Optical Sensor for Wearable Skin-Contact Detection and Physiological Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices face challenges in ensuring reliable optical measurements of physiological parameters due to light reflection from the skin rather than transmission, which can lead to inaccurate readings, and existing proximity sensors consume valuable space and power.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical sensing assembly with a light emitter and detector within the device to determine if it is within a maximum sensing distance of the user, allowing for reliable physiological parameter measurement by analyzing light signals and reducing the need for additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated proximity sensors are used to detect device proximity to user, then sensing state detection reliability is improved, but device space consumption and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensing assembly performs multiple functions: it detects both the sensing state (proximity to user) and physiological parameters (heart rate, blood oxygen saturation) using the same light emitter and light detector components. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated proximity sensors, reducing power consumption and device space while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the proximity detection function and physiological parameter measurement function into a single optical sensing assembly. The light emitter emits light that interacts with the user's skin, and the light detector captures the reflected light to determine both the sensing state and physiological parameters, merging two previously separate sensing systems into one.
2Reliability
If dedicated proximity sensors are used to detect device proximity to user, then sensing state detection reliability is improved, but device space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensing assembly performs multiple functions: it detects both the sensing state (proximity to user) and physiological parameters (heart rate, blood oxygen saturation) using the same light emitter and light detector components. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated proximity sensors, reducing power consumption and device space while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the proximity detection function and physiological parameter measurement function into a single optical sensing assembly. The light emitter emits light that interacts with the user's skin, and the light detector captures the reflected light to determine both the sensing state and physiological parameters, merging two previously separate sensing systems into one.
3Productivity
If optical measurements are performed automatically without supervision, then measurement efficiency is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to light reflection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the sensing state by analyzing the optical signal characteristics before proceeding with physiological parameter measurement. By first determining whether the device is in proper contact with the user through sensing state detection, the system ensures that subsequent measurements are performed only under optimal conditions, thereby maintaining high accuracy while enabling automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the optical signal analysis to determine the sensing state and automatically adjusts or validates the measurement process accordingly. The processing unit analyzes the characteristics of the light reflected from the skin to verify proper sensor-skin contact before proceeding with physiological parameter extraction, ensuring measurement accuracy while maintaining automated operation.
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 enables reliable physiological measurements by determining the device's sensing state and reducing power consumption and device size by eliminating the need for dedicated proximity sensors, thereby improving performance and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light detector adapted to detect light that has interacted with the user and output a sensing signal corresponding to the detected light
Implementation Method 2
Optical measurement of biological signals is prone to errors from light reflecting from users' skin instead of traveling through the skin
Implementation Method 3
determine, based at least partially on the sensing signal, a physiological parameter of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable electronic device (e.g., an electronic watch) may detect and analyze one or more sensing signals corresponding to light detected by the device to determine whether the device is in a sensing state (e.g., the device is within a maximum sensing distance of a user). If the wearable electronic device is in the sensing state, the device may determine one or more physiological parameters from the same signals used to determine whether the device is in the sensing state.