Abstract: Systems are provided for detecting the flow of blood in vasculature by illuminating the blood with a source of coherent illumination and detecting one or more time-varying properties of a light speckle pattern that results from the scattering of the coherent illumination by tissue and blood. The movement of blood cells and other light-scattering elements in the blood causes transient, short-duration changes in the speckle pattern. High-frequency sampling or other high-bandwidth processing of a detected intensity at one or more points in the speckle pattern could be used to determine the flow of blood in the vasculature. Such flow-measuring systems are also presented as wearable devices that can be operated to detect the flow in vasculature of a wearer. Systems and methods provided herein can additionally be applied to measure flow in other scattering fluid media, for example in a scattering industrial, medical, pharmaceutical, or environmental fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the frequency of a cardiovascular pulse based on a first physiological signal that is continuously available and a second physiological signal that is less available and that is more accurate or otherwise improved relative to the first signal with respect to pulse rate estimation. When the second signal is available it controls the determination of the pulse rate. When the second signal is unavailable, the first signal is used to determine the pulse rate. This can include using the first signal to estimate the pulse rate until the second signal is available, at which point the pulse rate is estimated based on the second physiological signal. Alternatively, the first signal could be used to determine a number of candidate pulse rates, and the second signal could be used to select a pulse rate from the set of candidate pulse rates.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for identifying abnormal sleep conditions are disclosed. During each of a plurality of non-zero time periods, a wearable device configured to be worn on a body of a user may capture (i) a physiological parameter measurement and (ii) a non-physiological parameter measurement, thereby providing a plurality of physiological parameter measurements and a plurality of non-physiological parameter measurements, respectively. Based at least in part on the plurality of physiological parameter measurements and the plurality of non-physiological parameter measurements, the wearable device may identify an abnormal sleep condition. Responsive to identifying the abnormal sleep condition, the wearable device may cause an output device to provide a notification, with the output device being a part of or connected to the wearable device.

Abstract: Wearable devices are described herein including a housing and a mount configured to mount a contact surface of the housing to an external surface of a wearer. The wearable devices further include a coil disposed in the housing proximate to the contact surface and at least one sensor disposed on the contact surface and configured to detect one or more properties of the body of the wearer. The wearable devices are powered by a rechargeable battery disposed within the wearable devices. The wearable devices additionally include a recharger disposed within the wearable devices and configured to recharge the rechargeable battery using electromagnetic energy received by the coil. The sensor is disposed within a central portion of the contact surface enclosed by the coil.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the frequency of a cardiovascular pulse based on a first physiological signal that is continuously available and a second physiological signal that is less available and that is more accurate or otherwise improved relative to the first signal with respect to pulse rate estimation. When the second signal is available it controls the determination of the pulse rate. When the second signal is unavailable, the first signal is used to determine the pulse rate. This can include using the first signal to estimate the pulse rate until the second signal is available, at which point the pulse rate is estimated based on the second physiological signal. Alternatively, the first signal could be used to determine a number of candidate pulse rates, and the second signal could be used to select a pulse rate from the set of candidate pulse rates.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the frequency of a cardiovascular pulse based on a first physiological signal that is continuously available and a second physiological signal that is less available and that is more accurate or otherwise improved relative to the first signal with respect to pulse rate estimation. When the second signal is available it controls the determination of the pulse rate. When the second signal is unavailable, the first signal is used to determine the pulse rate. This can include using the first signal to estimate the pulse rate until the second signal is available, at which point the pulse rate is estimated based on the second physiological signal. Alternatively, the first signal could be used to determine a number of candidate pulse rates, and the second signal could be used to select a pulse rate from the set of candidate pulse rates.

Abstract: A light source emits light into a first portion of a living body. Functionalized particles within the body are configured to specifically bind to a target analyte, and upon receiving the emitted light, undergo a reaction that separates a detectable label from the functionalized particle. A sensor device is configured to detect a response signal from a second portion of the living body that is indicative of an abundance of the detectable label in the second portion. A control system uses the sensor device to obtain sensor data indicative of the response signal from the second portion of the living body detected by the sensor device during a measurement interval, and determines a presence or absence of the target analyte within the first portion of the living body based in part on the obtained data.

