Abstract:
A wearable device includes a case, a bio-processor embedded in the case, and a plurality of electrodes connected to the bio-processor. The bio-processor is configured to selectively and respectively operate the electrodes as sensing electrodes and sourcing electrodes in response to a selection signal. The selected one/ones of the electrodes operated as sensing electrodes which pick up a biological signal from (e.g. biological activity or a biological condition of) the wearer. The selected one/ones of the electrodes operated as sourcing electrodes supply current to the wearer regulated to cause the desired biological signal to be picked up by the sensing electrode(s).

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0183032 filed on Dec. 21, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present inventive concept relates to a bio-processor, and to a wearable device including a bio-processor. 
         [0003]    An electrocardiogram (ECG) be generated by various methods and then analyzed to check the state of health of a person&#39;s heart. In general, the ECG is generated using a high-precision voltage measuring device and ten or more medical-purpose electrodes attached to a person&#39;s body, and is analyzed by a doctor. More specifically, ten or more electrodes are attached to a patient&#39;s torso and limbs in a predetermined order, electrical activity of the heart is picked up by the electrodes and converted into an ECG signal, the ECG signal is displayed as a graph referred to as the ECG, and the ECG is directly analyzed by a doctor. 
         [0004]    A growing technology in recent years is the technology of wearable devices which measure biological activity of a person wearing the device and which are used to monitor a state of health of the person according to such measurements of biological activity. These wearable devices can generate an ECG signal at various places on the human body and process the ECG signal using hardware such as a digital signal processor. However, the end user may be the party responsible for setting the positions of the electrodes for generating the ECG signal, and may not be skilled at positioning the electrodes. Therefore, an ECG signal processed by the digital signal processor may not accurately reveal a state of health of the heart of the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An example of the present inventive concept is a wearable device including a case, a bio-processor embedded in the case, and a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to the bio-processor, and in which the bio-processor is configured to decide, based on a selection signal indicating a type of data desired, which ones of the plurality of electrodes to use as sensing electrodes for sensing a biological signal from a wearer of the device, and in which the bio-processor is configured to decide, based on the selection signal, which ones of the plurality of electrodes to use as sourcing electrodes for supplying current to the wearer of the device. 
         [0006]    An example of the present inventive concept is a processor including a plurality of pads each connected to an electrode of a corresponding one of a plurality of electrodes, a controller which receives a selection signal indicating a type of a biological signal to be sensed, and an electrode control circuit which decides which ones of the plurality of pads to use as sensing pads for sensing a biological signal under the control of the controller operating based on the selection signal, and decides which ones of the plurality of pads to use as sourcing pads for supplying a source current causing the biological signal under the control of the controller. 
         [0007]    Another example of the present inventive concept is a wearable device including a case, a bio-processor embedded in the case, and a plurality of electrodes operatively electrically connected to the bio-processor, and in which the bio-processor is configured to select a number of the electrodes for use in sensing activity at an anatomical region of a user who wears the device, based on a selection signal indicative of a type of biological signal to be produced from the activity, and to enable the selected electrodes to sense said activity and produce the biological signal. 
         [0008]    Yet another example of the present inventive concept is a wearable device including a jacket securable to an anatomical region of a user of the device, a processor disposed within the jacket, a power source integral with the jacket, and at least three electrodes integral with the jacket and electrically connected to the processor, and in which the processor is operatively electrically connected to the power source and to the electrodes and is configured to operate the device selectively in a plurality of different modes in response to mode selection signals, respectively. In one of the modes a first group of the electrodes is used to produce a signal representative of biological data of a first type and respective ones of the electrodes constituting the first group are electrically connected to the power source so as to serve as source electrodes through which current is supplied to the anatomical region. In another of the modes a group of the electrodes, different from the first group, is used to produce a signal representative of biological data of a second type different than the first type. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of examples thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a data processing system including a wearable device and a smart phone according to an example of the present inventive concept; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual diagram which illustrates a connection between electrodes for detecting a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) signal using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram which illustrates a connection between electrodes for detecting an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a conceptual diagram which illustrates a connection between electrodes for detecting a galvanic skin response (GSR) signal using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a bio-processor shown in  FIG. 1  according to an example of the present inventive concept; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a wearable device according to examples of the present inventive concept, which includes the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the wearable device according to examples of the present inventive concept, which includes the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of the wearable device according to examples of the present inventive concept, which includes the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a graphic user interface which is provided by an application for selecting an operation mode of the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows an ECG waveform provided by and conditions which can be detected using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a GSR waveform provided by and conditions that can be detected using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  shows a BIA waveform provided by and conditions that can be detected using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a data flow diagram of an operation of the data processing system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of the data processing system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of the data processing system including the wearable device show in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram of a health care system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a block diagram of the health care system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a block diagram of the health care system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a block diagram of a security/authentication system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the security/authentication system shown in  FIG. 19 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Reference will now be made in detail to examples of the present general inventive concept, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and wherein like reference numerals designate like elements throughout. The examples are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures. 
