Embedded Dry Electrodes for Low-Latency Neuromuscular Sensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices for sensing neuromuscular signals face challenges due to performance variance based on demographic factors, bulkiness, delayed signal processing, reliance on wet-electrodes, and uncomfortable designs, which hinder user acceptance and adoption of in-air gestures.

Innovation Solution

The use of active-embedded dry bio-electrodes that internally house signal-processing components to reduce latency and discomfort, allowing for efficient processing of neuromuscular signals without external cabling, and enabling comfortable, socially acceptable, and reliable day-to-day use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If separate signal-processing components are used, then device functionality is achieved, but processing latency increases and device bulkiness worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing latencyVSAvoidcomponent arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electrode and signal-processing components into a single integrated unit. The electrode directly interfaces with the signal-processing circuitry, eliminating the need for separate components and external cabling. This integration reduces signal processing latency while simplifying the overall device structure and reducing bulkiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The signal-processing components are housed within the electrode structure itself, creating a nested configuration where one component is placed inside another. This nesting approach reduces the overall device footprint and eliminates external cabling, thereby reducing both latency and bulkiness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are used to detect neuromuscular signals, then sensing accuracy is improved, but device bulkiness and discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneuromuscular signal detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice bulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated electrode is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the sensing element for detecting neuromuscular signals and as the housing for signal-processing components. This multi-functionality allows the device to maintain measurement precision while reducing the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall device bulkiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functional elements (sensing electrode and processing circuitry) are merged into a single compact unit. This consolidation maintains the sensing accuracy of multiple components while eliminating the bulkiness that would result from having separate sensors and processing units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If external cabling is used to connect electrodes to processing components, then device assembly is simplified, but reliability decreases due to movement-induced stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice assembly simplicityVSAvoidproduct reliability under movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode and processing components are merged into a single integrated unit, eliminating external cabling entirely. This integration maintains ease of manufacture through modular design while dramatically improving reliability by removing the weak point of cabling that is subject to movement-induced stress and potential failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional electrode designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but user comfort and social acceptance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiduser comfort and social acceptance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode incorporates a flexible, thin-film structure that conforms to the user's skin and wrist anatomy. This flexible design maintains ease of manufacture through standard flexible circuit board techniques while dramatically improving user comfort and social acceptance by creating a wearable device that is comfortable for extended day-to-day use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12543986B2Smart electrodes for sensing signals and processing signals using internally-housed signal-processing components at wearable devices and wearable devices incorporating the smart electrodes

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Smart electrodes are described herein. An example smart electrode includes a conductive exterior surface configured to contact skin of a user to receive one or more neuromuscular signals, the one or more neuromuscular signals configured to cause the user to perform a muscular movement. The smart electrode has an interior surface defining a volume of space configured to house one or more electrical signal-processing components, the one or more electrical signal-processing components configured to process the one or more neuromuscular signals to produce one or more processed neuromuscular signals. The electrical signal-processing components housed within the volume of space defined by the interior surface of the dry electrode are also configured to provide the processed neuromuscular signals to one or more processors to allow, in part, the one or more processors to detect the user's intention to perform the muscular movement.