Optical Sensor for Wearable Communication and Health Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable computing devices face issues with external electrical connection interfaces, such as ports, which are prone to water ingress, skin allergies, and occupy valuable space, limiting the form factor and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The integration of electro-optical sensors and optical emitters in wearable computing devices enables optical transmission for communication, eliminating the need for separate ports and allowing for both physical parameter assessment and data exchange with remote devices, using the same components for sensing and communication modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external electrical connection interfaces (ports) are used for communication and charging, then device functionality is provided, but water ingress, skin allergies, and space occupation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external electrical connection interface (port) from the wearable device structure. Instead of using a physical port for both charging and communication, the invention extracts this function and replaces it with wireless charging and optical communication through the optical sensor, thereby eliminating the source of water ingress and skin allergy problems
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a pulse oximeter for health monitoring and simultaneously as a communication interface for data transfer. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated communication ports, reducing the number of external interfaces and improving reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If external electrical connection interfaces (ports) are used for communication, then data exchange is enabled, but valuable device space is occupied and form factor is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor performs dual functions as both a health monitoring device (pulse oximeter) and a communication interface. By making the optical sensor universal for both sensing and data transmission, the patent eliminates the need for separate communication ports, thereby preserving valuable device space and enabling smaller form factors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication function with the existing optical sensor hardware. Instead of adding a separate communication port that would occupy additional space, the invention combines data transmission capabilities with the optical sensor that already exists for health monitoring, thus enabling communication without sacrificing device space
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 enhances communication speed, reduces complexity, and provides a more robust and sealed design, avoiding the limitations of traditional ports while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-optical sensor to translate received light into an electrical signal
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A wearable computing device includes an electro-optical sensor to translate received light into an electrical signal. During a first mode of operation of the wearable computing device, a physical parameter of a wearer of the wearable computing device is assessed from the electrical signal. During a second mode of operation of the wearable computing device, encoded communication data is extracted from the electrical signal.