Activity monitoring systems and methods

• US 7,512,515 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Flentov, Peter, Darcy, Dennis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/747,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702/150, 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/185 for ski-jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 : Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/19 : Skiing
• 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 5/00 : Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 : for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 : for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/10 : for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/00 : Accessories for skiing or snowboarding fittings on vehicles for carrying skis B60R9/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/24 : Processing or storing data, e.g. with electronic chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/03 : Mono skis; Snowboards
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 : with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/00 : Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/16 : for erasable recording, e.g. magnetic recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/42 : Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means G01P3/66 takes precedence; measuring electric or magnetic values in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 : using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/60 : wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 : Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

An activity monitor, comprises housing for attachment to a person; at least one accelerometer disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing, for processing signals from the accelerometer to assess activity of the person. A method assesses activity of a person, including: sensing acceleration at a first location on the person; processing the acceleration, over time, to assess activity of the person; and wirelessly communicating information indicative of the activity to a second location.

Claims

1. A receiver for receiving a transducer signal, comprising:

a receiving element operative to receive, during the user'"'"'s workout, the output of a transducer, the transducer operative to detect movement of a user; and

a processor operative to;

assess boundary conditions of the transducer output;

exclude certain conditions from determinations of characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout; and

process the output of the transducer during the user'"'"'s workout to determine the characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the determined characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout comprise at least one of:

speed;

peak speed;

average speed;

distance traveled;

loft time;

pulse;

number of steps taken; and

acceleration.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises at least one of:

an accelerometer;

a pressure sensor;

a vibration sensor;

a loft sensor;

a speed sensor;

a height sensor;

a force sensor;

a GPS sensor;

a microphone;

a weight sensor;

a Doppler based sensor;

a temperature sensor;

an inclinometer; and

a skin resistivity sensor.

4. The receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a display wherein the processor is operative to direct the display to display the determined characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout.

5. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to process the output of the transducer as the output is received.

6. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to:

assess boundary conditions of the transducer output; and

exclude certain conditions from determinations of the workout characteristics.

7. The receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the output of the transducer comprises a vibrational spectrum related to movement of the user during a workout; and

the processor is operative to detect a first and a second condition of the vibrational spectrum that correspond to particular movements of the user during a workout.

8. The receiver of claim 7, wherein the first and the second conditions are used to determine speed of the user during a workout.

9. The receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the output of the transducer expresses acceleration related to movement of the user during a workout; and

the processor is operative to perform an integration on the acceleration over time to determine the speed characteristic of the user'"'"'s workout.

10. The receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the output of the transducer expresses acceleration related to movement of the user during a workout; and

the processor is operative to perform a double integration on the acceleration over time to determine the distance traveled characteristic of the user'"'"'s workout.

11. The receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing attached to the user and operative to house the receiving element and processor.

12. A receiver for receiving characteristics of a user'"'"'s workout, comprising:

a receiving element operative to receive, during the user'"'"'s workout, data associated with characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout;

a display; and

a processor operative to;

assess boundary conditions of the received data, and

exclude certain conditions from determinations of the workout characteristics; and

direct the display to display the received characteristics during the user'"'"'s workout.

13. The receiver of claim 12, wherein the characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout comprise at least one of:

speed;

peak speed;

average speed;

distance traveled;

loft time;

pulse;

number of steps taken; and

acceleration.

14. The receiver of claim 12, wherein the receiver is portable.

15. The receiver of claim 12, further comprising:

a housing attached to the user and operative to house the receiving element, the display and processor.

16. A system for communicating data associated with a user'"'"'s workout comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

a transducer operative to detect movement of a user during a workout; and

a transmitting element operative to transmit data related to movement detected by the transducer as the movement is detected; and

a receiver comprising;

a receiving element operative to receive, during the user'"'"'s workout, the data transmitted by the transmitting element;

a processor operative to assess boundary conditions of the received data and exclude certain conditions from determinations of characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout; and

a display operative to display the characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout determined from the received data during the user'"'"'s workout.

17. The system of claim 16;

wherein the characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout comprise at least one of;

speed;

peak speed;

average speed;

distance traveled;

loft time;

pulse;

number of steps taken; and

acceleration.

18. The system of claim 16;

wherein the transmitter further comprises;

a processor operative to process the movement detected by the transducer to determine the characteristics of the user'"'"'s workout; and

wherein the transmitting element is operative to transmit the determined characteristics.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the transmitter further comprises:

a housing attached to the user, wherein the housing is operative to house the transducer and the transmitting element.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the receiver further comprises:

a housing attached to the user, wherein the housing is operative to house the receiving element and the display.