Patent Application
20220205837
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Gathering information about exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light has become increasingly important. For example, individuals may desire information regarding exposure to UV in order to take steps to mitigate the effects of such exposure, including but not limited to avoiding further exposure and using products such as sunscreen that can reduce the harmful effects of exposure. Additionally, with increasing instances of skin cancer and other skin-related afflictions, awareness about skin protection has been increasing. Skin protection can limit or prevent harm to skin from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) electromagnetic radiation. Additionally, it may be beneficial to check a user's exposure to other helpful or harmful wavelengths of light.
As technology progresses, users may want to know their personal exposure to light without checking their cellphone or other smart device. Therefore, systems and methods are needed for improved reporting of personal light exposure readings that also have low power consumption.
In one embodiment, a light detection device includes: a light sensor configured to sense light at a predetermined wavelength; an electrochromic display configured to indicate an intensity of exposure received by the light sensor at the predetermined wavelength; and a capacitor configured for charging by the predetermined wavelength. The capacitor is configured to at least in part power the light detection device. The light detection device also includes an antenna configured for communicative coupling with a smart device.
In one aspect, the predetermined wavelength is an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength.
In one aspect, the electrochromic display is visible to a user. In another aspect, the electrochromic display is powered by the capacitor alone.
In one aspect, the smart device is configured to reset the electrochromic display by communicatively coupling with the antenna of the light detection device.
In one aspect, the electrochromic display comprises at least two electrochromic panels. In another aspect, the electrochromic panels are bi-stable. In yet another aspect, the electrochromic display graphically represents the intensity of the predetermined light exposure in a segmented ring. In one aspect, the individual electrochromic panels comprise electrochromic pixels. In yet another aspect, the electrochromic pixels are activated as the intensity of UV exposure increases.
In one aspect, the smart device is a smart phone. In another aspect, the smart device also includes a rechargeable battery.
In one embodiment, a method of alerting a user about a predetermined wavelength exposure includes: attaching a light detection device to the user; measuring the predetermined wavelength exposure of the user with a light sensor of the light detection device; switching electrochromic pixels from one state to another in response to the predetermined wavelength exposure; and displaying electrochromic ink on an electrochromic display as corresponding to an intensity of user's predetermined wavelength exposure. The electrochromic display is visible to the user. The method also includes resetting the electrochromic display after reaching a maximum predetermined wavelength exposure level.
In one aspect, the predetermined wavelength is an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength.
In one aspect, the method also includes charging a capacitor by the predetermined wavelength exposure.
In one aspect, the method also includes powering the light detection device off the capacitor.
In one aspect, the method also includes: pairing the light detection device to a smart device; and resetting the electrochromic display by communicatively coupling a near field communication (NFC) antenna of the light detection device to the smart device.
In one aspect, the smart device is a smart phone.
In one aspect, the method also includes resetting the electrochromic display after a set time. In another aspect, the method also includes resetting the electrochromic display after 24 hours. In one aspect, the method also includes resetting the electrochromic display after application of a sunscreen.
In one aspect, the method also includes recording a duration of time of user's over-exposure by the smart device. In one aspect, the method also includes setting a threshold of the predetermined wavelength exposure by the user. In yet another aspect, the threshold of predetermined wavelength exposure is determined based on a location where the detection device is attached to the user.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventive technology will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive technology.
In some embodiments, the inventive technology includes an exposure detector device having at least one light sensor capable of sensing a predetermined wavelength. In some embodiments, the light sensor is an ultraviolet (UV) sensor. In other embodiment, the light sensor is a blue light sensor or a light sensor that senses other wavelengths. Therefore, when describing different embodiment in this specification terms “UV sensor” and “light sensor” are used interchangeably.
In some embodiments, the UV sensor also powers the device by charging a capacitor. In some embodiments, the UV exposure detector device transmits data from the UV sensor to a smart device via an NFC antenna. In some embodiments, the UV exposure detector device includes an electrochromic display made up of panels. In some embodiments, these panels are made up of pixels of electrochromic ink. In some embodiments, the electrochromic ink is bi-stable, and can change from one state to another based on intensity of UV light. In some embodiments, the electrochromic display shows a visual of user's UV exposure levels by changing the state of the electrochromic ink as the intensity of UV light increases.
In some embodiments, the NFC antenna is communicatively coupled to a smart device. In some embodiments, tapping the NFC antenna to the smart device reports the user's UV exposure and/or resets the electrochromic display. In some embodiments, the electrochromic display resets after a predetermined amount of time has passed. In some embodiments, the electrochromic display resets after a user applies a countervailing substance, such as a sunscreen.
In some embodiments, the detector device is wearable. In some embodiments, the detector device is carried by a user.
In operation, the light sensor 130 senses light in a predetermined wavelength. For simplicity, the illustrated embodiment includes one light sensor 130, but in other embodiments, the detector device 1000 can have any other number of sensors 130. In some embodiments, the light sensor 130 is a UV sensor or a blue light sensor. The light sensor 130 may be operable at different power consumption levels. The light sensor 130 may be configurable to be deactivated or otherwise placed in a minimal power consumption state when not collecting samples.
