Discrete Optical Pathways Through Sensor Covers for Accurate Wearable Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices with optical sensors face issues of erroneous data due to light emitted by the sensor directly returning without entering the user's skin, leading to inaccurate readings.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with a light blocking structure and sensor cover that includes a light emitter, light receiver, and a light blocking structure extending transversely between them, featuring perpendicular and parallel light blocking portions to prevent direct light entry into the receiver, formed through microdefects or material alterations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a light emitter and light receiver are positioned close together in a wearable device, then the device structure is compact, but light emitted by the emitter may directly return to the receiver without entering the user's skin, causing erroneous data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light blocking structure that segments the optical path between the light emitter and light receiver. This structure divides the space into a direct path (blocked) and a reflected path (allowed), preventing direct light from reaching the receiver while permitting light that has interacted with the user's skin to be detected, thereby resolving the contradiction between compactness and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The light blocking structure acts as an intermediary element between the light emitter and light receiver. It selectively blocks direct light paths while allowing reflected light paths to pass through, serving as a mediator that enables accurate optical measurements in a compact configuration by controlling which light rays reach the receiver.
2Measurement precision
If a light blocking structure is added to prevent direct light from reaching the receiver, then data accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking structure is implemented as a thin film or coating applied to the sensor cover, rather than a bulky three-dimensional structure. This approach blocks direct light paths effectively while adding minimal volume and complexity to the device, allowing accurate optical measurements without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential light blocking function from a potential complex baffle structure and implements it through a simple thin film or coating on the sensor cover. This extraction of the core function eliminates the need for complex mechanical light blocking structures, achieving data accuracy improvement with minimal increase in device complexity.
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 solution minimizes erroneous data by preventing direct light reflection and ensuring accurate light emission and reception, enhancing data accuracy in wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a light blocking structure and a sensor cover with light allowing and light blocking portions configured to selectively permit an emission and reception of light
Implementation Method 2
PPG is a non-invasive means of using light to detect signals such as heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, or blood pressure. More specifically, PPG achieves this by detecting changes in blood volume over a period of time. This detection is achieved through the use of an optical sensor which emits light into a user's skin to a blood vessel, where such light is then partially reflected back out of the user's skin into the optical sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a wearable device configured to selectively permit an emission and a reception of light. The wearable device includes a hub board, a sensor, a light blocking structure, and a sensor cover. The hub board includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. Further, the hub board extends longitudinally in an x-direction. The sensor is connected to the exterior surface of the hub board and includes a light emitter extending from the exterior surface of the hub board and a light receiver extending from the exterior surface of the hub board. The light blocking structure is located between the light emitter and the light receiver. Further, the light blocking structure extends transversely from the exterior surface of the hub board in a y-direction. The sensor cover is positioned over the sensor and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. Further, the sensor cover includes a light allowing portion and a light blocking portion.