Patent Description:
The present disclosure generally relates to selective wireless transmission of data and power in a near field system.

A device, such as a physiological monitor, may include circuitry for both wireless charging and for wireless data transmission. The device may, for example, use near field wireless power and data transfer systems conforming to one or more Near Field Communication (NFC) design specifications and protocols. However, in such a device, a data transfer process can interfere with a wireless power transfer process, thereby decreasing efficiency when charging the device. There remains a need for improved charging efficiency for devices that wirelessly transfer both data and power.

Patent application <CIT> relates to a wireless power receiver and a control method thereof.

Patent application <CIT> relates to a receiver for a wireless charging system.

Patent application <CIT> relates to systems and methods for wireless power and data transfer that utilize multiple antennas on the receiver side.

Patent application <CIT> relates to a coil structure and a wireless power receiving apparatus including the same.

International publication <CIT> relates to physiological monitoring systems and arrangements for deploying and using same.

A device includes a power antenna and a data antenna, along with a switch operable to selectively connect the data antenna to data circuitry under various conditions. The switch is to decouple the data antenna when charging circuitry is receiving power through the power antenna, or under other conditions indicating that charging may be available or desired, thereby allowing for relatively unimpeded and efficient wireless charging of a device. The switch is closed to enable use of the data antenna by data circuitry when wireless charging activity is not present, or when other conditions indicate that wireless data is available for the device.

In an aspect, a system disclosed herein includes:.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The control circuitry may be configured to operate the switch to connect the data antenna to the wireless data receiver when an amount of power received by the wireless power receiver is below a predetermined threshold. The control circuitry may be configured to default to a power receive mode with the switch in an open position. The control circuitry may be configured to respond to a data availability event by: connecting the data antenna to the wireless data receiver using the switch, and actively pinging for a readable data tag with the wireless data receiver. According to the claimed invention, the data availability event includes at least one of a detection of a contact of at least part of the system with skin of a user or a detection of a garment pocket around at least part of the system. The system may include a physiological monitor. The physiological monitor may include a battery charged at least partially by the wireless power receiver. The physiological monitor may include a controller configured to operate the physiological monitor in response to data received by the wireless data receiver. The data may include at least one of a garment type and a body location. The power antenna may be a planar coil antenna. The data antenna may be a planar coil antenna. The data antenna may be in a parallel plane to the power antenna. The data antenna may overlap the power antenna along an axis normal to a plane of the data antenna. The data antenna may be concentric with the power antenna. The wireless power receiver may include a Near Field Communication power receiver and the wireless data receiver includes a Near Field Communication data tag reader.

In an aspect according to the claimed invention, a method disclosed herein includes detecting a data availability event on a device, where: the data availability event indicates an availability of data wirelessly available for the device; the device includes a wireless power receiver coupled to a power antenna; the device includes a wireless data receiver coupled to a data antenna; and the device includes a switch selectively coupling the wireless data receiver to the data antenna. The method also includes, in response to detecting the data availability event, operating the switch to selectively couple the wireless data receiver to the data antenna, and initiating a connection between the device and a wireless data source through the data antenna. Furthermore, according to the claimed invention, the data availability event includes detection of insertion of the device into a pocket of a garment adjacent to a data tag. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The data availability event may include a detection of an amount of power received by the wireless power receiver below a predetermined threshold. The data availability event may include a detection of contact with a user. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. In the drawings, like reference numerals generally identify corresponding elements.

The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which preferred embodiments are shown. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these illustrated embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will convey the scope to those skilled in the art.

References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term "or" should generally be understood to mean "and/or" and so forth.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words "about," "approximately" or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Similarly, words of approximation such as "approximately" or "substantially" when used in reference to physical characteristics, should be understood to contemplate a range of deviations that would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for a corresponding use, function, purpose, or the like. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described embodiments. Where ranges of values are provided, they are also intended to include each value within the range as if set forth individually, unless expressly stated to the contrary. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language ("e.g.," "such as," or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better describe the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as "first," "second," "top," "bottom," "up," "down," "above," "below," and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

The term "user" as used herein, refers to any type of animal, human or non-human, whose physiological information may be monitored using an exemplary wearable physiological monitoring system.

The term "continuous," as used herein in connection with heart rate data, refers to the acquisition of heart rate data at a sufficient frequency to enable detection of individual heartbeats, and also refers to the collection of heart rate data over extended periods such as an hour, a day or more (including acquisition throughout the day and night). More generally with respect to physiological signals that might be monitored by a wearable device, "continuous" or "continuously" will be understood to mean continuously at a rate and duration suitable for the intended time-based processing, and physically at an inter-periodic rate (e.g., multiple times per heartbeat, respiration, and so forth) sufficient for resolving the desired physiological characteristics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate peak detection, pulse shape, and so forth. At the same time, continuous monitoring is not intended to exclude ordinary data acquisition interruptions such as temporary displacement of monitoring hardware due to sudden movements, changes in external lighting, loss of electrical power, physical manipulation and/or adjustment by a wearer, physical displacement of monitoring hardware due to external forces, and so forth. It will also be noted that heart rate data or a monitored heart rate, in this context, may more generally refer to raw sensor data such as optical intensity signals, or processed data therefrom such as heart rate data, signal peak data, heart rate variability data, or any other physiological or digital signal suitable for recovering heart rate information as contemplated herein. Furthermore, such heart rate data may generally be captured over some historical period that can be subsequently correlated to various other data or metrics related to, e.g., sleep states, recognized exercise activities, resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, and so forth.

The term "computer-readable medium," as used herein, refers to a non-transitory storage media such as storage hardware, storage devices, computer memory that may be accessed by a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a computational system, or the like, or any other module or component or module of a computational system to encode thereon computer-executable instructions, software programs, and/or other data. The "computer-readable medium" may be accessed by a computational system or a module of a computational system to retrieve and/or execute the computer-executable instructions or software programs encoded on the medium. The non-transitory computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, one or more types of hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media (for example, one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more optical disks, one or more USB flash drives), virtual or physical computer system memory, physical memory hardware such as random access memory (such as, DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM), and so forth. Although not depicted, any of the devices or components described herein may include a computer-readable medium or other memory for storing program instructions, data, and the like.

<FIG> shows a physiological monitoring system. The system <NUM> may include a wearable monitor <NUM> that is configured for physiological monitoring. The system <NUM> may also include a removable and replaceable battery <NUM> for recharging the wearable monitor <NUM>. The wearable monitor <NUM> may include a strap <NUM> or other retaining system(s) for securing the wearable monitor <NUM> in a position on a wearer's body for the acquisition of physiological data as described herein. For example, the strap <NUM> may include a slim elastic band formed of any suitable elastic material such as a rubber or a woven polymer fiber such as a woven polyester, polypropylene, nylon, spandex, and so forth. The strap <NUM> may be adjustable to accommodate different wrist sizes, and may include any latches, hasps, or the like to secure the wearable monitor <NUM> in an intended position for monitoring a physiological signal. While a wrist-worn device is depicted, it will be understood that the wearable monitor <NUM> may be configured for positioning in any suitable location on a user's body, based on the sensing modality and the nature of the signal to be acquired. For example, the wearable monitor <NUM> may be configured for use on a wrist, an ankle, a bicep, a chest, or any other suitable location(s), and the strap <NUM> may be, or may include, a waistband or other elastic band or the like within an article of clothing or accessory. The wearable monitor <NUM> may also or instead be structurally configured for placement on or within a garment, e.g., permanently or in a removable and replaceable manner. To that end, the wearable monitor <NUM> may be shaped and sized for placement within a pocket, slot, and/or other housing that is coupled to or embedded within a garment. In such configurations, the pocket or other retaining arrangement on the garment may include sensing windows or the like so that the wearable monitor <NUM> can operate while placed for use in the garment. <CIT> describes non-limiting example embodiments of suitable wearable monitors <NUM>.

