SENSOR DEVICE WITH PERSISTENT LOW POWER BEACON

• US 20120286960A1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Blackadar, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,749,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.15
• 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:

determining, by a first device, that remaining capacity of a battery is less than a threshold;

subsequent to the determining, detecting stimulus by a sensor; and

periodically transmitting, by a transmitter, a beacon signal subsequent to detection of the stimulus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining total power usage of the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising tracking cumulative time of use of the transmitter and the sensor to determine the total power usage.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, by the first device, a performance parameter based on output from the sensor, and

transmitting, by the transmitter, the performance parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer that is mounted on or within an article of footwear.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the remaining capacity of the battery is approaching a second threshold set at a level greater than the threshold; and

causing transmission of a signal that indicates the remaining capacity is approaching the second threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing, by a comparator, output from the sensor with a threshold voltage, wherein the periodic transmission of the beacon signal is controlled based on the output of the comparator.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a transmitter; and

a memory storing instructions, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

determining that remaining capacity of a battery is less than a threshold; and

periodically transmitting, by the transmitter, a beacon signal subsequent to detection of stimulus by a sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to determine total power usage of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to track cumulative time of use of the transmitter and the sensor to determine the total power usage.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to:

calculate a performance parameter based on output from the sensor, and

cause transmission of the performance parameter.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer that is mounted on or within an article of footwear.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to:

determine that the remaining capacity of the battery is approaching a second threshold set at a level greater than the low power threshold; and

cause transmission of a signal that indicates the remaining capacity is approaching the second threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a comparator, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to compare, by the comparator, output from the sensor with a threshold voltage, wherein the periodic transmission of the beacon signal is controlled based on the output of the comparator.

15. A memory storing instructions that, when processed by a controller, are configured to cause an apparatus at least to perform:

determining that remaining capacity of a battery is less than a low power threshold;

subsequent to the determining, detecting stimulus; and

periodically transmitting a beacon signal subsequent to detection of the stimulus.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to determine total power usage of the apparatus.

17. The memory of claim 16, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus at least to track cumulative time of use of a transmitter and a sensor to determine the total power usage.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to calculate a performance parameter based on output from a sensor.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to determine that the remaining capacity of the battery is approaching a second threshold set at a level greater than the low power threshold.

20. The memory of claim 19, wherein the memory and the instructions are configured to, along with the controller, cause the apparatus to cause transmission of a signal that indicates the remaining capacity is approaching the second threshold.