Electronic device and control method therof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016278705-A1
Application number	US-201514966583-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 11, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are an electronic device and method for controlling the same. According to the present invention, an electronic device and method for controlling the same include a body, a plurality of electrodes exposed to a surface of the body to contact at least two portions of a user's body, and a controller configured to apply a current to at least any one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a bio signal of the user. According to the present invention, the user's bio signal may be obtained.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
a body; a plurality of electrodes exposed to a surface of the body to contact at least two portions of a user's body; and a controller configured to apply a current to at least any one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a bio signal of the user.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a coupler coupling the body to at least one of a pottery bowl and a seat cover of a toilet.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the coupler includes a cover assembly coupled to the seat cover and a bowl assembly coupled to the pottery bowl, and wherein the cover assembly and the bowl assembly each include at least one electrode configured to contact the user's body to communicate an electrical signal.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one electrode includes a first electrode positioned in an upper surface of the cover assembly to contact the user's thigh and a second electrode positioned in an outside surface of the bowl assembly to contact the user's finger.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to, after applying an electrical signal to at least one of the first and second electrodes, obtain the user's bio information based on a change in the applied electrical signal sensed through at least another one of the first and second electrodes.

6 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the bowl assembly includes:
a first upper plate; a second upper plate positioned on substantially the same plane as the first upper plate; and a third upper plate slidingly inserted into an inside of at least one of the first upper plate and the second upper plate to adjust an interval between the first upper plate and the second upper plate depending on the shape of the pottery bowl.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a camera sensor provided toward an inside of the pottery bowl of the toilet to observe at least one of a color and shape of excreta discharged from the user.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes:
a first body shaped as a cylinder and having a first side surface contacting a hand of the user and a second side surface contacting a knee of the user; a second body having substantially the same shape as the first body and spaced apart from the first body to contact the other hand of the user and the other knee of the user; and a third body formed of a flexible material to connect the first body and the second body with each other.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein a first electrode is positioned in an upper side surface of the first and second bodies, and a second electrode is positioned in another side surface of the first and second bodies.

10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein any one of the first and second bodies is inserted into an inside of the other of the first and second bodies.

11 . A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting use of a toilet; measuring a bio signal of a user using the toilet; and transmitting the measured bio signal to another terminal.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein measuring the bio signal includes:
transmitting an electrical signal through at least one of a first electrode provided in a cover assembly coupled to a seat cover of the toilet and a second electrode provided in a bowl assembly coupled to a pottery bowl of the toilet; and receiving the electrical signal through at least another one of the first and second electrodes.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the bio signal is measured using a plurality of first electrodes corresponding to both hands of the user and a plurality of second electrodes corresponding to both knees of the user.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the measured bio signal includes transmitting the measured bio signal to the other terminal depending on a state of the measured bio signal.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device includes:
a first body shaped as a cylinder and having a first side surface contacting a hand of the user and a second side surface contacting a knee of the user; a second body having substantially the same shape as the first body and spaced apart from the first body to contact the other hand of the user and the other knee of the user; and a third body formed of a flexible material to connect the first body and the second body with each other, and wherein the method further comprises deactivating the function of measuring the bio signal when any one of the first and second bodies is inserted into a cavity in the other of the first and second bodies.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Han Jongbeom
• Park Jongseok
• Han Jaewon
• Lee Minjong
• Park Mijin

Classifications

• A61B5/0077

  Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens · CPC title

• A61B5/0002

  Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07) · CPC title

• A61B5/053

  Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body · CPC title

• A61B5/6887 Primary

  mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices · CPC title

• A61B2560/0468

  Built-in electrodes · CPC title