KR20200056744A - Method, apparatus and computer program for measuring biological signals - Google Patents

Abstract

An objective of the present invention is to provide a plurality of modules for collecting biosignals with a stable coupling structure. According to embodiments of the present invention, a wearable device worn on an ear of a user comprises: an ear tip which is made of a second material at least partially conductive based on a first material with elasticity (the first material and the second material are integrally formed and thus are not separated from each other), contains a third material with magnetism, is tightly attached to the user′s skin through the first material, collects an electrical biosignal through the second material, and uses the elastic force of the first material to be bound to a main body; and the main body including a circuit to acquire an electrical biosignal and a first coupling unit allowing the ear tip to be physically bound thereto and containing a fourth material forming a magnetic attractive force with the third material, wherein the circuit is electrically connected to the second material when the ear tip is bound to the first coupling unit.

Description

METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR MEASURING BIOLOGICAL SIGNALS

The present invention relates to an electrode for collecting a bio-signal related to a health care service, and a device that performs a function of monitoring a user's bio-condition and improving a quality of life based on the collected bio-signal.

Smart healthcare is emerging as the paradigm of medical services changes from treatment, hospital-centered to prevention, and consumer-centered. Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, wearable devices, smartphones, and cloud computing are grafting into the medical field.

Korean Open Patent 10-2013-0022542 (Public Date 2013.03.07)

An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable device that collects bio signals, an electrode having excellent fit and high quality bio signals, and to provide a stable coupling structure to a plurality of modules for collecting bio signals.

The wearable device mounted on the user's ear according to an embodiment of the present invention is a second material that is at least partially conductive based on the elastic first material-the first material and the second material are integrally formed and are not separated -It is formed of, and further includes a magnetic third material, is in close contact with the user's skin through the first material, collects electrical bio signals through the second material, and uses the elasticity of the first material Ear tips attached to the body; A circuit for acquiring an electrical biosignal and the ear tip are physically attached, and a first coupling portion including a fourth material forming a magnetic attraction with the third material, wherein the circuit includes the first coupling portion When the ear tip is attached, it characterized in that it comprises a body that is electrically connected to the second material.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily collect a high-reliability biosignal using an electrode with excellent wearing comfort, and has an effect that a combination of a plurality of modules for collecting the bio-signal can be stably maintained.

1 is a view for explaining a sleep guiding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view for explaining an example in which the ear tip and the body are separated and combined in the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view for explaining an additional example in which the ear tip and the body are separated and combined in a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view for explaining an example in which the wing tip and the body are separated and combined in a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view for explaining an additional example in which the wing tip and the body are separated and combined in a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view for explaining an example in which the earplug-type wearable device and the neckband device are separated and combined according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view for explaining an example in which the earplug-type wearable device and the neckband device are separated and combined according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a view for explaining an example in which the earplug-type wearable device and the neckband device are separated and combined according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a view for explaining an example in which the earplug type wearable device and the neckband device are separated and combined according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiments described below, and it is apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. In describing the embodiments, descriptions of technical contents that are widely known in the technical field to which the present invention pertains and which are not directly related to the technical subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

Meanwhile, in the accompanying drawings, the same components are represented by the same reference numerals. In the accompanying drawings, some components may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated. This is to clearly describe the gist of the present invention by omitting unnecessary descriptions not related to the gist of the present invention.

Human sleep is not just passive rest, but an active process that systematically performs the functions necessary for survival. During sleep, humans interact with various nerves in a complex and organic way. The sleep time required for a person varies depending on the individual, and if proper sleep is not achieved, fatigue is easily felt, concentration is reduced, and emotions can be sharpened. If this condition persists for a long time, there is an increased risk of cardiovascular or mental illness. Therefore, getting good quality sleep is a very important factor in health care.

Therefore, people put a lot of effort into getting a good night's sleep. In this regard, it is possible to consider a method of collecting a human biological signal to monitor a sleep state and induce sound sleep through appropriate stimulation. The biosignal is a signal in the form of electric potential or current generated from muscle cells or nerve cells of a human, and can be obtained by collecting and analyzing changes in electrical signals detected through electrodes attached to the human body.

Conventional biosignal measurement devices have a method of detecting a biosignal by attaching a wet electrode to a user's body. The wet electrode refers to an electrode that electrically interfaces an electrode made of a conductive metal with a user's skin through a hydrogel. The hydrogel is an electrolyte-based gel, and when the electrode and the skin make contact with the skin through the hydrogel, the contact impedance, which is an electrical resistance between the electrode and the skin, is lowered when the electrode made of a conductive metal is in direct contact with the skin. That is, the use of a hydrogel lowers the contact impedance between the electrode and the skin, thereby reducing the effect of the contact impedance on the micro-signal biosignal, which is advantageous for biosignal measurement. When a wet electrode is used as described above, a relatively uniform and stable biosignal can be obtained.

