According to the newly granted patent, Samsung could incorporate several sensors onto the device itself instead of having them be included as part of a separate accessory, even though another image shows these sensors as part of an accessory that attaches to the phone. Regardless, these sensors would theoretically be able to measure body fat levels as soon as they come into contact with the human body, specifically measuring readings from your two hands. For this to happen, you will need to place the Samsung phone horizontally, and based on the image, the sensors could be placed on the back of the phone.
The patent’s description goes into more detail, describing the feature as “acquiring the object’s impedance information on the basis of the intensify of the input current and the intensity of the measured voltage; and acquiring the object’s body fat information on the basis of the impedance information.”
Such a feature could be a boon for consumers and medical professionals, as consumers can use the sensors to check if their fitness activities are making any sort of dent. Meanwhile, medical professionals could also keep track of such information in real-time as they try to help their patients lose weight. The biggest worry with these sensors, as with any health and fitness-related sensor in mass-produced products, is their accuracy.
Even so, incorporating such sensors into its mobile products seems to be the next natural step for Samsung, which has already embedded sensors into its Gear line of wearables, as well as its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note flagship smartphone lines, in order to enhance fitness data.
