Activity monitoring

• US 20060155218A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Heinks, Carsten, Tsang, Peter Tjin Sjoe Kong
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level

Abstract

An activity monitor is provided that corrects for the effects of motion external to the entity being monitored. For example, the activity monitor can overcome the effects of vehicular travel.

Claims

1. An activity monitor for attachment to an entity, the monitor comprising:

a measurement unit including a plurality of motion sensors operable to produce respective sensor signals indicative of motion experienced thereby; and

a processor operable to receive the sensor signals from the measurement unit and to process the signals in accordance with a predetermined method,

characterised in that the processor is operable to apply a correction calculation to the sensor signals, in order to remove external motion effects on an entity to which the monitor is attached from the sensor signals.

2. An activity monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external motion effects are caused by vehicular travel.

3. An activity monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to detect the presence of such external motion effects and to apply the correction calculation upon detection of the external motion effects.

4. An activity monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to receive an input from a user indicating the presence of such external effects, and to apply the correction calculation upon reception of the input.

5. A method of monitoring activity of an entity using a plurality of motion sensors which are operable to produce respective sensor signals indicative of motion experienced thereby, the method comprising receiving sensor signals and processing the signals in accordance with a predetermined method, characterized by applying a correction calculation to the sensor signals in order to remove external motion effects on the entity from the sensor signals.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the external effects are caused by vehicular travel.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising monitoring for the external motion effects and applying the correction calculation upon detection of the external motion effects.

8. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising receiving an input from a user indicating the presence of the external motion effects, and applying the correction calculation upon receipt of the input.