# US 12,191,029 B2 · Electronic device and method for recognizing context thereof

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- Number: US 12,191,029 B2
- Document ID: US12191029B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/178,738
- Filed: 2021-02-18
- Published: 2021-08-19
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-19
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kihoon Kang; Taekeun Kim; Kihong Min; Sunghun Shin; Kihun Eom; Kyeongmun Jo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191029B2

## CPC

- G16H 40/60: for the operation of medical equipment or devices
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- A61B 5/0245: by using sensing means generating electric signals, {i.e. ECG signals}
- A61B 5/332: Portable devices specially adapted therefor
- G01L 19/0092: {Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature (G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26)}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- A61B 5/0048: {Detecting, measuring or recording by applying mechanical forces or stimuli (A61B5/021, A61B5/4884 and A61B9/00 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/0053: {by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging}
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/02: Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow
- A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
- A61B 5/02427: {Details of sensor}
- A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient}
- A61B 5/150824: {by visual feedback}
- A61B 5/282: Holders for multiple electrodes (for introduction into the body A61B5/287)
- A61B 5/68: {Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient}
- A61B 5/6801: {specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface}
- A61B 5/6802: {Sensor mounted on worn items}
- A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices}
- A61B 5/6813: {Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part (A61B5/6802 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/6824: {Arm or wrist}
- A61B 5/683: {Means for maintaining contact with the body (A61B5/6802 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/6831: {Straps, bands or harnesses}
- A61B 2560/0209: adapted for power saving
- A61B 2560/0242: adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
- A61B 2560/0257: using atmospheric pressure
- A61B 2560/0266: for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
- A61B 2560/029: adapted for auto-initiation
- A61B 2560/0462: Apparatus with built-in sensors
- A61B 2560/0468: Built-in electrodes
- A61B 2562/02: Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
- A61B 2562/0209: Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
- A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors
- A61B 2562/029: Humidity sensors
- A61B 2562/04: Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
- G01L 2019/0053: {Pressure sensors associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration, temperature}
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method is provided. The method includes identifying whether an amount of change in the pressure detected through an atmospheric pressure sensor is greater than or equal to a specified first threshold, in response to the amount of change in the pressure being greater than or equal to the first threshold, waking up a biometric sensor module including a plurality of electrodes in which some of the plurality of electrodes are disposed to come into contact with a body part of a user when the electronic device is worn, and others thereof are disposed to not come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn, and identifying whether an interrupt signal, indicating that a state in which the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected is maintained for a specified first time or more, is received from the biometric sensor module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
an atmospheric pressure sensor configured to measure pressure;
a biometric sensor module configured to measure biometric information on a user;
a processor operatively connected to the atmospheric pressure sensor and the biometric sensor module; and
a memory operatively connected to the processor,
wherein the biometric sensor module comprises a plurality of electrodes configured to detect current flowing through a body of the user,
wherein some of the plurality of electrodes are disposed to come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn, and others of the plurality of electrodes are disposed to not come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn,
wherein the biometric sensor module is configured to:
identify whether a change from a first state, in which the some of the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected through the body part and the others of the plurality of electrodes are electrically disconnected in air, into a second state, in which all of the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected by entering the electronic device in water, is detected,
identify whether the second state is maintained for a specified first time or more in response to the change into the second state being detected, and
transmit an interrupt signal to the processor in response to the second state being maintained for the specified first time or more, and
wherein the memory stores instructions that when executed, cause the processor to:
identify an amount of increased change in the pressure detected through the atmospheric pressure sensor in response to reception of the interrupt signal, and
determine that the electronic device is in a specified first context in response to the amount of increased change in the pressure being greater than or equal to a specified first threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
identify whether a change from the second state into the first state is received from the biometric sensor module after the first context is determined;
in response to the change into the first state being received, identify whether an amount of decreased change in the pressure detected through the atmospheric pressure sensor is greater than or equal to the first threshold; and
determine that the electronic device is in a specified second context in response to the amount of decreased change in the detected pressure being less than the first threshold and the first state and the second state being repeated a specified number of times or more.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to determine that the electronic device is in a specified third context in response to the amount of decreased change in the detected pressure being greater than or equal to the first threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
identify whether a pressure greater than or equal to a specified second threshold is maintained for a specified third time or more; and
in response to the pressure greater than or equal to the specified second threshold being maintained for the specified third time or more, determine that the electronic device is in a specified fourth context.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
identify whether the second state is maintained for a specified fourth time or more; and
in response to the second state being maintained for the fourth time or more, determine that the electronic device is in a specified fifth context.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor module is configured to:
identify whether a change from a third state, in which the plurality of electrodes are not electrically connected to each other, into the second state is detected, and
in response to the change from the third state into the second state being detected, transmit the interrupt signal to the processor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to execute a specified function or drive a specified mode, based on each context.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises:
a first electrode disposed to come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn;
a second electrode disposed to come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn, and spaced apart from the first electrode; and
at least one third electrode disposed to not come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn,
wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on the rear surface of the electronic device, and
wherein the at least one third electrode is disposed on a side surface or an upper surface of the electronic device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor module comprises:
a detection module configured to detect an electrical connection state between the plurality of electrodes;
a state information storage area configured to store information corresponding to the detected state; and
a biometric information processing module configured to process the biometric information detected using at least some of the plurality of electrodes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the biometric information processing module is activated while the biometric information is measured, and is deactivated while context recognition is executed.

