US 12,648,736 B2Granted

Wearing detection techniques for wearable devices

AssigneeOura Health Oy

InventorJukka-Tapani Mäkinen

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Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wearing detection are described. A method may include directing light from a light source to a detector using an optical light guide of the wearable device, where the optical light guide includes an optical interface configured to allow at least a portion of the directed light to escape the optical light guide based on a refractive property of a material contacting the optical interface. The method may include measuring, via the detector, an amount of escaped light which escaped the optical light guide, where the amount of escaped light is indicative of a level of surface contact at the optical interface of the optical light guide. The method may further include controlling an activation of one or more sensors of the wearable device based on the amount of escaped light.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for detecting contact with a wearable ring device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:

directing first light from one or more light sources to one or more detectors using a first optical light guide that spans at least a first radial portion of an inner curved surface of the wearable ring device, wherein the first optical light guide comprises a first optical interface configured to allow at least a portion of the first light to escape the first optical light guide based on a refractive property of a material contacting the first optical interface;
directing second light from the one or more light sources to the one or more detectors using a second optical light guide that spans at least a second radial portion of the inner curved surface of the wearable ring device;
measuring, via the one or more detectors, a first amount of escaped light which escaped the first optical light guide and a second amount of escaped light which escaped the second optical light guide, wherein the first amount of escaped light is indicative of a first level of surface contact with the first radial portion of the inner curved surface, and wherein the second amount of escaped light is indicative of a second level of surface contact with the second radial portion of the inner curved surface;
selecting one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with at least one of the first radial portion and the second radial portion based at least in part on the first amount of escaped light and the second amount of escaped light, wherein selecting the one or more sensors comprises:
controlling a first activation of a first subset of the one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with the first radial portion based at least in part on the first amount of escaped light;
and
controlling a second activation of a second subset of the one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with the second radial portion based at least in part on the second amount of escaped light;
and
acquiring physiological data from the user via the one or more sensors based at least in part on the selecting.

6 more elements

An apparatus for a wearable ring device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to acquire physiological data from the user associated with the wearable ring device, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a light-emitting diode and a photodetector, and;
a light guide apparatus for detecting contact with the wearable ring device, the light guide apparatus comprising:
one or more light sources, wherein the light-emitting diode comprises the one or more light sources;
one or more detectors;
a first optical light guide that spans at least a first radial portion of an inner curved surface of the wearable ring device and that is configured to direct first light from the one or more light sources to the one or more detectors, wherein the first optical light guide comprises a first optical interface configured to allow at least a portion of the first light to escape the first optical light guide based on a refractive property of a material contacting the first optical interface;
and
a second optical light guide that spans at least a second radial portion of the inner curved surface of the wearable ring device and that is configured to direct second light from the one or more light sources to the one or more detectors;
and
one or more controllers configured to:
measure, via the one or more detectors, a first amount of escaped light which escaped the first optical light guide and a second amount of escaped light which escaped the second optical light guide, wherein the first amount of escaped light is indicative of a first level of surface contact with the first radial portion of the inner curved surface, and wherein the second amount of escaped light is indicative of a second level of surface contact with the second radial portion of the inner curved surface;
select one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with at least one of the first radial portion and the second radial portion based at least in part on the first amount of escaped light and the second amount of escaped light;
and
acquire physiological data from the user via the one or more sensors based at least in part on the selection.

10 more elements

An apparatus for detecting contact with a wearable ring device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:

one or more processors;
memory coupled with the one or more processors;
and
instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
direct first light from one or more light sources to one or more detectors using a first optical light guide that spans at least a first radial portion of an inner curved surface of the wearable ring device, wherein the first optical light guide comprises a first optical interface configured to allow at least a portion of the first light to escape the first optical light guide based on a refractive property of a material contacting the first optical interface;
direct second light from the one or more light sources to the one or more detectors using a second optical light guide that spans at least a second radial portion of the inner curved surface of the wearable ring device;
measure, via the one or more detectors, a first amount of escaped light which escaped the first optical light guide and a second amount of escaped light which escaped the second optical light guide, wherein the first amount of escaped light is indicative of a first level of surface contact with the first radial portion of the inner curved surface, and wherein the second amount of escaped light is indicative of a second level of surface contact with the second radial portion of the inner curved surface;
select one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with at least one of the first radial portion and the second radial portion based at least in part on the first amount of escaped light and the second amount of escaped light, wherein, to select the one or more sensors, the one or more processors are configured to:
control a first activation of a first subset of the one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with the first radial portion based at least in part on the first amount of escaped light;
and
control a second activation of a second subset of the one or more sensors of the wearable ring device associated with the second radial portion based at least in part on the second amount of escaped light;
and
acquire physiological data from the user via the one or more sensors based at least in part on the selection.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/903,627Filed 6 Sep 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 14 Sep 2021
Published: US 2023/0079736 A116 Mar 2023
Granted: 9 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A61B 5/6844
Specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface: monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
H03K 17/941
Characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated: using an optical detector
A61B 5/681
Sensor mounted on worn items: wristwatch-type devices
A61B 5/6843
Specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface: monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure