Flexible Shielding Cover for Optical Sensor

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical sensing devices for physiological parameters, particularly for arteriovenous fistula sensing, face challenges due to external light interference, limited flexibility of shielding covers, and uneven skin morphology, leading to inaccurate sensing and difficulty in maintaining consistent measurements over time.

Innovation Solution

An optical sensing device equipped with a flexible shielding cover and an image-capturing device that conforms to the surface morphology of the object, allowing for precise light shielding and enhanced data correlation by capturing images of the sensing area, thereby improving the accuracy and consistency of measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a circular soft pad is used to shield ambient light, then light shielding effect is improved, but the pad cannot completely fit uneven skin surfaces leading to shielding failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient light interferenceVSAvoidfit to skin surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible shielding cover made of elastic material that can deform to conform to uneven skin surfaces. This flexible shell adapts its shape to match the contours of the skin and arteriovenous fistula, ensuring complete contact and effective light shielding without the limitations of rigid or flat circular pads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding cover is designed with dynamic flexibility, allowing it to change its shape and configuration in response to the uneven surface morphology of the skin. The elastic material enables the cover to dynamically adapt its form factor to maintain optimal shielding contact throughout the sensing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the optical sensor is placed close to the arteriovenous fistula, then sensing accuracy is improved, but the device cannot maintain consistent positioning over time due to deformation and curvature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing accuracyVSAvoidpositioning consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible shielding cover acts as a adaptive interface that maintains continuous contact with the deformable skin surface and arteriovenous fistula. As the underlying tissue deforms and changes curvature over time, the flexible cover dynamically adjusts its shape to preserve the optimal positioning of the optical sensor relative to the fistula, ensuring consistent sensing accuracy throughout the measurement period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid shielding structure is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the structure cannot adapt to uneven skin morphology leading to sensing failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshielding structure precisionVSAvoidconform to skin surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid shielding structures with a flexible elastic cover that prioritizes adaptability to uneven skin surfaces. While manufacturing precision is maintained through controlled material properties and structural design, the flexible nature of the cover enables it to conform to the complex topology of skin and arteriovenous fistula, ensuring reliable sensing across diverse anatomical conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 flexible shielding cover effectively blocks external light, ensuring accurate optical sensing, while the image-capturing device enhances data correlation, leading to more reliable and consistent measurements of physiological parameters over time.

Implementation Method 1

There are currently applications for sensing physiological parameters using optical sensing, for example sensing pulse, blood flow, and the like by a photoplethysmography (PPG) technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoplethysmography: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the flexible shielding cover can provide the optical sensor sufficient light shielding effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight shielding: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

the image-capturing device can be used to capture an image containing at least a portion of the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage capturing: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11723546B2Optical sensing device

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

An optical sensing device includes a device casing and an optical sensor on the device casing. In an embodiment, the optical sensing device further includes an image-capturing device on the device casing. The sensing direction of the optical sensor and the capturing direction of the image-capturing device point in the same direction. The image-capturing device can capture an image of an object to be sensed by the optical sensor. In another embodiment, the optical sensing device further includes a flexible shielding cover on the device casing and enclosing the optical sensor for shielding the optical sensor from external light.