Wearable Device with a Circular or Polygonal Array of Light Emitters and Light Receivers to Measure Biometric Parameters
A wearable device for measuring biometric parameters includes a circular or polygonal array of sets of light emitters and light receivers. Light transmitted through body tissue is received and analyzed to measure one or more biometric parameters such as oxygenation level, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, hydration level, and/or blood glucose level. Each set of light emitters includes light emitters which emit light of different colors. This device can also include one or more compressible opaque light barriers which surround light receivers.
1 . A wearable device comprising:
a housing which is configured to be worn on a person's wrist, arm, or finger;
an array of light emitter sets and light receivers on the housing; wherein light emitted from the light emitters is reflected from and/or transmitted through the person's body tissue and received by the light receivers; wherein attributes of the light received by the light receivers are analyzed to measure one or more biometric parameters of the person; wherein there is an alternating pattern of light emitter sets and light receivers in the array; and wherein at least one light emitter in a set emits red light, at least one light emitter in the set emits infrared or near-infrared light, and at least one light emitter in the set emits green light;
a data processor; and
one or more opaque light barriers surrounding one or more light receivers, wherein the light barriers are compressible, compliant, and/or elastomeric.
2 . A wearable device comprising:
a housing which is configured to be worn on a person's wrist, arm, or finger; and
an array of light emitter sets and light receivers on the housing, wherein light emitted from the light emitters is reflected from and/or transmitted through the person's body tissue and received by the light receivers, and wherein attributes of the light received by the light receivers are analyzed to measure one or more biometric parameters of the person.
3 . The device in claim 2 wherein the device is a smart watch or wrist band.
4 . The device in claim 2 wherein the device is a finger ring.
5 . The device in claim 2 wherein the array is a circular, annular, or circumferential array.
6 . The device in claim 2 wherein the array is a polygonal array.
7 . The device in claim 6 wherein the array is a hexagonal or octagonal array.
8 . The device in claim 2 wherein there is an alternating pattern of light emitter sets and light receivers in the array.
9 . The device in claim 2 wherein there are three or more light emitters in each light emitter set.
10 . The device in claim 9 wherein different light emitters in a set emit light with different colors, wavelengths, and/or frequencies, respectively.
11 . The device in claim 10 wherein at least one light emitter in a set emits red light, at least one light emitter in the set emits infrared or near-infrared light, and at least one light emitter in the set emits green light.
12 . The device in claim 2 wherein the attributes of the light which are analyzed include spectral distribution of the light.
13 . The device in claim 2 wherein the device further comprises a data processor.
14 . The device in claim 2 wherein the device further comprises one or more opaque light barriers surrounding one or more light receivers.
15 . The device in claim 14 wherein the light barriers are compressible, compliant, and/or elastomeric.
16 . The device in claim 14 wherein the light barriers reduce or eliminate transmission of light from the light emitters to the light receivers which has not been reflected by or transmitted through the person's body tissue.
17 . The device in claim 14 wherein the light barriers reduce or eliminate transmission of ambient light to the light emitters.
18 . The device in claim 14 wherein each light barrier surrounds a single light receiver.
19 . The device in claim 14 wherein a single light barrier surrounds all of the light receivers.
20 . A wearable device comprising:
an arcuate band which is configured to span a person's wrist, arm, finger;
a housing which is attached to the arcuate band;
a plurality of light energy emitters which are held by the housing and configured to emit light energy toward the person's body;
a central light energy receiver which is held by the housing and configured to receive light energy from the light energy emitters, wherein the plurality of light energy emitters are around the central light energy receiver in an approximately-circular polygonal array;
a data processor which is held by the housing and receives data from the light energy receiver; and
a data transmitter which is held by the housing and transmits data from the data processor to a remote device and/or remote location.