Systems and methods for determining an intensity level of an exercise using photoplethysmogram (PPG)

• US 10,512,406 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Martinez, Paul A., D'Angelo, Tim P., Dobson, Justin P., Jessop, Kevin B., Castillo, Jose A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hulbert, Amanda K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Philip C
• Application Number:
  US15/692,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20180055375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 600513
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed systems and methods relate to determining an intensity level of an exercise using a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor. A method of determining an intensity level of an exercise for a user according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes detecting, by a device, body signals from the user using a PPG sensor. The method includes determining, by the device, a heart rate of the user based on the body signals. The method includes determining, by the device, an error in the heart rate. The method also includes determining, by the device, the intensity level of the exercise for the user based at least on the error.

Claims

1. A method for improving an accuracy of a wearable device while calculating an intensity level of an exercise for a user, the method comprising:

detecting, by one or more motion sensors of the wearable device, one or more body movements of the user;

determining, by the processor circuit, at least one of a type of exercise that the user is performing or a skill level of the user based on the detected one or more body movements;

measuring, by a heart rate sensor of the wearable device, a heart rate of the user, wherein the heart rate sensor comprises a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor and the PPG sensor is configured to be worn adjacent to the user'"'"'s skin;

identifying, by the processor circuit, experimental data from a library of experimental data, wherein the identified experimental data is associated with a heart rate similar to the measured heart rate;

form, by the processor circuit, combination data using the measured heart rate and the identified experimental data to thereby improve the accuracy of the measured heart rate;

calculating, by the processor circuit, an intensity level of the exercise based on the type of exercise or the skill level and the combination data using the measured heart rate and the identified experimental data; and

outputting, by the processor circuit, the determined intensity level of the exercise.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the determined intensity level of the exercise comprises:

providing, by the processor circuit, coaching information to the user based on at least one of the determined intensity level, the user'"'"'s age, gender, experience level, activity level, physical condition, medical history, training history, or training goals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the library of experimental data comprises heart rates and exercise intensity levels associated with the heart rates.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the library of experimental data further comprises at least one of ages, genders, physical conditions, medical history, weights, heights, body mass indexes, types of exercise, duration of exercise, fitness levels, experience levels, body temperatures, external temperatures, or external humidity levels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the experimental data from the library of experimental data comprises:

comparing a first signature of the measured heart rate to a second signature of a heart rate associated with the experimental data from the library of experimental data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first signature comprises a shape of a data curve.

8. A system for improving an accuracy of a wearable device while calculating an intensity level of an exercise for a user, the system comprising:

one or more motion sensors configured to detect one or more body movements of the user;

a heart rate sensor configured to measure a heart rate of the user, wherein the heart rate sensor comprises a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor and the PPG sensor is configured to be worn adjacent to the user'"'"'s skin;

a processor circuit in communication with the one or more motion sensor and the heart rate sensor and configured to execute instructions causing the processor circuit to;

determine at least one of a type of exercise that the user is performing or a skill level of the user based on the detected one or more body movements;

compare the heart rate with a library of experimental data;

identify experimental data from a library of experimental data, wherein the identified experimental data is associated with a heart rate similar to the measured heart rate;

form combination data using the measured heart rate and the identified experimental data to thereby improve the accuracy of the measured heart rate;

calculate an intensity level of the exercise based on the type of exercise or the skill level and the combination data using the measured heart rate and the identified experimental data; and

output the determined intensity level of the exercise.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the processor circuit to:

provide coaching information to the user based on at least one of the determined intensity level, the user'"'"'s age, gender, experience level, activity level, physical condition, medical history, training history, or training goals.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the library of experimental data comprises heart rates and exercise intensity levels associated to the heart rates.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the library of experimental data further comprises at least one of ages, genders, physical conditions, medical history, weights, heights, body mass indexes, types of exercise, duration of exercise, fitness levels, experience levels, body temperatures, external temperatures, or external humidity levels.

13. A mobile device comprising the system of claim 8.