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US 11,627,887 B2Granted
PPG sensor having light arrival angle control at detector
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRui L. Peterson, Chin San Han
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to wearable devices and methods for measuring a photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal. The wearable devices and methods described herein are capable of obtaining PPG signals by employing a PPG sensor array configured to receive light at angles associated with a high perfusion index. Viewing components may be coupled to the PPG sensor array to effect transmission of light at these preferential angles.
Claims17
A wearable device for monitoring a physiological parameter of a user, comprising:
- a housing;
- a light emitter positioned within the housing and configured to emit light towards a skin of the user when the housing is worn by the user;
- a first light detector positioned within the housing at a first location with respect to the light emitter;
- a second light detector positioned within the housing at a second location with respect to the light emitter;
- a viewing component coupled to the first light detector and configured to:
- allow a first portion of the emitted light that intersects the viewing component at a preset viewing angle to pass to the first light detector;
- and
- block a second portion of the emitted light that intersects the viewing component at angles other than the preset viewing angle, wherein the preset viewing angle is based at least in part on a separation distance between the light emitter and the first light detector;
- and
- a processor positioned within the housing and configured to:
- receive a first signal from the first light detector based on the first light detector receiving the first portion of the light;
- receive a second signal from the second light detector based on the second light detector receiving a third portion of the light;
- compare a first strength of the first signal to a second strength of the second signal;
- and
- compute the physiological parameter of the user using the first signal or the second signal with the greater of the first strength or the second strength.
12 more elements
A wearable device for detecting a physiological parameter of a user, comprising:
- a housing;
- a light emitter coupled with the housing and configured to emit light towards a skin of the user when the wearable device is contacting the user;
- a first light detector coupled with the housing and operative to detect a first portion of the emitted light that has interacted with the skin of the user;
- a second light detector coupled to the housing and operative to detect a second portion of the emitted light that has interacted with the skin of the user;
- a viewing component coupled to a light receiving surface of the first light detector and configured to prevent a portion of the light that is outside a preset viewing angle from reaching the light detector;
- and
- a processor positioned within the housing and configured to:
- receive a first signal from the first light detector based on the detected first portion of the emitted light;
- receive a second signal from the second light detector based on the detected second portion of the emitted light;
- compare a first strength of the first signal to a second strength of the second signal;
- and
- determine the physiological parameter of the user using the first signal or the second signal with the greater of the first strength or the second strength.
9 more elements
A wearable device for monitoring a physiological parameter of a user, comprising:
- a housing;
- a light emitter coupled to the housing and operative to emit light toward a skin of the user when the wearable device is worn by the user;
- an array of light detectors including at least two detectors that are operative to detect a portion of the light that has interacted with the skin of the user, wherein each light detector in the array of light detectors comprises a viewing component coupled to the light detector and configured to:
- allow a first portion of the light that intersects the respective viewing component at a preset viewing angle to pass to the light detector;
- and
- block a second portion of the light that intersects the respective viewing component at angles other than the preset viewing angle;
- and
- a processor positioned within the housing and configured to:
- receive a signal from each light detector in the array of light detectors based on the first portion of the light detected by each respective light detector in the array of light detectors;
- determine a strength of each of the received signals;
- and
- compute the physiological parameter of the user using the signal with the greater strength.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.