Pressure Sensor Module for Wearable Applanation Tonometer
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert K. Montgomery, II, Chin San Han, Pablo A. Escobar, Zijing Zeng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interface pressure sensor includes a fluid pressure sensor disposed in a volume defined by a shear wall. The volume is enclosed, and the fluid pressure sensor is encapsulated by, an infill material. The infill material defines a sensing surface that, when pressed, can impart a force that is detectable by the fluid pressure sensor. The interface pressure sensor can be used for applanation tonometry.
Claims20
An electronic device configured for biometric sensing, the electronic device comprising:
- a sensing surface configured to detect pressure variations deforming an external surface of an object;
- and
- an interface pressure sensing system at least partially defining the sensing surface, the interface pressure sensing system comprising:
- a stiffener;
- a substrate supported by the stiffener;
- a first pressure sensing module disposed on the substrate and comprising:
- a first frame coupled to the substrate and defining a first volume;
- a first fluid pressure sensor disposed within the first volume;
- and
- a first infill encapsulating the first fluid pressure sensor within the first volume and at least partially defining the sensing surface;
- and
- a second pressure sensor modules disposed on the substrate, offset from the first pressure sensing module and comprising:
- a second frame coupled to the substrate and defining a second volume;
- a second fluid pressure sensor disposed within the second volume;
- and
- a second infill encapsulating the first fluid pressure sensor within the second volume and at least partially defining the sensing surface.
An electronic device configured to detect a biometric parameter of a user, the electronic device comprising:
- an interface pressure sensing system at least partially defining a sensing surface, the interface pressure sensing system comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first encapsulated sensor group comprising a first array of fluid pressure sensors encapsulated by an encapsulation material, the first encapsulated sensor group disposed on the substrate;
- a second encapsulated sensor group comprising a second array of fluid pressure sensors encapsulated by the encapsulation material, the second encapsulated sensor group disposed on the substrate and separated from the first encapsulated sensor group by a distance;
- and
- a processor operably coupled to the first encapsulated sensor group and the second encapsulated sensor group and configured to:
- receive, as a first input, output from the first encapsulated sensor group, the first input comprising a first set of samples defining a first pressure wave;
- receive, as a second input, output from the second encapsulated sensor group, the second input comprising a second set of samples defining a second pressure wave;
- and
- determine, based on the first pressure wave and the second pressure wave, a health parameter of the user.
A biometric sensor system for an electronic device, the biometric sensor system comprising:
- a substrate;
- a linear array of encapsulated fluid pressure sensor groups disposed along a length of the substrate;
- and
- a processor operably coupled to the linear array of encapsulated fluid pressure sensor groups and configured to:
- receive, as input, a set of samples defining a pressure waveform received by at least one fluid pressure sensor of the linear array of encapsulated fluid pressure sensors;
- and
- provide, as output, a health parameter value derived from the set of samples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.