Ear-Worn Physiologic Sensing With Skin Contact Power Gating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ear-worn electronic devices face challenges in conserving battery capacity due to the power consumption of physiologic sensors, leading to wasteful energy use and inefficient operation when not properly positioned on the wearer's skin.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a skin contact sensor that activates physiologic sensors only when in contact with the wearer's skin, using a controller to energize and de-energize these sensors based on contact detection, thereby optimizing power usage and ensuring proper positioning for accurate physiologic measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If physiologic sensors are continuously energized to ensure ready operation, then device responsiveness is improved, but battery capacity is depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice responsivenessVSAvoidbattery capacity consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The contact sensor detects skin contact in advance before the physiologic sensor is fully activated. When skin contact is detected, the controller then energizes the physiologic sensor, ensuring the sensor is ready for immediate operation. This preliminary detection mechanism allows the system to maintain responsiveness while avoiding continuous energization of the physiologic sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The physiologic sensor is energized periodically or on-demand based on contact sensor detection rather than continuously. The controller activates the physiologic sensor only when skin contact is detected, creating a periodic operation pattern that conserves battery capacity while maintaining device readiness when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Device complexity

If physiologic sensors operate without contact detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to improper positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor operation simplicityVSAvoidphysiologic parameter accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact sensor provides feedback to the controller about whether the device is properly positioned on the wearer's skin. This feedback signal is then used to control the energization of the physiologic sensor, ensuring that measurements are only taken when proper contact is detected, thereby maintaining measurement precision without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The contact sensor performs a preliminary check before the physiologic sensor begins operation. This preliminary contact detection ensures that the physiologic sensor is only activated when the device is properly positioned, preventing inaccurate measurements while keeping the system relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If contact sensor and physiologic sensor are co-located, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidsensor positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact sensor and physiologic sensor are merged into a single integrated unit that can be co-located within the same housing. This merging allows both sensors to occupy the same spatial region, reducing the overall device size. The integrated design inherently manages the manufacturing precision requirements by treating the sensors as a unified assembly rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach reduces unnecessary power consumption and enhances the reliability of physiologic sensing by ensuring sensors are optimally positioned, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of ear-worn devices.

Implementation Method 1

A contact sensor is supported by the housing and coupled to the controller, the contact sensor configured to sense contact between the device and skin of the wearer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

An optical physiologic sensor arrangement is coupled to the controller and configured to measure at least one physiologic parameter or physiologic condition of the wearer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12526568B2Ear-worn electronic device incorporating skin contact and physiologic sensors

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 STARKEY LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

An ear-worn electronic device comprising a housing configured to be worn in, at or about an ear of a wearer, audio processing circuitry disposed in or supported by the housing and comprising one or more microphones and an acoustic transducer, a controller disposed in the housing and coupled to the audio processing circuitry, and a power source disposed in the housing. A contact sensor is supported by the housing and coupled to the controller, the contact sensor configured to sense contact between the device and skin of the wearer. A physiologic sensor arrangement is coupled to the controller and configured to measure at least one physiologic parameter or physiologic condition of the wearer. The controller is configured to operate on signals received from the physiologic sensor arrangement in response to the contact sensor sensing contact between the device and the wearer's skin.