Wearable Intra-Ear Sensing and Stimulation With Adaptive Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable computing devices face challenges in accurately gathering and processing diverse health information due to the miniaturization of components and sensors, particularly in capturing weak bio-electrical signals and addressing signal saturation and motion artifacts.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system with earbud sensors incorporating inertial measurement units, LEDs, microphones, and cameras, utilizing adaptive gain control and three-fold cascaded amplification to enhance signal fidelity, and employing machine learning for closed-loop stimulation based on captured health data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional wearable devices use miniaturized sensors to gather health information, then device portability and wearability are improved, but measurement precision and signal quality deteriorate due to inability to accurately capture weak bio-electrical signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-stage cascaded amplification system where multiple amplification stages are nested within the earbud device. Each stage amplifies the signal progressively, allowing the miniaturized sensor to capture weak bio-electrical signals while maintaining signal quality through cumulative amplification gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adaptive gain control mechanism as an intermediary between the miniaturized sensor and the digital processing unit. This intermediary dynamically adjusts amplification gain based on signal characteristics, enabling accurate capture of weak signals without introducing noise or distortion that would compromise measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If amplification gain is increased to enhance weak signal detection, then measurement precision is improved, but signal saturation occurs causing loss of information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adaptive gain control that dynamically adjusts amplification levels based on real-time signal characteristics. The system transitions from static gain settings to dynamic adjustment, allowing the amplifier to increase gain for weak signals while automatically reducing gain when signals approach saturation levels, thus preventing information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the amplified signal is monitored and used to adjust the amplification gain in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that the system maintains optimal gain levels, preventing signal saturation while maximizing detection sensitivity for weak bio-electrical signals.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor components are integrated into the earbud to capture diverse health information, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases making accurate signal processing more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing function into dedicated processing paths for each sensor type (accelerometer, microphone, camera, etc.). Each sensor's signal is processed independently through specialized algorithms before being integrated, reducing the complexity of handling multiple signal types simultaneously while maintaining high adaptability for diverse health monitoring applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system for intra-ear sensing and stimulating receives, health data, from an earbud sensor. The system repeatedly calculates an exponential moving average (EMA) of a moving window for the received health data. The system compares each calculated exponential moving average with a lower threshold value and an upper threshold value. The upper threshold value and the lower threshold value are determined based, at least in part, upon a saturation level associated within an amplifier performing the adaptive gain control. When the calculated exponential moving average is larger than the upper threshold, the system decreases a gain associated with the amplifier. When the calculated exponential moving average is smaller than the lower threshold, the system increases a gain associated with the amplifier.