SENSOR DEVICE WITH PERSISTENT LOW POWER BEACON

• US 20100273434A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Blackadar, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• 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: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

One disclosed method involves providing a first device comprising a sensor configured to sense a stimulus experienced by the first device, a controller configured to process data received from the sensor and thereby obtain processed sensor data, a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data, and a battery configured to supply power to at least the controller and the transmitter. The first device is operated in a first operational mode in which the sensor, the controller, and the transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit processed data. When the battery is in a low power condition, the first device is operated in a second operational mode wherein the sensor, controller, and transmitter are not used to obtain and transmit processed sensor data, but wherein the first device at least occasionally transmits a signal that indicates a low power condition of the battery.

Claims

1. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) providing a first device comprising a sensor configured to sense a stimulus experienced by the first device, a controller configured to process data received from the sensor and thereby obtain processed sensor data, a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data from the first device to a second device, and a battery configured to supply power to at least the controller and the transmitter;

(b) operating the first device in a first operational mode in which the sensor, the controller, and the transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit processed data to the second device;

(c) determining whether the battery is in a low power condition; and

(d) when it is determined that the battery is in a low power condition, operating the first device in a second operational mode wherein the sensor, controller, and transmitter are not used to obtain and transmit processed sensor data to the second device, but wherein the first device at least occasionally transmits a signal to the second device that indicates a low power condition of the battery.