         [0031]    As is traditional in the field of the inventive concept, the examples may be described and illustrated in terms of blocks which carry out a described function or functions. These blocks, which may be referred to herein as units or modules or the like, are physically implemented by analog and/or digital circuits such as logic gates, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory circuits, passive electronic components, active electronic components, optical components, hardwired circuits and the like, and may optionally be driven by firmware and/or software. The circuits may, for example, be embodied in one or more semiconductor chips, or on substrate supports such as printed circuit boards and the like. The circuits constituting a block may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or by a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry), or by a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions of the block and a processor to perform other functions of the block. Each block of the examples may be physically separated into two or more interacting and discrete blocks without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Likewise, the blocks of the examples may be physically combined into more complex blocks without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, terminology used herein for the purpose of describing particular examples or embodiments of the inventive concept is to be taken in context. For example, the terms “comprises” or “comprising” when used in this specification specifies the presence of stated features or processes but does not preclude the presence or additional features or processes. The term “operatively connected” may be understood as referring to a connection through electronic means (wiring and/or electronic components) even in the case in which such means allow electrical power through the connection to be cut off in a certain operating mode of the device. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows a data processing system including a wearable device and a smart phone according to an example of the present inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a data processing system  100  may include a wearable device  200  and a smart phone  300  which can communicate with each other through a wireless communication network. 
         [0034]    Each of the wearable device  200  and the smart phone  300  may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device and hence, may together constitute an IoT. Here, each IoT device may include an accessible interface (for example, a wired interface or a wireless interface). Also, each IoT device may be a device for transmitting or receiving data (wired or wireless data) to or from at least one electronic device (or an IoT device) through the accessible interface. 
         [0035]    In this example, the accessible interface may include a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN) such as a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), a wireless personal area network (WPAN) such as a Bluetooth, a wireless universal serial bus (USB), a Zigbee, a near field communication (NFC), a radio-frequency identification (RFID), or a mobile cellular network; however, it is not limited thereto. Examples of the mobile cellular network include a 3 rd  generation (3G) mobile cellular network, a 4 th  generation (4G) mobile cellular network, a long term evolution (LTE™) mobile cellular network, and an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) mobile cellular network, but are not limited thereto. 
         [0036]    The wearable device  200  includes a plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , two electrodes  211  and  212  are disposed in an upper portion or outer side of a case  201  of the wearable device  200  and two electrodes  213  and  214  are disposed in a lower portion of or inner side the case  201  of the wearable device  200 ; however, positions of the electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  are not limited thereto. The wearable device  200  may also include a display  270  but such a display is optional. 
         [0037]    The wearable device  200  also includes a bio-processor  230  embedded in the case  201  of the wearable device  200  as will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 5 , and may include other elements (or components) within the case as will be described with reference to the examples of  FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 . Thus, the case  201  has the form of a jacket within which electronic components of the device are provided and protected by the case  201 . In the illustrated example, the jacket is in the form of a band, e.g., a wrist band or strap that can be secured to the wrist of a user so as to be worn on the wrist.  FIG. 1  shows a mechanism including a rivet-like projection at one of the band and to which the other end of the band having a series of holes therein (not shown) can be fixed by popping the rivet-like projection into one of the holes. 
         [0038]    The bio-processor  230  may sense or generate a health-related signal (i.e., biological activity or a biological signal) using sensors (for example, the electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 ). The health-related signal may be a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) signal, an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, or a galvanic skin response (GSR) signal; however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual diagram which illustrates how a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) signal may be produced using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . BIA is a widely known method of measuring a body&#39;s composition, particularly, body fat. In this example, four electrodes are used for a BIA or for producing a BIA signal. A current source having a frequency of 50 kHz to 1 MHz is required to produce a BIA signal and a bandwidth of the BIA signal may be 50 kHz to 1 MHz; however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when a user wears the wearable device  200  on a wrist of his own left (or right) hand  10 , and brings a thumb  22  and an index finger  24  of his own right (or left) hand  20  in contact with and presses the electrodes  211  and  212  disposed in the upper portion of the case  201 , the electrodes  213  and  214  disposed in the lower portion of the case  201  are held in contact with a skin of the left (or right) hand  10 . Current output from each of the electrodes  211  and  213  is supplied to the person&#39;s body, a voltage is generated in proportion to a resistance (Rbody) of the body, and the electrodes  212  and  214  may be used to detect the voltage. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram which illustrates how an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal may be produced using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . An example will be described in which three of the electrodes are used to produce an ECG signal. A current source is not required to produce an ECG signal, and a bandwidth of the ECG signal may be 0.5 Hz to 250 Hz; however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0042]    For example, one of the electrodes  212  is used as a positive electrode, another of the electrodes  213  is used as a negative electrode, and still another of the electrodes  214  is used as a reference electrode. The reference electrode  214  may be connected to a battery. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , when a user wears the wearable device  200  on a wrist of his own left (or right) hand  10 , and brings an index finger  24  of his own right (or left) hand  20  in contact with and presses the electrode  212 , the electrodes  213  and  214  are held in contact with the skin of the left (or right) hand  10 . Thus, the electrodes  212  and  213  may be used to detect a minute electrical difference in the skin caused (or induced) by heart muscle depolarizing during each heartbeat. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a conceptual diagram which describes how a galvanic skin response (GSR) signal may be produced using the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Two electrodes are required to produce a GSR signal. A DC current source is required to produce a GSR signal and a bandwidth of the GSR signal may be 0 Hz to 4 Hz; however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , when a user wears the wearable device  200  on a wrist of his own left (or right) hand  10  and presses the wearable device  200  using his own right (or left) hand, the electrodes  213  and  214  are held in contact with the skin of the left (or right) hand  10 . The electrodes  213  and  214  in contact with the skin may be used to sense or measure electrical resistance (or electrical conductivity) between the electrodes  213  and  214 . When current is supplied to one of the electrodes  213  and  214 , the electrical resistance is changed according to a reaction of the skin, and accordingly, a voltage may be generated. Therefore, the electrodes  213  and  214  may be used to sense or detect a voltage corresponding to the electrical resistance. 