The system <NUM> may include any hardware components, subsystems, and the like to support various functions of the wearable monitor <NUM> such as data collection, processing, display, and communications with external resources. For example, the system <NUM> may include hardware for a heart rate monitor using, e.g., photoplethysmography, electrocardiography, or any other technique(s). The system <NUM> may be configured such that, when the wearable monitor <NUM> is placed for use about a wrist (or at some other body location), the system <NUM> initiates acquisition of physiological data from the wearer. In some embodiments, the pulse or heart rate may be acquired optically based on a light source (such as light emitting diodes (LEDs)) and optical detectors in the wearable monitor <NUM>. The LEDs may be positioned to direct illumination toward the user's skin, and optical detectors such as photodiodes may be used to capture illumination intensity measurements indicative of illumination from the LEDs that is reflected and/or transmitted by the wearer's skin.

The system <NUM> may be configured to record other physiological and/or biomechanical parameters including, but not limited to, skin temperature (using a thermometer), galvanic skin response (using a galvanic skin response sensor), motion (using one or more multi-axes accelerometers and/or gyroscope), blood pressure, and the like, as well environmental or contextual parameters such as ambient light, ambient temperature, humidity, time of day, and so forth. For example, the wearable monitor <NUM> may include sensors such as accelerometers and/or gyroscopes for motion detection, sensors for environmental temperature sensing, sensors to measure electrodermal activity (EDA), sensors to measure galvanic skin response (GSR) sensing, and so forth. The system <NUM> may also or instead include other systems or subsystems supporting addition functions of the wearable monitor <NUM>. For example, the system <NUM> may include communications systems to support, e.g., near field communications, proximity sensing, Bluetooth communications, Wi-Fi communications, cellular communications, satellite communications, and so forth. The wearable monitor <NUM> may also or instead include components such as a GeoPositioning System (GPS), a display and/or user interface, a clock and/or timer, and so forth.

The wearable monitor <NUM> may include one or more sources of battery power, such as a first battery within the wearable monitor <NUM> and a second battery <NUM> that is removable from and replaceable to the wearable monitor <NUM> in order to recharge the battery in the wearable monitor <NUM>. Also or instead, the system <NUM> may include a plurality of wearable monitors <NUM> (and/or other physiological monitors) that can share battery power or provide power to one another. The system <NUM> may perform numerous functions related to continuous monitoring, such as automatically detecting when the user is asleep, awake, exercising, and so forth, and such detections may be performed locally at the wearable monitor <NUM> or at a remote service coupled in a communicating relationship with the wearable monitor <NUM> and receiving data therefrom. In general, the system <NUM> may support continuous, independent monitoring of a physiological signal such as a heart rate, and the underlying acquired data may be stored on the wearable monitor <NUM> for an extended period until it can be uploaded to a remote processing resource for more computationally complex analysis. In one aspect, the wearable monitor <NUM> may be a wrist-worn photoplethysmography device.

<FIG> illustrates a physiological monitoring system. More specifically, <FIG> illustrates a physiological monitoring system <NUM> that may be used with any of the methods or devices described herein. In general, the system <NUM> may include a physiological monitor <NUM>, a user device <NUM>, a remote server <NUM> with a remote data processing resource (such as any of the processors or processing resources described herein), and one or more other resources <NUM>, all of which may be interconnected through a data network <NUM>.

The data network <NUM> may be any of the data networks described herein. For example, the data network <NUM> may be any network(s) or internetwork(s) suitable for communicating data and information among participants in the system <NUM>. This may include public networks such as the Internet, private networks, telecommunications networks such as the Public Switched Telephone Network or cellular networks using third generation (e.g., <NUM> or IMT-<NUM>), fourth generation (e.g., LTE (E-UTRA) or WiMAX-Advanced (IEEE <NUM>)), fifth generation (e.g., <NUM>), and/or other technologies, as well as any of a variety of corporate area or local area networks and other switches, routers, hubs, gateways, and the like that might be used to carry data among participants in the system <NUM>. This may also include local or short-range communications infrastructure suitable, e.g., for coupling the physiological monitor <NUM> to the user device <NUM>, or otherwise supporting communicating with local resources. By way of non-limiting examples, short range communications may include Wi-Fi communications, Bluetooth communications, infrared communications, near field communications, communications with RFID tags or readers, and so forth.

The physiological monitor <NUM> may, in general, be any physiological monitoring device or system, such as any of the wearable monitors or other monitoring devices or systems described herein. In one aspect, the physiological monitor <NUM> may be a wearable physiological monitor shaped and sized to be worn on a wrist or other body location. The physiological monitor <NUM> may include a wearable housing <NUM>, a network interface <NUM>, one or more sensors <NUM>, one or more light sources <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a haptic device <NUM> or other user input/output hardware, a memory <NUM>, and a strap <NUM> for retaining the physiological monitor <NUM> in a desired location on a user. In one aspect, the physiological monitor <NUM> may be configured to acquire heart rate data and/or other physiological data from a wearer in an intermittent or substantially continuous manner. In another aspect, the physiological monitor <NUM> may be configured to support extended, continuous acquisition of physiological data, e.g., for several days, a week, or more.

The network interface <NUM> of the physiological monitor <NUM> may be configured to couple the physiological monitor <NUM> to one or more other components of the system <NUM> in a communicating relationship, either directly, e.g., through a cellular data connection or the like, or indirectly through a short range wireless communications channel coupling the physiological monitor <NUM> locally to a wireless access point, router, computer, laptop, tablet, cellular phone, or other device that can locally process data, and/or relay data from the physiological monitor <NUM> to the remote server <NUM> or other resource(s) <NUM> as necessary or helpful for acquiring and processing data from the physiological monitor <NUM>.

The one or more sensors <NUM> may include any of the sensors described herein, or any other sensors or sub-systems suitable for physiological monitoring or supporting functions. By way of example and not limitation, the one or more sensors <NUM> may include one or more of a light source, an optical sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a temperature sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, an environmental sensor (e.g., for measuring ambient temperature, humidity, lighting, and the like), a geolocation sensor, a Global Positioning System, a proximity sensor, an RFID tag reader, and RFID tag, a temporal sensor, an electrodermal activity sensor, and the like. The one or more sensors <NUM> may be disposed in the wearable housing <NUM>, or otherwise positioned and configured for physiological monitoring or other functions described herein. In one aspect, the one or more sensors <NUM> include a light detector configured to provide light intensity data to the processor <NUM> (or to the remote server <NUM>) for calculating a heart rate and a heart rate variability. The one or more sensors <NUM> may also or instead include an accelerometer, gyroscope, and the like configured to provide motion data to the processor <NUM>, e.g., for detecting activities such as a sleep state, a resting state, a waking event, exercise, and/or other user activity. In an implementation, the one or more sensors <NUM> may include a sensor to measure a galvanic skin response of the user. The one or more sensors <NUM> may also or instead include electrodes or the like for capturing electronic signals, e.g., to obtain an electrocardiogram and/or other electrically-derived physiological measurements.

The processor <NUM> and memory <NUM> may be any of the processors and memories described herein. In one aspect, the memory <NUM> may store physiological data obtained by monitoring a user with the one or more sensors <NUM>, and or any other sensor data, program data, or other data useful for operation of the physiological monitor <NUM> or other components of the system <NUM>. It will be understood that, while only the memory <NUM> on the physiological monitor is illustrated, any other device(s) or components of the system <NUM> may also or instead include a memory to store program instructions, raw data, processed data, user inputs, and so forth. In one aspect, the processor <NUM> of the physiological monitor <NUM> may be configured to obtain heart rate data from the user, such as heart rate data including or based on the raw data from the sensors <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may also or instead be configured to determine, or assist in a determination of, a condition of the user related to, e.g., health, fitness, strain, recovery sleep, or any of the other conditions described herein.

The one or more light sources <NUM> may be coupled to the wearable housing <NUM> and controlled by the processor <NUM>. At least one of the light sources <NUM> may be directed toward the skin of a user adjacent to the wearable housing <NUM>. Light from the light source <NUM>, or more generally, light at one or more wavelengths of the light source <NUM>, may be detected by one or more of the sensors <NUM>, and processed by the processor <NUM> as described herein.

