Wearable Electrode Tamper Detection via Impedance Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro stimulation devices lack effective mechanisms to prevent misuse and tampering, particularly in non-medical applications like home healthcare and competitive gaming, where improper use can lead to harm or cheating.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device with embedded electrodes and a control unit that detects changes in the physical relationship between the electrodes and a connection point, using means such as relative position, resistance, capacitance, and impedance to prevent unintended or tampered use, and incorporates features like Physically Unclonable Functions and additional sensing wires to ensure proper fitting and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electro stimulation devices are made accessible for non-medical use (home healthcare, gaming), then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but risk of misuse and tampering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary verification of electrode placement and device integrity before allowing electro stimulation to occur. The control unit checks physical relationships (distances, positions) between electrodes and body parts, and verifies integrity of connection points, preventing stimulation until proper placement is confirmed. This preliminary action ensures safe operation while maintaining accessibility for non-medical use.
2Reliability
If device monitoring and verification mechanisms are added to detect tampering, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with electrical field-based detection. The control unit measures electrical parameters (impedance, conductance) between electrodes and connection points to infer physical relationships and detect tampering. This substitution of mechanical verification with electrical measurement simplifies the overall system while maintaining high reliability for detecting misuse.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrode placement is strictly controlled to prevent harmful stimulation, then safety is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-verification where the device automatically checks its own configuration and electrode placement through electrical measurements. The control unit continuously monitors physical relationships between electrodes and body parts, and self-corrects or alerts the user when improper placement is detected. This self-service approach maintains safety while minimizing the burden on the user, as the device performs the verification automatically without requiring manual checking.
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
Prevents harm by ensuring electrodes are not placed on dangerous areas and detects tampering or misuse, maintaining consistent challenge levels in competitive gaming and ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
means for detecting if a change in a physical relationship between the connection point and the at least one electrode exceeds a predetermined threshold value
Implementation Method 2
using means such as relative position, resistance, capacitance, and impedance to prevent unintended or tampered use
Implementation Method 3
using means such as relative position, resistance, capacitance, and impedance to prevent unintended or tampered use
Implementation Method 4
at least one electrode embedded in the wearable device for transferring a stimulating current to the user's body
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A wearable device (100) for electric stimulation of a user's body, wherein the wearable device (100) is adapted to fit a portion of the user's body, the wearable device (100) comprising at least one electrode (104a-d) embedded in the wearable device (100) for transferring a stimulating current to the user's body; a connection point (106) being an intermediate connection between the at least one electrode (104a-d) and a control unit (110), the control unit (110) being adapted to generate the stimulating current; and means for detecting if a change in a physical relationship between the connection point (106) and the at least one electrode (104a-d) exceeds a predetermined threshold value, thereby enabling detection of misuse and tampering with the device (100). This ensures no harm is done to the user, for example, by placing the electrodes in such a way that a risk of stimulating the heart exists which may lead to a heart failure. Furthermore, tampering with the device can be detected, thereby enabling an anti- cheat functionality when the device is intended for use in a competitive computer game.