Abstract: A system is configured to discriminate amongst different environments based in part on characteristics of ambient light. Ambient light intensity is measured using a light-sensitive element configured to generate an output signal indicative of an intensity of light incident on the light-sensitive element. A controller is configured to obtain a set of ambient light measurements using the light-sensitive element, and determine that the measurements correspond to a particular ambient light profile. The particular ambient light profile can be one of multiple ambient light profiles that each correspond to a different environment and/or context.

Abstract: Wearable devices are described herein including a housing and a mount configured to mount a contact surface of the housing to an external surface of a wearer. The wearable devices further include a coil disposed in the housing proximate to the contact surface and at least one sensor disposed on the contact surface and configured to detect one or more properties of the body of the wearer. The wearable devices are powered by a rechargeable battery disposed within the wearable devices. The wearable devices additionally include a recharger disposed within the wearable devices and configured to recharge the rechargeable battery using electromagnetic energy received by the coil. The sensor is disposed within a central portion of the contact surface enclosed by the coil.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a strap configured for removable placement about an external body surface. The wearable device also includes an electronics module having a communication port. The wearable device further includes a biological sensor coupled to the electronics module and configured to obtain a measurement via the external body surface. The wearable device also includes a holder coupled to the strap. The holder defines a frame configured to receive the electronics module, and the frame defines an opening through which the biological sensor is able to obtain the measurement via the external body surface. The wearable device further includes a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) embedded within at least one of the holder or the strap. The wearable device also includes a connector configured to electrically connect the flexible PCB to the communication port.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that may provide audio information about an environment around a wearable device. Such audio information may be correlated with other biometric data to provide physiological information, e.g. regarding a wearer of the wearable device. For example, an illustrative method includes receiving an audio signal via a microphone of a wearable device and rectifying the audio signal with a peak detector. The method further includes amplifying the rectified signal with a logarithmic amplifier and causing an analog to digital converter (ADC) to sample the logarithmic signal. The method also includes causing the ADC to convert the sampled logarithmic signal to a digital output and storing the digital output in a memory of the wearable device. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting the digital output to a computing device, which may correlate the digital output with other biometric data.

Abstract: An electronic device is configured to perform a power cycle reset in response to a change in charging power applied to the device. The device includes an electrical load with a microprocessor, a battery, a charging circuit that receives power from an external power source and uses the received power to charge the battery, and a control circuit that regulates the power cycle reset operation. The power supply circuit selectively uses the battery to power the device by coupling the load to a power supply path and discharges the load by coupling the load to a discharge path. The control circuit receives, from the charging circuit, an indication of a change in power applied to the charging circuit and responsively generates a control signal and applies the control signal to the power supply circuit, which causes the power supply circuit to temporarily couple the load to the discharge path.

Abstract: Wearable devices are described herein including at least two photodetectors and a mount configured to mount the at least two photodetectors to an external surface of a wearer. The at least two photodetectors are configured to detect alignment between the wearable device and a target on or in the body of the wearer (e.g., to detect the location of vasculature within the body of the wearer relative to the at least two photodetectors). Alignment of the at least two photodetectors relative to the target could enable detection of one or more physiological properties of the wearer. For example, the wearable device could include a sensor configured to detect a property of the target when the sensor is above the target, and alignment of the target relative to the at least two photodetectors could include the sensor being located above the target.

Abstract: Devices and systems are provided to electrically and optically detect hemodynamic properties of a body. Such devices are configured to detect electrocardiographic signals and photoplethysmographic signals and to operate a single analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to sample one or more of each of such signals. This includes operating a multiplexer to connect electrical signals related to the detected optical and electrical properties to the single ADC during respective different sampling times or periods. This can include connecting the detected electrocardiographic signals and photoplethysmographic signals to the ADC during alternating periods of time. Using a single ADC to sample one or more of each of electrocardiographic signals and photoplethysmographic signals can provide samples of such signals that have a relative timing that is known, stable, and controllable.