The system <NUM> may further include a remote data processing resource executing on a remote server <NUM>. The remote data processing resource may include any of the processors and related hardware described herein, and may be configured to receive data transmitted from the memory <NUM> of the physiological monitor <NUM>, and to process the data to detect or infer physiological signals of interest such as heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, pulse oxygen, blood pressure, and so forth. The remote server <NUM> may also or instead evaluate a condition of the user such as a recovery state, sleep state, exercise activity, exercise type, sleep quality, daily activity strain, and any other health or fitness conditions that might be detected based on such data.

The system <NUM> may include one or more user devices <NUM>, which may work together with the physiological monitor <NUM>, e.g., to provide a display, or more generally, user input/output, for user data and analysis, and/or to provide a communications bridge from the network interface <NUM> of the physiological monitor <NUM> to the data network <NUM> and the remote server <NUM>. For example, physiological monitor <NUM> may communicate locally with a user device <NUM>, such as a smartphone of a user, via short-range communications, e.g., Bluetooth, or the like, for the exchange of data between the physiological monitor <NUM> and the user device <NUM>, and the user device <NUM> may in turn communicate with the remote server <NUM> via the data network <NUM> in order to forward data from the physiological monitor <NUM> and to receive analysis and results from the remote server <NUM> for presentation to the user. In one aspect, the user device(s) <NUM> may support physiological monitoring by processing or pre-processing data from the physiological monitor <NUM> to support extraction of heart rate or heart rate variability data from raw data obtained by the physiological monitor <NUM>. In another aspect, computationally intensive processing may advantageously be performed at the remote server <NUM>, which may have greater memory capabilities and processing power than the physiological monitor <NUM> and/or the user device <NUM>.

The user device <NUM> may include any suitable computing device(s) including, without limitation, a smartphone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a network computer, a tablet, a mobile device, a portable digital assistant, a cellular phone, a portable media or entertainment device, or any other computing devices described herein. The user device <NUM> may provide a user interface <NUM> for access to data and analysis by a user, and/or to support user control of operation of the physiological monitor <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> may be maintained by one or more applications executing locally on the user device <NUM>, or the user interface <NUM> may be remotely served and presented on the user device <NUM>, e.g., from the remote server <NUM> or the one or more other resources <NUM>.

In general, the remote server <NUM> may include data storage, a network interface, and/or other processing circuitry. The remote server <NUM> may process data from the physiological monitor <NUM> and perform physiological and/or health monitoring/analyses or any of the other analyses described herein, (e.g., analyzing sleep, determining strain, assessing recovery, and so on), and may host a user interface for remote access to this data, e.g., from the user device <NUM>. The remote server <NUM> may include a web server or other programmatic front end that facilitates web-based access by the user devices <NUM> or the physiological monitor <NUM> to the capabilities of the remote server <NUM> or other components of the system <NUM>.

The system <NUM> may include other resources <NUM>, such as any resources that can be usefully employed in the devices, systems, and methods as described herein. For example, these other resources <NUM> may include other data networks, databases, processing resources, cloud data storage, data mining tools, computational tools, data monitoring tools, algorithms, and so forth. In another aspect, the other resources <NUM> may include one or more administrative or programmatic interfaces for human actors such as programmers, researchers, annotators, editors, analysts, coaches, and so forth, to interact with any of the foregoing. The other resources <NUM> may also or instead include any other software or hardware resources that may be usefully employed in the networked applications as contemplated herein. For example, the other resources <NUM> may include payment processing servers or platforms used to authorize payment for access, content, or option/feature purchases. In another aspect, the other resources <NUM> may include certificate servers or other security resources for third-party verification of identity, encryption or decryption of data, and so forth. In another aspect, the other resources <NUM> may include a desktop computer or the like co-located (e.g., on the same local area network with, or directly coupled to through a serial or USB cable) with a user device <NUM>, wearable strap <NUM>, or remote server <NUM>. In this case, the other resources <NUM> may provide supplemental functions for components of the system <NUM> such as firmware upgrades, user interfaces, and storage and/or pre-processing of data from the physiological monitor <NUM> before transmission to the remote server <NUM>.

The other resources <NUM> may also or instead include one or more web servers that provide web-based access to and from any of the other participants in the system <NUM>. While depicted as a separate network entity, it will be readily appreciated that the other resources <NUM> (e.g., a web server) may also or instead be logically and/or physically associated with one of the other devices described herein, and may for example, include or provide a user interface <NUM> for web access to the remote server <NUM> or a database or other resource(s) to facilitate user interaction through the data network <NUM>, e.g., from the physiological monitor <NUM> or the user device <NUM>.

In another aspect, the other resources <NUM> may include fitness equipment or other fitness infrastructure. For example, a strength training machine may automatically record repetitions and/or added weight during repetitions, which may be wirelessly accessible by the physiological monitor <NUM> or some other user device <NUM>. More generally, a gym may be configured to track user movement from machine to machine, and report activity from each machine in order to track various strength training activities in a workout. The other resources <NUM> may also or instead include other monitoring equipment or infrastructure. For example, the system <NUM> may include one or more cameras to track motion of free weights and/or the body position of the user during repetitions of a strength training activity or the like. Similarly, a user may wear, or have embedded in clothing, tracking fiducials such as visually distinguishable objects for image-based tracking, or radio beacons or the like for other tracking. In another aspect, weights may themselves be instrumented, e.g., with sensors to record and communicated detected motion, and/or beacons or the like to self-identify type, weight, and so forth, in order to facilitate automated detection and tracking of exercise activity with other connected devices.

One limitation on wearable sensors can be body placement. Devices are typically wrist-based, and may occupy a location that a user would prefer to reserve for other devices or jewelry, or that a user would prefer to leave unadorned for aesthetic or functional reasons. This location also places constraints on what measurements can be taken, and may also limit user activities. For example, a user may be prevented from wearing boxing gloves while wearing a sensing device on their wrist. To address this issue, physiological monitors may also or instead be embedded in clothing, which may be specifically adapted for physiological monitoring with the addition of communications interfaces, power supplies, device location sensors, environmental sensors, geolocation hardware, payment processing systems, and any other components to provide infrastructure and augmentation for wearable physiological monitors. Such "smart garments" offer additional space on a user's body for supporting monitoring hardware, and may further enable sensing techniques that cannot be achieved with single sensing devices. For example, embedding a plurality of physiological sensors or other electronic/communication devices in a shirt may allow electrocardiogram (ECG) based heart rate measurements to be gathered from a torso region of the wearer; wireless antennas to be placed above the upper portion of the thoracic spine to achieve desired communications signals; a contactless payment system to be embedded in a sleeve cuff for interactions with a payment terminal; and muscle oxygen saturation measurements to be gathered from muscles such as the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, and other major muscle groups. This non-exhaustive list illustrates just some examples of technology that may be incorporated into a single garment.

Smart garments may also free up body surfaces for other devices. For example, if sensors in a wrist-worn device that provide heart rate monitoring and step counting can be instead embedded in a user's undergarments, the user may still receive the biometric information they desire, while also being able to wear jewelry or other accessories for suitable occasions.

The present disclosure generally includes smart garment systems and techniques. It will be understood that a "smart garment" as described herein generally includes a garment that incorporates infrastructure and devices to support, augment, or complement various physiological monitoring modes. Such a garment may include a wired, local communication bus for intra-garment hardware communications, a wireless communication system for intra-garment hardware communications, a wireless communication system for extra-garment communications and so forth. The garment may also or instead include a power supply, a power management system, processing hardware, data storage, and so forth, any of which may support enriched functions for the smart garment.

<FIG> shows a smart garment system. In general, the system <NUM> may include a plurality of components-e.g., a garment <NUM>, one or more modules <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and so on-capable of communicating with one another over a data network <NUM>. The garment <NUM> may be wearable by a user <NUM> and configured to communicate with a module <NUM> having a physiological sensor <NUM> that is structurally configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user <NUM>. As discussed herein, the module <NUM> may be controllable by the controller <NUM> based at least in part on a location <NUM> where the module <NUM> is located on or within the garment <NUM>. This position-based information may be derived from an interaction and/or communication between the module <NUM> and the garment <NUM> using various techniques. It will be understood that, while two controllers <NUM> are shown, the garment <NUM> may include a single inter-garment controller, or any number of separate controllers <NUM> in any number of garments <NUM> (e.g., one per garment, or one for all garments worn by a person, etc.), and/or controllers may be integrated into other modules <NUM>.

