Thermoelectric energy generator arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019365253-A1
Application number	US-201916425205-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2019
Priority date	Jun 4, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor structure includes a housing arranged to be attached to a body; a thermoelectric generator element in the housing and configured to convert temperature gradient into electric energy; a heat collecting surface coupled to the housing on a side arranged to face a skin when the body is coupled to a user of the sensor structure; a heat conduction channel coupled between the heat collecting surface and the thermoelectric generator element, wherein a cross-sectional area of the heat conduction channel is smaller than the heat collecting surface; and a heat sink coupled to the housing on a side arranged to face away from the skin when the body is coupled to the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor structure, comprising:
a housing arranged to be attached to a body; a thermoelectric generator element comprised in the housing and configured to convert temperature gradient into electric energy; a heat collecting surface coupled to the housing on a side arranged to face a skin when the body is coupled to a user of the sensor structure; a heat conduction channel coupled between the heat collecting surface and the thermoelectric generator element, wherein a cross-sectional area of the heat conduction channel is smaller than the heat collecting surface; and a heat sink coupled to the housing on a side arranged to face away from the skin when the body is coupled to the user.

2 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor head on the heat collecting surface; a measurement circuitry configured to process a measurement signal acquired by using the sensor head; and a signal line coupling the sensor head with the measurement circuitry through the body.

3 . The sensor structure of claim 2 , wherein the heat collecting surface forms an electrode of the sensor head.

4 . The sensor structure of claim 3 , wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to perform at least two different types of measurements by using the heat collecting surface as the electrode of the sensor head.

5 . The sensor structure of claim 4 , wherein the at least two different types of measurements comprise at least two of the following measurements, electrocardiogram measurement, galvanic skin response measurement, and bioimpedance measurement.

6 . The sensor structure of claim 2 , wherein the sensor head comprises a photoplethysmogram sensor head.

7 . The sensor structure of claim 6 , further comprising an electrocardiogram sensor, wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to receive and process measurement signals received from the electrocardiogram sensor and the photoplethysmogram sensor and to compute a pulse transit time of a heart pulse from the measurement signals.

8 . The sensor structure of claim 2 , further comprising an electrode arranged on the same side of the body as the heat sink, and a signal line connecting the electrode to the measurement circuitry.

9 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric generator element has an annular or semi annular shape, and the heat sink is comprised in an annular bezel of a wrist device.

10 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , further comprising at least one insulation layer between the heat collecting surface and the heat sink and surrounding the heat conducting channel.

11 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , further comprising means for reversing polarity of an electric signal output by the thermoelectric generator element when the polarity of the electric signal switches as a result of reversed operation of the thermoelectric generator element.

12 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , further comprising at least one insulation element thermally isolating a hot side of the thermoelectric generator element from the heat sink.

13 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises a heat dissipation surface arranged to dissipate heat to air and further comprises a thermal conduction element arranged to conduct heat from a cold side of the thermoelectric generator component to the heat dissipation surface.

14 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , wherein the housing is arranged to be attached to at least one of a shirt, hat, swimming suit, harness, wrist strap.

15 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , wherein, when the housing is attached to the body, the body surrounds the heat conducting channel and provides thermal insulation between the heat collecting surface and the heat sink.

16 . The sensor structure of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the heat conducting channel is smaller than an area of a hot plate of the thermoelectric generator facing the heat conducting channel.

Assignees

• Polar Electro Oy

Inventors

• Rytky Pekka

Classifications

• A61B5/02416

  using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2560/0214

  of power generation or supply · CPC title

• A61B5/0533

  Measuring galvanic skin response · CPC title

• A61B5/6803

  Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles · CPC title

• A61B5/681

  Wristwatch-type devices · CPC title