SENSOR BAND FOR MULTIMODAL SENSING OF BIOMETRIC DATA
A resilient fabric band providing a sensor platform for a wearer in order to sense, a plurality of biometric data, the band comprising: a pair of ECG sensors coupled to an interior surface of a body of the band, each of the pair of ECG sensors located on either side of a front to back centerline of the body; a pair of bio impedance sensors coupled to the interior surface of the body of the band, each of the pair of bio impedance sensors located on either side of the front to back centerline; a strain gauge sensor coupled to the body of the band; a computer device mounted on the body of the band via a housing, the computer device including a power source, a computer processor, a memory for storing instructions for execution by the computer processor, and a network interface for transmitting data sensed by the sensors; and a plurality of communication pathways connecting the computer device to each of the sensors, the communication pathway for sending power from the power supply to the sensors as controlled by the computer processor and for receiving sensed data from the sensors by the computer processor.
The present disclosure relates to sensing systems for biometric data.
BACKGROUNDSensing of biometric data in today's technological based environment is key to understanding the physical state. In particular, athletes and medical patients, among a number of other consumers, are key individuals for much needed accurate and up-to-date (i.e. real-time) biometric sensing. However, state of the art sensor arrangements can be bulky and uncomfortable for the typical wearer. Further, each physical activity and/or health condition can require a customized sensor arrangement and mode of attachment to the wearer, which can unnecessarily require multiple sensor platforms tailored to each individual/disease.
SUMMARYIt is an object of the present invention to provide a biometric sensing platform to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above presented disadvantages.
An aspect provided is a resilient fabric band providing a sensor platform for a wearer in order to sense a plurality of biometric data, the band comprising: a pair of ECG sensors coupled to an interior surface of a body of the band, each of the pair of ECG sensors located on either side of a front to back centerline of the body; a pair of bio impedance sensors coupled to the interior surface of the body of the band, each of the pair of bio impedance sensors located on either side of the front to back centerline; a strain gauge sensor coupled to the body of the band; a computer device mounted on the body of the band via a housing, the computer device including a power source, a computer processor, a memory for storing instructions for execution by the computer processor, and a network interface for transmitting data sensed by the sensors; and a plurality of communication pathways connecting the computer device to each of the sensors, the communication pathway for sending power from the power supply to the sensors as controlled by the computer processor and for receiving sensed data from the sensors by the computer processor.
The foregoing and other aspects will now be described by way of example only with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
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Also positioned on the band 10, for example on, an exterior surface 13 (i.e. outward facing from the wearer), is series of electrical components 15 including a computer device 14 (see
The sensors 12 can be composed of Electroactive polymers, or EAPs, which are polymers that exhibit a change in size or shape when stimulated by an electric field. EAPS could also exhibit a change in electrical field if stimulated by mechanical deformation. The most common applications of this type of material are in actuators and sensors. A typical characteristic property of an EAP is that they will undergo deformation while sustaining forces. For example, EPDM rubber containing various additives for optimum conductivity, flexibility and ease of fabrication can be used as a sensor 12 material for measuring electrode impedance measured on human skin of the wearer. Further, EAPs may be used to measure ECG as well as measuring deformation (i.e. expansion of the waist and therefore breathing can be inferred from EAPs). ECG can be measured using surface electrodes, textile or polymer, as desired.
These electrodes 12 can be capable of recording biopotential signals such as ECG while for low-amplitude signals such as EEG, as coupled via pathways 30 with an active circuit of the electrical components 15 within the housing 24. The ECG sensors 12a can be used to collect and transmit signals to the computer processor 1 reflective of the heart rate of the wearer. AS such, it is recognized that the electrodes as sensors 12 can be composed of conductive yarn/fibres (e.g. knitted, woven, embroidery using conductive fibres—e.g. silver wire/threads) of the band 10, as desired.
In terms of bioelectrical impedance, these sensors 12a,b and their measurements can be used in analysis (BIA) via the processor 16 and memory 18 instructions for estimating body composition, and in particular body fat. In terms of estimating body fat, BIA actually determines the electrical impedance, or opposition to the flow of an electric current through body tissues of the wearer interposed between the sensors 12 (e.g. 12a,b), which can then be used to estimate total body water (TBW), which can be used to estimate fat-free body mass and, by difference with body weight, body fat.
In terms of strain sensing, these sensors 12c can be operated as a strain gauge to take advantage of the physical property of electrical conductance and its dependence on the conductors geometry. When the electrical conductor 12c is stretched within the limits of its elasticity such that it does not break or permanently deform, the sensor 12c will become narrower and longer, changes that increase its electrical resistance end-to-end. Conversely, when the sensor 12c is compressed such that it does not buckle, the sensor 12c will broaden and shorten, changes that decrease its electrical resistance end-to-end. From the measured electrical resistance of the strain gauge, via the power 28 that is administered to the sensors 12 via the computer processor 16 acting on stored 18 instructions, the amount of induced stress can be inferred. For example, a strain gauge 12c arranged as a long, thin conductive fibres in a zig-zag pattern of parallel lines such that a small amount of stress in the direction of the orientation of the parallel lines results in a multiplicatively larger strain measurement over the effective length of the conductor surfaces in the array of conductive lines—and hence a multiplicatively larger change in resistance—than would be observed with a single straight-line conductive wire. In terms of location/structure of the strain gauge 12c, the strain gauge can be located around the circumference of the band 10. A further embodiment is where the strain gauge 12c is located in a portion of the circumference, for example in a serpentine arrangement, positioned in a front 52 portion (positioned adjacent to the front of the wearer) of the band 10. The strain gauge 12c can be configured for sensing in the k Ohm range.
