Wearing detection techniques for wearable devices
Inventors
Mäkinen, Jukka-Tapani • Kangas, Mika Petteri • Vallius, Tero Juhani
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12539082-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices for wearing detection are described. A method may include directing light from a first light emitting element to a first light detecting element via an optical interface, at least one of the first light emitting element or the first light detecting element dedicated to detecting a level of surface contact at the optical interface. The method may include measuring, via the first light detecting element, an amount of escaped light which escaped the optical interface, where the amount of escaped light is indicative of the level of surface contact. The method may further include controlling an activation of a second light emitting element and a second light detecting element based on the level of surface contact, at least one of the second light emitting element or the second light detecting element dedicated to measuring a physiological phenomenon at a user of the wearable device.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to detecting contact with a wearable device by using a light-guide apparatus with an optical interface. Light is directed from a first light emitting element to a first light detecting element via the optical interface, and at least one of the first light emitting element or the first light detecting element is dedicated to detecting a level of surface contact at the optical interface. The first light emitting element includes a first diode and the first light detecting element includes a first detector.
The contact level is determined by measuring, via the first light detecting element, an amount of escaped light that escaped the optical interface. The amount of escaped light is indicative of the level of surface contact at the optical interface. Based at least in part on the level of surface contact satisfying at least a threshold value, one or more measurement parameters are updated to activate a second light emitting element and a second light detecting element.
The second light emitting element includes a second diode and the second light detecting element includes a second detector, with at least one of the second light emitting element or the second light detecting element dedicated to measuring a physiological phenomenon at a user of the wearable device. The physiological phenomenon is described as at least one of measuring a heart rate, measuring an oxygen saturation level, or both.
The disclosed system also includes user-facing and positional concepts tied to the contact sensing, including updating measurements for activation and deactivation of sensors, using a graphical user interface to indicate a contact level, and determining contact position relative to the wearable based on locations of one or more light emitting and light detecting elements.
Claims Coverage
The partial document includes two independent claims: a method for detecting contact with a wearable device and an apparatus for detecting contact with a wearable device. Across these independent claims, there are three core inventive features: dedicated contact sensing using escaped light through an optical interface, threshold-based updating of measurement parameters to activate second optical elements, and dedication of second optical elements to measuring a physiological phenomenon at a user.
Escaped-light-based contact level detection via optical interface
Direct light from a first light emitting element to a first light detecting element via an optical interface, wherein at least one of the first light emitting element or the first light detecting element is dedicated to detecting a level of surface contact at the optical interface; measure an amount of escaped light which escaped the optical interface, wherein the amount of escaped light is indicative of the level of surface contact at the optical interface.
Threshold-triggered activation by updating measurement parameters
Update one or more measurement parameters for activating a second light emitting element and a second light detecting element based at least in part on the level of surface contact in accordance with the level of surface contact at the optical interface satisfying at least a threshold value.
Dedicated second optical elements for physiological phenomenon measurement
Activate second light emitting element and second light detecting element, wherein the second light emitting element comprises a second diode and the second light detecting element comprises a second detector, and wherein at least one of the second light emitting element or the second light detecting element is dedicated to measuring a physiological phenomenon at a user of the wearable device.
The independent claims cover both method and apparatus forms that combine escaped-light detection of a surface-contact level through an optical interface with threshold-based updating to activate a second diode/detector pair dedicated to physiological phenomenon measurement at a user.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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