Operation-verifying wearable vapor sensor
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Publication Number
US-10506953-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system to measure sweat vapor may include a skin contact sensor, a sweat vapor sensor, and a processor. The skin contact sensor may be configured to measure one or more aspects indicative of whether the measuring device is in contact with skin of a user of the measuring device. The sweat vapor sensor may be configured to measure one or more properties of sweat vapor of the user; and the processor may be communicatively coupled to the skin contact sensor and the sweat vapor sensor. The processor may be configured to confirm operation of the measuring device based on the one or more aspects measured by the skin contact sensor, and the sweat vapor sensor receiving the sweat vapor.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a measuring device that separately uses a skin contact sensor and a sweat vapor sensor. The skin contact sensor measures one or more aspects indicative of whether the measuring device is in contact with skin of a user, and the sweat vapor sensor is distinct and measures one or more properties of sweat vapor of the user. The device further includes a processor and a storage device configured to store historic readings and corresponding sweat-vapor properties taken at the same time.
The processor selects a subset of historic skin-contact readings based on historic properties indicating that a target property of the sweat vapor was present. The target property corresponds to a condition related to body chemistry of the user, and the selection is used to adjust a threshold specific to the user based on the selected subset. The device confirms operation by requiring that the skin-contact aspects satisfy the adjusted threshold indicating skin contact and that the sweat vapor sensor receives the sweat vapor.
Claims Coverage
The partial content contains two independent claims: a measuring device claim and a method claim. Each independent claim includes the same core inventive combination of distinct skin-contact sensing and sweat-vapor sensing, synchronized historic storage, selective subset selection based on a body-chemistry-related target property, user-specific threshold adjustment, and later operation confirmation requiring both adjusted skin-contact satisfaction and receipt of sweat vapor. The inventive features are enumerated below per independent claim.
Distinct skin contact and sweat vapor sensing
A measuring device includes a skin contact sensor configured to measure one or more aspects indicative of whether the measuring device is in contact with skin of a user, and a sweat vapor sensor distinct from the skin contact sensor configured to measure one or more properties of sweat vapor of the user.
Synchronized historic storage of skin-contact readings and sweat-vapor properties
The measuring device includes storage communicatively coupled to the skin contact sensor and the sweat vapor sensor, the storage configured to store historic readings of the skin contact sensor and historic properties of the sweat vapor corresponding to the historic readings taken at a same time.
Subset selection using body-chemistry-related target property
The processor selects a subset of the historic readings based on historic properties corresponding to the subset indicating that a target property of the one or more properties of the sweat vapor was present when the historic readings were taken, the target property corresponding to a condition related to body chemistry of the user.
User-specific threshold adjustment based on the selected subset
The processor adjusts a threshold to be specific to the user based on the subset of the historic readings of the skin contact sensor.
Operation confirmation requiring adjusted skin contact satisfaction and sweat vapor receipt
The processor confirms operation based on the skin contact sensor satisfying the adjusted threshold indicating that the measuring device is in contact with the skin of the user as measured after adjusting the threshold to the adjusted threshold, and the sweat vapor sensor receiving the sweat vapor.
Separate sensing, synchronized storage, and later confirmation in a method
A method of measuring sweat vapor includes measuring one or more aspects indicative of whether a measuring device is in contact with skin using a skin contact sensor; storing readings of the skin contact sensor; measuring one or more properties of sweat vapor using a sweat vapor sensor distinct from the skin contact sensor; storing properties of sweat vapor corresponding to the readings taken at a same time; selecting a subset based on a target property corresponding to a condition related to body chemistry of the user; adjusting a threshold specific to the user; and confirming operation at a later time after the threshold adjustment based on the skin contact sensor satisfying the adjusted threshold and the sweat vapor sensor receiving the sweat vapor.
Across both independent claims, the inventive approach is to use distinct sensors for skin contact and sweat vapor properties, store synchronized historic pairs, select historic contact evidence only when the sweat-vapor properties indicate a body-chemistry-related target property, adjust a skin-contact threshold specific to the user, and confirm later operation by requiring both adjusted skin-contact satisfaction and sweat vapor receipt.
Stated Advantages
Confirms operation using both skin-contact satisfaction after user-specific threshold adjustment and receipt of sweat vapor.
Supports reducing incorrect operation where skin-contact sensing could fail due to blocked, dirty, or tampered sensors or distance from skin, by validating with sweat-vapor receipt.
Enables user-specific threshold adjustment based on selected historic readings corresponding to a target property under a body-chemistry-related condition.
Documented Applications
Wearable sweat-vapor measuring system in wearable form factors such as wrist, ear, hearing aid, patches, and retrofitted watchbands.
Continuous contact monitoring where ongoing use relies on skin contact verification so that the sweat-vapor sensor measures the user’s sweat vapor.
Sweat-vapor measurement use case involving confirmation of proper operation to prevent false negatives.
Identity verification for the user via an optional biometric authentication sensor in the wearable system.
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