Smartphone Breath Sensor Proximity Threshold Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication devices lack the capability to effectively monitor health issues through breath analysis, which could be detected by sensors, limiting their utility in preventive healthcare.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a sensor system in wireless communication devices to detect analytes in a user's breath, including a proximity sensor to adjust detection thresholds, and a cloud server to generate warning messages when health issues are indicated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If breath analysis sensors are integrated into wireless communication devices, then health monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth monitoring capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple sensors (proximity sensor, breath analyte sensor) into a wireless communication device to enable multiple functions including health monitoring, proximity detection, and communication, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines breath analysis sensing capability with existing wireless communication device components, merging the health monitoring function with the communication device structure to reduce overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If proximity sensor is used to adjust detection threshold, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection threshold accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The proximity sensor provides feedback about the distance between the device and user's mouth, which is used by the processor to dynamically adjust the detection threshold of the breath analyte sensor, improving measurement precision through adaptive thresholding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically adjusts detection parameters based on proximity measurements without requiring manual intervention, enabling the device to self-optimize its sensing performance based on real-time conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables real-time monitoring of health parameters, providing users and medical personnel with timely alerts for potential health issues, enhancing preventive healthcare through ubiquitous communication devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first sensor to detect an analyte associated with a user of the wireless communication device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnalyte detection:

Implementation Method 2

a second sensor to measure a proximity of the wireless communication device to the user's mouth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProximity sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3072281B1Sniffing smartphone
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3072281B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072281B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072281B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless communication device having a breath sensor and a proximity sensor to measure the distance from a user to the device. The breath sensor is configured to measure or detect various components in the user's breath that may be indicative of a health issue. The sensitivity of the sensor may be adjusted based upon the proximity of the user. Sensor detections may be communicated in messages to a cloud server, where the cloud server may generate warnings if the messages indicate a health issue.