple impedance measurement signals into a single synthesized signal that contains multiple frequency components. This allows the device to perform what would traditionally require sequential measurements at different frequencies to be accomplished in a single measurement, thereby reducing measurement time while maintaining accuracy. The synthesized signal integrates multiple frequency components (e.g., 50Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz) into one composite signal applied to the user's body simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic signals with different frequencies within the synthesized signal to measure impedance at multiple frequency points. By using periodic waveforms with carefully selected frequency components, the system can extract impedance information at each frequency level from a single applied signal, avoiding the need for sequential measurements while maintaining the periodic nature required for accurate impedance analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If skin contact impedance is not removed from body impedance, then measurement process is simpler, but body composition measurement accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody composition measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the total measured impedance into distinct components: skin contact impedance and body impedance. By mathematically separating these components, the system can isolate and remove the skin contact impedance from the measurement. This segmentation allows the device to first measure the combined impedance, then subtract the skin component to obtain the pure body impedance for accurate body composition analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a modeling approach where it creates a representation of the skin contact impedance based on measurements taken at specific frequencies. This modeled copy of the skin impedance is then used to subtract the skin effect from the overall measurement, allowing accurate body impedance extraction without requiring complex hardware modifications or additional measurement steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 maintains high accuracy in body composition measurement while significantly reducing the time required for analysis, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

Implementation Method 1

A body composition analyzer may sequentially apply signals of various frequencies to a user's body to measure body impedance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Impedance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

The processor is moreover configured to measure a skin contact impedance based on the synthesis signal, and to remove the skin contact impedance from the body impedance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Impedance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3372159B1Electronic device and body composition analyzing method
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3372159B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372159B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3372159B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An electronic device includes a memory storing profile information, at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, and a processor connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The processor is configured to determine a frequency of at least one signal for measuring body composition, based on the profile information, output a synthesis signal obtained by synthesizing the at least three signals to a body of the user through the at least one first electrode, wherein the synthesis signal includes a signal corresponding to the determined frequency and the at least three signals have different frequencies, receive the synthesis signal passing through the body of the user, through the at least one second electrode, measure body impedance of the user based on the received synthesis signal, and measure the body composition of the user based on the body impedance.