Finger-Mounted Electronic Device for Biometric Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable electronic devices lack effective methods to sense finger movement and biometric data, such as heartbeat, pressure, and flexion, in a convenient and accurate manner.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device designed to be mounted around a finger, featuring a top part with display and sensing areas, and a bottom part for biometric image capture, using light emitting and sensing parts to generate nail and fingerprint images, which are analyzed to detect movement, pressure, flexion, and heartbeat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wearable electronic devices are designed to sense finger movement and biometric data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (finger movement detection, heartbeat monitoring, pressure sensing, and flexion detection) into a single wearable device structure. The top part includes both display pixels and light emitting parts, while light sensing parts are integrated in both top and bottom parts, merging multiple sensing capabilities into one unified device rather than using separate sensors for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device is designed with multi-functionality to perform various sensing operations simultaneously. The light emitting parts can emit light for both nail imaging (movement detection) and fingerprint imaging (heartbeat detection), while light sensing parts detect reflected light for multiple purposes including pressure and flexion sensing, making each component serve multiple functions.
2Reliability
If light emitting and sensing parts are integrated in the wearable device, then sensing capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional areas: a top part containing display pixels, light emitting parts, and light sensing parts, and a bottom part containing light sensing parts. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized and manufactured separately using appropriate processes, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining sensing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different semiconductor materials for different sensing purposes - amorphous Si-Ge for light sensing parts and polycrystalline Si for display pixels. This parameter change in material composition allows each component to be manufactured with optimal properties for its specific function, improving sensing capability while enabling specialized manufacturing processes for each material type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device senses multiple biometric parameters simultaneously, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device achieves versatility by enabling multiple biometric sensing functions within a single integrated system. The light emitting parts illuminate the finger for various imaging purposes, while light sensing parts detect reflected and transmitted light to simultaneously determine finger movement from nail images, heartbeat from fingerprint images, pressure from reflected light intensity, and flexion from shape changes, allowing one device to replace multiple specialized sensors.
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 accurate sensing of finger movement and biometric data, enhancing user convenience by providing real-time input and health monitoring capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
light emitting parts disposed in the sensing area, where the light emitting parts may emit light onto the nail through a sensing surface
Implementation Method 2
light sensing parts disposed in the sensing area, where the light sensing parts may sense reflected light through the sensing surface. In such an embodiment, the reflected light may be the light emitted from the light emitting parts and reflected by the nail.
Implementation Method 3
the second gate electrode may block external light to the sensing semiconductor layer through the display surface.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device to be mounted around a finger includes: a top part on which a nail of the finger is located; a bottom part disposed opposite to the top part, where a fingerprint surface of the finger is located on the bottom part; and a side part connecting the top part and the bottom part to each other, where the top part generates a nail image by image-picking up the nail, and senses a movement of the finger, based on the nail image.