For communication over the data network <NUM>, the system <NUM> may include a network interface <NUM>, which may be integrated into the garment <NUM>, included in the controller <NUM>, or in some other module or component of the system <NUM>, or some combination of these. The network interface <NUM> may generally include any combination of hardware and software configured to wirelessly communicate data to remote resources. For example, the network interface <NUM> may use a local connection to a laptop, smart phone, or the like that couples, in turn, to a wide area network for accessing, e.g., web-based or other network-accessible resources. The network interface <NUM> may also or instead be configured to couple to a local access point such as a router or wireless access point for connecting to the data network <NUM>. In another aspect, the network interface <NUM> may be a cellular communications data connection for direct, wireless connection to a cellular network or the like.

The data network <NUM> may be any as described herein. By way of example, some embodiments of the system <NUM> may be configured to stream information wirelessly to a social network, a data center, a cloud service, and so forth. In some embodiments, data streamed from the system <NUM> to the data network <NUM> may be accessed by the user <NUM> (or other users) via a website. The network interface <NUM> may thus be configured such that data collected by the system <NUM> is streamed wirelessly to a remote processing facility <NUM>, database <NUM>, and/or server <NUM> for processing and access by the user. In some embodiments, data may be transmitted automatically, without user interactions, for example by storing data locally and transmitting the data over available local area network resources when a local access point such as a wireless access point or a relay device (such as a laptop, tablet, or smart phone) is available. In some embodiments, the system <NUM> may include a cellular system or other hardware for independently accessing network resources from the garment <NUM> without requiring local network connectivity. It will be understood that the network interface <NUM> may include a computing device such as a mobile phone or the like. The network interface <NUM> may also or instead include or be included on another component of the system <NUM>, or some combination of these. Where battery power or communications resources can advantageously be conserved, the system <NUM> may preferentially use local networking resources when available, and reserve cellular communications for situations where a data storage capacity of the garment <NUM> is reaching capacity. Thus, for example, the garment <NUM> may store data locally up to some predetermined threshold for local data storage, below which data is transmitted over local networks when available. The garment <NUM> may also transmit data to a central resource using a cellular data network only when local storage of data exceeds the predetermined threshold.

The garment <NUM> may include one or more designated areas <NUM> for positioning a module to sense a physiological parameter of the user <NUM> wearing the garment <NUM>. One or more of the designated areas <NUM> may be specifically tailored for receiving a module <NUM> therein or thereon. For example, a designated area <NUM> may include a pocket structurally configured to receive a module <NUM> therein. Also or instead, a designated area <NUM> may include a first fastener configured to cooperate with a second fastener disposed on a module <NUM>. One or more of the first fastener and the second fastener may include at least one of a hook-and-loop fastener, a button, a clamp, a clip, a snap, a projection, and a void.

By placing a pocket or the like in one of these designated areas <NUM>, a position of a module <NUM> can be controlled, and where an RFID tag, sensor, or the like is used, the designated area <NUM> can specifically sense when a module <NUM> is positioned there for monitoring, and can communicate the detected location to any suitable control circuitry.

The garment <NUM> may also or instead incorporate other infrastructure <NUM> to cooperate with a module <NUM>. For example, the garment infrastructure <NUM> may include infrastructure <NUM> related to ECG devices, such as ECG pads (or otherwise electrically conductive sensor pads and/or electrodes that connect to the module <NUM>, controller <NUM>, and/or another component of the system <NUM>), lead wires, and the like. By way of further example, the garment infrastructure <NUM> may include wires or the like embedded in the garment <NUM> to facilitate wired data or power transfer between installed modules <NUM> and other system components (including other modules <NUM>). The infrastructure <NUM> may also or instead include integrated features for, e.g., powering modules, supporting data communications among modules, and otherwise supporting operation of the system <NUM>. The infrastructure <NUM> may also or instead include location or identification tags or hardware, a power supply for powering modules <NUM> or other hardware, communications infrastructure as described herein, a wired intra-garment network, or supplemental components such as a processor, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a timing device, e.g., for synchronizing signals from multiple garments, a beacon for synchronizing signals among multiple modules <NUM>, and so forth. More generally, any hardware, software, or combination of these suitable for augmenting operation of the garment <NUM> and a physiological monitoring system using the garment <NUM> may be incorporated as infrastructure <NUM> into the garment <NUM> as contemplated herein.

The modules <NUM> may generally be sized and shaped for placement on or within the one or more designated areas <NUM> of the garment <NUM>. For example, in certain implementations, one or more of the modules <NUM> may be permanently affixed on or within the garment <NUM>. In such instances, the modules <NUM> may be washable. Also or instead, in certain implementations, one or more of the modules <NUM> may be removable and replaceable relative to the garment <NUM>. In such instances, the modules <NUM> need not be washable, although a module <NUM> may be designed to be washable and/or otherwise durable enough to withstand a prolonged period of engagement with a designated area <NUM> of the garment <NUM>. A module <NUM> may be capable of being positioned in more than one of the designated areas <NUM> of the garment <NUM>. That is, one or more of the plurality of modules <NUM> may be configured to sense data using a physiological sensor <NUM> in a plurality of designated areas <NUM> of the garment <NUM>.

A module <NUM> may include one or more physiological sensors <NUM> and a communications interface <NUM> programmed to transmit data from at least one of the physiological sensors <NUM>. For example, the physiological sensors <NUM> may include one or more of a heart rate monitor (e.g., one or more PPG sensors or the like), an oxygen monitor (e.g., a pulse oximeter), a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a position sensor, a Global Positioning System, a clock, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, or any other electrical, acoustic, optical, or other sensor or combination of sensors and the like useful for physiological monitoring, environmental monitoring, or other monitoring as described herein. In one aspect, the physiological sensors <NUM> may include a conductivity sensor or the like used for electromyography, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, or other physiological sensing based on electrical signals. The data received from the physiological sensors <NUM> may include at least one of heart rate data and/or similar data related to blood flow (e.g., from PPG sensors), muscle oxygen saturation data, temperature data, movement data, position/location data, environmental data, temporal data, blood pressure data, and so on.

Thus, certain embodiments include one or more physiological sensors <NUM> configured to provide continuous measurements of heart rate using photoplethysmography or the like. The physiological sensor <NUM> may include one or more light emitters for emitting light at one or more desired frequencies toward the user's skin, and one or more light detectors for received light reflected from the user's skin. The light detectors may include a photo-resistor, a phototransistor, a photodiode, and the like. A processor may process optical data from the light detector(s) to calculate a heart rate based on the measured, reflected light. The optical data may be combined with data from one or more motion sensors, e.g., accelerometers and/or gyroscopes, to minimize or eliminate noise in the heart rate signal caused by motion or other artifacts. The physiological sensor <NUM> may also or instead provide at least one of continuous motion detection, environmental temperature sensing, electrodermal activity (EDA) sensing, galvanic skin response (GSR) sensing, and the like.

The system <NUM> may include different types of modules <NUM>. For example, a number of different modules <NUM> may each provide a particular function. Thus, the garment <NUM> may house one or more of a temperature module, a heart rate/PPG module, a muscle oxygen saturation module, a haptic module, a wireless communication module, or combinations thereof, any of which may be integrated into a single module <NUM> or deployed in separate modules <NUM> that can communicate with one another. Some measurements such as temperature, motion, optical heart rate detection, and the like, may have preferred or fixed locations, and pockets or fixtures within the garment <NUM> may be adapted to receive specific types of modules <NUM> at specific locations within the garment <NUM>. For example, motion may preferentially be detected at or near extremities while heart rate data may preferentially be gathered near major arteries. In another aspect, some measurements such as temperature may be measured anywhere, but may preferably be measured at a single location in order to avoid certain calibration issues that might otherwise arise through arbitrary placement.

