Method, devices and systems for detecting an attachment of an electronic patch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459089-B2
Application number	US-201414459996-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2014
Priority date	Apr 9, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

An electronic sensor patch includes a capacitive sensor configured to detect when the electronic sensor patch is applied to a patient. A processor may be powered down for a predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic patch is not in close proximity to a body. The electronic sensor patch may be activated in response to determining that the electronic patch is in close proximity to the body. The capacitance sensor may be used to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body by measuring capacitance of the capacitance sensor, comparing the measured capacitance to a threshold, and determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of activating an electronic sensor patch configured to be applied to a patient, comprising:
using a capacitance sensor to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body;
powering down a processor of the electronic sensor patch to a low-power mode for a predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic sensor patch is not in close proximity to a body;
activating the electronic sensor patch in response to determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to the body; and
executing, by the processor, a manufacturing mode in response to connection to a battery power source, wherein while in the manufacturing mode the capacitance sensor is not activated.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the capacitance sensor to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body comprises:
measuring a capacitance of the capacitance sensor;
comparing the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor to a capacitance threshold; and
determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the capacitance threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the capacitance sensor to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body comprises:
energizing the processor of the electronic sensor patch upon expiration of the predetermined time interval;
energizing the capacitance sensor;
measuring, by the processor, a capacitance of the capacitance sensor based on energizing the capacitance sensor;
comparing, by the processor, the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor to a capacitance threshold; and
determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the capacitance threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein energizing the capacitance sensor comprises applying to the capacitance sensor one of a voltage from a voltage source, and a constant current from a constant current source.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein powering down the processor of the electronic sensor patch to the low-power mode for the predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic sensor patch is not in close proximity to a body comprises:
starting a timer in response determining that the electronic sensor patch is not in close proximity to a body;
powering down the processor of the electronic sensor patch to the low-power mode that monitors the timer and reduces a power consumption by the processor and components of the electronic sensor patch;
determining based on the timer whether the predetermined time interval has elapsed; and
leaving the processor in the low-power mode in response to determining based on the timer that the predetermined time interval has not elapsed,
wherein energizing the processor of the electronic sensor patch upon expiration of the predetermined time interval comprises energizing the processor of the electronic sensor patch in response to determining based on the timer that the predetermined time interval has elapsed.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a time since the connection to the battery power source exceeds a first time threshold, wherein the first time threshold represents an amount of time that the electronic sensor patch may be handled during manufacturing and testing; and
executing, by the processor, a shelf mode in which the capacitance sensor is activated at the predetermined time interval in response to determining that the time since the connection to the battery power source exceeds a first time threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining a duration that the electronic sensor patch has been in the shelf mode in response to activation of the electronic sensor patch; and
transmitting an indication of the determined duration that the electronic sensor patch has been in the shelf mode.

8. An electronic sensor patch, comprising:
a battery;
a capacitance sensor; and
a processor coupled to the battery and the capacitance sensor, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
using the capacitance sensor to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body;
placing the processor in a low-power mode for a predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic sensor patch is not in close proximity to a body;
activating the electronic sensor patch in response to determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to the body; and
executing, by the processor, a manufacturing mode in response to connection to a battery power source, wherein while in the manufacturing mode the capacitance sensor is not activated.

9. The electronic sensor patch of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations such that using the capacitance sensor to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body comprises:
measuring capacitance of the capacitance sensor;
comparing the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor to a capacitance threshold; and
determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the capacitance threshold.

10. The electronic sensor patch of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations such that using the capacitance sensor to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body comprises:
energizing the processor of the electronic sensor patch upon expiration of the predetermined time interval;
energizing the capacitance sensor;
measuring capacitance of the capacitance sensor based on energizing the capacitance sensor;
comparing the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor to a capacitance threshold; and
determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the capacitance threshold.

11. The electronic sensor patch of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that energizing the capacitance sensor comprises applying to the capacitance sensor one of a voltage from a voltage source, and a constant current from a constant current source.

12. The electronic sensor patch of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that powering down the processor of the electronic sensor patch to the low-power mode for the predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic sensor patch is not in close proximity to a body comprises:
starting a timer in response determining that the electronic sensor patch is not in close proximity to a body;
powering down the processor of the electronic sensor patch to the low-power mode that monitors the timer but minimizes power consumption by the processor and components of the electronic sensor patch;
determining based on the timer whether the predetermined time interval has elapsed; and
leaving the processor in the low-power mode in response to determining based on the timer that the predetermined time interval has not elapsed,
wherein energizing the processor of the electronic sensor patch upon expiration of the predetermined time interval

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Ganton Robert Bruce
• Ballam Robert Scott

Classifications

• A61B2560/028

  Arrangements to prevent overuse, e.g. by counting the number of uses · CPC title

• A61B2560/0209

  adapted for power saving · CPC title

• H03K2217/94042

  Means for reducing energy consumption · CPC title

• A61B2562/0257

  Proximity sensors · CPC title

• G01B7/023 Primary

  for measuring distance between sensor and object (G01B7/082 and G01B7/102 take precedence) · CPC title