However, such a wet electrode is difficult to be repeatedly used and storage is not easy, so it is practically impossible to use it for home use. Furthermore, because it is not comfortable to wear, it is not desirable to use it for collecting sleep signals when considering user convenience. On the other hand, dry electrodes are easy to store, but due to the unique coldness and hardness of the metal, the user is not comfortable to wear, and high electrical contact resistance, which is the electrical resistance between the electrode and the skin, makes it difficult to collect high-quality signals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention for solving such a problem, a bio-signal may be collected by forming an electrode made of silicon on a wearable device. The electrode made of silicon may be formed by mixing a metal and / or non-metallic material having electrical conductivity and heat conductivity with the silicone polymer, and is easy to use and store as a dry electrode, and has a user comfort and high skin adhesion.

In particular, the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the human outer ear to collect a biosignal and apply a sleep guidance signal. To this end, a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ear tip made of silicon, and a silicon electrode is formed on a part of the ear tip to collect a bio signal, and the collected signal is transmitted to a circuit provided in the body of the wearable device. Can be.

To this end, it is necessary that the coupling structure between the ear tip and the body is stable. This is because when the shape of the ear tip is deformed or loosened, the coupling between the portion where the ear tip electrode is connected to the circuit of the main body is weakened, and thus electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity may be deteriorated.

The present invention aims to solve the above problems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a bio-signal before and after the user's sleep may be collected through an earplug-type device mounted on the outer ear, and a physical and magnetic structure for stably coupling a plurality of modules constituting the device Can provide.

More specifically, according to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one module that can be physically separated and combined can be combined to form a sleep inducing device, and each module uses magnetic attraction along with elasticity of the material and binding force of the structure. Can be combined. More detailed description will be described later in the description of the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view for explaining a sleep guiding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Sleep induction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a pair of wearable devices (110 in FIG. 1A), which is mounted on a user to collect biological signals before and after sleep, and provides a sleep guidance signal, is extended antenna coupled to the wearable device And / or a device in the form of a neckband that provides an extended battery (120 in FIG. 1A). In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pair of wearable devices 110 and the neckband type device 120 may be physically separated and combined, and the wearable device 110 and the neckband type device 120 More specific embodiments are separated and combined will be described later in the description of the accompanying drawings.

On the other hand, the wearable device 110 for collecting a bio-signal according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1b, is placed in the ear canal, the earplug shape is mounted in close contact with the human outer ear when the user is mounted The first area 10 in the form of an ear tip, disposed in close contact with the inside of the auricle near the ear canal, is connected to the second area 20 including the circuit and the second area 20, and a protruding wing tip disposed inside the auricle It may include a third region 30 of the form.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first region 10, the second region 20, and the third region 30 may include one or more electrodes for collecting bio signals, each region being physically And can be separated and combined. When each region is combined, the electrode included in each region may be electrically connected to the bio-signal collection circuit included in the second region 20. More specific embodiments in which each region is separated and combined will be described later in the description of the accompanying drawings.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the bio-signal collection device, unlike the example of FIG. 1, includes a wearing member for engaging the human ear wheel without being inserted into the human outer ear, in an area centered on the human ear. It may be in the form of an earphone that collects bio signals. Furthermore, the bio-signal collection device according to another embodiment of the present invention may be configured in the form of an eye patch to collect bio-signals in the face region centered on the human eye, without collecting bio-signals in the outer ear. Furthermore, depending on the implementation, the bio-signal may be collected through a band-type wearable device mounted on the wrist.

Meanwhile, although not separately illustrated in the drawings, the third region 30 may include a pattern antenna in the form of a wing tip. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the wearable device 110 is mounted by a user, the area in contact with the user's skin in the wearable device is preferably formed of a material such as silicone having softness and elasticity in consideration of wearing comfort. Do.

Meanwhile, when the wearable device is mounted on a human, the first region 10 and the second region 20 form an angle within a range that can be completely in close contact with the outer ear, and each of the electrodes capable of receiving electrical bio signals It may include at least one. The first electrode included in the first region 10 acts as a target electrode, and the second electrode included in the second region 20 acts as a reference electrode. On the other hand, the third region 30 may include a third electrode 35 at least partially formed of a conductive material to receive electrical bio signals.