         [0046]    As described referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , when the wearable device  200  includes the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 , a user may use select numbers of the electrodes (for example, four, three, or two electrodes) to obtain different biological signals (for example, BIA signal, ECG signal, or GSR signal) using the wearable device  200 . The bio-processor  230  of the wearable device  200  may decide the number of electrodes to be used, in producing a biological signal, based on a selection signal indicating a type of a biological signal to be sensed. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the bio-processor (i.e., biological processor) shown in  FIG. 1  according to an example of the present inventive concept. Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the bio-processor  230  may include an electrode control circuit  231  and a digital signal processor (DSP)  232 . 
         [0048]    The electrode control circuit  231  may decide which ones of the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  to use as sensing electrodes for sensing a biological signal, under the control of the DSP  232 . Moreover, the electrode control circuit  231  may decide which ones of the plurality of electrodes  211   212 ,  213 , and  214  to use as sourcing electrodes for supplying a source current which generates the biological signal, under the control of the DSP  232 . 
         [0049]    Each of the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  may be connected to each of a plurality of pads (or a plurality of pins) in the bio-processor  230 . Accordingly, the electrode control circuit  231  may decide which ones of the plurality of pads to use as sensing pads for sensing a biological signal, under the control of the DSP  232 . Moreover, the electrode control circuit  231  may decide which ones of the plurality of pads to use as sourcing pads for supplying a source current for producing the biological signal, under the control of the DSP  232 . 
         [0050]    The electrode control circuit  231  may include a first signal generator  233 , a second signal generator  235 , a current source switch  237 , a voltage measuring switch  239 , a sensing analog-front end (AFE)  241 , and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  243 . The bio-processor  230  may be embodied as an integrated circuit (IC) or a system-in package (SiP); however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0051]    The DSP  232  may receive and process a digital signal output from the ADC  243  and transmit a processed digital signal (for example, biological data BDATA) to a wireless communication module  260  examples of which are shown in  FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 . The DSP  232  may control an operation of each of components  233 ,  235 ,  237 , and  239  in response to a selection signal MSS transmitted from the wireless communication module  260 . The DSP  232  may serve as a controller. For example, the DSP  232  may generate a first enable signal EN 1 , a second enable signal EN 2 , and a switch enable signal SCMD in response to a selection signal MSS. 
         [0052]    The first signal generator  233  may be enabled or disabled in response to the first enable signal EN 1 . For example, the first signal generator  233  may generate a first signal SIG 1  for sensing a BIA signal. The first signal SIG 1  may be a sinusoidal wave signal as a current signal; however, it is not limited thereto. The first signal generator  233  may serve as a first current source. 
         [0053]    The second signal generator  235  may be enabled or disabled in response to the second enable signal EN 2 . For example, the second signal generator  235  may generate a second signal SIG 2  for measuring a GSR signal. The second signal SIG 2  may be a pulse signal as a current signal; however, it is not limited thereto. The second signal generator  235  may serve as a second current source. One of the signal generators  233  and  235  may be enabled or all of the signal generators  233  and  235  may be disabled. Each of the current source switch  237  and the voltage measuring switch  239  may be enabled or disabled in response to a switch enable signal SCMD. 
         [0054]    The current source switch  237  enabled may transmit the first signal SIG 1  or the second signal SIG 2  to select ones of the electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 , thereby designating those electrodes as sourcing electrodes. The current source switch  237  may select the sourcing electrodes from among the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  in response to a switch enable signal SCMD. 
         [0055]    For example, when the selection signal MSS indicates a sensing of a BIA signal, the DSP  232  may generate an activated first enable signal EN 1  and a deactivated second enable signal EN 2 , and generate a switch control signal SCMD having a first value. Accordingly, the first signal generator  233  may generate a first signal SIG 1  in response to the activated first enable signal EN 1 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the current source switch  237  may select the electrodes  211  and  213  among the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  as the sourcing electrodes in response to the switch control signal SCMD having a first value, and transmit the first signal SIG 1  to the sourcing electrodes  211  and  213  as a source current. 
         [0057]    The voltage measuring switch  239  may select the electrodes  212  and  214  among the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  as sensing electrodes in response to the switch control signal SCMD having a first value, and sense a biological signal (that is, BIA signal) caused by the source current through the sensing electrodes  212  and  214 . The sensing AFE  241  may amplify a difference between voltages (for example, BIA signals) output from the sensing electrodes  212  and  214 , remove noise from the amplified signal, and transmit the resulting noise-filtered analog signal to the ADC  243 . 