Abstract: An auxiliary component unit for use with a head-mounted device is disclosed. The device can have a first side arm with and an extension arm extending at least partially therealong and configured to present information to the user via a display extending therefrom, a second side arm opposite the first side arm, and an external connection feature. The auxiliary component includes a first housing containing a first electronic component therein and a first attachment member extending from the first housing and configured to removably affix the auxiliary component with a portion of the second side arm of the head-mounted device. The auxiliary component also includes a wiring component in electronic communication with the first electronic component and attachable with the external connection feature of the device.

Abstract: Systems are provided for detecting the flow of blood in vasculature by illuminating the blood with a source of coherent illumination and detecting one or more time-varying properties of a light speckle pattern that results from the scattering of the coherent illumination by tissue and blood. The movement of blood cells and other light-scattering elements in the blood causes transient, short-duration changes in the speckle pattern. High-frequency sampling or other high-bandwidth processing of a detected intensity at one or more points in the speckle pattern could be used to determine the flow of blood in the vasculature. Such flow-measuring systems are also presented as wearable devices that can be operated to detect the flow in vasculature of a wearer. Systems and methods provided herein can additionally be applied to measure flow in other scattering fluid media, for example in a scattering industrial, medical, pharmaceutical, or environmental fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that may provide audio information about an environment around a wearable device. Such audio information may be correlated with other biometric data to provide physiological information, e.g. regarding a wearer of the wearable device. For example, an illustrative method includes receiving an audio signal via a microphone of a wearable device and rectifying the audio signal with a peak detector. The method further includes amplifying the rectified signal with a logarithmic amplifier and causing an analog to digital converter (ADC) to sample the logarithmic signal. The method also includes causing the ADC to convert the sampled logarithmic signal to a digital output and storing the digital output in a memory of the wearable device. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting the digital output to a computing device, which may correlate the digital output with other biometric data.

Abstract: Wearable devices are provided including electrical contacts to detect voltages or other biosignals when mounted to the skin of a wearer. The impedance between a pair of the electrical contacts can be detected and the device operated based on the detected impedance. The device can detect an electrocardiogram or other biopotentials using the electrical contacts if the detected impedance falls below a specified threshold. The device could indicate that the detected impedance is below the specified threshold, e.g., such that a wearer could contact one of the electrical contacts with a finger to allow detection of an electrocardiogram between the arms of the wearer. The device could indicate that the detected impedance remains greater than the specified threshold, e.g., such that a wearer could re-mount the wearable device to improve the electrical connection between the electrical contacts and the wearer's skin.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that may provide audio information about an environment around a wearable device. Such audio information may be correlated with other biometric data to provide physiological information, e.g. regarding a wearer of the wearable device. For example, an illustrative method includes receiving an audio signal via a microphone of a wearable device and rectifying the audio signal with a peak detector. The method further includes amplifying the rectified signal with a logarithmic amplifier and causing an analog to digital converter (ADC) to sample the logarithmic signal. The method also includes causing the ADC to convert the sampled logarithmic signal to a digital output and storing the digital output in a memory of the wearable device. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting the digital output to a computing device, which may correlate the digital output with other biometric data.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to waveform synchronization in multi-modal sensor networks. An example method includes providing a reference signal to a translation circuit. The method also includes generating, by the translation circuit, (i) a first synchronization signal capable of exciting a first emitter to produce a first wave in a first modality and (ii) a second synchronization signal capable of exciting a second emitter to produce a second wave in a second modality, wherein a modality is a domain within a form of energy. The method further includes producing, by the first emitter, first wave in the first modality and, by the second emitter, the second wave in the second modality, wherein the first wave is substantially directed toward a first sensor capable of interacting with the first wave, and wherein the second wave substantially directed toward a second sensor capable of interacting with the second wave.