The first electrode and the second electrode may be disposed as far apart as possible in a very limited space of the human ear, and input a reference signal for synchronizing the collected bio signals through a device mounted on the left ear and a device mounted on the right ear, respectively. You can also perform the function.

The first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode may serve to collect a user's bioelectrical signal. The biosignal may include electromyogram (EMG), safety (Electrooculogram, EOG), electroencephalogram (EGG), and electrocardiogram (ECG). In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrode disposed in the external auditory meatus becomes a single channel, and a biosignal in a form in which EMG, safety, EEG and ECG signals are combined can be collected.

Furthermore, the first electrode, the second electrode and / or the third electrode may function as an interface for applying electrical stimulation to the user. The wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention may provide electrical and auditory stimulation to the user in order to pull the user's sleep state in a high quality pattern, and the electrodes may function as a channel providing electrical stimulation to the user. have.

In particular, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode may be formed of a silicon material. This is because silicone is harmless to the human body, has no cold feeling peculiar to metal, has excellent wearing comfort, and has elasticity and softness, so that it is possible to collect high-quality biosignals by being in close contact with the skin without a hydrogel.

However, since silicon has no electrical conductivity, it is not suitable as an electrode. Therefore, the electrode according to the embodiment of the present invention can be formed by blending a metal powder having electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity to the silicone polymer. This is because when the metal powder is blended in a predetermined range in the silicone polymer, it can have metal-level electrical conductivity while maintaining the properties of silicon. In this case, each of the regions 10, 20, and 30 may be formed of conductive silicon and the remaining portions may be formed of non-conductive silicon.

The metal powder is a combination of, for example, silver, copper, nickel, aluminum, chromium, titanium and a plurality of materials with graphite, graphene, glass, and ceramic materials, and includes spheres, irregular flakes, leaves ( dendrite).

Furthermore, the magnetic region formed to combine each region may be formed of silicon containing a magnetic material, and the remaining portions may be formed of non-conductive silicone. For example, the eartip region is formed by blending a conductive powder with the silicone polymer, and the electrode region is formed by blending a magnetic powder with the silicone polymer, and each region is integrally formed. Can be. A more specific description of the magnetic region will be described later.

Meanwhile, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode may be formed of a conductive silicon material as described above, but the present invention cannot be interpreted as being limited thereto. That is, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode may be formed of a metal such as silver (Ag), silver chloride (AgCl), or stainless steel or copper, which is generally used for biosignal measurement. Furthermore, the electrode may be formed of a conductive material or a graphene material in which silicon and carbon are mixed.

2 is a view for explaining an example in which the ear tip and the body are separated and combined in the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 2a, the wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be divided into an ear tip 10 mounted on the human outer ear, a body 20 connected to the ear tip and including a circuit, Figure 2b As shown in the ear tip 10 and the body 20 may be physically separated. In particular, the ear tip 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed of a silicone material having at least a portion of conductivity.

For example, as shown in Figure 2b, the ear tip 10 is provided with a connecting portion 12 for engaging the dome-shaped housing 11 and the main body 20, the main body 20 is a connecting portion for engaging with the ear tip It is possible to consider the case where the body 22 is provided with 22 and a circuit. At this time, the housing 11 and the connecting portion 12 of the ear tip 10 are formed of an integral silicone material, and the connecting portion 12 is connected to the connecting portion 22 of the body 20 using physical bonding force and elasticity of silicone material. Can be combined.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion 12 of the ear tip and the connecting portion 22 of the main body may include a magnetic region. 2C shows a magnetic region included in each connection.

For example, the connection portion 12 of the ear tip may include a magnetic material 13 made of silicon. More specifically, the connection portion 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention may form a magnetic region 13 by blending a metal powder having electrical conductivity and magnetism with a silicone polymer. For example, when a nickel powder coated with silver is mixed with a silicone polymer in a predetermined range, it is possible to have a predetermined electrical conductivity and magnetism in the corresponding portion while maintaining the characteristics of the silicone. The metal powder may be, for example, silver, copper, nickel, aluminum, chromium, titanium and graphite, graphene, glass, ceramic materials, and a combination of a plurality of materials having magnetic properties, and may be exemplified as a circle (sphere), amorphous It may be in the form of flakes or leaves.

Meanwhile, the connection portion 22 of the main body may include a ferromagnetic material, that is, a magnet 23. In this case, when the connection portion of the ear tip and the connection portion of the body are physically coupled, an attractive force is formed between the magnetic regions 13 and 23 to improve the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity between the ear tip and the body, and stable coupling even when the device moves It has the effect of maintaining shape.