### Claim 11

An electronic device comprising:
an atmospheric pressure sensor configured to measure pressure;
a biometric sensor module configured to measure biometric information on a user;
a processor operatively connected to the atmospheric pressure sensor and the biometric sensor module; and
a memory operatively connected to the processor,
wherein the biometric sensor module comprises a plurality of electrodes configured to detect current flowing through a body of the user,
wherein some of the plurality of electrodes are disposed to come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn, and others of the plurality of electrodes are disposed to not come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn,
wherein the biometric sensor module is configured to be activated in response to a wake-up signal being received from the processor, identify whether a state in which the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected by entering the electronic device in water is maintained for a specified first time or more, and transmit an interrupt signal to the processor in response to the state being maintained for the specified first time or more, and
wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit the wake-up signal to the biometric sensor module in response to an amount of increased change in the pressure measured through the atmospheric pressure sensor being greater than or equal to a specified first threshold, and determine that the electronic device is in a specified first context in response to reception of the interrupt signal from the biometric sensor module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
identify whether a change into another state in which a first electrode and a second electrode are electrically connected is received from the biometric sensor module after the first context is determined;
in response to the change into the another state being received, identify whether an amount of change in the decreased pressure detected through the atmospheric pressure sensor is greater than or equal to the first threshold; and
determine that the electronic device is in a specified second context, in response to the amount of change in the decreased pressure detected after the change into the another state is received being less than the first threshold and the state and the another state being repeated a specified number of times or more.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to determine that the electronic device is in a specified third context in response to the amount of decreased change in the detected pressure being greater than or equal to the first threshold after the change into the another state is received.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
identify whether a pressure greater than or equal to a specified second threshold is maintained for a specified third time or more; and
in response to the pressure greater than or equal to the specified second threshold being maintained for the specified third time or more, determine that the electronic device is in a specified fourth context.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
identify whether the state is maintained for a specified fourth time or more; and
in response to the state being maintained for the fourth time or more, determine that the electronic device is in a specified fifth context.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to execute a specified function or drive a specified mode, based on each context.

### Claim 17

A method for recognizing a context of an electronic device, the method comprising:
identifying whether an amount of change in a pressure detected through an atmospheric pressure sensor is greater than or equal to a specified first threshold;
in response to an amount of increased change in the pressure being greater than or equal to the first threshold, waking up a biometric sensor module comprising a plurality of electrodes in which some of the plurality of electrodes are disposed to come into contact with a body part of a user when the electronic device is worn, and others thereof are disposed to not come into contact with a body part of the user when the electronic device is worn;
identifying whether an interrupt signal, indicating that a state in which the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected by entering the electronic device in water is maintained for a specified first time or more, is received from the biometric sensor module; and
determining that the electronic device is in a specified first context in response to reception of the interrupt signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
identifying whether a change into another state in which the some of the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected is received from the biometric sensor module after the first context is determined;
in response to the change into the another state being received, identifying whether the amount of decreased change in the pressure detected through the atmospheric pressure sensor is greater than or equal to the first threshold;
determining that the electronic device is in a specified second context in response to the amount of decreased change in the pressure detected after the change into the another state is received being less than the first threshold and the state and the another state being repeated a specified number of times or more; and
determining that the electronic device is in a specified third context in response to the amount of decreased change in the pressure detected after the change into the another state is received being greater than or equal to the first threshold.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
in response to a pressure greater than or equal to a specified second threshold being maintained for a specified third time or more, determining that the electronic device is in a specified fourth context; and
in response to the state being maintained for a specified fourth time or more, determining that the electronic device is in a specified fifth context.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising executing a specified function or driving a specified mode, based on each context.