         [0058]    For example, when the selection signal MSS indicates an ECG signal is to be produced, the DSP  232  may generate a deactivated first enable signal EN 1  and a deactivated second enable signal EN 2 , and generate a switch control signal SCMD having a second value. Accordingly, each of the signal generators  233  and  235  is deactivated. The current source switch  237  is disabled in response to the switch control signal SCMD having a second value. That is, each of the signal generators  233  and  235  may be disconnected from the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the voltage measuring switch  239  may select the electrodes  212  and  213  among the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  as sensing electrodes in response to the switch control signal SCMD having a second value, and sense a biological signal (corresponding to an ECG signal) caused by the current through the sensing electrodes  212  and  213 . Accordingly, the sensing AFE  241  may amplify a potential difference between the electrodes  212  and  213  and output the same as an amplified signal, remove noise from the amplified signal, and transmit the resulting noise-filtered analog signal to the ADC  243 . 
         [0060]    For example, when the selection signal MSS indicates that a GSR signal is to be produced, the DSP  232  may generate a deactivated first enable signal EN 1  and an activated second enable signal EN 2 , and generate a switch control signal SCMD having a third value. Accordingly, the second signal generator  235  may generate a second signal SIG 2  in response to the activated second enable signal EN 2 . 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the current source switch  237  may select the electrodes  213  and  214  among the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  as sourcing electrodes in response to the switch control signal SCMD having a third value, and transmit a second signal SIG 2  to the sourcing electrodes  213  and  214  as a source current. 
         [0062]    The voltage measuring switch  239  may select the electrodes  213  and  214  among the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  as sensing electrodes in response to the switch control signal SCMD having a third value, and sense a biological signal (corresponding to a GSR signal) caused by the source current through the sensing electrodes  213  and  214 . Accordingly, the sensing AFE  241  may amplify a potential difference between the electrodes  213  and  214 , remove a noise from the amplified signal, and transmit the resulting noise-filtered analog signal to the ADC  243 . 
         [0063]    The ADC  243  may convert an analog signal processed by the sensing AFE  241  into a digital signal and transmit the digital signal to the DSP  231 . The digital signal may be data related to BIA, data related to ECG, or data related to GSR. 
         [0064]    The sensing AFE  241  and the ADC  243  may configure an AFE. The AFE may amplify an output signal of the voltage measuring switch  239 , convert an amplified signal into a digital signal, and transmit the digital signal to the DSP  232 . 
         [0065]    The DSP  232  may process the digital signal and transmit biological data BDATA corresponding to a result of the processing to the wireless communication module (or wireless transceiver)  260  shown in  FIG. 6, 7 , or  8 . The biological data BDATA may be biological data encrypted by an encryption module  231 - 1  embedded in the DSP  232 . 
         [0066]    As described above, the bio-processor  230  may decide which ones of the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  to use as sensing electrodes and which ones of the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  to use as sourcing electrodes based on the selection signal MSS indicating a type of a biological information to be sensed and corresponding biological signal to be produced. 
         [0067]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a wearable device according to examples of the present inventive concept, which includes the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , a wearable device  200 A may include the bio-processor  230  connected to the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 , a battery  250 , a memory  255 , and the wireless communication module  260 . 
         [0068]    The battery  250  may supply operation voltages to each of the bio-processor  230 , the memory  255 , and the wireless communication module  260 , respectively. The bio-processor  230  may store biological data BDATA or more specifically, encrypted biological data BDATA, generated by the DSP  232  in the memory  255  or transmit the biological data BDATA to a smart phone  300  through the wireless communication module  260 . The memory  255  may be embodied as a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory. The wireless communication module  260  may communicate with the smart phone  300  through a WLAN such as Wi-Fi, a WPAN such as Bluetooth, a wireless USB, a Zigbee, an NFC, an RFID, or a mobile cellular network. 
         [0069]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a wearable device according to examples of the present inventive concept, which includes the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 , a wearable device  200 B may include the bio-processor  230  connected to the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 , a battery  250 , a memory  255 , the wireless communication module  260 , a display driver IC  265 , and a display  270 . 
         [0070]    The battery  250  may supply operation voltages to each of the components  230 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270 , respectively. The bio-processor  230  may transmit biological data BDATA to the display driver IC  265 . The display driver IC  265  may display the biological data BDATA on the display  270 . Examples of the biological data BDATA displayed on the display  270  will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a wearable device according to examples of the present inventive concept, which includes the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 , a wearable device  200 C may include the bio-processor  230  connected to the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214 , a battery  250 , a memory  255 , the wireless communication module  260 , a display driver IC  265 , a display  270 , and an application processor  275 . 
         [0072]    The battery  250  may supply operation voltages to the components  230 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 ,  270 , and  275 . The application processor  275  may control an operation of each of the components  230 ,  250 ,  255 ,  260 ,  265 , and  270 . 
         [0073]    The bio-processor  230  may transmit biological data BDATA to the application processor  275 . The application processor  275  may transmit the biological data BADATA to the display driver IC  265 . The display drier IC  265  may display the biological data BDATA on the display  270 . Again, examples of the biological data BDATA displayed on the display  270  are shown in and will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 . 