3 is a view for explaining an additional example in which the ear tip and the body are separated and combined in a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the ear tip and the body may be coupled using physical bonding force, elastic force of silicone, and attraction force of the magnetic body.

3A, the body portion 20 in which the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10 is cylindrical, the magnetic region 13 is formed in a three-dimensional plane on the inner surface of the cylinder, and is attached to the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10 ) Is an example in which the magnetic region 23 is formed as a three-dimensional surface on the outer surface of the connecting portion 22. In this case, the magnetic region may be formed by applying the magnetic material to the corresponding region after the connecting portions 12 and 23 are formed.

3B, the connecting portion 12 of the ear tip 10 has a cylindrical shape, the cylindrical portion is formed of a magnetic region 13, and the connecting portion 22 of the main body 20 is also attached to the connecting portion 12 of the ear tip 10. It is an example formed by the magnetic region 23. In this case, the magnetic region may be formed integrally with the connecting portion by mixing a magnetic material with the silicone polymer corresponding to the connecting portions 12 and 23.

3c, the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10 is a cylindrical shape, and a magnetic region 13 is formed in such a way that a magnetic body in the form of a pipe is fitted into the connection portion, and the connection portion 22 of the body 20 is also a pipe-shaped magnetic body Is an example in which the magnetic region 23 is interposed. In this case, the magnetic region may be manufactured in a pipe shape by mixing a magnetic material with a silicone polymer, and then coupled to the ear tip and the body using the elastic force of silicone.

3d, a magnetic region 13 is formed by protruding a magnetic body at a connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10, and a magnetic region 23 is formed at the connection portion 22 of the main body 20 by engraving a magnetic body, thereby forming a magnetic field. This is an example in which the ear tip and the body are connected by physical coupling of the attraction of the area and the embossment of the magnetic body.

3e, the body portion 20 in which the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10 has a cylindrical shape, a magnetic region 13 is formed as a two-dimensional line on the inner surface of the cylinder, and is attached to the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10 ) Is an example in which the magnetic region 23 is formed as a two-dimensional line on the outer surface of the connecting portion 22.

FIG. 3f shows the body portion 20 in which the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10 is cylindrical, a magnetic region 13 is formed on a part of the inner surface of the cylinder, and is attached to the connection portion 12 of the ear tip 10. This is an example in which the magnetic region 23 is formed on a part of the outer surface of the connecting portion 22.

3G is an example in which the connecting portion 12 of the ear tip 10 and the connecting portion 22 of the main body 20 form a screw structure, and magnetic regions 13 and 23 are formed in each screw groove. In this case, the ear tip and the main body may be connected by the attraction of the magnetic region and the combination of the screw structure of the magnetic body.

On the other hand, the body 20 of the wearable device 110 for collecting a bio-signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is detected through a sensor, an electrode that performs a function of detecting the movement of the wearer or the mounting of the wearable device A signal amplification module for amplifying the bioelectric signal, a filter module for removing noise, a signal conversion module for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, and a microprocessor for processing signals by controlling operations of the signal amplification module, filter module, and signal conversion module It may include a processor, a memory for storing the collected data and sleep-inducing content. Furthermore, the main body 20 may include a chip antenna for transmitting and receiving data with other devices, and an antenna may be formed on the wing tip 30 to perform data transmission and reception.

4 is a view for explaining an example in which the wing tip 30 and the body are separated and combined in a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be divided into an ear tip 10 mounted on a human outer ear, a body 20 including a circuit, and a wing tip 30, and the ear tip ( 10), the body 20 and the wing tip 30 may be physically separated.

In particular, the wing tip 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a ring-shaped antenna unit 35 including an electrode for collecting electrical bio signals, and a ring connection unit 34 forming a center hole to be physically connected to the main body. It may include. Furthermore, the main body 20 may include a connecting portion 24 for coupling with the wing tip. At this time, the connection portion 34 of the wing tip is formed of a silicone material and may be coupled to the connection portion 24 of the body 20 using physical bonding force and elastic force of silicone material. Furthermore The antenna unit 35 may be formed of a conductive silicone material to collect electrical bio signals.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion 34 of the wing tip and the connecting portion 24 of the main body include a magnetic region, and physical coupling force of both connecting portions, elastic force of silicone material, and attraction of the magnetic body are used as shown in FIG. 4B. Can be combined.

