Apple Inc.

Chin San Han

Robert K Montgomery, Ii

Brian Richards Land

Ueyn L Block

David I Nazzaro

Naoto Matsuyuki

Serhan O Isikman

Albert Wang

Nevzat Akin Kestelli

Justin Shi

Marcelo M Lamego

Trevor J Ness

Stuart W Wenzel

Zijing Zeng

Wolf Oetting

Santiago Quijano

Rui L Peterson

Pablo A Escobar

German A Alvarez

Fletcher R Rothkopf

Nicholas Paul Joseph Allec

Habib Sami Karaki

Vivek Venugopal

James C Clements

Wegene H Tadele

Ali M Amin

Joseph R Lee

Daniel W Labove

Craig C D'souza

Esther Chen

Kuo Jen Huang

Wanfeng Huang

Fred Y Chou

Chia-Hsien Lin

Hongling Chen

Raul A Molina

Robust estimation of temperatures inside and outside a device can be achieved using one or more absolute temperature sensors optionally in conjunction with thermopile heat flux sensors. Thermopile temperature sensing systems can measure a temperature gradient across two locations within the device, to estimate absolute temperature at locations that are impractical to measure using absolute temperature sensors. Using heat flux models associated with the device, the thermopile temperature sensing system can be used to estimate temperature associated with objects that contact an outer surface of the device, such as a user's skin temperature. Additionally, the thermopile temperature sensing system can be used to estimate ambient air temperature. Within a device, temperature measurements from the thermopile temperature sensors can be used to compensate sensor measurements, such as when the accuracy or reliability of a sensor varies with temperature.

Temperature sensing systems and methods including multiple temperature sensors

Disclosed herein are monitoring systems and sensors for physiological measurements. The sensors can be multi-element piezo sensors capable of generating multiple electrical signals, whereby the monitoring systems can receive the multiple electrical signals to analyze the user's vital signs along multiple regions of the user's body. In some examples, the piezo sensor can include one or more corrugations, such as peaks and valleys, to create localized regions with increased mechanical response to force. The sensitivity and resolution of the piezo sensor can be enhanced by further locating electrode sections at the corrugations, where the electrode sections can be electrically isolated and independently operable from other electrode sections. Traces electrically connecting an electrode section to, e.g., an off-panel controller can be routed over and/or around other electrode sections by including an insulator to electrically insulate from the other electrode sections, or by using vias to route through one or more layers.

Multi-element piezo sensors for physiological measurements

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.

Pressure sensing in portable electronic devices

Reflective surfaces for the apertures of PPG optical components in PPG systems is disclosed. In a PPG system or device, the addition of reflective surfaces around, under, or near the apertures of the optical components can enhance the amount of light received by the light detector. As a result, the measured PPG signal strength can be higher and more accurate compared to the same PPG device without reflective surfaces. The reflective surfaces can reflect and/or recycle light that is incident upon the reflective surfaces back into the skin for eventual capture of the light by the light detectors. In some examples, the reflective surfaces can be diffuse or specular reflectors and/or can be configured to selectively reflect one or more wavelengths of light. In some examples, the back crystal and/or component mounting plane of the PPG system can be made of the same material as the reflective surfaces.

Reflective surfaces for PPG signal detection

A photoplethysmographic (PPG) device is disclosed. The PPG device can include one or more light emitters and one or more light sensors to generate the multiple light paths for measuring a PPG signal and perfusion indices of a user. The multiple light paths between each pair of light emitters and light detectors can include different separation distances to generate both an accurate PPG signal and a perfusion index value to accommodate a variety of users and usage conditions. In some examples, the multiple light paths can include the same separation distances for noise cancellation due to artifacts resulting from, for example, tilt and/or pull of the device, a user's hair, a user's skin pigmentation, and/or motion. The PPG device can further include one or more lenses and/or reflectors to increase the signal strength and/or and to obscure the optical components and associated wiring from being visible to a user's eye.

Multiple light paths architecture and obscuration methods for signal and perfusion index optimization

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.

Pressure sensor module for wearable applanation tonometer

Sensing structure for pulse-wave velocity measurement

The present disclosure generally relates to wearable devices and methods for measuring a photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal. The wearable devices and methods described herein are capable of obtaining PPG signals by employing a PPG sensor array configured to receive light at angles associated with a high perfusion index. Viewing components may be coupled to the PPG sensor array to effect transmission of light at these preferential angles.

PPG sensor having light arrival angle control at detector

Interface pressure sensor system for electronic device

Multi-element piezo sensor for in-bed physiological measurements

This relates to an electronic device with dynamically reconfigurable apertures to account for different skin types, usage conditions, and environmental conditions and methods for measuring the user's physiological signals. The device can include one or more light emitters, one or more light sensors, and a material whose optical properties can be changed in one or more locations to adjust the optical path and the effective separation distances between the one or more light emitters and one or more light sensors or the size, location, or shape of the one or more dynamically reconfigurable apertures. In some examples, the material can be a liquid crystal material, MEMS shutter layer, or light guide, which can form the one or more dynamically reconfigurable apertures. In some examples, the light emitters or light sensors or both can be an array of individually addressable optical components.

Dynamically reconfigurable apertures for optimization of PPG signal and ambient light mitigation

The present disclosure generally relates to wearable devices and methods for measuring a photoplethysmographic signal. The wearable devices and methods may include a force sensor that provides input used for motion-noise filtering to obtain improved PPG signals. Feedback from the force sensor may also be used to indicate whether the amount of pressure exerted by the device should be adjusted, or whether the device should be switched to a locked state.

Force sensing for PPG heart-rate performance enhancement and contact detection

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Chin San Han