Biosensors (e.g., bio-signal sensor chips) exist and can be used to enable bio-signal features in various product categories. For example, consumer products are being developed to use such biosensor technology.
Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform the task at a given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term ‘processor’ refers to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores configured to process data, such as computer program instructions.
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.
Bioelectric signals are electrical signals that can be generated by living cells, tissues, or organisms. Bioelectric signals can be measured using bioelectric signal sensors, such as electrodes. For example, electrodes can be mounted on the surface of the body to measure various types of bioelectric signals. Bioelectric signals produced by the brain are referred to as electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Bioelectric signals produced by the heart are referred to as electrocardiography (ECG) signals. Bioelectric signals produced by the muscles are referred to as electromyography (EMG) signals. Bioelectric signals produced by the eyes are referred to as electrooculography (EOG) signals.
Products embedded with biosensors can provide value for users in the form of on-demand ubiquitous personal bio-data for health and wellness, entertainment, and/or other uses. As a quickly developing emerging technology, it is not always possible to incorporate the latest personal biosensors into the design cycle of a mass produced product.
What are needed are new and improved techniques for providing biosensors that can be used with existing devices (e.g., portable computing devices, such as smart phones, tablets, etc.).
Accordingly, various techniques for providing a personal biosensor accessory attachment are disclosed. In some embodiments, a personal biosensor accessory attachment system is disclosed. In some embodiments, such a system allows for the convenient addition of bio-sensing capabilities to products, which otherwise lack these features or allows for products with limited sensing capabilities to be augmented.
In some embodiments, a personal biosensor accessory attachment system includes a biosensor for detecting a bio-signal; and a personal biosensor device that is adapted to securely hold the biosensor, in which the personal biosensor device can be adapted to be mechanically secured to a plurality of computing devices (e.g., a mobile computing device, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer). In some embodiments, the personal biosensor accessory attachment system further includes a fastening device that can be adapted for securely connecting the personal biosensor device to the plurality of computing devices. For example, the fastening device can include one or more additional biosensors for detecting a bio-signal.
In some embodiments, the personal biosensor device further includes a display output for providing an output feedback for bio-signal related information measured using the biosensor. In some embodiments, the personal biosensor device further includes an audio output for providing an output feedback for bio-signal related information measured using the biosensor. In some embodiments, the personal biosensor device further includes a communication mechanism for providing wired or wireless communication based on bio-signal related information measured using the biosensor to the computing device. In some embodiments, the personal biosensor device further includes a communication mechanism for providing wired or wireless communication based on bio-signal related information measured using the biosensor to a cloud-based bio-signal monitoring service.
In some embodiments, the personal biosensor device that is adapted to securely hold a plurality of biosensors includes one or more of each of the following types of biosensors: an electroencephalography (EEG) sensor, an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor, an electrooculography (EOG) sensor, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, and a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor. In some embodiments, the biosensor includes an EEG sensor, in which the EEG sensor includes a stainless steel passive, dry biosensor. In some embodiments, the biosensor measures an EEG signal, in which the EEG signal is processed to determine a user's mental state (e.g., whether a user is in a focused state or in a relaxed state).
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In some embodiments, there is no fastening device, and the biosensor device communicates directly to a mobile or other computing device through a USB cable, wireless RF, or through an Internet-based cloud service. In some embodiments, the sensor device or fastening device interacts directly with the mobile device or each other as a source of power (e.g., extra battery, wireless magnetic induction charging, solar charging, or kinetic charging) or includes memory, which stores bio-signal data and/or miscellaneous user data in the same manner as an all-purpose USB memory stick. For example, transfer of data to the sensor device or fastening device with additional memory capability is not limited to physical interfaces like a USB stick and can include wireless data transmission, such as radio frequency (e.g., Bluetooth), infrared light, or digital audio pulses.
In some embodiments, a fastening device is passive without any electronics or sensor contacts. In some embodiments, a fastening device is active with sensor contacts and/or electronics. For example, the display, audio, communication and power supply/recharging, and/or other functions can be on the biosensor device and/or the fastening device. In some embodiments, the fastening device performs one or more active functions, and an electrical connection between the biosensor device and the fastening device can be through dedicated connectors and/or through the sensor contacts on the biosensor device.
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In some embodiments, the fastening device is designed to facilitate placing the sensor unit on a chest strap, clothing, hat, gloves, shoes, and/or other personal apparel or articles of clothing. In some embodiments, the fastening device is designed to facilitate placing the sensor unit on stationary devices that the user comes into contact with, such as exercise equipment, vehicle steering wheels, furniture, or architectural features such as door handles or floors.
Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the invention is not limited to the details provided. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/731,348 entitled PERSONAL BIOSENSOR ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT filed Nov. 29, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
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