For example, the connection portion 34 of the wing tip may include a magnetic material made of silicon. More specifically, the connection portion 34 according to an embodiment of the present invention may form a magnetic region by blending a metal powder having electrical conductivity and magnetism with a silicone polymer. For example, when a nickel powder coated with silver is mixed with a silicone polymer in a predetermined range, it is possible to have a predetermined electrical conductivity and magnetism in the corresponding portion while maintaining the characteristics of the silicone. The metal powder may be, for example, silver, copper, nickel, aluminum, chromium, titanium and graphite, graphene, glass, ceramic materials, and a combination of a plurality of materials having magnetic properties, and may be exemplified as a circle (sphere), amorphous It may be in the form of flakes or leaves. The magnetic region of FIG. 4A is an example located on one surface where the center hole is formed.

Meanwhile, the connecting portion 24 of the main body may include a ferromagnetic material, that is, a magnet. In this case, when the connection portion of the wing tip and the connection portion of the body are physically coupled, an attractive force is formed between the magnetic regions to improve the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity between the wing tip and the body, and it is possible to maintain a stable bonding form even when the device moves. It works.

5 is a view for explaining an additional example in which the wing tip and the body are separated and combined in a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the ear tip and the body may be coupled using physical bonding force, elastic force of silicone, and attraction force of the magnetic body.

FIG. 5A shows that the connection portion 34 of the wing tip 30 is a ring shape, and is formed of a silicone material having a magnetic region on an inner surface of the center hole, and is fitted to the connection portion 24 of the body using elastic force of silicone. . That is, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, after the ear tip 10 and the body 20 are combined, the wing tip 30 may be attached using an elastic force. In this case, the shape of the connection portion of the wing tip and the shape of the connection portion of the main body may be matched in the form of embossed or intaglio.

5B is an example in which the connecting portion 24 of the main body has a first connecting portion for connecting with the ear tip and a second connecting portion for connecting with the wing tip, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are attachable. According to the example shown in FIG. 5B, the connection portion 34 of the wing tip 30 is attached to the second connection portion of the body using the attraction force and physical coupling force of the magnetic body, and the connection portion 14 of the ear tip 10 is the attraction force of the magnetic body And a structure in which the first connection portion of the main body is connected to the first connection portion of the main body by using a physical coupling force, and the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the main body are combined. Form.

FIG. 5C is an example in which the connection portion 34 of the wing tip 30 has an arch shape, a magnetic region is located on one side where the arch is connected to the main body, and a magnetic region is located on one side where the main body is also attached to the arch. According to the example illustrated in FIG. 5C, the connecting portion 34 of the wing tip 30 is inserted into the connecting portion 24 of the main body 20 in a vertical direction so that the wing tip and the main body can be connected.

5d is a connection portion 34 is formed at both ends of the annular antenna portion 35 of the wing tip 30, the corresponding region is formed as a magnetic region, and the connection portion of the main body has a magnetic region at the region where both ends of the antenna portion are inserted. Here is an example. According to the example illustrated in FIG. 5D, both ends of the antenna unit may be inserted into the connection unit 24 of the main body 20 in a vertical direction to connect the wing tip and the main body.

5E is a coupling member formed at both ends of the ring-shaped antenna portion 35 of the wing tip 30, the coupling member operates as a connection portion 34, and a magnetic region is formed in an area where the coupling member is inserted into the main body. This is an example. The connecting portion of the main body may be formed with a magnetic region in the region where the coupling member is introduced. According to the example shown in Figure 5e, the coupling member formed at both ends of the antenna unit is inserted in the vertical direction of the connecting portion of the main body can be connected to the wing tip.

6 is a view for explaining an example in which the earplug-type wearable device and the neckband device are separated and combined according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ear tip 10 is coupled to one surface of the main body 20, and a charging area may be disposed on the other surface. The charging area may perform a function of supplying power to the wearable device 110 by combining with a charging module of the neckband type device 120. To this end, the charging area of the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a charging terminal 60 and a magnetic area 65 as shown in FIG. 6A.

The filling area according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the wearable device 110 is mounted on a human, may use an inexpensive material having a high hardness compared to an area directly contacting the human skin because it does not directly contact the human skin. For example, the magnetic region 65 may be formed of a metal having a ferromagnetic substance property, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, and alloys thereof, or formed of a silicon ring containing a magnetic metal to magnetically charge the charging module of another device. It can be combined, and supply power through the charging terminal 60. Furthermore, the charging terminal 60 may be formed in a logo shape as shown in FIG. 6A.

In this case, the main body 10 may be combined with the neckband device 120 using the attractive force of the magnetic region, and when coupled with the neckband device 120, power may be supplied through the charging terminal.

