Eyeglasses with a heart rate monitor

• US 20070109491A1
• Filed: 01/06/2007
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Chao, David, Howell, Thomas, Tong, Peter, Thomas, C., Day, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

A pair of glasses with a heart-rate monitor according to one embodiment. The heart-rate monitor is configured to measure the heart rate of the user of the glasses. The heart-rate monitor can include a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver. The radiation could be infrared radiation. In one approach, the receiver measures signals transmitted by the transmitter through a body part of the user to measure the user'"'"'s heart rate. The sensor could be incorporated in a clip to clip onto the body part of the user, such as the ear lobe of the user. In another approach, the receiver measures signals transmitted by the transmitter and reflected by a body part of the user to measure the user'"'"'s heart rate.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses for a user comprising:

a frame for the glasses; and

a heart-rate monitor with at least a portion of the electronics of the heart-rate monitor being embedded in the frame,

wherein the heart-rate monitor is configured to measure the heart rate of the user.

2. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to measure the heart rate of the user,

wherein the sensor is external to the frame,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes at least one electrical conductor electrically coupling the sensor to the electronics of the heart-rate monitor embedded in the frame,

wherein the sensor is incorporated in a clip connected to one end of the electrical connector,

wherein to measure the heart rate of the user, the clip clips onto a part of the body of the user, and at least a portion of the radiation from the transmitter transmits through at least a portion of the body part to be received by the receiver, and

wherein the radiation includes infrared radiation.

3. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the part of the body is a part of an ear of the user.

4. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the electrical conductor is inside an adjustable mechanical arm.

5. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the electrical conductor is inside a malleable semi-rigid cable.

6. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to measure the heart rate of the user,

wherein to measure the heart rate, at least a portion of the radiation from the transmitter is reflected by at least a part of the body of the user, to be received by the radiation receiver, and

wherein the radiation includes infrared radiation.

7. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to measure the heart rate of the user,

wherein the frame includes at least one nose pad,

wherein the sensor is embedded in the nose pad, and

wherein the part of the body is the nose of the user.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7,

wherein the frame includes electronic circuits to process outputs from the sensor,

wherein the electronic circuits configured to process sensor outputs are not at the nose pad in which the sensor is embedded, and

wherein the electronic circuits configured to process sensor outputs are electrically coupled to the sensor via at least one electrical conductor embedded in the frame.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the glasses include wireless circuits to allow the electronics embedded in the frame for heart-rate monitoring to be wirelessly activated.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the glasses include wireless circuits to wirelessly transmit signals regarding the heart rate of the user to a portable or handheld electronic device.

11. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the glasses include wireless circuits to wirelessly transmit signals regarding the heart rate of the user to an electronic device that is designed to be stationary.

12. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 further comprising a speaker that is configured to output music or an exercise program.

13. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 12 wherein the speed of the music depends on an exercise program for the user.

14. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 12 wherein the speed of the music depends on the measured heart rate of the user.

15. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 12 wherein the speaker plays a song that is selected to train the user physically.

16. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein the measured heart rate is used to calculate calories burnt by the user over a duration of time.

17. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an activity sensor is embedded in the frame.

18. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a temperature sensor is embedded in the frame.

19. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart rate is measured to address a health problem of the user, and

wherein a signal is generated if the user'"'"'s heart beat is beyond a predetermined threshold to provide an alert regarding the health problem.

20. An electronic apparatus that is configured to be worn by a user in the vicinity of the user'"'"'s head comprising:

a heart-rate monitor with at least a portion of the monitor being embedded in the apparatus,

wherein the heart-rate monitor is configured to measure the heart rate of the user, and

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to measure the heart rate of the user.

21. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the apparatus is selected from a list consisting of a hat, a swimming cap, and a pair of goggles.

22. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the sensor is embedded at a part of the apparatus that is designed to press against a part of the user'"'"'s head when the apparatus is worn.

23. An electronic apparatus that is configured to be worn by a user in the vicinity of the user'"'"'s head comprising:

a nose pad; and

a monitor that is configured to measure a physical condition of the user, with at least a portion of the monitor being embedded in the nose pad,

wherein the monitor is configured to measure the physical condition of the user of the apparatus, and

wherein to measure the physical condition of the user, the nose pad is in contact with the nose of the user.