In another aspect, the system <NUM> may include two or more modules <NUM> placed at different locations and configured to perform differential signal analysis. For example, the rate of pulse travel and the degree of attenuation in a cardiac signal may be detected using two or more modules at two or more locations, e.g., at the bicep and wrist of a user, or at other locations similarly positioned along an artery. These multiple measurements support a differential analysis that permits useful inferences about heart strength, pliability of circulatory pathways, blood pressure, and other aspects of the cardiovascular system that may indicate cardiac age, cardiac health, cardiac conditions, and so forth. Similarly, muscle activity detection might be measured at different locations to facilitate a differential analysis for identifying activity types, determining muscular fitness, and so forth. More generally, multiple sensors can facilitate differential analysis. To facilitate this type of analysis with greater precision, the garment infrastructure may include a beacon or clock for synchronizing signals among multiple modules, particularly where data is temporarily stored locally at each module, or where the data is transmitted to a processor from different locations wirelessly where packet loss, latency, and the like may present challenges to real time processing.

The communications interface <NUM> may be any as described herein, for example including any of the features of the network interface <NUM> described above.

The controller <NUM> may be configured, e.g., by computer executable code or the like, to determine a location of the module <NUM>. This may be based on contextual measurements such as accelerometer data from the module <NUM>, which may be analyzed by a machine learning model or the like to infer a body position. In another aspect, this may be based on other signals from the module <NUM>. For example, signals from sensors such as photodiodes, temperature sensors, resistors, capacitors, and the like may be used alone or in combination to infer a body position. In another aspect, the location may be determined based on a proximity of a module <NUM> to a proximity sensor, RFID tag, or the like at or near one of the designated areas <NUM> of the garment <NUM>. Based on the location, the controller <NUM> may adapt operation of the module <NUM> for location-specific operation. This may include selecting filters, processing models, physiological signal detections, and the like. It will be understood that operations of the controller <NUM>, which may be any controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, or other processing circuitry, or the like, may be performed in cooperation with another component of the system <NUM> such as the processor <NUM> described herein, one or more of the modules <NUM>, or another computing device. It will also be understood that the controller <NUM> may be located on a local component of the system <NUM> (e.g., on the garment <NUM>, in a module <NUM>, and so on) or as part of a remote processing facility <NUM>, or some combination of these. Thus, in an aspect, a controller <NUM> is included in at least one of the plurality of modules <NUM>. And, in another aspect, the controller <NUM> is a separate component of the garment <NUM>, and serves to integrate functions of the various modules <NUM> connected thereto. The controller <NUM> may also or instead be remote relative to each of the plurality of modules <NUM>, or some combination of these.

The controller <NUM> may be configured to control one or more of (i) sensing performed by a physiological sensor <NUM> of the module <NUM> and (ii) processing by the module <NUM> of the data received from a physiological sensor <NUM>. That is, in certain aspects, the combination of sensors in the module <NUM> may vary based on where it is intended to be located on a garment <NUM>. In another aspect, processing of data from a module <NUM> may vary based on where it is located on a garment <NUM>. In this latter aspect, a processing resource such as the controller <NUM> or some other local or remote processing resource coupled to the module <NUM> may detect the location and adapt processing of data from the module <NUM> based on the location. This may, for example, include a selection of different models, algorithms, or parameters for processing sensed data.

In another aspect, this may include selecting from among a variety of different activity recognition models based on the detected location. For example, a variety of different activity recognition models may be developed such as machine learning models, lookup tables, analytical models, or the like, which may be applied to accelerometer data to detect an activity type. Other motion data such as gyroscope data may also or instead be used, and activity recognition processes may also be augmented by other potentially relevant data such as data from a barometer, magnetometer, GPS system, and so forth. This may generally discriminate, e.g., between being asleep, at rest, or in motion, or this may discriminate more finely among different types of athletic activity such as walking, running, biking, swimming, playing tennis, playing squash, and so forth. While useful models may be developed for detecting activities in this manner, the nature of the detection will depend upon where the accelerometers are located on a body. Thus, a processing resource may usefully identify location first using location detection systems (such as tags, electromechanical bus connections, etc.) built into the garment <NUM>, and then use this detected location to select a suitable model for activity recognition. This technique may similarly be applied to calibration models, physiological signals processing models, and the like, or to otherwise adapt processing of signals from a module <NUM> based on the location of the module <NUM>. In general, determining a location of a module <NUM> may include, e.g., receiving a sensed location for the module <NUM>, determining the location based on communications between the module <NUM> and the garment <NUM>, determining the location based on data received from a physiological sensor <NUM> of the module <NUM>, and so forth.

Once determined using any of the techniques above, the location of a module <NUM> may be transmitted for storage and analysis to a remote processing facility <NUM>, a database <NUM>, or the like. That is, in addition to the module <NUM> using this information locally to configure itself for the location in which it is worn, the module <NUM> may communicate this information to other modules <NUM>, peripherals, or the cloud. Processing this information in the cloud may help an organization determine if a module <NUM> has ever been installed on a garment <NUM>, which locations are most used, and how modules <NUM> perform differently in different locations. These analytics may be useful for many purposes, and may, for example, be used to improve the design or use of modules <NUM> and garments <NUM>, either for a population, for a user type, or for a particular user.

As stated above, the system <NUM> may further include a processor <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. In general, the memory <NUM> may bear computer executable code configured to be executed by the processor <NUM> to perform processing of the data received from one or more modules <NUM>. One or more of the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> may be located on a local component of the system <NUM> (e.g., the garment <NUM>, a module <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the like) or as part of a remote processing facility <NUM> or the like as shown in the figure. Thus, in an aspect, one or more of the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> is included on at least one of the plurality of modules <NUM>. In this manner, processing may be performed on a central module, or on each module <NUM> independently. In another aspect, one or more of the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> is remote relative to each of the plurality of modules <NUM>. For example, processing may be performed on a connected peripheral device such as smart phone, laptop, local computer, or cloud resource.

The processor <NUM> may be configured to assess the quality of the data received from a physiological sensor <NUM> of the module <NUM>, otherwise process data as described herein. The memory <NUM> may store one or more algorithms, models, and supporting data (e.g., parameters, calibration results, user selections, and so forth) and the like for transforming data received from a physiological sensor <NUM> of the module <NUM>. In this manner, suitable models, algorithms, tuning parameters, and the like may be selected for use in transforming the data based on the location of the module <NUM> as determined by the controller <NUM> and/or processor <NUM> as described herein.

A database <NUM> may be located remotely and in communication with the system <NUM> via the data network <NUM>. The database <NUM> may store data related to the system <NUM> such as any discussed herein-e.g., sensed data, processed data, transformed data, metadata, physiological signal processing models and algorithms, personal activity history, and the like. The system <NUM> may further include one or more servers <NUM> that host data, provide a user interface, process data, and so forth in order to facilitate use of the modules <NUM> and garments <NUM> as described herein.

It will be appreciated that the garment <NUM>, modules <NUM>, and accompanying garment infrastructure and remote networking/processing resources, may advantageously be used in combination to improve physiological monitoring and achieve modes of monitoring not previously available.

One or more of the devices and systems described herein may include circuitry for both wireless charging and wireless data transmission, e.g., where the corresponding circuits can operate independently from one another, and where the corresponding antennae are located proximal to one another (for instance, the circuitry for wireless charging and the circuitry for wireless data transmission may include separate coils disposed substantially along the same plane, or otherwise in relative close proximity in a device or system). In such aspects, one or more measures may be taken so that a wireless data transfer process does not interfere with a wireless power transfer process, more specifically by coupling the data circuitry into the electromagnetic field for the wireless power transfer in a manner that alters the resonant frequency or otherwise destructively interferes with power transfer, thereby decreasing efficiency when charging a device. For example, a switch may be included to disable circuitry for data transmission when certain wireless charging activity is present, thereby allowing for relatively unimpeded and efficient wireless charging of a device. The switch may also be operable to enable operation of data transmission circuitry when certain wireless charging activity is not present, and/or in other circumstances where data transmission is desirable.

