Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same

• US 8,543,351 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2013
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao, Park, James, Friedman, Eric Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/759,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 702/160, 702182-185
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 : combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 : Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 : Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 : Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 : specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 : Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 : Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 : Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/70 : body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• 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: G01C 22/00 : Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers, using pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/00 : Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/003 : Kinematic accelerometers, i.e. measuring acceleration in relation to an external reference frame, e.g. Ferratis accelerometers G01P15/001, G01P15/16, G01P15/165 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 : Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 : worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A portable activity monitoring device comprising a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user'"'"'s body, a plurality of sensors, disposed in the housing, to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user, processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, to calculate the one or more activity metrics of the user using the sensor data, wherein the processing circuitry calculates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the sensor data.

Claims

1. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate one or more metrics corresponding to a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

a plurality of sensors, disposed in the housing, to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, to calculate the one or more activity metrics of the user using the sensor data, wherein the processing circuitry;

calculates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the sensor data.

2. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor data includes;

(i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

the processing circuitry calculates the number of stairs or flights of stairs using the data which is representative of motion of the user and the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user.

3. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor data includes;

(i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

the processing circuitry calculates the number of stairs or flights of stairs using (i) data which is representative of a change in altitude per step and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude for a given time period.

4. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor data further includes data which is representative of physiological information of the user, and

the processing circuitry further calculates blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate and/or respiration rate of the user using the data which is representative of physiological information of the user.

5. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor data includes;

(i) data which is representative of motion of the user, (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user and (iii) data which is representative of physiological information of the user, and

the processing circuitry further calculates;

blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography and/or electroencephalography of the user using the data which is representative of physiological information of the user; and

a number of steps traversed by the user using the data which is representative of motion of the user.

6. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate one or more metrics corresponding to a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

a first sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate first sensor data;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the first sensor, to calculate the one or more activity metrics of the user using the first sensor data, wherein the processing circuitry;

calculates an altitude metric using the first sensor data, wherein the altitude metric includes a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

7. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 6 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of physiological information of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry further calculates;

a physiological metric using the data which is representative of physiological information of the user, wherein the physiological metric includes blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography, and/or electroencephalography of the user.

8. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 6 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of physiological information of the user; and

a third sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate third sensor data which is representative of motion of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry further calculates;

a physiological metric using the second sensor data, wherein the physiological metric includes heart rate, pulse rate and/or blood pressure of the user, and

a motion metric using the third sensor data, wherein the motion metric includes a number of steps taken by the user.

9. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 8 further including a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of (i) the motion metric, (ii) the altitude metric and (iii) the physiological metric.

10. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 6 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of motion of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry further calculates;

a motion metric using the second sensor data, wherein the motion metric includes a number of steps taken by the user.

11. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the first sensor is an altitude sensor.

12. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the processing circuitry further calculates a calorie burn using the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

13. A portable activity monitoring device adapted to couple to a body of a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

a first sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate first sensor data which is representative of a first activity of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the first sensor, to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the first sensor data; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry and disposed in or on the housing, to output data which is representative of the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

14. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 13 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of a second activity of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry calculates the number of stairs or flights of stairs using the first and second sensor data.

15. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 14 wherein:

the first sensor data is data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user,

the second sensor data is data which is representative of motion of the user, and

the processing circuitry calculates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user by determining the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs by calculating a change in altitude over one or more steps of the user using (i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user.

16. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 14 wherein:

the first sensor data is data which is representative of a change in elevation of the user,

the second sensor data is data which is representative of motion of the user, and

the processing circuitry;

determines a change in elevation of the user when (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user exceeds a motion-related threshold and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user exceeds an altitude-related threshold, and

calculates data which is representative of an accumulation of changes in elevation of the user.

17. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 16 wherein the processing circuitry calculates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user by correlating the data which is representative of an accumulation of changes in elevation of the user to a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

18. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 14 further including:

a third sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate third sensor data which is representative of physiological information of the user, and wherein the processing circuitry further calculates blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography, and/or electroencephalography of the user using the third sensor data.

19. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 13 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of physiological information of the user, and wherein the processing circuitry further calculates blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography, and/or electroencephalography of the user using the second sensor data.

20. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 13 wherein the first sensor is an altitude sensor and the first sensor data is data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user.

21. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 13 wherein first sensor data is data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user and wherein the portable activity monitoring device further includes:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of motion of the user, and

a third sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate third sensor data which is representative of physiological information of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry further calculates;

a number of steps taken by the user using the second sensor data, and

a blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography, and/or electroencephalography using the third sensor data.

22. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate one or more metrics corresponding to a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

a sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the sensor, to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the sensor data.

23. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 22 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of activity of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry calculates a number of steps taken by the user using the second sensor data.

24. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 23 wherein:

the sensor data is data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user,

the second sensor data is data which is representative of motion of the user, and

the processing circuitry calculates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user by calculating a change in altitude over one or more steps of the user using the sensor data and second sensor data.

25. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 24 further including:

a third sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate third sensor data which is representative of physiological information of the user, and wherein the processing circuitry further calculates blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography, and/or electroencephalography of the user using the third sensor data.

26. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 23 wherein:

the sensor data is data which is representative of a change in elevation of the user, the second sensor data is data which is representative of motion of the user, and the processing circuitry;

determines a change in elevation of the user when (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user exceeds a motion-related threshold and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user exceeds an altitude-related threshold, and

calculates data which is representative of an accumulation of changes in elevation of the user.

27. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 22 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data which is representative of activity of the user; and

wherein the processing circuitry calculates a distance traversed and/or speed of ambulatory motion of the user using the second sensor data.

28. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry further calculates activity points which are representative of an activity metric using the sensor data.

29. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 22 wherein the sensor is an altitude sensor.

30. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 22 further including:

a second sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate second sensor data, and wherein the processing circuitry further calculates blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, blood glucose, blood oxygenation, skin temperature, body temperature, electromyography, and/or electroencephalography of the user using the second sensor data.