Electronic device for measuring biometric information and method of operating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10599904-B2
Application number	US-201715449141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2016
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

A method of operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a gesture through a first sensor module, acquiring first biometric information through a second sensor module in response to the gesture, determining whether a user's skin contacts the second sensor module based on the first biometric information, and acquiring second biometric information from the user's skin through the second sensor module according to a result of the determination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting a command for measuring specific biometric information;
in response to detecting the command, acquiring, using a biometric sensor of the electronic device, a first signal provided by a first light which is reflected through a user's skin during a first time period, the first light corresponding infrared light;
identifying whether a contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in a state capable of measuring the specific biometric information based on waveforms of the first signal during the first time period;
in response to the identifying that the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information, acquiring, using the biometric sensor, a second signal provided by a second light which is reflected through the user's skin during a second time period after the first time period, the second light corresponding at least one of visible light and infrared light for measuring the specific biometric information; and
identifying the specific biometric information based on the second signal,
wherein the specific biometric information includes information related to a health state of the use, and
wherein the detecting of the command comprises:
identifying, using a first sensor of the electronic device, the command by comparing a gesture with a preset gesture, and
driving the biometric sensor according to a result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the driving of the biometric sensor comprises outputting an infrared light from the biometric sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of whether the contact state comprises:
identifying whether an object contacts the biometric sensor; and
identifying whether the object is the user's skin based on the waveforms of the first signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of whether the contact state comprises:
acquiring the first signal from the user's skin through the biometric sensor; and
identifying whether the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information by comparing the waveforms of the first signal with preset waveforms.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the identifying of whether the contact state comprises identifying whether the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information based on at least one of a shape of the waveforms, a peak point of the waveforms, or a pattern of the waveforms.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acquiring of the second signal comprises:
identifying whether the biometric sensor is in a state where the specific biometric information can be measured; and
acquiring the second signal according to a result of the identification.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of whether the contact state comprises:
turning on an infrared light source of the biometric sensor; and
identifying whether the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information based on an infrared light output from the infrared light source.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifying of whether the contact state comprises, when the user's skin does not contact the biometric sensor, turning off the infrared light source.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the acquiring of the second signal comprises:
when the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information, turning on a visible light source of the biometric sensor; and
acquiring the second signal based on at least one of the infrared light output from the infrared light source or a visible light output from the visible light source.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the acquiring of the second signal comprises providing a state in which the specific biometric information is measured through at least one of visual information, auditory information, or tactile information.

11. An electronic device comprising:
a memory;
a biometric sensor; and
at least one processor configured to:
detect a command for measuring specific biometric information,
in response to detecting the command, acquire, using the biometric sensor, a first signal provided by a light which is reflected through a user's skin during a first time period, the first light corresponding infrared light,
identify whether a contact state between a user's skin and the biometric sensor is in a state capable of measuring the specific biometric information based on waveforms of the first signal, during the first time period,
in response to the identifying that the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information, acquire, using the biometric sensor, a second signal provided by a light which is reflected through the user's skin during a second time period after the first time period, the second light corresponding at least one of visible light and infrared light for measuring the specific biometric information, and
identify the specific biometric information based on the second signal,

wherein the specific biometric information includes information related to a health state of the user, and
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
identify, using a first sensor of the electronic device, the command by comparing a gesture with a preset gesture stored in the memory, and
output an infrared light from the biometric sensor in order to acquire the first signal according to a result of the comparison.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
acquire the first signal from the user's skin through the biometric sensor, and
identify whether the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information by comparing the waveforms of the first signal with preset waveforms stored in the memory.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify whether the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information based on at least one of a shape of the waveforms, a peak point of the waveforms, or a pattern of the waveforms.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
identify whether the biometric sensor is in a state where the specific biometric information can be measured, and
acquire the second signal according to a result of the identification.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify whether the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information based on an infrared light output from an infrared light source of the biometric sensor.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein, when the contact state between the user's skin and the biometric sensor is in the state capable of measuring the specific biometric information, the at least one processor is further configured to:
output a visible light from a visible light source of the biome

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kwon Soon-Hwan

Classifications

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title

• G06F2203/04108

  Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06V40/28 Primary

  Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language (static hand signs G06V40/113) · CPC title