Exercise data apparatus

• US 7,643,873 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDT Technology Limited (IDT International Limited)
• Original Assignee: IDT Technology Limited (IDT International Limited)
• Inventors: Chan, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NATASHA
• Application Number:
  US11/413,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 600/520, 600/502, 600/529
• US Class Current: 600/520
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Exercise data apparatus for use on the body of a user during exercise, includes an electrocardiogram detector for detecting electrocardiogram data of the user during exercise; an attachment device for attaching the electrocardiogram detector onto the chest of the user; a motion detector for detecting body motion data indicative of steps of the user during exercise; a processor for calculating exercise data based on the electrocardiogram data detected by the electrocardiogram detector and the body motion data detected by the motion detector, the exercise data including at least one of heart rate, speed and distance, and calorie consumption of the user; and an output device for informing the user of the exercise data calculated.

Claims

1. An exercise data apparatus for use on the body of a user during exercise, comprising:

an electrocardiogram detector for detecting electrocardiogram data of a user during exercise;

attachment means for attaching the electrocardiogram detector onto the chest of the user;

a motion detector for detecting body motion data indicative of steps of the user during exercise;

a processor for calculating exercise data based on the electrocardiogram data detected by the electrocardiogram detector and the body motion data detected by the motion detector, the exercise data comprising at least one of heart rate, speed and distance, and calorie consumption of the user, wherein the processor is programmed to calculate the calorie consumption based on weight, fitness level, and heart rate of the user; and

an output device for informing the user of the exercise data calculated, wherein the calorie consumption is calculated according to the formula;

$\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{Calorie}\\ \mathrm{consumption}\end{array}=\mathrm{TI}*\mathrm{Weight}*\left(\mathrm{instant}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{HR}/\mathrm{maximum}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{HR}\right)-\mathrm{AF},$

wherein

HR is the heart rate of the user,

TI and AF are Training Index and Activity Factor, respectively, and are related to VO₂ percentage,

VO₂ is oxygen consumption of the user, VO₂max is maximum rate of oxygen consumption by the user, and VO₂ percentage is the percentage of VO₂max being consumed by the user, and

when VO₂ percentage is 50% to 60%, TI=6 and AF=400,

when VO₂ percentage is 60% to 70%, TI=8 and AF=580,

when VO₂ percentage is 70% to 80%, TI=12 and AF=1,000,

when VO₂ percentage is 80% to 90%, TI=18 and AF=1,720, and

when VO₂ percentage is 90% to 100%, TI=22 and AF=2,260.

2. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises a pedometer.

3. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pedometer is physically associated with the electrocardiogram detector for attachment onto the chest of the user by the attachment means.

4. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pedometer is one of a pendulum sensor and a piezoelectric sensor.

5. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

6. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the accelerometer is wrist-mounted.

7. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the accelerometer is one of an integrated circuit sensor and a piezoelectric sensor.

8. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sensor unit, a data unit separate from the sensor unit, and a signal link between the sensor unit and the data unit, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises the electrocardiogram detector, the attachment means, and the motion detector; and

the data unit comprises the processor, the output device, and individual attachment means for attachment onto a wrist of the user.

9. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the motion detector comprises a pedometer.

10. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the output device comprises a display for displaying the exercise data calculated.

11. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the signal link comprises:

a wireless transmitter at the sensor unit for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of the electrocardiogram data detected by the electrocardiogram detector and the body motion data detected by the motion detector; and

a wireless receiver at the data unit for receiving the wireless signal, based on which the processor calculates the exercise data.

12. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sensor unit, a data unit separate from the sensor unit, and a signal link between the sensor unit and the data unit, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises the electrocardiogram detector and the attachment means; and

the data unit comprises the processor, the motion detector, the output device, and individual attachment means for attachment onto a wrist of the user.

13. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

14. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the output device comprises a display for displaying the exercise data calculated.

15. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signal link comprises:

a wireless transmitter at the sensor unit for transmitting a wireless signal indicative of the electrocardiogram data detected by the electrocardiogram detector; and

a wireless receiver at the data unit for receiving the wireless signal, based on which and on the body motion data detected by the motion detector, the processor calculates the exercise data.

16. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sensor unit, a data unit separate from the sensor unit, and a signal link between the sensor unit and the data unit, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises the electrocardiogram detector, the attachment means, the processor, and the motion detector; and

the data unit comprises the output device and individual attachment means for attachment onto an ear of the user.

17. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the motion detector comprises a pedometer.

18. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the output device comprises an audio device for announcing the exercise data calculated.

19. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the signal link comprises a wired connection for transmitting the exercise data calculated by the processor to the output device.

20. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a belt.

21. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein instantaneous VO₂ is determined for

Walking as VO₂=0.1*speed+3.5, and

Running as VO₂=0.2*speed+3.5.

22. An exercise data apparatus for use on the body of a user during exercise comprising:

an electrocardiogram detector for detecting electrocardiogram data of a user during exercise;

attachment means for attaching the electrocardiogram detector onto the chest of the user;

a motion detector for detecting body motion data indicative of steps of the user during exercise;

a processor for calculating exercise data based on the electrocardiogram data detected by the electrocardiogram detector and the body motion data detected by the motion detector, the exercise data comprising at least one of heart rate, speed and distance, and calorie consumption of the user, wherein

the processor is programmed to determine a variable stride of the user for calculation of the distance, the variable stride being determined based on gender, body height, and pace frequency of the user, and

the variable stride is determined according to the formula

Stride=a*(F−

b)²+c*H*G, wherein

F is pace frequency in Hz,

G is gender coefficient and is 0.7 for females and 0.8 for males,

H is body height in meters, and

a, b, and c are parameters that have respective values depending upon the pace frequency F and

when F is less than 1.5 Hz, a=0, b=0, and c=0.5,

when F is at least 1.5 Hz and less than 2.0 Hz, a−

0.3, b=1.5, and c=0.5,

when F is at least 0.2 Hz and less than 2.5 Hz, a=0.8, b=1.9, and c=0.55,

when F is at least 2.5 Hz and less 3.3 Hz, a=−

0.5, b=2.9, and c=1.15, and

when F is at least 3.3 Hz, a=0, b=0, and c=0.97; and

an output device for informing the user of the exercise data calculated.

23. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising a sensor unit, a data unit separate from the sensor unit, and a signal link between the sensor unit and the data unit, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises the electrocardiogram detector, the attachment means, and the motion detector; and

the data unit comprises the processor, the output device, and individual attachment means for attachment onto a wrist of the user.

24. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising a sensor unit, a data unit separate from the sensor unit, and a signal link between the sensor unit and the data unit, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises the electrocardiogram detector and the attachment means; and

the data unit comprises the processor, the motion detector, the output device, and individual attachment means for attachment onto a wrist of the user.

25. The exercise data apparatus as claimed in claim 22, comprising a sensor unit, a data unit separate from the sensor unit, and a signal link between the sensor unit and the data unit, wherein:

the sensor unit comprises the electrocardiogram detector, the attachment means, the processor, and the motion detector; and

the data unit comprises the output device and individual attachment means for attachment onto an ear of the user.