Wearable Biometric Electrodes With High-Impedance Contact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable electronic devices face challenges in detecting contact with a living body while measuring biometric signals, as applying current between electrodes can interfere with signal detection and require high-frequency sampling or additional circuitry, affecting battery life and signal quality.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic device uses electrodes with a high input impedance bias unit to apply voltage, allowing for contact detection without current flow, thereby eliminating noise and enabling simultaneous biometric signal measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current is applied between electrodes to detect living body contact, then contact detection is enabled, but noise interference increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a high input impedance amplifier as an intermediary component between the electrodes and the detection circuit. This amplifier acts as a buffer that prevents current flow through the biometric signal electrodes while still enabling contact detection through voltage measurement, thus eliminating the noise interference that would otherwise be generated by current application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional current-based detection method with a voltage-based measurement approach. Instead of applying current and measuring the resulting effects, the system applies voltage and measures the potential difference, substituting the mechanical/electrical current flow with a field-based voltage measurement that does not generate noise.
2Reliability
If current is applied between electrodes to detect living body contact, then contact detection is enabled, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The high input impedance amplifier serves as a mediator that enables contact detection without requiring current flow through the biometric electrodes. By measuring voltage potential difference through this intermediary component, the system avoids the continuous current consumption that would otherwise drain the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from current measurement to voltage measurement. By measuring voltage potential difference instead of current flow, the system achieves contact detection with minimal energy consumption, as voltage measurement does not require sustained current application.
3Reliability
If alternating current is applied to electrodes for contact detection, then contact detection is enabled, but additional circuitry is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the alternating current-based detection method with a direct voltage measurement approach. This replacement eliminates the need for demodulators and other additional analog circuits that would be required for AC signal processing, simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The high input impedance amplifier acts as an intermediary that enables direct voltage measurement without requiring complex signal conditioning circuits. This intermediary component simplifies the detection circuitry by providing a straightforward voltage measurement interface.
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 method prolongs battery life, reduces noise interference, and allows for accurate biometric signal measurement by detecting contact without applying current between electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
a bias unit configured to apply a voltage to at least one electrode contacting the living body among the at least two electrodes and output information indicating an operation state for biometric signal measurement of the wearable electronic device based on a voltage output from the at least one electrode
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a wearable electronic device may include at least two electrodes for measuring a biometric signal, a living body contact detecting unit configured to apply a voltage to at least one electrode contacting a living body among the at least two electrodes and output information indicating an operation state for biometric signal measurement of the wearable electronic device based on a voltage output from the at least one electrode, and a processor configured to determine the operation state for biometric signal measurement of the wearable electronic device, based on the information received from the living body contact detecting unit. Various other embodiments may be provided.