To this end, the neckband device 120 may form a magnetic region 66 at one end of the cable, as shown in FIG. 6B. 6B shows an example in which the magnetic region 66 is formed in a ring shape at one end of the cable. In this case, the magnetic region of the neckband device may form an attractive force by forming a magnetic region and an attractive force of the main body in a state as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, and combined with the magnetic region of the main body in a state as shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F. Can be.

Meanwhile, the neckband device 120 may perform a function of expanding the functions of the battery and the antenna of the wearable device in combination with the wearable device 110. The wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention is a very small device in the form of an earplug mounted on a human ear. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure a space for sufficient batteries, antennas and sensors. In particular, since the wearable device 110 must be able to continuously operate for 9 hours before and after human sleep, efficient control of the battery is a very important problem.

That is, since the wearable device 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention considers a form mounted on the human outer ear, there is a limitation in that the above component must be implemented in a very small space called the human outer ear. Therefore, it is desirable to implement chipsets optimized for a minimum space without forming various types of sensors, large-capacity batteries, and communication modules.

The neckband device is an apparatus for solving this problem, and may perform functions of an extension antenna, an extension battery, and an extension sensor. More specifically, the neckband device 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a coupling part, an extension antenna and / or an extension battery part and an extension sensor part.

The coupling unit may perform a function of magnetically coupling with the wearable device 110. To this end, the coupling part may include a power supply terminal and a magnetic region, and the power supply terminal may be formed in a logo shape that matches the charging terminal 60 of the wearable device 110. Further, the magnetic region 66 of the neckband device may magnetically couple with the magnetic region 65 of the wearable device, and when both are combined, provide power of the extended battery unit to the wearable device 110 through the power supply terminal. Can be.

Meanwhile, the extended sensor unit may include a temperature sensor, an illuminance sensor, or an infrared sensor for collecting data on the sleeping environment, and may also include a silicon sensor for collecting bio signals by contacting a user's body. On the other hand, since the sensor unit is not in direct contact with human skin, it may be possible to use an inexpensive material having a high hardness compared to the electrodes 15, 25, 35 of the wearable device 110.

On the other hand, when the neckband device 120 and the wearable device 110 are combined, the antenna module 80 of the neckband device 120 can be used in the wearable device 110, so that the communication coverage of the wearable device 110 is improved. Can be extended.

7 is a wearable device 110 having the same configuration as in FIG. 6, that is, a magnetic region 65 is formed on one surface of the main body 20, and a neckband device 120 having a magnetic region 66 formed at one end of the cable 120 ) Is an exemplary drawing in the form of a combination using an attractive force between magnetic regions.

8 shows that a magnetic region is formed in the wearable device 110 and the neckband device 120 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the wearable device 110 and the neckband device 120 are formed by using the attraction force of the magnetic region. It is a diagram for explaining an example to be combined.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the main body 20 of the wearable device 110 may be formed with a magnetic region as shown in FIG. 8A 65 on a side of the ear tip 10. Furthermore, the neckband device 120 may be formed with a magnetic region as shown in FIG. 8A 66 on one surface forming the end of the cable. In this case, when the angle is the same as in FIG. 8B, an attractive force is formed between the magnetic regions on both sides, so that the wearable device and the neckband device can be combined as shown in FIG. 8C. 8D is a wearable device 110 having the configuration as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, that is, a magnetic region 65 is formed on a side surface of the main body 20, and a magnetic region 66 is formed on one surface forming the end of the cable. The formed neckband device 120 is an exemplary view in a form in which a magnetic force between magnetic regions is combined.

9 is a magnetic area is formed on the wearable device 110 and the neckband device 120 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the wearable device 110 and the neckband device 120 are formed using the attraction force of the magnetic area. It is a diagram for explaining an example to be combined.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the main body 20 of the wearable device 110 is formed with a concave region on the side that is attached to the ear tip 10, as shown in Figure 9a 65, the coupling region is exposed on the surface A magnetic region can be formed. Furthermore, the neckband device 120 may have a magnetic region as shown in FIG. 9B 66 on one surface forming the end of the cable. In this case, the magnetic regions will be located at 65 and 66, respectively, at an angle as shown in FIG. 9C, and if the angles are as illustrated in FIG. 9D, an attractive force is formed between both magnetic regions, so that the wearable device and the neckband device are combined as shown in FIG. 9E. Can be. 9E is a wearable device 110 having the configuration as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, that is, a magnetic region 65 is formed on the side surface of the main body 20 as an intaglio, and a magnetic region 66 on one surface forming an end of the cable. ) Is an exemplary view in which the neckband device 120 is formed by using an attractive force between magnetic regions.