         [0074]    According to examples, the biological data BDATA may be transmitted to the smart phone  300  under the control of the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275 . The wearable devices  200 A,  200 B, and  200 C are examples of the configuration of the wearable device  200  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 9  shows a graphic user interface which is provided by an application for selecting an operation mode of the bio-processor shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 to 9 , an application program (app or software) executed by the smart phone  300  may provide a user with a graphic user interface (GUI)  310 . The user may select a type of a biological signal to be sensed through the GUI  310 . The user may select a first GUI  311  for sensing a BIA signal, a second GUI  312  for sensing an ECG signal, or a third GUI  313  for sensing a GSR signal. An application program executed by the smart phone  300  may generate a selection signal MSS indicating a type of a biological signal to be sensed, and transmit the selection signal MSS to the wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200 . The wireless communication module (or wireless transmitter)  260  may transmit the selection signal MSS to the bio-processor  230 . 
         [0076]    Even if an application program executed by the smart phone  300  is shown in  FIG. 9 , an application program executed by a CPU of the bio-processor  230  of the wearable device  200 B of  FIG. 7  may provide a user with a GUI that is the same as or similar to the GUI  310  of  FIG. 9  through the display  270 . 
         [0077]    In addition, an application program executed by a CPU of the application processor  275  of the wearable device  200 C of  FIG. 8  may provide a user with a GUI that is the same as or similar to the GUI  310  of in  FIG. 9  through the display  270 . At this time, the bio-processor  230  or a CPU of the application processor  275  may generate a selection signal MSS for indicating a type of a biological signal to be sensed and transmit the selection signal MSS to the DSP  232 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 10  shows an ECG waveform and conditions that can be sensed by the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3, and 10 , an ECG signal generated through the sensing electrodes  212  and  213  may be displayed on the display  270  or smart phone  300 . 
         [0079]    A biological signal analysis application program executed by a CPU of the bio-processor  230 , a CPU of the application processor  275 , or a CPU of the smart phone  300  may detect a heart rate, heart rate variability, and arrhythmia by processing the ECG signal, and display a result of the detection on the display  270  or the display of the smart phone  300 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 11  shows a GSR waveform and conditions sensed by the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1, 4, and 11 , a GSR signal produced through the sensing electrodes  213  and  214  may be displayed on the display  270  or smart pone  300 . 
         [0081]    The biological signal analysis application program executed by the CPU of the bio-processor  230 , the CPU of the application processor  275 , or the CPU of the smart phone  300  may determine whether the user is wearing the wearable device  200  on his or her wrist, may determine whether the user is sleeping, or may determine an emotional state of the user, and display a result of the determination on the display  270  or smart phone  300 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 12  shows a BIA waveform and conditions sensed by the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 , a BIA signal produced through the sensing electrodes  212  and  214  may be displayed on the display  270  or smart phone  300 . 
         [0083]    The biological signal analysis application program executed by the CPU of the bio-processor  230 , the CPU of the application processor  275 , or the CPU of the smart phone  300  may determine a body fat ratio and a body composition using a BIA signal processed by the bio-processor  230 , and display a result of the determination on the display  270  or smart phone  300 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 13  shows a data flow in an operation of the data processing system shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 13 , when a user selects a type (or a mode selection) of a biological signal to be sensed using the GUI  310  shown in  FIG. 9 , an application program executed by the smart phone  300  may transmit a selection signal MSS for indicating a type (or a mode selection) of a biological signal to be sensed through its wireless communication module to the wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200  (S 110 ). 
         [0085]    The bio-processor  230  may decide which ones of the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  to use as sensing electrodes for sensing a biological signal and/or which ones of the plurality of electrodes  211 ,  212 ,  213 , and  214  to use as sourcing electrodes for supplying a source current which causes the biological signal under the control of the DSP  232  operating in response to a selection signal MSS (S 115 ). 
         [0086]    The bio-processor  230  may receive a biological signal from the sensing electrodes selected by the bio-processor  230  (S 120 ), process (for example, amplification, noise removal, and analog-to-digital conversion) the signal, generate biological data BDATA from the processed signal, and store the biological data BDATA in the memory  255  (S 125 ). In some cases, though, the biological data BDATA may not be stored in the memory  255 . 
         [0087]    The biological data BDATA generated by the bio-processor  230  may be transmitted to the smart phone  300  through the wireless communication module  260  (S 130 ). An application program executed by the smart phone  300  may display biological data (for example, BIA data, ECG data, or GSR data) as described with reference to  FIG. 10, 11 , or  12  on (the display of) the smart phone  300  (S 135 ). 
         [0088]    According to examples, the application program executed by the smart phone  300  may transmit the biological data (for example, BIA data, ECG data, or GSR data) to a server, for example, a server of a health center  350  (S 350 ). The server of the health center  350  may analyze the biological data (for example, BIA data, ECG data, or GSR data) and transmit a result of the analysis to the smart phone  300 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of another example of a data processing system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 14 , a data processing system  100 A may include the wearable device  200 , a first smart device  300 , a second smart device  400 , and an emergency medical system  430 . 
         [0090]    When a wireless communication module of the first smart device  300  transmits a biological data transmission request to the wearable device  200  in a wireless manner, the wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200  may transmit the data transmission request to the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275 . 
