Abstract:
The present invention provides a novel ring type sensor for measuring biometric information. The ring sensor includes a rest for an appendage and a wing pivotally connected to the rest. A biasing member supplies a compressive force to the wing (relative to the rest) such that an appendage from which biometric information is to be measured is snuggly held by the rest and the wing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to biofeedback sensors and, more particularly, to biofeedback ring sensors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Biofeedback sensors provide information about physiological aspects of a person. In some biofeedback sessions, the client sits in a chair or lays on a couch or bed. Sensors are attached to the client&#39;s skin at various locations on the body, such as, for example, the shoulders, fingers, back, and head. Electrical signals or impulses from these locations are used to provide visual or auditory feedback reflecting various information. Other variations on biofeedback sessions are possible, with the above being an exemplary type of biofeedback session for background purposes. 
     Some biofeedback sensors are simple electrodes attached to the client using an adhesive tab with an electrical contact or electrode. These adhesive tabs are placed in the desired locations on the client with the electrode between the client&#39;s skin and the tab. The electrode sensors are good measures of electrical information, such as epidural skin response, which is a measure of skin resistance and useful for measuring stress or the like, the use of adhesives on the client can result in an unpleasant removal experience. Sometimes the simple electrode sensor is attached to a VELCRO strip and wrapped around an appendage, such as, for example, a finger. 
     Another type of biofeedback sensor is an infrared sensor. Infrared sensors generally are not used to determine skin electrical responses, but may be used to determine other biometric information, such as, heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, or the like. Although infrared sensor can be place on the client using an adhesive tab, they are more typically located by locating the infrared sensor on the client, and wrapping tape, VELCRO® straps, an elastic bandage, or the like around the client and the sensor to locate the infrared sensor. Again, while the sensor is adequate for measuring the biometric information, using tape, VELCRO® straps or the like leaves much to be desired. Frequently, the attachment devices wear out requiring frequent replacement. 
     Some infrared sensors are loaded in clip style devices, such as, for example, an ear clip or a finger clip. While these clips work somewhat better than the attachment devices above, they are frequently bulky and not well suited for all individuals. 
     Thus, it would be desirous to develop and improved finger sensor to read biometric information. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved finger sensor. The improved finger sensor comprises an appendage rest with a sensor coupled to the apparatus such that when an appendage of a client is in the appendage rest, the sensor measures biometric information. A cover or wing pivotally connected to the apparatus is attached to a biasing member that provides a compressive force to the appendage tending to snuggly contain the appendage in the appendage rest with the wing. 
     The present invention also provides a system for obtaining a plurality of biometric information using a plurality of sensors. Each of the sensors comprises an appendage rest and a cover pivotally connected to the appendage rest. The pivotal connection includes means for causing the cover to snuggly hold an appendage of the user in the appendage rest such that a plurality of sensors measures biometric information. 
     The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a biofeedback sensor constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are side elevation views of wings associated with the biofeedback sensor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a finger rest associated with the biofeedback sensor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a bottom associated with the biofeedback sensor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a elastic biasing member associated with the biofeedback sensor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6A-6C  show a top plan view, a side elevations view, and a front elevation view of the biofeedback sensor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another means for attaching the finger rest and bottom of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of still another means for attaching the finger rest and bottom of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will be explained with specific reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8 . It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of particular embodiments of the present invention, and are not limiting, nor are they drawn to scale. Further, while the present invention is described in relation to a finger sensor, the sensor could be placed in other locations, such as a toe or the like. Finally, while the present invention is described using an electrode and/or an infrared biofeedback sensor, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize on reading the disclosure that other types of biofeedback sensors could be used. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an exploded view of a biofeedback sensor  100  is shown. Biofeedback sensor  100  includes a bottom  102 , a finger rest  104 , a pair of elastic biasing members  106 , such as the springs as shown, pins  108 , and a pair of top wings  110  or panels. While shown with two elastic biasing members  106  and two top wings  110 , biofeedback sensor  100  could be constructed with one elastic biasing member  106  and top wing  110 , but it is believed using two wings  110  provides a better fit and aesthetic design. 
     As shown, bottom  102  is coupled to finger rest  104  by pegs  112  on finger rest  104  frictionally engaging holes  114  on bottom  102 . Pegs  112  could be replaced by through holes  702 , and holes  114  could be threaded holes  704  such that screws  706  could be inserted through through holes  702  and threaded into threaded holes  704 . 
     Bottom rest  102  has a plurality of shoulders  116  and a plurality of alignment tabs  118  with a pin hole  120  in each alignment tab. Finger rest  104  has a corresponding number of lips  122  and a plurality of alignment tabs  118  each with pin hole  120 , such that when aligned, the pin holes are sufficiently aligned that pins  108  can be inserted through each of the pin holes. Pins  108  form axles that top wings  110  may pivot on, as will be explained further below. In other words, wings  110  pivot about a longitudinal axis A (as shown in  FIG. 6A ) rather than about a transverse axis B (orthogonal to axes A). 
     Top wings  110  have each have at least one alignment tab  124 . Alignment tabs  124  each have pin hole  120  such that when alignment tabs  124  are positioned on finger rest  104 , pin  108  is inserted through pin holes  120 . Pin  108  acts similar to a hinge allowing top wings  110  to pivot about pin  108 . 