Meanwhile, although not separately illustrated in the drawings, the wearable device 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory and a processor, and is capable of operating itself without being connected to other devices. That is, the wearable device may collect a user's bio-signal without interworking with the user's smartphone, estimate the sleep state based on the collected bio-signals, and provide a stimulus according to the estimated sleep state. This is because the method of automatically controlling the device according to the user's state is most suitable for the purpose of achieving the object of the present invention such as sleep induction and awakening, without the user having to perform a separate operation through a smartphone.

For example, the wearable device 110 may start collecting bio-signals when a user is detected, and apply a sleep-inducing stimulus if it does not enter a sleep state even after a certain period of time after mounting. Furthermore, ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) audio content that can determine the user's sleep state by pre-sleep, thin sleep, deep sleep, and after sleep, and give pink noise, white noise, and psychological stability according to the sleep state, Alternatively, content for sleeping awakening may be provided.

More specifically, the wearable device 110 may include a sensor module, a stimulus output unit, an antenna, a coupling unit, a memory, and a control unit, and may further include a battery, a signal processing module, an interface, and a display for displaying status. have. The display may exemplify an LED, and each of the wearable device is distinguished from a state in which the user is mounted, a state in which a bio-signal is collected, a state of charge, a state of being coupled with another device, or a state of transmitting and receiving data to or from another device. The function of displaying in different colors can be performed.

The sensor unit of the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a motion sensor that senses the movement of the wearer. The motion sensor may include at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor, and it is appropriate to implement a module with relatively low power consumption. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the motion sensing data may be used to determine whether the user has entered a sleep ready state in which motion is almost eliminated by lying down.

Furthermore, the sensor unit may include a contact sensor, a body temperature sensor, an illuminance sensor, or an infrared sensor that senses whether the wearable device is mounted on the user.

Meanwhile, the sensor unit may include an electrode for receiving a bioelectrical signal of the wearer. As described above, the bioelectrical signal may be obtained at a portion where the wearable device is in close contact with the user's skin.

The human bioelectric signal is generated by the electrochemical action of cells constituting nerve and muscle tissue, and can be measured using a sensor such as an electrode. For example, the bio-signals include electromyography, safety, electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram, and the electromyography, safety, electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram signals may be collected in a combined form.

For example, EMG is a signal showing muscle movement, and is an electrical signal generated by muscle movement of a user's face. Electromyography is an electrical signal generated by a physiological change occurring in the muscle fiber membrane, and according to an embodiment of the present invention, the weight of the user to determine whether there is a molar symptom biting a molar during sleep, a cocoil symptom, or a drool symptom Or it can be used as a parameter.

For example, the safety level is a signal showing the movement of the eye, and is an electrical signal generated due to a voltage difference between the corneas of the user according to the movement of the eye. There is a constant potential between the cornea (+) of the eye and the retina (-), which acts as a dipole. When the user gazes in front, it is zero (0), and when the user gazes to the left, the + component, when gazing to the right,-component It is output and the + and-components can be changed depending on the polarity of the electrode and the direction of movement. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the safety level may be used as a weight or parameter for analyzing REM sleep state by measuring pupil movement and the like.

Furthermore, an electroencephalogram is a signal that shows the activity state of the brain and is an electrical signal generated when a signal is transmitted from the human nervous system to the brain nerves. According to an embodiment of the present invention, EEG may be used as a weight or parameter for estimating sleep patterns by measuring brain activity.

All.

Furthermore, an electrocardiogram is an electrical signal generated during contraction and relaxation of the heart and is the most representative biosignal that can be easily and quickly measured on the body surface. The movement of the heart is expressed in beats per minute (bpm), and changes in the autonomic nervous system can be seen through changes in the heart rate.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrocardiogram may be used as a reference for synchronizing a pair of biological signals collected from the left and right ears, respectively. Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user's breathing pattern may be estimated from an ECG signal. For example, the respiratory rate and the respiratory rate decrease during non-remed sleep, and during the REM sleep period, the respiratory pattern exhibits very irregular characteristics. The stage of sleep can be estimated using the respiratory pattern estimated using the electrocardiogram and the electrocardiogram signal. Furthermore, it may be used as a weight or parameter for analyzing sleep apnea.

In the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the stimulus output unit may include, for example, an audio unit. The audio unit may output awakening-inducing music, sound stimulation as well as awakening-inducing music, vibration, and sound stimulation according to a user's sleep state.