         [0091]    The bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  may read biological data from the memory  255  in response to the data transmission request and transmit read biological data to a wireless communication module of the first smart device  300  through the wireless communication module  260 . A first application (or app) executed by a CPU of the first smart device  300  may display at least one of user information  325 , a heart rate  330 , and an ECG signal  335  of a user wearing the wearable device  200  on a display  320  based on the biological data. The ECG signal  335  shown in  FIG. 14  is exemplary only; the first application (or app) may display at least one of a BIA signal, an ECG signal, and a GSR signal on the display  320 . 
         [0092]    The wireless communication module of the first smart device  300  may transmit warning data to the second smart device  400  through a network  401  under the control of the first application executed by the CPU of the first smart device  300 . 
         [0093]    For example, the first application may analyze biological data transmitted from the wearable device  200 . When an abnormality is detected in a heart of a user wearing the wearable device  200  according to a result of the analysis, the first smart device  300  may generate warning data under the control of the first application and transmit the warning data to the second smart device  410 . 
         [0094]    For example, the first application may transmit positional information of the user output from a GPS receiver of the wearable device  200  or positional information of the first smart device  300  output from a GPS receiver of the first smart device  300  to a wireless communication module of the first smart device  300  along with the warning data. Accordingly, the wireless communication module of the first smart device  300  may transmit the warning data and the positional information to the second smart device  400 . 
         [0095]    A second application (or app) executed by a CPU of the second smart device  400  may display a warning message  415  including map information on a display  410  of the second smart device  400 . The map information may include a map  420  representing a position of the user. According to an example, the map  420  may be generated by a second application, and may be received from the first smart device  300  along with the positional data or the warning data. 
         [0096]    The wireless communication module of the first smart device  300  may transmit a signal for help to the emergency medical system  430  through a network  403  under the control of a first application executed by a CPU of the first smart device  300 . 
         [0097]    The wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200  may transmit biological data or an analysis result of the biological data to the first smart device  300 . The first smart device  300  may transmit warning data to the second smart device  400  through the network  401  or transmit a signal for help to the emergency medical system  430  through the network  403  based on the biological data or the analysis result. The emergency medical system  430  may be a computer of any type of (e.g., physically located in) an emergency center, a fire station, or a hospital. 
         [0098]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of another example of a data processing system including the wearable device show in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 12, and 15 , a user of a smart device  500  may execute an application (or app) APP installed in the smart device  500  (S 210 ). 
         [0099]    A wireless communication module of the smart device  500  may transmit an information request to the wearable device  200  according to the application APP executed by the CPU of the smart device  500  (S 220 ). 
         [0100]    The bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  of the wearable device  200  may perform an authentication for the information request input through the wireless communication module  260  (S 230 ). 
         [0101]    After authentication for the information request is completed, the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  may read user information and biological data from the memory  255 , encrypt the user information and the biological data through an encryption module, and transmit encrypted user information and encrypted biological data to the wireless communication module  260 . The wireless communication module  260  may transmit the encrypted user information and the encrypted biological data to the smart device  500  (S 240 ). 
         [0102]    The application APP executed by the smart device  500  may decrypt each of the encrypted user information and the encrypted biological data, and display decrypted user information  520  and decrypted biological data  530  on the display  510  of the smart device  500  (S 250 ). The decrypted user information  520  may include an age  521 , a blood type  522 , a medical attendant  523 , and a medical history  524 ; however, it is not limited thereto. The decrypted biological data  530  may include a heart rate  531  and an ECG signal  532 , for example. Although the ECG signal  532  is shown as an example of the biological data  530  in  FIG. 15 , the biological data may include a BIA signal or a GSR signal according to some examples. 
         [0103]    The application APP executed by the smart device  500  may detect, predict, or analyze sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) of a user wearing the wearable device  200  using the ECG signal. For example, the application APP may detect, predict, or analyze ventricular fibrillation of the user using the ECG signal and/or cardiac arrhythmia of the user using ventricular Tachycardia of the user. 
         [0104]    A health care professional (for example, a medical team or an emergency medical technician) in possession of the smart device  500  may determine a state of health of the person wearing the wearable device  200  using the user information  520  and the biological data  530 , and perform an appropriate medical treatment or an emergency measure on the person according to a result of the determination. 
         [0105]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram of another example of a data processing system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 12, and 16 , a data processing system  600 A may be used to provide a telemedicine service. The data processing system  600 A may include the wearable device  200 , a wireless network  610 , and a first medical server  620  for communicating with the wearable device  200  through the wireless network  610 . 
         [0106]    According to examples, the data processing system  600 A may further include a second medical server  650  for communicating with the wearable device  200  and/or the first medical server  620  through the wireless network  610 . For example, a health insurance corporation and/or an insurance company may manage the second medical server  650  and a database  655 . 
         [0107]    The wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200  may transmit data HDATA corresponding to biological data (for example, data related to a BIA signal, data related to an ECG signal, and/or data related to a GSR signal) to the first medical server  620  (S 601 ) or the second medical server  650  (S 621 ) through the network  610  under the control of an application executed by the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275 . 
