PERFORMANCE MONITORING MODULES AND APPARATUS

• US 20120252530A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dayton Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Dayton Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Yuen, Paul Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/74 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/202 glucose
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/20 Swimming
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/00 : Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers, using pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 : by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 : Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A portable performance monitoring module comprising a signal receiver, a processor for generating and outputting performance data, and a communication interface for facilitating data communication with a portable telecommunications device. The performance monitoring module is arranged to communicate with the portable telecommunications device via the communication interface upon receipt of requests from the portable telecommunications device. This module is adapted for cooperative operation with a general power telecommunications device to expand its processing and display power while maintaining a low cost simple design and compactness.

Claims

1. A portable performance monitoring module comprising:

a signal receiver arranged to collect performance signals from at least one performance sensors;

a processor adapted for processing the collected performance signals to generate performance data, and for outputting the performance data to a general purpose portable telecommunications device; and

a communication interface for facilitating data communication with the portable telecommunications device;

wherein the performance monitoring module or the processor of the performance monitoring module is configured to communicate with the portable telecommunications device via the communication interface upon receipt of requests from the portable telecommunications device.

2. A performance monitoring module according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to cause transfer of the performance data to the portable telecommunications device for display or for further processing upon receipt of requests or instructions from at the communication interface.

3. A performance monitoring module according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring module is arranged to collect signals from a plurality of sensors, and the processor is adapted to process the collected signals using predetermined algorithms or methodology according to the source of the collected signals to generate data;

and wherein the sensors include performance sensors, such as cadence sensor, speed sensor, power sensor, step sensor, lap count sensor, swimming stroke sensor, or the like; and

non-performance sensors, such as environmental sensors including atmospheric pressure sensor, humidity sensor, temperature sensor, UV sensor, wind speed sensor, GPS module, or the like;

or physiological parameter sensors, such as body temperature sensor, heart rate sensor, ECG sensor, blood sugar sensor, blood pressure sensor, blood oxygen sensor, or the like.

4. A performance monitoring module according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged as a slave processor to respond to instructions received at the communication interface, to transmit performance data to the portable telecommunications device, and/or to vary the type of performance data to be transmitted to the portable telecommunications device, according to the instructions of the portable telecommunications device.

28. A performance monitoring module according to claim 1, wherein the performance monitoring module comprises an adapter for plug-in or press-fitted mating connection with the portable mobile telecommunications device to establish a data communication link,

and wherein the adapter is such that mating connection between the performance monitoring module and the portable telecommunications device results in electrical connection of the communication interface with the portable telecommunications device.

29. A performance monitoring module according to claim 28, wherein the adapter is arranged for axial insertion into the portable telecommunications device.

30. A performance monitoring module according to claim 29, wherein the performance monitoring module is fitted on a rigid housing, preferably a waterproof housing, and more preferably a housing having a bite-size volume of less than 30 cm³.

31. A performance monitoring module according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying performance data and a toggle switch, wherein the type of performance data to be instantaneously displayed is selectable by a user through toggling of the toggle switch.

5-27. -27. (canceled)

32. A performance monitoring apparatus comprising a performance monitoring module and a general purpose portable telecommunications device such as a netbook computer, a mobile telephone, a smart mobile phone, a super phone or the like, wherein the portable performance monitoring module comprises a signal receiver arranged to collect performance signals from at least one performance sensor;

a processor adapted for processing the collected performance signals to generate performance data, and for outputting the performance data to a general purpose portable telecommunications device; and

a communication interface for facilitating data communication with the portable telecommunications device;

wherein the performance monitoring module or the processor of the performance monitoring module is arranged to communicate with the portable telecommunications device via the communication interface upon receipt of request from the portable telecommunications device,

wherein the performance monitoring module and the general purpose portable telecommunications device are detachably attachable by means of mechanical mating connection means,

and wherein and the portable telecommunications device is configured to control operation of the processor of the performance monitoring module as a slave processor.

33. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the portable telecommunications device is user activate-able to capture, log, save and/or process for display performance data collected by the performance monitoring module, and

wherein the portable telecommunications device is arranged to process performance data collected by the performance monitoring module and/or data collected by the portable telecommunications device from a telecommunications network or other sources to generate information for use by a user.

34. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the data collected by the portable telecommunications device from a telecommunications network include geographical guidance data such as GPS data, road, path, slope or landscape conditions or data, map data, altitude data, distance-to-target data, amenities or like data;

or weather data such as atmospheric pressure, cloud, rain, sunshine data, or like data.

35. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the portable telecommunications device is adapted to log and save both the performance data collected by the performance monitoring module and data collected from the telecommunications network.

36. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the portable telecommunications device is adapted to process or analyze the logged performance data and to cause display of information obtained from the logged performance data on the portable telecommunications device.

37. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the portable telecommunications device is adapted to generate reference instructions or guidance for a user utilizing the logged performance data;

the reference instructions or guidance comprising, for example, expected time to arrive at a target or check point, best course, speed up, down or maintain a constant speed for the physical wellbeing of a user.

38. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the portable telecommunications device is activatable with different application software to utilize performance data collected by the performance monitoring module and data collected via the telecommunications network.

39. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the portable telecommunications device is also activatable to communicate the performance data or processed performance data to a telecommunications network.

40. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus comprises a main casing, the main casing including mounting means for securing onto a user or a bicycle and a receptacle for securely receiving the performance monitoring module and the portable telecommunications device in mated connection.

41. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising a display for displaying performance data and a toggle switch, wherein the type of performance data to be instantaneously displayed is selectable by a user upon toggling of the toggle switch.

42. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the portable telecommunications device is adapted to collect data from the performance monitoring module, and to transmit the collected data to a telecommunications network for processing at a remote station.

43. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the portable telecommunications device is adapted to collect data from a telecommunications network and to process the collected data with data collected by the performance monitoring module to produce information.

44. A performance monitoring apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the performance monitoring module is a bicycle computer module.