Wearable device including self-mixing interferometry sensor
Inventors
Chen, Tong • Vail, Edward • Cihan, Ahmet Fatih • HUANG, Mengshu
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12761356-B2
Publication Date
2026-10-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wearable device includes a band and a set of one or more SMI sensors. The band has a band interior opposite a band exterior, and is operable to attach the wearable device to a user. The band defines a cavity, and a portion of the band interior separates the cavity from the user. The set of one or more SMI sensors are disposed in the cavity. The set of one or more SMI sensors are configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the portion of the band interior and generate a set of one or more SMI signals including information indicative of movement of the portion of the band interior.
Core Innovation
The wearable device has a band defining a cavity and one or more self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors that emit electromagnetic radiation toward a portion of the band interior. The sensors generate SMI signals indicative of movement of that portion, and processing circuitry determines motion of one or more tendons or ligaments and determines a gesture based on that motion.
The disclosed methods and devices also use SMI sensors distributed in a band to generate signals about anatomical features, biometric data, and movement. Processing circuitry identifies relevant subsets of signals or uses signals from sensor sets directed toward different anatomical features. The background section describing the problem being solved is not included in the provided patent content.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage includes three inventive features based on independent claims 1, 7, and 12, directed to gesture determination, biometric data and movement determination, and differential anatomical sensing.
Tendon or ligament motion and gesture determination
Claim 1 covers a wearable band with one or more SMI sensors in a cavity that generate signals indicative of movement of a portion of the band interior. Processing circuitry determines motion of one or more tendons or ligaments of the user based at least in part on those signals, and determines a gesture based on the motion.
Selection of SMI signals for biometric data and movement
Claim 7 covers generating SMI signals from respective sensors in a wearable band, identifying a first subset relevant to determining biometric data and a second subset relevant to determining movement of a portion of the user, and determining the biometric data and movement based at least in part on the respective subsets.
SMI sensor sets directed toward different anatomical features
Claim 12 covers first and second sets of SMI sensors disposed in a wearable band and directed toward respective first and second anatomical features. Processing circuitry uses one or more signals from each set to determine information about the user.
The three independent claims cover SMI-based wearable sensing for tendon or ligament motion and gesture determination, signal selection for biometric and movement determinations, and combined sensing of different anatomical features.
Stated Advantages
The distributed, compact sensors extend the observable body area and may improve biometric coverage and accuracy.
Documented Applications
Determining a gesture, including a hand gesture, from tendon or ligament movement sensed by a wearable band.
Determining biometric data about a user from selected SMI signals; the claims identify blood flow, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate as examples.
Determining information about a user using SMI signals from sensor sets directed toward different anatomical features, including a radial artery and an ulnar artery.
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