Furthermore, the wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an antenna for transmitting and receiving data to and from another device, and a coupling unit for coupling with another device. Furthermore, it may include a memory for storing collected biosignal data, sensing data, and / or content for inducing sleep and / or awakening. Furthermore, although not illustrated in FIG. 5, a signal processing module that amplifies the bioelectric signal sensed through an electrode and performs signal processing to remove noise and convert it into a digital signal, data stored in a battery and a memory supplying power It may include an interface for transmission to another device.

Since the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention considers a form mounted on the human outer ear, there is a limitation in that the above component must be implemented in a very small space called the human outer ear. Therefore, it is desirable to implement chipsets optimized for a minimum space without forming various types of sensors, large-capacity batteries, and communication modules.

Meanwhile, the controller of the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention may serve to control the overall operation of other components. For example, the control unit controls the signal processing module to amplify, remove noise, and change the bio-electrical signal input through the sensor module into a digital signal, stores the signal-processed bio-signal data in a memory, and stores previously stored user sleep patterns It can perform a function of providing an appropriate stimulus by comparing the user's sleep state with.

In particular, the controller of the wearable device according to the embodiment of the present invention may perform a function of determining whether to drop or store the input bio signal. As described above, the wearable device needs to be optimized because the components must be formed in a minimum space. Accordingly, the control unit may control to store the bio-signal in the memory only when it is determined that the user has entered the sleep ready state, rather than storing all input signals.

For example, the controller may process to store the bio-signal when the user's wearing of the wearable device is sensed and the displacement of the user's movement data measured through the motion sensor is maintained for a certain period below a preset range. As another example, the controller may process to store a biosignal when a user's wearing of the wearable device is detected and the user's motion data measured through the motion sensor follows a preset lying posture pattern.

On the other hand, when the user detects that the wearable device is detached, the controller may stop storing the bio-signal, and when the bio-signal data stored in the memory is transmitted to another device through the communication module, the corresponding data may be deleted. On the other hand, the base station 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5 is a wearable device and / or a coupling unit for coupling with a neckband device, a display that displays the status, a communication unit for communicating with other devices , A sensor unit for collecting environmental information, a stimulus output unit for inducing sleep and / or wakefulness, and a processor. Furthermore, a signal processing module and a memory may be further provided.

The sensor unit performs a function of collecting sleep environment information, and may include an illuminance sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound sensor, and / or an infrared sensor.

The stimulus output unit includes a diffuser that provides olfactory stimulation that provides psychological stability, lighting that provides visual stimulation according to sleep state, and audio that provides auditory stimulus according to sleep state, and an electric unit for providing tactile stimulation can do.

The embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the present specification and drawings are merely to provide a specific example to easily explain the technical content of the present invention and to understand the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that other modified examples based on the technical idea of the present invention can be implemented in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims (5)

In the wearable device mounted on the user's ear,
On the basis of the elastic first material, at least a part is formed of a conductive second material-the first material and the second material are integrally formed and are not separated-further comprising a third magnetic material , Ear tips that are in close contact with the user's skin through the first material, collect electrical bio signals through the second material, and are attached to the body using the elastic force of the first material;
A circuit for acquiring an electrical biosignal and the ear tip are physically attached, and a first coupling portion including a fourth material forming a magnetic attraction with the third material, wherein the circuit includes the first coupling portion And a body electrically connected to the second material when the ear tip is attached. According to claim 1,
Further comprising a ring-shaped antenna unit including an electrode for collecting electrical bio-signals and a wing tip comprising a fifth magnetic material that is physically connected to the main body,
The main body,
The wing tip is physically attached, and includes a second coupling portion comprising a fifth material and a sixth material forming an attractive force, and the circuit is electrically connected to the electrode when the wing tip is attached to the second coupling portion. Wearable device characterized in that. According to claim 2,
The wing tip is coupled to both ends of the annular antenna portion, and further includes a ring connection portion forming a center hole,
The ring connection portion, the wearable device characterized in that the sixth material is located on one surface where the center hole is formed, and the center hole is in close contact with the second coupling portion. According to claim 2,
The wing tip, wearable device, characterized in that both ends of the annular antenna portion is coupled to the second coupling portion of the main body, and the sixth material is located at both ends of the antenna portion. According to claim 2,
The main body includes a third coupling unit for connecting to the antenna module and other devices providing a battery,
The third coupling portion is formed by including a fifth material having a magnetic force on a surface opposite to one surface on which the first coupling portion is formed, or by including the fifth material on a surface where the second coupling portion is formed. Wearable device.

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