Skin Proximity and Tilt Effect Sensor for Optical Artifact Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable electronic devices face limitations in accuracy due to changes in distance and rotational angles relative to the user's body, leading to erroneous determination of physical activity and optical artifacts.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating electrodes and optical sensors on the underside of the device to calculate distances and rotational angles, which are used to compensate for optical artifacts and improve the accuracy of physical activity determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional wearable devices are used to monitor physical activity, then basic functionality is provided, but accuracy is limited by changes in distance and rotational angles relative to the user's body
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of distance and rotational angles using electrodes and optical sensors before the main physical activity measurement. These preliminary measurements allow the system to pre-calculate compensation factors that are then applied to correct the main measurements, thereby improving accuracy under varying conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors distance and rotational angle changes through electrodes and optical sensors, and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust and compensate the physical activity measurements. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate measurements even when the device moves relative to the user's body
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical sensors are used to determine user characteristics, then functionality is enhanced, but optical artifacts are introduced leading to erroneous determination
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces electrodes as an intermediary measurement mechanism that operates independently of optical paths. These electrodes provide a reference measurement that is not affected by optical artifacts, allowing the system to identify and compensate for errors in the optical sensor readings
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter from purely optical to a combination of electrical (electrode-based) and optical measurements. By measuring both distance through electrodes and light reflection through optical sensors, the system can detect and compensate for optical artifacts, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enhancing functionality
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are added to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electrodes serve multiple functions: they are used both for determining skin proximity through capacitance measurements and for calculating rotational angles through impedance measurements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensor systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved measurement precision
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
Enhances the accuracy of physical activity monitoring by reducing optical artifacts and providing precise distance and rotational angle calculations, leading to more reliable user characteristic determination.
Implementation Method 1
sensing circuitry coupled to the one or more electrodes and configured to generate sense signals indicative of one or more distances between the one or more electrodes and a proximate object
Implementation Method 2
one or more light emitters and sensors for determining or at least estimating or predicting one or more characteristics of the user
Implementation Method 3
one or more light emitters and sensors for determining or at least estimating or predicting one or more characteristics of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A portable electronic device include one or more electrodes for calculating distances and rotational angles between the device and the user is disclosed. Based on the calculated distances and rotational angles, a physical activity of the user can be determined. Additionally, the calculated distances and rotational angles can be used for compensation of optical artifacts in one or more signals detected by the device. User movement or physical activity can introduce optical artifacts, which can lead to erroneous determination of the one or more characteristics. The calculated distances and rotational angles can be used to reduce or remove the optical artifacts, leading to a more accurate determination of the one or more characteristics of the user.