     Elastic biasing members  106  are mounted on pins  108 , as shown by  FIG. 5 . Elastic biasing member  106  has prongs  502  and  504 . Prong  502  is substantially aligned with finger rest  104  or bottom  102  while prong  504  is substantially aligned with wing  110 . Elastic biasing member  106  is generally under a compressive force, tending to cause wings  110  to pivot towards bottom  102 . Thus, when placed on a finger, wings  110  pivot away from bottom  102  by the pressure associated with inserting a finger, but the compressive force associated with elastic biasing member  106  exerts a pressure tending to caused wings  110  to pivot towards bottom  102  causing a snug, but comfortable, fit on the finger of a client. Finally, while shown as a coil spring for convenience, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other tension or compression members would be equally useful, such as, for example, spring steel, plastic composites with sufficient elasticity, or the like. Basically, the elastic biasing member simply needs to supply sufficient force that wings  110  seat snuggly, but not uncomfortably, on the appendage of the client. While a number of torque values are possible, it has been found that biasing member  106  works well if the torque value is between 200 and 600 gf. For the specific design shown where the covers portions  202  and  204  are specifically contoured, it has been found that having different biasing values for each member provides a snug fit on the appendage. In this case, the torque value for the right biasing member would be in the range of about 350 gf to 400 gf and more preferably 360 gf. The torque value for the left biasing member would be a greater torque and in the range of 450 gf to 500 gf and more preferably about 460 gf. 
     Bottom  102  (or finger rest  104 ) has a recess  130 . If recess  130  is in bottom  102 , finger rest  104  has an opening  132  or window substantially aligned with recess  130 . An electrode  126  or infrared sensor  128  resides in recess  130  having an electrical cable coupled to connector  134  or wireless transmitter  136  to transmit the biofeedback signal to a processor (not shown). Opening  132  in finger rest  104  allows sensor, which could be, for example, infrared sensor  128  to sensor biometrics from a finger or other appendage resting on finger rest  104 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a side elevation view of a wing  110 . As described above, wing  110  has alignment tabs  124  with pin holes  120 . Wing  110  pivots about pin  108  that would extend between alignment tabs  124 .  FIG. 2B  shows a side elevation view of the other wing  110 . Wings  110  have cover portions  202  and  204  designed to fold together over, for example, a finger. While wings  110  could have identical shapes, individually contouring each cover portion  202  and  204  allows better fit. For example, cover portions  202  and  204  are contoured to fit the ring, middle, and index finger of a client. Other contours are possible to fit other appendages as desired.  FIG. 6C  shows how cover portions  202  and  204  fit together in more detail. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a top plan view ( FIG. 3B ) and a front elevation view ( FIG. 3A ) of finger rest  104  is shown. In  FIG. 3B , bottom  102  is partially shown below finger rest  104 . Finger rest  104  is designed with a rounded front end  302  and an open back end  304 . While front end  302  is shown rounded, it could have other shapes, but it is believed a rounded end fits best with, for example, a finger where ring type biometric sensors are typically located on a client. A resting surface  306  has a concave shape generally contoured to the shape of an appendage, such as a finger or toe. If, for example, an index finger were resting on finger rest  104 , the tip of the client&#39;s finger (or distal end of an appendage) would be placed substantially adjacent or abutting rounded front end  302 . The knuckle end of the client&#39;s finger (or proximate end of an appendage) would extend out the open back end  304 . The finger print part of the index finger (or corresponding part of another appendage) would reside substantially aligned with opening  132 . Sensor, for example, infrared sensor  128  in recess  130  of bottom  102  would thus be proximate the appropriate part of the client&#39;s finger (or other appendage) to read the appropriate biometric information, such as, for example, blood oxygen levels, pulse, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top plan view of bottom  102  is shown. Bottom  102  has a concave lower surface  402  in which finger rest  104  resides. Bottom  102  has an outer surface  404 . Outer surface  404  is shown as rounded to more conform to the appendage of a client, such as a client&#39;s finger, but could be flat or other shapes as a matter of design choice. Concave lower surface  402  contains recess  130 , unless recess  130  is designed into finger rest  104 , in which case finger rest  104  would not need opening  132 . 
     Bottom  102  has shoulders  116 . Extending from shoulders  116  are alignment tabs  118 . The lips  122  of finger rest  104  may rest on shoulders  116  such that pin holes  120  in the alignment tabs  118  align sufficiently that pins  108  may be inserted through pin holes  120 . 
     Pegs  112  of finger rest  104  are placed in holes  114  of bottom  102  to hold finger rest  104  in place. Notice, instead of a frictional engagement, pegs  112  could have a protrusion  802  and holes  114  could have a shoulder  804  such that pegs  112  and holes  114  form a snap-lock (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A to 6C , a top plan, side elevation, and front elevation view of sensor  100  is provided.  FIG. 6A  shows how cover portions  202  and  204  of wings  110  fit together to form a snug enclosure  602  for an appendage of the client, such as, in this case, a finger. As best seen in  FIG. 6C , covers  202  and  204  and front end  302  are contoured to fit a finger and could have alternative shapes to fit different appendages or for aesthetic reasons.  FIG. 6C  also best shows pin  108  inserted into pin holes  120  to allow wings  110  to pivot. Elastic biasing members  106  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) cause wings  110  to “clamp” around a finger or other appendage of the client to form a snug fit. As shown best in  FIG. 6B , bottom  102  also is contoured to generally match the contour of the appendage, but bottom  102  could have alternative configurations, such as, flat, rounded, elliptical, random, or the like and the shape of bottom  102  is largely a matter of design choice. Because wings  110  “clamp” down on, for example, a finger, they may be constructed out of a plastic or have a pad  138  attached to rest on the finger. Pad  138  may be a foam or gel layer that conforms more to the finger (or appendage) than, for example, a stiffer plastic or metal. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.