Electronic device and method for measuring vital signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for measuring a vital signal by an electronic device. A motion of the electronic device is detected. It is determined whether an amount of the motion is less than or equal to a threshold. At least one vital signal is measured at least once if the amount of the motion is less than or equal to the threshold. A parameter of the at least one vital signal is analyzed. The parameter is converted into vital information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of measuring a vital signal by an electronic device, the method comprising:
 detecting a motion of the electronic device;   determining whether an amount of the motion is less than or equal to a threshold;   measuring at least one vital signal at least once if the amount of the motion is less than or equal to the threshold;   analyzing a parameter of the at least one vital signal; and   converting the parameter into vital information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the vital information with information corresponding to an age range of a user of the electronic device, and outputting a result of the comparison. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vital signal comprises a plurality of vital signals, and wherein analyzing the parameter comprises:
 adding values of each of the plurality of vital signals, if an interval between measurements of each of the plurality of vital signals is shorter than a predetermined time; and   analyzing the parameter of the added values of the plurality of vital signals.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the parameter comprises analyzing the parameter in a time domain of the vital signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein analyzing the parameter comprises analyzing a variation of the parameter in an interval between beats of the vital signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the interval between the beats is at least one of an RR interval, a pulse interval, and a JJ interval of the vital signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of claim I , wherein converting the parameter into the vital information comprises taking a natural logarithm of a reciprocal of the parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein outputting the result of the comparison comprises generating and outputting a guide for reducing a size of the vital information if the vital information is higher than the information corresponding to the age range. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the guide includes at least one of information for reducing a stress index, an warning informing that the stress index is high, and a breathing method for reducing the stress index. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein outputting the result of the comparison further comprises detecting breathing while the guide is output, comparing the breathing and the guide in real time, and outputting a result of the comparison. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device for measuring a vital signal, the electronic device comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect a motion of the electronic device;   a second sensor unit configured to measure at least one vital signal at least once if an amount of the motion is less than or equal to a threshold; and   a controller configured to determine whether the amount of the motion is less than or equal to the threshod, analyze a parameter of the at least one vital signal, and convert the parameter into vital information.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , further comprising a display configured to display the vital information, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the vital information with information corresonding to an age range of a user of the electronic device, and output a result of the comparison through the display. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one vital sigal comprises a plurality of vital signals, and wherein the controller is further configured to add values of each of the plurality of vital signals if an interval between measurements of each of the plurality of vital signals is shorter than a predetermined time, and analyze the parameter of the added values of the plurality of vital signals. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to analyze a variation of the parameter in an interval between beats of the vital signal. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a guide for reducing a size of the vital information and output the generated guide through an input/output interface, if the vital information is higher than the information corresponding to the age range. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the second sensor unit comprises a sensor that detects breathing of the user, and the controller is further configured to compare detected breathing and the guide in real time, and output a result of the comparison. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare a current stress index and a pre-stored average stress index in accordance with the measurement of the vital signal, and the pre-stored average stress index generated by averaging and storing stress indexes of the user in the unit of at least one of time segments, dates, days of the week, months, and years. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein, if the current stress index is higher than the pre-stored average stress index, the controller is further configured to generate a guide for reducing the stress index and output the guide through an input/output interface. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic device for measuring a vital signal, the electronic device comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect a motion of the electronic device;   a second sensor configured to measure a vital signal; and   a controller configured determine whether an amount of the motion is less than or equal to a threshold, and measure at least one vital signal by using the second sensor, if the amount of motion is less than or equal to the threshold.   
     
     
         20 . An electronic device for measuring a vital signal, the electronic device comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect a motion of the electronic device;   a second sensor configured to measure a vital signal; and   a controller configured to determine whether an amount of motion is less than or equal to a threshold, and convert the vital signal measured by using the second sensor into vital information, if the amount of motion is less than or equal to the threshold.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable instructions stored thereon exected by a processor to perform the method of measuring a vital signal by an electronic device, the method comprising:
 detecting a motion of the electronic device;   determining whether an amount of the motion is less than or equal to a threshold;   measuring at least one vital signal at least once if the amount of the motion is less than or equal to the threshold;   analyzing a parameter of the at least one vital signal; and   converting the parameter into vital information.