In terms of temperature sensor 12d, this sensor is used to measure the dynamic body temperature of the wear. For example, the temperature sensor 12d can be a thermistor type sensor, which is a thermally sensitive resistors whose prime function is to exhibit a large, predictable and precise change in electrical resistance when subjected to a corresponding change in body temperature. Examples cam include Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors exhibiting a decrease in electrical resistance when subjected to an increase in body temperature and Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistors exhibiting an increase in electrical resistance when subjected to an increase in body temperature. Other temperature sensor types can include thermocouples, resistance thermometers and/or silicon bandgap temperature sensors as desired. It is also recognized that the sensors 12 can include haptic feedback sensors that can be actuated via the computer processor 16 in response to sensed data 44 processed onboard by the processor 16 and/or instructions received from a third party device 60 or the wearer (operator of the computer device 40) via an interface 20. Another example of temperature sensors 12d is where thermocouples could be knitted into the band 10 fabric using textile and coupled directly to the body of the wearer through close proximity/contact in order to get more accurate temperature readings.
Sensed Data and ProcessingReferring again to
It is recognised that multiple sources of sensed data (e.g. temperature sensor 12d with activity/motion sensors 36 can be used in an algorithm stored in memory 18 to calculate calories expended based on activity combined with body temperature). Other combinations of sensed data types can include combinations such as but not limited to: heart rate with activity data; heart rate with activity data with temperature; activity data with bio impedance data; strain gauge for breathing rate data determination with activity data and heart rate data for determination of exertion levels; etc. It is also realized that combinations of sensor type readings can be used by the computer processor 16 to determine exercise activity type being performed by the wearer, based on computer models of activity type with typical sensor data, for example gradual changes in body posture with detected lower levels of heart rate and breathing could be indicative of a wearer practicing yoga. A further type of multiple sensed data usage can be for accelerometer and gyroscope data, such that both can be used or one can be used and the other discounted during determination of a selected metric of the dashboard 46. For example, in the case of the band 10 being situated at the waist of an overweight person, the “off-vertical” reading of the gyroscope would not be indicative of a bent posture (from the vertical), rather due to the folded waistband due to body composition. As such, the degree of gyroscope readings would be discounted from the calculation of the posture determination.
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It is also recognised that location of the sensors 12a,b can be positioned to either side of the centerline 60 running front to back rather than to either side of the centerline 56 running side to side (of the wearer), as the separation distance for the typical wearer is greater side to side rather than front to back (i.e. wider between hips verses between spine and belly button).
Further, one example option for the sensor configuration is a 4-electrode ECG sensor configuration. Cost of such an ECG design can be, a factors however the design could potentially give better signal performance. The theory behind the four sensor ECG design is that the processor 16 can switch between each sensor pair (of the multiple pair ECG sensor configuration) to find the one with the best signal quality and use that one during sensed movement of the wearer.
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Claims
1. A resilient fabric band providing a sensor platform for a wearer in order to sense a plurality of biometric data, the band comprising:
- a pair of ECG sensors coupled to an interior, surface of a body of the band, each of the pair of ECG sensors located on either side of a front to back centerline of the body;
- a pair of bio impedance sensors coupled to the interior surface of the body of the band, each of the pair of bio impedance sensors located on either side of the front to back centerline;
- a strain gauge sensor coupled to the body of the band;
- a computer device mounted on the body of the band via a housing, the computer device including a power source, a computer processor, a memory for storing instructions for execution by the computer processor, and a network interface for transmitting data sensed by the sensors; and
- a plurality of communication pathways connecting the computer device to each of the sensors, the communication pathway for sending power from the power supply to the sensors as controlled by the computer processor and for receiving sensed data from the sensors by the computer processor.
2. The band of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor mounted in or external to the housing and facing the interior surface of the body.
3. The band of claim 1 further comprising the band incorporate as a component of an article of clothing.
4. The band of claim 3, wherein the article of clothing is underwear and the band is positioned at a waist of the underwear.
5. The band of claim 1 further comprising motion sensors selected from the group consisting of accelerometer and gyroscope.
6. The band of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge sensor is interlaced into fabric of the body of the band as a plurality of conductive fibres.
7. The band of claim 1, wherein the both the bio impedance sensors and the ECG sensors are positioned on one side of a side to side centerline of the body.
8. The band of claim 1, wherein the communication pathways are conductive fibres interlaced in the fabric of the body of the band.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2017
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2018
Inventors: Adrian Straka (Toronto), Jiwon Yang (Toronto), Parth Jain (Toronto), Mark Klibanov (Toronto), Michelle Zheng (Toronto), Gabriel Stefan (Toronto), Monica Nealis (Toronto), Milad Alizadeh-Meghrazi (Toronto)
Application Number: 15/615,035