Wearable Sensor Power Mode Switching for Health Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable health devices face challenges in power management, often running out of battery at critical moments due to inefficient power usage, especially when monitoring vital signs and interacting with other health devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that allows wearable devices to operate sensors in multiple power modes, activating them only when necessary and adapting based on the type of health device in use, with sensors switching to a lower power mode after a predetermined effective treatment duration or usage threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are continuously operated in high power mode to ensure availability of physiological information, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but use of energy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor operates dynamically in different power modes based on real-time conditions. The system transitions between first power mode (high power, high accuracy) when health device usage is detected and second power mode (low power, reduced accuracy) when no health device is in use, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between multiple power modes. The sensor's power consumption and measurement accuracy parameters are adjusted based on the detected health device type and usage state, allowing the system to adapt its performance characteristics to match current needs
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are operated simultaneously to monitor various vital signs, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly operating all sensors at full capacity, the system applies local quality by selectively activating only the sensors relevant to the detected health condition. Different sensors are operated in different power modes based on their relevance to the current health device usage, optimizing energy distribution across the sensor array
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial action by activating only the necessary subset of sensors required for the current health monitoring task rather than all sensors simultaneously. This selective activation reduces overall power consumption while maintaining measurement precision for the relevant vital signs
3Measurement precision
If sampling rate of sensors is increased to capture critical physiological data, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor sampling operates periodically with variable rates. During health device usage events, the system increases sampling rate to capture critical physiological changes. Between events, the sampling rate is reduced, creating a periodic pattern that balances data capture needs with energy conservation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for power management of a wearable device or an implantable device comprising a sensor, the sensor configured for providing a physiological information of a user, the sensor being further configured to be operated in at least two power modes comprising a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein in the first power mode the physiological information of the user is gathered and in the second power mode the sensor consumes less power than in the first power mode, the method comprising: receiving a signal being indicative of whether a health device which is configured to treat a health condition of the user is in use, wherein the health device is positioned at a different location with respect to the user than the wearable device or the implantable device; and based on the signal operating the sensor for a time duration in the first power mode; and operating the sensor in the second power mode thereafter.