         [0108]    The application may store a uniform resource locator (URL) of the first medical server  620  and/or a URL of the second medical server  650 . Accordingly, the wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200  may transmit data HDATA to each of the servers  620  and  650  corresponding to each URL under the control of the application. 
         [0109]    The data HDATA may include biological data, data generated based on the biological data, and user information of the wearable device  200 . For example, data generated based on the biological data may include data for ventricular fibrillation, data for ventricular tachycardia, a heart rate, or cardiac arrhythmias; however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0110]    The wireless network  610  may transmit the data HDATA to the first medical server  620  and/or the second medical server  650  (S 603  and/or S 621 ). The first medical server  620  may store the data HDATA in the database  621  (S 604 ), and transmit the data HDATA to a computing device  445  of a doctor through the network  630  (S 605 ). For example, the computing device  645  of a doctor may be a PC or a tablet PC; however, it is not limited thereto. The doctor may work at a medical institution, a public health care center, a clinic, a hospital, or a rescue center. 
         [0111]    The doctor may diagnose a state of health of a user wearing the wearable device  200  using the data HDATA displayed through the computing device  645  and input diagnosis data in the computing device  645  (S 607 ). The computing device  645  may transmit the diagnosis data DDATA to the first medical server  620  through the network  630  (S 609 ), and the first medical server  620  may store the diagnosis data DDATA in the database  621  (S 604 ) and transmit the diagnosis data DDATA to the network  610  (S 611 ). The network  610  may transmit the diagnosis data DDATA to the wearable device  200  (S 613 ) or to the second medical server  650  (S 621 ). The wearable device  200  may store the diagnosis data DDATA in the memory  255  or output the diagnosis data DDATA through the display device  270 . The second medical server  650  may store the diagnosis data DDATA in the database  655  (S 623 ). 
         [0112]    The servers  620  and  650  may store the data HDATA and DDATA in the databases  621  and  655  or analyze the data HDATA and DDATA. Moreover, each of the servers  620  and  650  may transmit a result of the analysis to each of the networks  610  and  630 . 
         [0113]      FIG. 17  is a block diagram of another example of a data processing system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 12, and 17 , a data processing system  600 B may include the wearable device  200 , an IoT device  601 , and the first medical server  620  for communicating with the IoT device  601  through the wireless network  610 . 
         [0114]    The data processing system  600 B of  FIG. 17  is similar to the data processing system  600 A of  FIG. 16  in terms of structure and operation except that the wearable device  200  transmits or receives data to or from the wireless network  610  through the IoT device  601 . The IoT device  601  may be the smart phone  300  of  FIG. 1 ; however, it is not limited thereto. 
         [0115]    That is, the wearable device  200  may transmit data HDATA generated by the wearable device  200  to the IoT device  601  (S 600 ). The wearable device  200  may automatically transmit the data HDATA to the IoT device  601  according to a request of the IoT device  601  or when an abnormality is detected in a heart of a user wearing the wearable device  200  (S 600 ). 
         [0116]    The IoT device  601  may transmit the data HDATA to the network  610  (S 601 ) and receive the diagnosis data DDATA output from the network  610  (S 613 ). The IoT device  601  may display the diagnosis data DDATA on a display of the IoT device  601 . Accordingly, a user of the IoT device  601  may perform an appropriate medical care or first aid on a user of the wearable device  200  using the diagnosis data DDATA. 
         [0117]      FIG. 18  is a block diagram of another example of a data processing system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 12, and 18 , a data processing system  700  may be used to provide a remote medical treatment. The data processing system  700  may include the wearable device  200  and a mobile computing device  710  for communicating with the wearable device  200  through a network  705 . The data processing system  700  may further include a medical server  715  for communicating with the mobile computing device  710  through a network  712 . 
         [0118]    The wireless communication module  260  of the wearable device  200  may transmit data HDATA corresponding to biological data (for example, ECG data) to the mobile computing device  710  through the network  705  under the control of the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  (S 701 ). 
         [0119]    For example, the mobile computing device  710  may be a smart phone, a tablet PC, a mobile internet device (MID), an IoT device, or an internet of everything (IoE) device; however, it is not limited thereto. The user of the mobile computing device  710  may be a medical team, a family protector, or a passerby. The passerby may be one who has completed first aid training. 
         [0120]    An application executed by a CPU of the mobile computing device  710  may display the data HDATA on a display device. The mobile computing device  710  may transmit the data HDATA to the medical server  715  through the network  712  under the control of the application (S 703  and S 705 ). The mobile computing device  710  stores a URL of the medical server  720 , and thus transmits the data HDATA to the medical server  715  corresponding to the URL under the control of the application (S 703  and S 705 ). 
         [0121]    The medical server  715  may store the data HDATA in a database  717  (S 706 ), and transmit the data HDATA to a computing device  725  of a doctor working at a medical institution through a network  714 . 
         [0122]    The doctor may diagnose a state of health of a user wearing the wearable device  200  using the data HDATA displayed through the computing device  725  and input diagnosis data in the computing device  725  (S 707 ). The computing device  725  may transmit the diagnosis data DDATA to the medical server  715  through the network  714 , and the medical server  715  may store the diagnosis data DDATA in the database  717  (S 706 ) and transmit the diagnosis data DDATA to the mobile computing device  710  through the network  712  (S 709  and S 711 ). The mobile computing device  710  may display the diagnosis data DDATA of the doctor on a display of the mobile computing device  710 . Accordingly, a user of the mobile computing device  710  may perform appropriate medical care or first aid on the user wearing the wearable device  200  using the diagnosis data DDATA. 
