Electric Field Disturbance Sensor for Contactless Vital Signs Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring systems face challenges in safely and effectively detecting vital signs without physical contact or causing interference, particularly in sensitive environments like baby cribs, due to the need for sensors to be in contact or use potentially harmful communication waves.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses electric field disturbance sensors to detect fluctuations in electrical fields remotely, processing signals to identify recurring patterns associated with vital signs and generating an alarm if deviations from these patterns indicate a threat, while minimizing noise and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is placed in physical contact with the target to monitor vital signs, then measurement precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to strangulation or suffocation hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary electric field sensing mechanism that detects vital signs through changes in the electric field caused by the target's body movements, rather than direct physical contact. The sensor detects disturbances in the ambient electric field that occur when the target moves, providing contactless monitoring that eliminates suffocation hazards while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based sensing system with an electric field-based detection system. Instead of using physical sensors that touch the target, the system uses electric field disturbance detection to sense vital signs, substituting mechanical interaction with electromagnetic field interaction
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used between sensor and monitoring device, then ease of operation is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to potentially harmful communication waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the wireless communication component from the sensor system. By using direct electric field disturbance detection, the sensor can provide monitoring data through means that do not require radio frequency or microwave transmission, removing the source of electromagnetic interference while maintaining operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system uses the ambient electric field already present in the environment as its sensing medium, rather than requiring separate communication infrastructure. The sensor detects vital signs by measuring disturbances in the existing electric field, making the system self-sufficient without needing additional harmful communication waves
3Object-generated harmful factors
If electric field disturbance sensing is used to detect vital signs remotely, then object-generated harmful factors are reduced, but measurement precision worsens due to noise and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through signal processing algorithms that continuously analyze the electric field disturbance signals. The system processes the raw sensor data to identify patterns corresponding to vital signs, filtering out noise and interference through computational feedback loops that enhance signal quality and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes in the signal processing domain, transforming the raw electric field disturbance signals into meaningful vital signs data. By changing the parameters of signal analysis (such as frequency analysis, amplitude detection, and pattern recognition), the system extracts accurate vital signs information from noisy ambient electric field measurements
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 safe and effective monitoring of vital signs without physical contact or harmful interference, providing reliable alarms for potential threats to the well-being of targets, such as infants in baby cribs.
Implementation Method 1
A system that uses electric field disturbance sensors to detect fluctuations in electrical fields remotely
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for monitoring a well-being of a target are disclosed. In a method embodiment, data representing a process electric potential signal is received by a computer system. The process electric potential signal may be generated at least in part by one or more electric potential sensors in response to the detection of a change in an electric field of a target spaced apart from the one or more electric potential sensors. The method may further include identifying, using the computer system and based at least in part on the data electronically received by the computer system, a recurring pattern in the received data. The method may also include determining, using the computer system and based at least in part on the received data, whether a deviation from the recurring pattern transgresses a threshold. The deviation may comprise a subset of the data electronically received by the computer system.