Apple files patent US20230225659: Biosignal Sensing Device Using Dynamic Selection of Electrodes

Wearable technology has made significant advancements since the introduction of the first fitness trackers and smartwatches. The latest innovation in this field is biosensor earbuds, a new wearable device that promises to revolutionize health monitoring. With the help of advanced sensors, these earbuds can provide real-time health data, enhancing personal healthcare and potentially saving lives.

— Ankit Singh

Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to a next-generation of AirPods Sensor System wherein the housing and tips of AirPods could include a number of active and reference electrodes configured to measure biosignals and electrical activity of a user’s brain. The biosignals measured by AirPods could include, but are not limited to, an electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), electrooculography (EOG) and more.

— Jack Purcher

A wearable electronic device includes a housing, and an electrode carrier attached to the housing and having a nonplanar surface. The wearable electronic device includes a set of electrodes, including electrodes positioned at different locations on the nonplanar surface. The wearable electronic device includes a sensor circuit and a switching circuit. The switching circuit is operable to electrically connect a number of different subsets of one or more electrodes in the set of electrodes to the sensor circuit.

— Abstract, Patent US-20230225659

Sources:

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  July 20, 2023. Erdrin Azemi, Ali Moin, Anuranjini Pragada, Jean Hsiang-Chun Lu, Victoria M. Powell, Juri Minxha, and Steven P. Hotelling. Biosignal Sensing Device Using Dynamic Selection of Electrodes. United States US20230225659A1, filed January 9, 2023, and issued July 20, 2023.
  https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230225659A1/en.
  Patent.
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  July 20, 2023. Jack Purcher. “Apple Invents a Next-Generation AirPods Sensor System That Could Measure Biosignals and Electrical Activity of a User’s Brain.” Patently Apple.
  https://www.patentlyapple.com/2023/07/apple-invents-a-next-generation-airpods-sensor-system-that-could-measure-biosignals-and-electrical-activity-of-a-users-brain.html.
  General Website Link.
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  May 28, 2024. Ankit Singh. “Biosensor Earbuds: A New Era in Wearable Health Tech.” AZoSensors.
  https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3048.
  General Website Link.