Multipurpose Wearable Electrodes for Gesture and ECG Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biopotential sensing wearable devices face challenges in arranging and placing electrodes to gather biopotential signals and other relevant data due to limited surface area and volume, and signal processing components are also constrained.

Innovation Solution

The wearable device includes a biopotential chip with electrodes on the interior and a hub, an accelerometer, gyroscope, and processor to process biopotential, acceleration, and angular rate data, which are analyzed by a machine learning classifier to generate gesture outputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electrodes are arranged to gather biopotential signals and other relevant data, then gesture detection capability is improved, but device surface area and volume requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple electrodes and signal processing components onto a single biopotential chip, merging functions that would traditionally require separate components into an integrated solution that reduces overall device surface area while maintaining gesture detection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The biopotential chip is designed to perform multiple functions including gathering biopotential signals, processing acceleration data, and detecting gestures, allowing a single component to replace multiple specialized components and reduce the required device surface area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple signal processing components are included onboard the biopotential chip, then gesture recognition accuracy is improved, but device volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture recognition accuracyVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests multiple signal processing components including accelerometer, gyroscope, and processing circuits within the biopotential chip structure, placing components inside or around each other to maximize space utilization and reduce overall device volume while maintaining gesture recognition accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes three-dimensional integration and vertical stacking of components on the biopotential chip, transitioning from two-dimensional layout to three-dimensional arrangement to reduce the device's footprint and volume while accommodating multiple signal processing components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 gesture detection capabilities by improving signal quality and range through dynamic reconfiguration of signal pathways and electrode arrangements, allowing for more accurate gesture recognition.

Implementation Method 1

an accelerometer, the accelerometer being disposed onboard the biopotential microchip and configured to output acceleration data indicating an acceleration of the portion of the user's arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a gyroscope, the gyroscope being disposed onboard the biopotential microchip and configured to output angular rate data indicating an angular rate of the portion of the user's arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of electrodes disposed on an interior of the wearable device and configured to obtain biopotential signals from the user's arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 4

at least one of the one or more analog inputs being coupled to a respective differential amplifier configured to amplify differences in signals between pairs of electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical amplification:

Data Source

PatentUS12572214B2Biometric analysis using multipurpose electrodes

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 PISON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for biometric analysis are described. In some embodiments, a system may include a wearable device comprising a plurality of electrodes, a gesture control processing circuit, and an ECG processing circuit. A common electrode may be configured to provide signals to both the gesture control processing circuit and the ECG processing circuit. While the system is in a gesture control state, the system may be configured to obtain first biopotential signals using at least the common electrode and convert the first biopotential signals to first biopotential data for use in gesture control. While the system is in the ECG state, the system may be configured to obtain second biopotential signals using at least the common electrode and convert the second biopotential signals to ECG data for use in analyzing a user's heart rhythms.