Thus, for example, in the context of a physiological monitor, such as any of those described herein, the physiological monitor may include both a wireless power receiver (or similar) and a wireless data tag reader (or similar). In general, these sub-systems may conform to one or more Near Field Communication (NFC) specifications for protocols and physical architectures, or any other standards suitable for wireless power and data transmission. The power circuitry may be used, e.g., to charge a battery on the physiological monitor so that the device can be recharged without physically connecting to a power source. The data circuitry may be used, e.g., as a wireless data tag reader or the like to read data from nearby data sources such as identification tags in user apparel and the like, and/or for connecting the physiological monitor to other accessories, e.g., a watch face or GPS unit that may be physically coupled to the physiological monitor. In general, the physiological monitor may include separate circuity (separate coils) for these wireless power and data systems, such as separate processing circuitry and/or separate antennae. The antennae may be disposed substantially along the same plane of the physiological monitor (e.g., with one coil disposed substantially inside or adjacent to the other). In one aspect, the antennae may be in parallel planes, however, it will be noted that distance tolerances for NFC standard devices are relatively small, and the physically housing for these antennae will preferably enforce an identical or substantially identical distance for both antennae in such architectures. In this context, the positions of the antennae may be as close to parallel as possible within reasonable manufacturing tolerances, or as close to parallel as possible when disposed on two different layers of a shared printed circuit board, or preferably, when disposed on a single layer of a shared printed circuit board. The physiological monitor may further include a switch (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) switch or the like) in-line with the coil for the wireless data tag reader to disable the wireless data tag reader when power is being received to mitigate any effects on the efficiency of the wireless power transfer process. In particular, the switch may be configured to open when power is being received, and may be configured to close when the physiological monitor is looking for data tag to read.

<FIG> illustrates circuitry for wireless power and data transmission. It will be understood that the system <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be present in any of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. Thus, for example, the system <NUM> may be embodied in a device further including a physiological monitor such as any of the physiological monitoring systems and devices described herein. The circuitry includes a first circuit <NUM> configured to receive wireless power from a wireless charging device, and a second circuit <NUM> configured for wireless data transmission (e.g., configured to wirelessly receive and/or read data from a data tag or the like, and/or to send data as appropriate). It will be understood that, although shown as separate circuits, as described herein, the first circuit <NUM> and the second circuit <NUM> may be disposed substantially along the same plane or stacked on two adjacent planes within a device or system, and/or they may be located in relatively close proximity to one another, and/or they may share certain passive, active, or programmable electronic components, e.g., as necessary or helpful for conserving space within a device.

The first circuit <NUM> includes a power antenna <NUM> (shown as an inductor coil in the circuit diagram, and labeled as "NFC Power Receive Coil"), and may include one or more tuning passives <NUM> (shown as capacitors in the circuit diagram, although they may include any combination of passive components suitable for radio frequency (RF) tuning of the first circuit <NUM>) such as discrete or physically tunable passive components for fine tuning an RF resonance of the first circuit <NUM>. The system also includes a wireless power receiver <NUM> (e.g., an integrated circuit such as an NFC Power Receive IC chip or the like) that converts power received through the power antenna <NUM> into electrical power for use by a device (e.g., as the load in an electrical power circuit). Thus, a device or system includes a first circuit <NUM> with a power antenna <NUM> and a wireless power receiver <NUM> coupled to the power antenna <NUM>. The power antenna <NUM> may be a planar antenna such as a planar coil antenna or any other antenna or antennae suitable for receiving power from a matched power transmission system or the like.

The second circuit <NUM> includes a data antenna <NUM> (shown as an inductor coil in the circuit diagram, and labeled as "NFC Reader Coil"), and may include one or more tuning passives <NUM> (shown as capacitors in the circuit diagram, although they may include any combination of passive components suitable for RF tuning of the second circuit <NUM>) such as discrete or physically tunable passive components for fine tuning an RF resonance of the second circuit <NUM>. The system also includes a wireless data receiver <NUM> (e.g., an integrated circuit such as an NFC Reader IC chip or the like) that communicates with nearby wireless data sources and receives data, stores data, and/or provides data to one or more components of the device or system in which the second circuit <NUM> is present. The wireless data receiver <NUM> may include a processor and a memory, and/or may provide wirelessly received data to a processor and a memory of a device. Thus, a device or system generally includes a second circuit with a data antenna <NUM> and a wireless data receiver <NUM> coupled to the data antenna <NUM>. The data antenna <NUM> may be a planar antenna such as a planar coil antenna, or any other antenna or antennae suitable for coupling in a communicating relationship with an external, wireless data source. And, as described herein, in aspects where the data antenna <NUM> is a planar coil antenna and/or the power antenna <NUM> is a planar coil antenna, the data antenna <NUM> may be coplanar or substantially coplanar with the power antenna <NUM> within a device or system, or in a parallel plane offset from the power antenna <NUM>, e.g., by layers of a printed circuit board or the like. In one aspect, one or more of the antennae <NUM>, <NUM> may be curved. In this case, the "plane" of one of the antennae may generally be a plane passing through or normal to a surface of the antenna.

In devices such as a wearable physiological monitor, the data antenna <NUM> may be positioned close to the power antenna <NUM> in order to conserve space. For example, the data antenna <NUM> may be positioned coplanar with and adjacent to the power antenna <NUM>, or the data antenna <NUM> may be positioned concentrically with (or overlapping with) the power antenna <NUM> and offset along an axis normal to the plane of the data antenna <NUM>, such as in a different layer of a printed circuit board that contains both antennae <NUM>, <NUM>, or on another printed circuit board vertically stacked with a printed circuit board containing the power antenna <NUM>. When arranged in this manner, the two antennae <NUM>, <NUM> and accompanying circuits <NUM>, <NUM> may interfere with one another, decreasing the efficiency of radio frequency (RF) transmissions to and from the device. In this context, one of the antennae <NUM>, <NUM>, such as the data antenna <NUM>, may advantageously be decoupled while receiving power in order to mitigate detuning or other RF interference with the other one of the antennae <NUM>, <NUM>. While this is generally useful for either antenna, the advantages of decoupling an antenna to mitigate RF circuit interference may provide the most benefit in high power applications, such as power transfer for battery charging or the like.

To this end, the second circuit <NUM> includes a switch <NUM> configured to selectively decouple (and couple) the data antenna <NUM> to the wireless data receiver <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is controllable via control circuitry <NUM>, which may be integrated into the wireless data receiver <NUM>, an NFC Reader IC or other chip or control circuitry, or embodied in an additional processor, controller, microcontroller, or other discrete and/or programmable electronics or the like that can respond to suitable control signals or operate independently from external control signals to selectively couple the data antenna <NUM> to the wireless data receiver <NUM> as described herein. It will be understood that in this context, coupling and decoupling does not require full, two lead coupling and decoupling. The benefits of the methods and systems described herein may be achieved with a decoupling that includes disconnecting a single terminal, e.g., with the switch <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. Any such decoupling suitable for interrupting a continuous circuit between the terminals of the data antenna <NUM> and the wireless data circuitry <NUM> should be considered a "decoupling" (and the corresponding components should be considered "decoupled") as that term is used herein, unless otherwise specifically stated to the contrary.

Although illustrated as included with the NFC Reader IC of the wireless data receiver <NUM>, it will be understood that components such as the control circuitry <NUM> may also or instead include components or circuitry separate from the NFC Reader IC and/or the wireless data receiver <NUM>. The control circuitry <NUM> may include, or may be in communication with, one or more of a processor <NUM> and a memory <NUM>, each of which may also be integrated into or separate from the control circuitry <NUM> and/or the wireless data receiver <NUM>. In general, the processor <NUM> may facilitate the execution of functions according to instructions included in code contained within the memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> may be any as described herein.

