Biometric analysis using multipurpose electrodes
Inventors
Stern, Kenneth • Wang, Tanya • Cipoletta, David • Ang, Dexter
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12572214-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
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.
Core Innovation
The invention is a wearable device configured to be worn on a wrist of a user, where a hub includes a wrist-facing surface with a plurality of electrodes. A gesture control processing circuit receives and processes biopotential signals from a plurality of channels defined by the plurality of electrodes, converts the received biopotential signals to biopotential data, and uses the biopotential data for gesture control. In addition, an ECG processing circuit generates ECG data for analyzing a user's heart rhythms using biopotential signals.
The core coordination mechanism is that the plurality of electrodes comprises at least one common electrode configured to provide signals to both the gesture control processing circuit and the ECG processing circuit. The system operates by entering a gesture control state at a first time, obtaining first biopotential signals using at least the common electrode, transmitting the first biopotential signals to the gesture control processing circuit, and converting them to first biopotential data for use in gesture control. The system then transitions from the gesture control state to an ECG state at a second time.
In the ECG state, the system obtains second biopotential signals using at least the common electrode, transmits the second biopotential signals to the ECG processing circuit, and converts the second biopotential signals to ECG data for use in analyzing the user's heart rhythms. In the gesture control state, the common electrode is paired with a second electrode to obtain the first biopotential signals for transmission to the gesture control processing circuit, and in the ECG state the common electrode is paired with a third electrode to obtain the second biopotential signals for transmission to the ECG processing circuit.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims: an apparatus/system claim directed to a wrist-worn biometric analysis system and a method claim directed to biometric analysis performed using that system. Each independent claim contains a coordinated multi-state operation in which a shared common electrode provides biopotential signals that are converted either into gesture control data or into ECG data.
Wrist-worn biometric analysis using shared common electrode across gesture and ECG states
A system configured to receive and process biopotential signals from a plurality of electrodes on a wrist-facing surface, with at least one common electrode providing signals to both a gesture control processing circuit and an ECG processing circuit, and to operate by entering a gesture control state and later transitioning to an ECG state while converting biopotential signals to gesture control biopotential data and ECG data, respectively.
State-based biopotential conversion for gesture control and heart-rhythm analysis
A method performed using a wearable device that at a first time causes entry into a gesture control state to obtain biopotential signals using a common electrode and convert them to biopotential data for gesture control, and at a second time transitions to an ECG state to obtain biopotential signals using at least the common electrode and convert them to ECG data for analyzing a user's heart rhythms.
Across the independent claims, the shared common electrode is the main enabling structure for multi-state operation, with state-dependent electrode pairing (second electrode in the gesture control state and third electrode in the ECG state) and conversion of biopotential signals into either gesture control biopotential data or ECG data for heart-rhythm analysis.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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