Apparatus for measuring biological data and exercise machines

• US 7,212,659 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Hamaguchi, Takehiro, Nakanishi, Takefumi, Murase, Yasutaka, Noro, Shinya, Minamikawa, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US10/408,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 382/107, 382/115, 382/116, 382/124, 382/126, 382/128, 382129-133, 382/168, 382/172, 382/189, 382/209, 382/219, 382/274, 382/276, 382/305, 482/1, 482/4, 482/8, 600/300, 600/490, 600/520
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1382 Detecting the live character of the finger, i.e. distinguishing from a fake or cadaver finger
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring biological data such as blood pressure of a user has a pulse detector for simultaneously obtaining fingerprint data and a first signal from the user'"'"'s body such as a pulse wave signal. The fingerprint data are used to check if the user is a registered user. After the user'"'"'s biological data such as pulse waves are measured and a second signal is obtained from the user, the first and second signals are compared to check if this is the same user from whom the fingerprint data were taken in order to prevent the apparatus from being used by a wrong person. Comparison may be made between the first signal and a pattern of pulse waves extracted from earlier obtained pulse waves stored in a memory. Similar components may be used for an exercising machine to prevent it from being used by a person not preliminarily registered or a person different from the one who passed the fingerprint test on the machine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for calculating blood pressure by measuring biological data of a user, said apparatus comprising:

input means for said user using said apparatus to command measurement of said biological data;

data obtaining means for simultaneously obtaining fingerprint data of said user and a first signal from the body of said user;

first identifying means for determining whether or not said user is one of registered users by using said fingerprint data;

measuring means for measuring biological data of said user;

extracting means for extracting a second signal from said measured biological data of said user;

calculating means for calculating a blood pressure value from said measured biological data;

second identifying means for determining whether or not said user is the user identified by said first identifying means by using said first signal obtained by said data obtaining means and said extracted second signal;

memory means for storing said calculated blood pressure value; and

output means for outputting said blood pressure value calculated from said measured biological data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second identifying means identifies said user by determining whether or not said first signal matches said second signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said memory means stores said blood pressure value calculated from said measured biological data only if said first identifying means determines that said user is one of registered users and said second identifying means determines that said user from whom said biological data were obtained is the user identified by said first identifying means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first signal and said second signal are pulse wave data of said user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising communicating means for transmitting said measured biological data to an external memory means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

counter-measurement means for taking a counter-measure under at least one of the conditions wherein said first identifying means determines that said user is not one of registered users and wherein said second identifying means determines that said user is not the same as the user identified by said first identifying means; and

image taking means;

wherein said counter-measurement means causes said image taking means to obtain an image of at least one selected from the group consisting of said user and an environment over 360 degrees around said measuring means, depending on the identification by said first identifying means or said second identifying means, and said communicating means serves to output said image obtained by said image taking means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising counter-measurement means for taking a counter-measure under at least one of the conditions wherein said first identifying means determines that said user is not one of registered users and wherein said second identifying means determines that said user is not the same as the user identified by said first identifying means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said counter-measurement means prevents said measuring means from taking said biological data of said user.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said counter-measurement means outputs results of determination by said first identifying means or said second identifying means.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising image taking means, wherein said counter-measurement means causes said image taking means to obtain an image of at least one selected from the group consisting of said user and an environment over 360 degrees around said measuring means, depending on the identification by said first identifying means or said second identifying means, and said memory means further serving to store said image obtained by said image taking means.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said counter-measurement means causes said fingerprint data obtained by said data obtaining means to be stored in said memory means if said first identifying means determines that said user is not one of said registered users.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biological data includes data on at least one selected from the group consisting of blood pressure and athletic capability of said user.

13. An apparatus for calculating blood pressure by measuring biological data of a user, said apparatus comprising:

data obtaining means for simultaneously obtaining fingerprint data and a first signal from the body of said user;

first identifying means for determining whether or not said user is one of registered users by using said fingerprint data;

measuring means for measuring biological data of said user;

calculating means for calculating a blood pressure value from said measured biological data;

memory means for storing said blood pressure value calculated from said measured biological data and said first signal; and

second identifying means for determining whether or not said user from whom said biological data were obtained is the user identified by said first identifying means by using said first signal stored in said memory means and a second signal that is obtained from said user when said biological data of said user are measured by said measuring means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising abnormality identifying means for identifying an abnormal biological condition of said user by using said. first signal stored in said memory means and said second signal obtained by said measuring means.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second identifying means identifies said user by determining whether or not said first signal matches said second signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said memory means stores said blood pressure value calculated from said measured biological data only if said first identifying means determines that said user is one of registered users and said second identifying means determines that said user from whom said biological data were obtained is the user identified by said first identifying means.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first signal and said second signal are pulse wave data of said user.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising communicating means for transmitting said measured biological data to an external memory means.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

counter-measurement means for taking a counter-measure under at least one of the conditions wherein said first identifying means determines that said user is not one of registered users and wherein said second identifying means determines that said user is not the same as the user identified by said first identifying means; and

image taking means;

wherein said counter-measurement means causes said image taking means to obtain an image of at least one selected from the group consisting of said user and an environment over 360 degrees around said measuring means, depending on the identification by said first identifying means or said second identifying means, and said communicating means serves to output said image obtained by said image taking means.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising counter-measurement means for taking a counter-measure under at least one of the conditions wherein said first identifying means determines that said user is not one of registered users and wherein said second identifying means determines that said user is not the same as the user identified by said first identifying means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said counter-measurement means prevents said measuring means from taking said biological data of said user.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said counter-measurement means outputs results of determination by said first identifying means or said second identifying means.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising image taking means, wherein said counter-measurement means causes said image taking means to obtain an image of at least one selected from the group consisting of said user and an environment over 360 degrees around said measuring means, depending on the identification by said first identifying means or said second identifying means, and said memory means further serving to store said image obtained by said image taking means.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said counter-measurement means causes said fingerprint data obtained by said data obtaining means to be stored in said memory means if said first identifying means determines that said user is not one of said registered users.

25. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said biological data includes data on at least one selected from the group consisting of blood pressure and athletic capability of said user.

26. An exercise machine comprising:

data obtaining means for simultaneously obtaining fingerprint data and a first signal obtained from the body of a user using said exercise machine;

first identifying means for determining whether or not said user is one of registered users by using said fingerprint data;

exercising means for aiding said user to carry out exercises, obtaining exercise data on amount of exercise carried out by said user and a second signal from body of said user and saving said exercise data;

second identifying means for determining whether or not said user from whom said exercise data are obtained is the user identified by said first identifying means by using said first signal obtained by said first identifying means and said second signal obtained by said exercising means together with said exercise data; and

memory means for storing said exercise data.

27. An exercise machine comprising:

data obtaining means for simultaneously obtaining fingerprint data and a first signal obtained from the body of a user using said exercise machine;

first identifying means for determining whether or not said user is one of registered users by using said fingerprint data;

exercising means for aiding said user to carry out exercises, obtaining exercise data on amount of exercise carried out by said user and a second signal from body of said user and saving said exercise data;

memory means for storing said exercise data and said first signal; and

second identifying means for determining whether or not said user from whom said exercise data are obtained is the user identified by said first identifying means by using said first signal stored in said memory means and said second signal obtained by said exercising means together with said exercise data.