The control circuitry <NUM> is configured to connect/disconnect the data antenna <NUM> from the wireless data receiver <NUM> using the switch <NUM> in response to certain conditions such as conditions indicating an availability of data (or optionally, the non-availability of power). The control circuitry <NUM> is configured to disconnect the data antenna <NUM> from the wireless data receiver <NUM> with the switch <NUM> when power is being received through the power antenna <NUM>. Similarly, the control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to reconnect the data antenna <NUM> to the wireless data receiver <NUM> using the switch <NUM> in response to certain conditions, such as when power is not being received through the power antenna <NUM>, or when there are other indicators that a data source is available. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> may connect the data antenna <NUM> to the wireless data receiver <NUM> when an amount of power received by the wireless power receiver <NUM> is below a predetermined threshold, e.g., when the first (power) circuit <NUM> is not actively charging a battery or otherwise providing power to the device. The control circuitry <NUM> may also or instead disconnect the data antenna <NUM> from the wireless data receiver <NUM> with the switch <NUM> when an amount of power received by the wireless power receiver <NUM> is above the predetermined threshold, e.g., when the first (power) circuit <NUM> is actively charging a battery or otherwise providing power to the device. However, it will be understood that other events can also or instead be used as triggers that result in connecting or disconnecting the data antenna <NUM> from the wireless data receiver <NUM> via the switch <NUM>, and that operation of the switch <NUM> is not limited to situations involving power transfer-e.g., a user input, a control signal indicating a pending data transmission, other logic or parameters, and the like. That is, the system <NUM> may, in some aspects, keep the switch <NUM> connected (and/or change from an open position to a closed position) when power is received, e.g., at least momentarily. According to the claimed invention, in a variety of configurations, the switch <NUM> more generally selectively couples the data antenna <NUM> to the wireless data receiver <NUM> in response to a data availability event. This can advantageously mitigate interference with the co-located wireless power system except when a predetermined event-a data availability event-indicates that data might be available for the system <NUM>.

Where it is preferred or advantageous for the device to default to a connection to a power source (e.g., in the absence of power from a battery on the device), the control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to default to a power receive mode with the switch <NUM> in an open position so that the device can more efficiently receive power if/when available, more specifically by mitigating interference from the data antenna <NUM> and wireless data circuitry <NUM>. In one aspect, this may be a hardware default, e.g., where the switch <NUM> is open in response to a power failure or other malfunction.

In another aspect, the first (power) circuit <NUM> may be configured to receive data, which may provide a backup or alternative data channel for the device. A variety of single antenna data/power techniques are known in the art (and in the various NFC standards), and may be suitably employed to provide a single data/power system in addition to the separate data transmission circuit. In another aspect, complementary circuitry may be provided to facilitate decoupling of the wireless power circuitry <NUM> from the power antenna <NUM> during data transmissions, although less overall power savings will be achieved, and this may require additional management of switch control circuitry to ensure that the wireless power circuitry <NUM> is available, e.g., in the case of battery depletion and other hardware faults on a device.

According to the claimed invention, the control circuitry <NUM> is also configured to connect the data antenna <NUM> to the wireless data receiver <NUM> using the switch <NUM>, and to actively ping for a readable data tag under one or more predetermined conditions. According to the claimed invention, such a predetermined condition includes detecting contact of at least part of the system with skin of a user or detection of a garment pocket around at least part of the system. Such a predetermined condition may also include passage of a time interval (e.g., periodic pinging for data), detecting motion of the device, detecting absence of power for a predetermined interval, and so forth.

For example, for a physiological monitor, a predetermined condition for making data transmissions available may include a condition when the device is placed for use against the skin of a user. For a garment-based physiological monitor, the predetermined condition includes detection of a garment pocket around at least part of the system, e.g., where the device is placed for use in a pocket or pod of a smart garment as described herein. In this context, a nearby data source (e.g., a data tag disposed on or near the pocket) may usefully provide data, e.g., to determine where on a garment (and/or a user's body) the device is located, and to adjust operation of the device according to the sensed location. For example, the device may alter operational parameters for the device (e.g., light intensity, measurement frequency, etc.) or modify a model used to calculate physiological parameters, such as by changing model parameters or selecting a location-specific model for detecting activity types, calculating physiological values, and so forth. Data requests may also or instead be used to authenticate a user, check for device compatibility, or otherwise provide useful information to the device from a nearby data source. A device or system featuring the first and second circuits <NUM>, <NUM> may thus include one or more sensors <NUM> configured to detect one or more predetermined conditions for the control circuitry <NUM> to operate the switch <NUM> to decouple a portion of the second (data) circuit <NUM>. And it will be understood that one or more of these sensors <NUM> may be configured to detect the presence or absence of a condition such as when power is being received, when power is not being received, when a device or system is placed in a position for use (e.g., based on temperature, light, capacitive touch sensing, etc.) or otherwise placed in a position of interest, when a device is moved (e.g., based on accelerometer data), when a device is connected to another device (e.g., an external battery, a charger, and/or another accessory), and so on.

While the circuits in <FIG> might usefully be incorporated into any system using a combination of wireless power transmission and wireless data transmission, in one aspect, the circuits depicted in <FIG> may be embodied in a device including a physiological monitor, such as any of the physiological monitoring devices and systems described herein. Such a physiological monitor may include a battery charged at least partially by the wireless power receiver <NUM>. Further, the physiological monitor may include a controller (such as any as described herein, e.g., with reference to <FIG>) configured in response to data received by the wireless data receiver <NUM>. That is, the controller may act in response to data received by the wireless data receiver <NUM>, where this data configures the controller to perform certain operations and/or make certain selections (e.g., selecting an appropriate model and/or parameters for sensing and/or processing physiological data). By way of example, this can include acting in response to location data received by the wireless data receiver <NUM> (e.g., a physiological monitor is located on the left wrist of a user, or that a physiological monitor is located within a pod or pocket of a certain portion of a smart garment, and so on), where the controller can then utilize an appropriate model, parameter, sensing operation, or otherwise for measuring physiological data at that location. In this manner, the controller may be configured to receive location data through the wireless data receiver <NUM> and to adjust calculations by a physiological monitoring device according to the received location data. The data received by the wireless data receiver <NUM> for configuring the controller may also or instead include one or more of garment type, garment size, user-specific data, and so on. Other types of data may also or instead be communicated through the wireless data receiver <NUM>, and may be used for any of the purposes described herein.

The first circuit <NUM> and/or the second circuit <NUM> may conform to one or more NFC standards, as such standards are well-known in the art. By way of example, the wireless power receiver <NUM> may include an NFC power receiver or the like. Also or instead, the wireless power receiver <NUM> may conform to at least one NFC Forum wireless charging specification, and/or the power antenna <NUM> may conform to at least one NFC Forum physical specification. Similarly, the wireless data receiver <NUM> may include an NFC data tag reader or the like. Also or instead, the wireless data receiver <NUM> may conform to at least one NFC Forum data exchange specification, and/or the data antenna <NUM> may conform to at least one NFC Forum physical specification. More generally, the components of the system <NUM> may conform to any open or closed standards suitable for interaction and cooperation with other devices, power sources, data sources, and the like.

<FIG> shows a printed circuit board layout. In general, the printed circuit board <NUM> may include a first antenna <NUM> for wireless power transmission, such as a first planar coil antenna, planar spiral antenna, or other planar antenna or the like. The printed circuit board <NUM> may also include a second antenna <NUM> for wireless data transmission, such as a second planar coil antenna, second planar spiral antenna, or other planar antenna or the like. The first antenna <NUM> may be coupled to a wireless power receive circuit such as the first circuit <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, and the second antenna <NUM> may be coupled to a wireless tag reader circuit such as the second circuit <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> may be coplanar antennae, lying substantially along the same plane, such as a plane of a printed circuit board. However, other arrangements are also possible. For example, where the distances remain within suitable tolerances for an associated data or power transmission standard, the antennae may be positioned in different planes, such as a first layer and a second layer of a printed circuit board (provided also that the circuit board does not include any other intervening layers that might interfere with electromagnetic coupling), and may include concentric or overlapping structures along an axis normal to the plane of the printed circuit board(s) and antenna(e). Thus in one aspect, the antennae may be concentric antennae, e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>. The antennae may also or instead include two planar antennae. The antennae may also or instead include two antennae with overlapping structures along an axis normal to the antennae, as also illustrated in <FIG>. It will be understood that, while a printed circuit board provides a convenient substrate for NFC antennae and accompanying electronics, other packaging may also or instead be used.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method for wireless power and data transmission. It will be understood that the method <NUM> may be implemented using any of the devices and systems described herein. In particular, the method <NUM> may be implemented in a system or device featuring a physiological monitor as described herein.

As shown in step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes providing a wireless power receiver coupled to a power antenna. This may, for example, include any of the wireless power receiving circuitry and power antennae described herein. For example, the power antenna may include a planar coil power antenna.

