Abstract: Technology is described for a wearable sensor system including an accelerometer and a PPG optical sensor having light processing elements including at least one photodetector in at least one linear configuration sharing an axis of orientation with the accelerometer. Heart rate measurements determined from reflected light detected by a photodetector of the light processing elements in a linear configuration are co-sampled with accelerometer measurements for one of its axes sharing its orientation with the linear configuration, thus providing per axis measurements which provide more precise data points for more easily compensating for motion artifacts in heart rate data. A wrist wearable biometric monitoring device is also described which embodies the wearable sensor system and performs active motion artifact compensation.

Abstract: A user-wearable devices includes an on-body detector that uses one or more sensors of the device to detect whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user. When the user-wearable device is detected as being worn by a user it is operated in a first mode, and when the user-wearable device is detected as not being worn by a user it is operated in a second mode that consumes less power than the first mode. Operating the user-wearable device in the first mode can include enabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station. Operating the user-wearable device in the second mode can include disabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station. Operating the user-wearable device in the second mode can also include disabling sensors of the user-wearable device and/or placing sensors of the user-wearable device in a low power mode.

Abstract: Described herein is a lapel adaptor for use with a physiologic sensor pod having a housing including a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface, a groove extending around the peripheral surface, and a pair of electrodes spaced apart from one another on the bottom surface. The lapel adaptor includes a first portion comprising an elastic ring including an opening having an inner circumference slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove extending around the peripheral surface of the sensor pod housing. The lapel adaptor also includes a second portion having a pair of magnets spaced apart from one another by substantially a same distance as a distance between the pair of electrodes on the bottom surface of the sensor pod housing. The lapel adaptor further includes a third portion that enables the first and second portions of the lapel adaptor to be folded toward one another.

Abstract: An activity monitor determines whether the current value of a user's heart rate from a heart rate sensor is correct based on a motion-based heart rate and an associated spread which are determined by a model. The model provides a probability density function (PDF) of the heart rate based on confidence levels of previous heart rate values. The spread of the PDF is inversely proportional to the confidence levels. The confidence level may be based on an amplitude of a spectral peak relative to a noise floor. Multiple spectral peaks within the spread can be processed based on a shape of the PDF to determine which peak to use as the current value from the heart rate sensor. Either the value from the heart rate sensor or the motion-based heart rate is provided as the current heart rate.

Abstract: An activity monitor reduces power consumption by providing a heart rate sensor in an inactive mode at times when the heart rate is relatively unimportant. Data from a motion sensor is used to determine when to activate the heart rate monitor to obtain heart rate readings. For example, the motion data may indicate that the user is becoming active after a period of inactivity, or the user is vigorously exercising, then terminates the exercising, or the user is in a sleep-related activity such as the onset of sleep, non-REM (rapid-eye movement sleep) sleep, REM sleep and the user waking from sleep. The heart rate sensor may be in a continuously active mode, an alternating mode, or an inactive mode. In the alternating mode, a delay between readings is set adaptively based on the user's level of activity.

Abstract: A processor for an activity monitor for a user has a reduced power mode in which it does not process data samples from an accelerometer. A wake up circuit or logic evaluates an output from the accelerometer and determines whether the output exceeds a threshold, indicating a threshold amount of activity of the user. If the threshold is exceeded, the wake up circuit or logic causes the processor to enter an active mode. The processor evaluates samples of the accelerometer in an evaluation period and decides whether to continue in the active mode or return to the reduced power mode. If the user is deemed to be sufficiently active, the processor continues in the active mode. In another aspect, the threshold can be set based on an activity level of the user before the reduced power mode or sensor data such as ambient light level or skin temperature.

Abstract: An activity monitor such as a wrist-worn device has an accelerometer which continuously detects motion of the user. The activity monitor also has an on-demand heart rate monitor which is activated by the user touching it from time to time. A calorie expenditure based on the motion of the user can be modified based on a heart rate measurement. Further, a determination can be made as to whether the user has made repetitive motions for a period of time. If the repetitive motions are detected, a calorie expenditure based on the heart rate is determined and compared to the calorie expenditure based on the user motion, and the higher value prevails. A situation is avoided in which the activity monitor underestimates the calories expended, such as when the user is exercising strenuously but the accelerometer indicates relatively little motion, e.g., during strength training.

