# US 12,015,449 B2 · Sensing apparatus and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,449 B2 - Document ID: US12015449B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/772,114 - Filed: 2018-12-14 - Published: 2021-03-25 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-29 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy - Inventors: Jukka Mikael Jalkanen; Michel Rene Gustave Ghislain Gillet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015449B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/807: {Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal} - A61B 5/0017: {transmitting optical signals} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/6801: {specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface} - A61B 5/6804: {Garments; Clothes} - A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient} - A61B 5/443: {Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water} - A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply - A61B 2562/0271: Thermal or temperature sensors - A61B 2562/146: for optical coupling - H04B 10/25: Arrangements specific to fibre transmission - H04B 10/2589: {Bidirectional transmission} - H04B 10/40: Transceivers - H04B 10/806: {Arrangements for feeding power} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus and sensing system wherein the apparatus comprises: sensing means configured to sense a parameter; optical output means configured to provide an optical output signal indicative of data obtained by the sensing means; optical input means configured to receive an optical input signal and convert the optical input signal to electrical power; and storage means configured to store the electrical power obtained by the optical input means and enable the power to be provided to the sensing means and the optical output means; and wherein the optical output means comprises one or more light emitting diodes and optical coupling means where the optical coupling means are configured to couple the apparatus to a processing device to enable data obtained by the sensing means to be transmitted to the processing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: one or more sensors configured to sense a parameter; an optical output configured to provide an optical output signal indicative of data obtained by the one or more sensors; a converter between the one or more sensors and the optical output, the convertor comprising an integrator, a comparator, and a pulse generator, the integrator being configured to perform a time integration of an analog signal from the one or more sensors, the comparator being configured to compare a voltage from the integrator to a reference voltage, and the pulse generator being configured to convert an output from the comparator into a pulsed signal; an optical input configured to receive an optical input signal and convert the optical input signal to electrical power; a power source configured to store the electrical power obtained by the optical input and enable the electrical power to be provided to the one or more sensors and the optical output; and an area of thermal insulation between the one or more sensors and the optical output, the optical input, and the power source; wherein the area of thermal insulation thermally insulates the one or more sensors from the optical output, the optical input, and the power source to reduce a transfer of heat from at least one of the optical output, the optical input, or the power source to the one or more sensors; wherein the optical output comprises one or more light emitting diodes and one or more first optical couplings where the first optical couplings are configured to couple the apparatus to a processing device to enable data obtained by the one or more sensors to be transmitted to the processing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the optical input comprises one or more photodiodes and a second optical coupling where the second optical coupling is configured to enable light from a processing device to be detected by the one or more photodiodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second optical coupling is configured to enable light from the processing device to be transmitted to the one or more photodiodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the optical coupling comprises at least one bi-directional light guide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is no direct electrical connection between the apparatus and the processing device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is thermally insulated from the processing device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is comprised within a separate device to the processing device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more digital sensors configured to provide a digital output. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the optical coupling is configured to receive a control signal from the processing device to control the one or more digital sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a voltage to time converter configured to convert an analogue output of the one or more sensors to a digital output. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a super capacitor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors comprises one or more temperature sensors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the one or more temperature sensor is thermally insulated from the optical output and the optical input. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is comprised within a wearable device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors are configured to directly contact a subject in use. ### Claim 16 A sensing system, comprising: an apparatus and a processing device; the apparatus comprising: one or more sensors configured to sense a parameter; an optical output configured to provide an optical output signal indicative of data obtained by the one or more sensors; a converter between the one or more sensors and the optical output, the converter comprising an integrator, a comparator, and a pulse generator, the integrator being configured to perform a time integration of an analog signal from the one or more sensors, the comparator being configured to compare a voltage from the integrator to a reference voltage, and the pulse generator being configured to convert an output from the comparator into a pulsed signal; an optical input configured to receive an optical input signal and convert the optical input signal to electrical power; a power source configured to store the electrical power obtained by the optical input and enable the electrical power to be provided to the one or more sensors and the optical output; and an area of thermal insulation between the one or more sensors and the optical output, the optical input, and the power source; wherein the area of thermal insulation thermally insulates the one or more sensors from the optical output, the optical input, and the power source to reduce a transfer of heat from at least one of the optical output, the optical input, or the power source to the one or more sensors; wherein the optical output comprises one or more light emitting diodes and one or more optical couplings where the one or more optical couplings are configured to couple the apparatus to the processing device to enable data obtained by the one or more sensors to be transmitted to the processing device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A sensing system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the processing device is comprised within a wearable device.