As shown in step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes providing a wireless data receiver coupled to a data antenna through a switch. This may, for example, include any of the wireless data receiving circuitry and data antennae described herein. For example, the wireless data antenna may include a planar coil data antenna. In one aspect, the data antenna may be coplanar with the power antenna, e.g., where the data antenna and the power antenna are adjacent on a single layer of a printed circuit board. In another aspect, the data antenna may be concentric with the power antenna along a normal axis to a plane including a surface of the data antenna (or the power antenna), but vertically offset from the plane of the power antenna. For example, the data antenna may be fabricated on a different layer of a printed circuit board containing the power antenna, or on an adjacent printed circuit board, or otherwise vertically stacked with and/or overlapping the power antenna along the normal axis.

As shown in step <NUM>, the method <NUM> may include receiving wireless power. As described above, this may include placing a switch that couples the wireless data receiver to the data antenna in an open position for decoupling, which may be a default operating mode for a device, even when no power is currently being wirelessly provided to the power antenna.

As shown in step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes, in response to a data availability event, operating the switch to selectively couple the wireless data receiver to the data antenna. The data availability event may include any of the data availability events described herein. For example, when an amount of power received by the wireless power receiver is below a predetermined threshold, a data availability event may occur and the method <NUM> may include coupling the data antenna to the wireless data circuitry and searching for a data source. The data availability event may also or instead include a detection of contact with a user or user device, or an explicit user request to transfer data. According to the claimed invention, the data availability event also or instead includes a detection of insertion into a pocket of a garment adjacent to a data tag. In another aspect, the data availability event may be a periodic event, e.g., that occurs on a predetermined schedule under control of a microprocessor or the like, even when power is generally available. More generally, the availability event may include any event that might usefully indicate a possible availability of data, and may be used as a trigger to close the switch and couple the data antenna to the wireless data receiver (or other wireless data receiving circuitry).

In some aspects, the wireless data receiver remains coupled to the data antenna unless there is a power availability event and/or another event of interest (e.g., subject to one or more other factors, logic, parameters, inputs, and the like, also or instead of a power availability event). In certain aspects, one such power availability event that can trigger operation of the switch to disconnect the data antenna from the wireless data receiver may include a predetermined amount of power being received by the wireless power receiver. Thus, selectively coupling the wireless data receiver may include leaving the wireless data receiver coupled to the data antenna when an amount of power received by the wireless power receiver is below a predetermined threshold, and/or when a wireless power source is not detected. In other aspects, the wireless data receiver may be uncoupled from the data antenna, via the switch, unless the data availability event is present, or when the data availability event expires. This can mitigate power loss due to prolonged searches for data sources, and permits resumption of efficient power transfer with minimal interference from the wireless data system.

As shown in step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes, in response to the data availability event (and the resulting physical coupling of the data receiver and antenna), searching for a data source. This includes attempting to initiate a connection to a wireless data source, such as by transmitting a ping for an NFC data tag or other nearby data source, or by otherwise monitoring an RF signal received through the data antenna for relevant signals.

As shown in step <NUM>, the method <NUM> may include determining whether a data source has been located, e.g., by detecting a response to an NFC ping or other wireless query or interrogation, or by otherwise monitoring and analyzing signals received through the data antenna. When no data source is located, the method <NUM> may, e.g., after a predetermined number of connection attempts (e.g., pings) and/or after a predetermined amount of time, open the switch and return to a power mode, e.g., step <NUM>, where wireless power can be (efficiently) received. It will be noted that the qualifier, "efficiently," is parenthetically added in this context because it may be possible to receive power even when the switch is closed and a wireless data circuit is active, however, the power circuit may suffer interference and degradation from concurrent operation of the data circuit. In this context, "efficiently" is intended to mean "with the interference from an adjacent data system mitigated by decoupling a data antenna from wireless data circuitry. " Where a data source is located, e.g., by a response to an NFC ping, the detected data source may be interrogated, and/or data may be wirelessly received from the data source as shown in step <NUM>. The method <NUM> may then return to a power mode, e.g., step <NUM>, where wireless power can be (efficiently) received.

<FIG> illustrates circuitry for wireless power and data transmission. In general, the system <NUM> may be deployed on a device such as a wearable physiological monitor or other device that uses wireless power and data. The system <NUM> may include the antennae, wireless data circuitry, and wireless power circuitry described herein. The system may also include an NFC Power Receive Rectifier <NUM> or other wireless power circuitry to provide power to a charger <NUM> that can charge a battery <NUM> on a device, such as a battery environmentally sealed within a housing of the device.

In the system <NUM> of <FIG>, an RF switch <NUM> is used to provide good (e.g., high impedance) isolation between the data antenna and the data circuitry. However, for certain RF switches, this may require additional control elements. In one aspect, a rectified DC voltage from the NFC Power Receive Rectifier <NUM> in the wireless power circuit may be provided to a voltage regulator <NUM>, which may provide a regulated power output to the RF switch <NUM> (which may require power to maintain a known switch state). At the same time, a control input for the RF switch <NUM> may be grounded to provide a control signal to hold the RF switch <NUM> open. In response to a data availability event such as a tag detection or any of the data availability events described herein, a microcontroller or other control circuitry (not shown) in the system <NUM> may close the switch, more specifically by providing power from a printed circuit board or other power source on a device, and providing a logical high voltage to the control input to hold the RF switch <NUM> closed. It will be understood that the RF switch <NUM> described may additionally or alternatively be configured for different voltages at the various inputs and control to drive the RF switch <NUM> open or closed as desired.

More generally, the system <NUM>, and any of the systems and devices described herein, may use any suitable combination of switches, circuits, power levels, logic values, and control systems suitable for selectively coupling and decoupling a wireless data circuit and a data antenna in response to a data availability event (or other events) as described herein.

The above systems, devices, methods, processes, and the like may be realized in hardware, software, or any combination of these suitable for the control, data acquisition, and data processing described herein. This includes realization in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or other programmable devices or processing circuitry, along with internal and/or external memory. This may also, or instead, include one or more application specific integrated circuits, programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic components, or any other device or devices that may be configured to process electronic signals. It will further be appreciated that a realization of the processes or devices described above may include computer-executable code created using a structured programming language such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++, or any other high-level or low-level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description languages, and database programming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of processors, processor architectures, or combinations of different hardware and software.

Thus, in one aspect, each method described above, and combinations thereof may be embodied in computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps thereof. In another aspect, the methods may be embodied in systems that perform the steps thereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, or all of the functionality may be integrated into a dedicated, standalone device or other hardware. The code may be stored in a non-transitory fashion in a computer memory, which may be a memory from which the program executes (such as random access memory associated with a processor), or a storage device such as a disk drive, flash memory or any other optical, electromagnetic, magnetic, infrared, or other device or combination of devices. In another aspect, any of the systems and methods described above may be embodied in any suitable transmission or propagation medium carrying computer-executable code and/or any inputs or outputs from same. In another aspect, means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above may include any of the hardware and/or software described above. All such permutations and combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

The method steps of the implementations described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing such method steps to be performed, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. So, for example, performing the step of X includes any suitable method for causing another party such as a remote user, a remote processing resource (e.g., a server or cloud computer) or a machine to perform the step of X. Similarly, performing steps X, Y, and Z may include any method of directing or controlling any combination of such other individuals or resources to perform steps X, Y, and Z to obtain the benefit of such steps. Thus, method steps of the implementations described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing one or more other parties or entities to perform the steps, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. Such parties or entities need not be under the direction or control of any other party or entity and need not be located within a particular jurisdiction.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a power antenna;
a wireless power receiver coupled to the power antenna;
a data antenna;
a wireless data receiver coupled to the data antenna;
a switch selectively coupling the data antenna to the wireless data receiver; and
control circuitry configured to operate the switch to disconnect the data antenna from the wireless data receiver in response to power being received by the wireless power receiver through the power antenna,
characterised in that the control circuitry is further configured to respond to a data availability event, by connecting the data antenna to the wireless data receiver using the switch, and actively pinging for a readable data tag with the wireless data receiver,
wherein the data availability event includes at least one of (i) detection of contact of at least part of the system with skin of a user, or (ii) detection of a garment pocket around at least part of the system.