         [0123]      FIG. 19  is a block diagram of a security/authentication system including the wearable device shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 20  is a flowchart of an operation of the security/authentication system shown in  FIG. 19 . An ECG signal among the biological signals (for example, an ECG signal, a BIA signal, and a GSR signal) differs from person to person, and thus may facilitate a mobile payment, security, or authentication. 
         [0124]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 12, 19, and 20 , the wearable device  200  may be used as a device for making mobile payments, a device for a health solution, a device for a security solution, or a device for authentication. 
         [0125]    The wearable device  200  may transmit or receive a wireless signal to or from an automobile  810 , a digital door lock  835 , a payment terminal  850 , a smart phone  860 , or an IoT device  870  using the wireless communication module  260 . 
         [0126]    According to examples, the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  of the wearable device  200  may execute a mobile payment application program (or software). User payment information for a mobile payment may be safely stored in a security region of the memory  255  under the control of the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275 . At this time, the user payment information may be encrypted and stored in the security region of the memory  255 . 
         [0127]    The mobile payment application program may perform a mobile payment with the payment terminal  850  using the user payment information stored in the security region of the memory  255 . For example, the user payment information may include identification information (for example, credit card information, password, and ECG information) for identifying a genuine user of the wearable device  200 . The identification information may be registered in the security region of the memory  255  through a mobile payment application program by the genuine user of the wearable device  200 . 
         [0128]    The bio-processor  230  may produce an ECG signal of the genuine user using the sensing electrodes  212  and  213  shown in  FIG. 3 or 10 , and store ECG data corresponding to the ECG signal in a security region of the memory  255  (S 310 ). That is, the mobile payment application program may store the ECG data in the security region of the memory  255  (S 310 ). 
         [0129]    When a proprietor wants user authentication for a mobile payment, the bio-processor  230  may measure a biological signal, e.g., an ECG signal, using the sensing electrodes  212  and  213  shown in  FIG. 3 or 10 , and generate biological data BDATA, e.g., ECG data, corresponding to the ECG signal (S 320 ). 
         [0130]    A mobile payment application program executed by the bio-processor  230  or the DSP  232  may compare ECG data stored (or registered) in the security region of the memory  255  with ECG data generated by the DSP  232  (S 320 ). When they are matched (Yes in S 330 ), the mobile payment application program executed by the bio-processor  230  or the DSP  232  may generate an authentication signal which represents the match. According to an example, the mobile payment application program executed by the application processor  275  may compare ECG data stored (or registered) in the security region of the memory  255  with ECG data generated by the DSP  232 , and generate an authentication signal (S 330 ). 
         [0131]    The authentication signal output from the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  may be transmitted to a device, for example, the payment terminal  850 , through the wireless communication module  260  (S 340 ). The payment terminal  850  may provide a user of the wearable device  200  with a mobile payment service (S 350 ). 
         [0132]    According to examples, the wearable device  200  may be used as a device for authenticating a user. Authentication information (for example, ECG data) for authenticating a user may be registered in the security region of the memory  255  by the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  (S 310 ). As described above, the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  may compare ECG data stored (or registered) in the security region of the memory  255  at S 310  with ECG data generated by the DSP  232  of the bio-processor  230  at S 320  (S 330 ), and generate an authentication signal according to a result of the comparison. 
         [0133]    The authentication signal output from the bio-processor  230  or the application processor  275  may be transmitted to a corresponding device (for example,  810 ,  835 ,  860 , or  870 ) through the wireless communication module  260  (S 340 ). 
         [0134]    A door key control device of the automobile  810  may unlock a door of the automobile  810  in response to the authentication signal. The digital door lock  835  installed in a door  830  may be unlocked in response to the authentication signal. 
         [0135]    The smart phone  860  or the IoT device  870  requiring authentication or security may provide a service in response to the authentication signal. For example, the smart phone  860  may be connected to a charged website or perform a payment in response to the authentication signal. For example, when the IoT device  870  is a wireless access point, the wireless access point may connect the wearable device  200  to the internet in response to the authentication signal. 
         [0136]    A processor according to an example of the present inventive concept can decide the number of pads or select the pads used to sense biological data, based on a selection signal indicating a type of biological information desired. Likewise, a wearable device including a plurality of electrodes according to an example of the present inventive concept can decide, based on a selection signal indicating a type of a biological information desired, a number of electrodes used to sense biological data and can enable or otherwise activate those electrodes for sensing the biological data. 
         [0137]    That is, the wearable device including a plurality of electrodes can select, based on the selection signal, the number of electrodes to be used for each biological signal to be produced such that various biological signals can be produced using a limited number of electrodes. Accordingly, a user of the wearable device can conveniently measure each of various biological conditions anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, the wearable device is relatively compact considering the amount of biological data it can produce. 
         [0138]    Although examples of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these examples without departing from the principles and spirit and scope of the general inventive concept as defined in the appended claims.