Eyeglasses with a heart rate monitor

• US 7,677,723 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Thomas A., Thomas, C. Douglass, Chao, David, Tong, Peter P., Day, Robert Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/650,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,165 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/136, 351/158, 607/9, 607/14, 607/18
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

A pair of glasses with a heart-rate monitor according to one embodiment. The heart-rate monitor is configured to measure the heart rate of the user of the glasses. The heart-rate monitor can include a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver. The radiation could be infrared radiation. In one approach, the receiver measures signals transmitted by the transmitter through a body part of the user to measure the user'"'"'s heart rate. The sensor could be incorporated in a clip to clip onto the body part of the user, such as the ear lobe of the user. In another approach, the receiver measures signals transmitted by the transmitter and reflected by a body part of the user to measure the user'"'"'s heart rate.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses for a user comprising:

a frame for the glasses;

a heart-rate monitor with at least a portion of the electronics of the heart-rate monitor being embedded in the frame, wherein the heart-rate monitor is configured to acquire heart rate data pertaining to the heart rate of the user;

an electronic device at least partially embedded in the frame and configured to acquire user exercise data; and

an audio output system configured to output audio signals containing heart rate information and/or exercise information, the heart rate information being dependent on the acquired heart rate data, and the exercise information being dependent on the acquired user exercise data.

2. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to acquire the heart rate data,

wherein the sensor is external to the frame,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes at least one electrical conductor electrically coupling the sensor to the electronics of the heart-rate monitor embedded in the frame,

wherein the sensor is incorporated in a clip connected to one end of the electrical connector,

wherein to acquire the heart rate data, the clip clips onto a part of the body of the user, and at least a portion of the radiation from the transmitter transmits through at least a portion of the body part to be received by the receiver, and

wherein the radiation includes infrared radiation.

3. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the part of the body is a part of an ear of the user.

4. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the electrical conductor is inside an adjustable mechanical arm.

5. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 2, wherein the electrical conductor is inside a malleable semi-rigid cable.

6. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to acquire the heart rate data,

wherein to measure the heart rate, at least a portion of the radiation from the transmitter is reflected by at least a part of the body of the user, to be received by the radiation receiver, and

wherein the radiation includes infrared radiation.

7. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a sensor with a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to acquire the heart rate data,

wherein to acquire the heart rate data at least a portion of the radiation from the transmitter is reflected by at least a part of the body of the user and then received by the radiation receiver,

wherein the frame includes at least one nose pad, and

wherein the sensor is embedded in the nose pad.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7,

wherein the frame includes electronic circuitry to process outputs from the sensor,

wherein at least a portion of the electronic circuitry configured to process sensor outputs is not at the nose pad, and

wherein the electronic circuitry configured to process sensor outputs is electrically coupled to the sensor via at least one electrical conductor embedded in the frame.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of classes further comprises:

wireless circuitry embedded in the frame and configured to allow wireless transmission of information regarding the acquired heart rate data and/or the user exercise information to at least one other electronic device.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 9, wherein said wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit signals regarding the acquired heart rate data of the user and/or the user exercise information to a portable or handheld electronic device.

11. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 9, wherein said wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit signals regarding the acquired heart rate data of the user and/or the user exercise information to an electronic device that is designed to be stationary.

12. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 9, wherein said wireless circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit signals regarding the acquired heart rate data of the user and the user exercise information to the at least one other electronic device.

13. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio output device is a speaker, and wherein the speaker is configured to output music or an exercise program.

14. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 13, wherein the speed of the music depends on an exercise program for the user.

15. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 13, wherein the speed of the music depends on the measured heart rate of the user.

16. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 13, wherein the speaker plays a song that is selected to train the user physically.

17. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the heart rate information is used to calculate calories burnt by the user over a duration of time.

18. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said pair of glasses further comprises a temperature sensor configured to acquire temperature data pertaining to the temperature of the user, and wherein at least a portion of the temperature sensor is embedded in the frame.

19. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1,

wherein a signal is generated if the user'"'"'s heart best is beyond a predetermined threshold to provide an alert.

20. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to acquire the heart rate data.

21. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio output system is configured to output audio signals comprising heart rate information and exercise information.

22. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio output system comprises a speaker.

23. An electronic apparatus that is configured to be worn by a user In the vicinity of the user'"'"'s head comprising:

a heart-rate monitor with at least a portion of the heart-rate monitor being embedded in the apparatus, the heart-rate monitor being configured to measure heart rate data pertaining to the heart rate of the user;

an electronic device with at least a portion of the electronic device being embedded In the apparatus and configured to acquire user exercise data; and

wireless circuitry embedded in the apparatus and configured to allow wireless transmission of signals pertaining to the measured heart rate data and the user exercise data to at least one other electronic device, and

wherein the heart-rate monitor includes a radiation transmitter and a radiation receiver to measure the heart beat data pertaining to the heart rate of the user.

24. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the apparatus is selected from a list consisting of a hat, a swimming cap, and a pair of goggles.

25. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the radiation transmitter and the radiation receiver are embedded at a part of the apparatus that is designed to press against a part of the user'"'"'s head when the apparatus is worn.

26. An electronic apparatus that is configured to be worn by a user in the vicinity of the users head comprising:

at least one speaker configured to provide audible sound to the user;

a nose pad;

an electronic device with at least a portion of the electronic device being embedded in the apparatus and configured to acquire user exercise data; and

a monitor that is configured to measure a physical condition of the user, with at least a portion of the monitor being embedded in the nose pad,

wherein the monitor is configured to measure the physical condition of the user of the apparatus,

wherein to measure the physical condition of the user, at least a portion of the nose pad is configured to contact with the nose of the user, and

wherein an audio alert is provided to the user of the apparatus via the at least one speaker if the physical condition measured or the user exercise data is beyond a corresponding threshold.