Abstract: A battery for a vehicle includes a heat dissipating panel interposed between battery cells. A heat pipe is arranged in the heat dissipating panel and has an upper end portion serving as a contact portion, which extends to be exposed upward outside from an upper end of the battery cell and is bent inward to the upper end of the battery cell. A heat dissipating fin is in tight contact with the contact portion of the heat pipe.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing overcharging of a battery includes: a battery stack including a plurality of cells; a safety circuit connected to two or more cells and provided with an electrical conduction control unit that controls electrical conduction; and a closed circuit disposed between the cells connected to the safety circuit and provided with a switching unit which is switched on or off upon cell swelling, such that when cell swelling occurs, the switching unit is switched on by a pressing force, disabling the electrical conduction control unit of the safety circuit so electrical conduction between the cells is established via the switching unit, and when cell swelling occurs again, the switching unit is switched off, cutting off the electrical conduction between the cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing battery overcharge is provided and includes a plurality of holders interposed between cells stacked within a battery to enclose the cells in a stacking direction. An installation space is formed between outer parts of at least two holders that enclose the cells. In addition, a fluid pouch is disposed within the installation space and adjacent to the cells inside the installation space, and contains a fluid therein. A cutting part is disposed within the installation space and has a first end disposed adjacent to the fluid pouch, and has a cutter edge heading between a lead tab and a bus bar at a second end of the cutting part.

Abstract: A protection cover and a portable apparatus including the same are provided. The protection cover includes a front cover, a rear cover, and a coupling member. The front cover is mountable on the portable apparatus and covers a screen of the portable apparatus. The coupling member is formed of a flexible material such that the front cover is pivotable between and open and a closed position. The rear cover is mounted on the backside of the portable apparatus to serve as a rear case of the portable apparatus. The coupling member is integrally coupled with the front cover and separably coupled with the rear cover. According to the above structure, the protection cover can minimize the total volume and dimensions of the portable apparatus after it is mounted.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery cooling duct. The duct includes a suction portion disposed between a rear seat and a floor panel of a vehicle, an inlet of the suction portion fluidly communicating with an interior of the vehicle to suction interior air. An extension portion is formed by extending an outlet side of the suction portion to a rear of the vehicle, e.g. a trunk, between the rear seat and the floor panel, and defines a passageway configured to allow the interior air to pass therethrough. A discharge portion extends from an outlet of the extension portion to the rear of the vehicle, and discharges the interior air passed through the extension portion, through an outlet of the discharge portion to the battery of the vehicle.

Abstract: A user-wearable device includes a housing and a band that straps the housing to a portion of a user's body (e.g., wrist). One or more skin contact sensors in and/or on the housing can sense biometric information of a user wearing the device. An authentication module performs or receives results of an authentication determination that compares the sensed biometric information to baseline biometric information to determine whether they match. An on-body detector uses one or more of the sensors to determine whether the device is being worn by a user. After a user is authenticated based on a match between the sensed and baseline biometric information, the authentication module continually concludes that the user is authenticated for at least a period of time, without an additional comparison between sensed and baseline biometric information, if the on-body detector detects that the user-wearable device is still being worn by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for protecting a BMS from electromagnetic waves, and more particularly, to a system for protecting a BMS from electromagnetic waves to prevent voltage sensing errors due to the electromagnetic waves generated by current from a battery cell. The system includes: a battery having a plurality of battery cells; a power relay assembly intermittently charging and discharging the battery; a battery management system (BMS) connected to the battery cell via a voltage sensing wire to predict a battery's SOC; and a housing surrounding the battery and the power relay assembly with one side of the outside of the housing having a separate section for therein for receiving the BMS so as to partition the BMS and the battery in different spaces.

Abstract: A strain of Pseudomonas oleovorans having a controlling activity against plant viral diseases and a microbial agent comprising the same are provided; and the microbial agent exhibits excellent protection against plant viral infections by Tobamovirus, Potyvirus, Tenuivirus, Cucumovirus and Begomovirus.

Abstract: An apparatus preventing overcharging of a battery and a battery including the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes holders interposed on respective gaps between battery cells to be stacked and an installation space formed between borders of adjacent holders. A cutting module is inserted into the installation space and an inserted end thereof is disposed between the cells adjacent to an inner side of the installation space to be fixed to a holder and an exposed end thereof has a cutter blade directed to a gap between a lead tap and a bus bar bonded together that is formed. The gap between the ends is connected with a plurality of hinges to compress the hinges to be unfolded when the cell is expanded in a side direction and to deploy the exposed end outwardly for the cutter blade to separate the bonding of the lead tap and the bus bar.

Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate including at least one concave part, and a transparent electrode formed in the concave part to detect a position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high voltage battery pack apparatus for a vehicle which includes a cooling device having first and second battery packs which are installed in a center console of the vehicle. The first and second battery packs may be uniformly cooled through a distribution duct to improve cooling performance which minimizes the number of cooling fans that are used. Since the number of cooling fans is minimized and a discharging duct is not used, weight reduction and cost savings can be achieved.

Abstract: A touch panel according to the embodiment includes a substrate including an effective area and a dummy area surrounding the effective area; a transparent electrode on the substrate; and an outer dummy layer on the dummy area, wherein the outer dummy layer comprises a piezoelectric material.