In some embodiments, the capacitor 140 is a capacitor charging bank. In operation, when the UV sensor 130 is exposed to UV light, the UV sensor 130 charges the capacitor 140. In some embodiments, UV light sufficiently charges the capacitor 140 such that the capacitor powers entirely on its own the UV exposure detector device 1000. In other embodiments, the UV exposure detector device 1000 (or another light wavelength exposure device) may be battery powered or be powered by a combination of battery 145 and capacitor 140. In some embodiments, the battery 145 may be a rechargeable battery.
In some embodiments, the electrochromic display 200 shows the user's increasing UV exposure visually with electrochromic ink 110. The electrochromic display 200 includes one or more panels 105. In some embodiments, the panels 105 are made up of one or more pixels 100 (illustrated in
In operation, as the UV sensor 130 senses UV exposure (or exposure to other predetermined wavelengths of light), the electrochromic display 200 shows this exposure visually. As the UV exposure increases, additional panels 105 may be activated to display electrochromic ink 110 (as described in further detail in
In some embodiments, the antenna 150 is a near field communication (NFC) antenna. In operation, the antenna 150 is communicatively coupled with a smart device (not pictured in
In operation, an electrical impulse (such as voltage, illustrated in
As UV light intensity increases, bits within the pixel 100 are flipped, which switches the electrochromic ink 110 from one state to another. For simplicity, a single pixel has been illustrated as switched into a visible electrochromic ink 110 state, but in other embodiments, more than one pixel may be switched at a time. Each pixel 100 or combination of pixels may be programmed to switch into the activated electrochromic ink 110 state at different voltage levels, allowing for some pixels to switch into the visible electrochromic ink 110 state before others. As the voltage from the UV light exposure increases, more and more pixels switch into the activated electrochromic ink 110 state, creating the visual representation on the electrochromic display.
In
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In
For simplicity, stage T-Reset is shown after stage T4, but in some embodiments, the UV exposure detector device 1000 can enter stage T-Reset (and reset the electrochromic display 200) after any stage when the user taps the NFC antenna 150 to the smart device.
In operation, the detector device 1000 is in communication with a smart device 2000 via an antenna 150. For simplicity, the smart device 2000 is illustrated as a smart phone, but in other embodiments, the smart device 2000 takes the form of other computing devices such as a smart watch, a tablet, and the like.
In some embodiments, the detector device 1000 is coupled to the smart device 2000 through an NFC antenna 150. The detector device 1000 and the smart device 2000 may communicate using any suitable communication technology, including, but not limited to wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and infrared; wired technologies such as USB, Ethernet, FireWire, and Lightning; or combinations thereof. The communication between the detector device 1000 and the smart device 2000 is typically a low-powered communication in order to reduce battery consumption of the smart device 2000, and to allow the UV exposure detector device 1000 to be fully powered by the capacitor (not shown in
In operation, the UV exposure detector device 1000 senses UV light, and displays a visual representation of the user's UV exposure through an electrochromic display (not shown in
In some embodiments, tapping the antenna 150 to the smart device 2000 reports the user's 3000 UV exposure level to the smart device 2000 instead of, or in addition to, resetting the electrochromic display. In some embodiments, the smart device 2000 may store a duration of time corresponding to the user's 3000 UV over-exposure.
The method 500 may begin at block 505. In block 510, a user (such as user 3000) attaches a UV detector device (such as UV exposure detector device 1000) to their body in a sun-exposed area. In some embodiments, the sun-exposed area is on the user's wrist (as shown in
In block 520, the UV exposure detector device measures the UV exposure of the user. In operation, the UV exposure detector device measures UV exposure through one or more UV sensor (such as UV sensor 130). In some embodiments, UV light also powers a capacitor (such as capacitor 140) to power the UV exposure detector device.
In block 530, the electrochromic display (such as electrochromic display 200) begins to display electrochromic ink (such as electrochromic ink 110). As a user's exposure increases, panels (such as panels 105) are activated when pixels (such as pixels 100) accumulate voltage from UV exposure. When the pixels accumulate voltage, the electrochromic ink switches from one state to another, becoming visible to a user, or changing to another color.
In block 540, the user's sun exposure reaches a maximum threshold. In some embodiments, the maximum threshold of UV exposure is hard coded into the UV detector device. In other embodiments, the maximum threshold of UV exposure is set by the user.
In block 550, the user taps the UV detector device to a smart device (such as smart device 2000) to reset the electrochromic display with an NFC antenna (such as antenna 150). In some embodiments, the user resets the electrochromic display after applying or reapplying sunscreen. In some embodiments, the user resets the electrochromic display after going indoors or otherwise removing themselves from UV light exposure. In yet other embodiments, the user resets the electrochromic display after the end of the day. In block 560, the method ends.
Many embodiments of the technology described above may take the form of computer- or controller-executable instructions, including routines executed by a programmable computer or controller. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the technology can be practiced on computer/controller systems other than those shown and described above. The technology can be embodied in a special-purpose computer, controller or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions described above. Accordingly, the terms “computer” and “controller” as generally used herein refer to any data processor and can include Internet appliances and hand-held devices (including palm-top computers, wearable computers, cellular or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, processor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network computers, mini computers and the like).
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. For example, in some embodiments the counter or controller may be based on a low-power buck regulator connected to a capacitor. Moreover, while various advantages and features associated with certain embodiments have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages and/or features, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages and/or features to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.
The present application may also reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application. Also, in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms “about,” “approximately,” etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value.
The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure, which are intended to be protected, are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
