Use of gyroscopes in personal fitness tracking devices and bicycling activities

• US 9,079,060 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Hong, Jung Ook, Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao, Axley, Andrew Cole
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US14/297,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20140305204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 734/93, 734/94, 734/95, 735/040.2, 735/10, 482/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• 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 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• 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 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 : Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 : with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 : Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 : Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/20 : Swimming
• 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 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/005 : Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for utilizing gyroscopes in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve obtaining swimming metrics regarding stroke cycle count, lap count, and stroke type. Such techniques may also, in some implementations, involve obtaining performance metrics for bicycling activities.

Claims

1. A biometric monitoring system comprising:

a first housing configured to be mounted on a rotating component of a bicycle drivetrain;

an angular motion sensor located in the first housing;

a memory; and

control logic, wherein;

the control logic, the memory, and the angular motion sensor are configured to be communicatively connected with one another, and

the control logic is configured to;

a) obtain angular motion data from the angular motion sensor,

b) determine each time a full crank revolution of the bicycle drivetrain is indicated, at least in part, by the angular motion data,

c) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to cadence based on the number of crank revolutions per unit time and responsive to (b),

d) determine that the angular motion data from the angular motion sensor indicates that the rotational axis of the rotating component to which the first housing is mounted is experiencing an oscillating tilt about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis, and

e) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to a degree of side-to-side rocking motion of the bicycle based on the determination in (d).

2. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first housing is configured to be mounted on a rotating component of a bicycle drivetrain selected from the group consisting of:

a crank arm, a spider, a chainring, a front sprocket, a pedal axle, a sprocket guard, and a pedal.

3. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) determine a degree of deviation of the cadence over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to a baseline cadence and based on variations in rotational speed of the angular motion sensor about a rotational axis, and

e) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation of the cadence over time responsive to (d).

4. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) determine a degree of deviation of the cadence over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to a baseline cadence and based on variations in rotational speed of the angular motion sensor about a rotational axis, and

e) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation of the cadence as a function of pedal stroke responsive to (d).

5. The biometric monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising a display, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

cause the display to present an indication of cycling form based on the information pertaining to the degree of deviation of the cadence over time.

6. The biometric monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the baseline cadence is an average cadence for a predetermined number of preceding consecutive crank revolutions.

7. The biometric monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the baseline cadence is an average cadence during a predetermined period of time.

8. The biometric monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the baseline cadence is a user-specified cadence.

9. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) determine a degree of deviation in rotational speed of the angular motion sensor over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to a baseline rotational speed, and

e) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation in rotational speed responsive to (d).

10. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) determine a degree of deviation in rotational acceleration of the angular motion sensor over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to zero rotational acceleration, and

e) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation in rotational acceleration responsive to (d).

11. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

cause the display to present an indication of cycling form based on the information pertaining to the degree of side-to-side rocking motion.

12. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the angular motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a true gyroscopic sensor and (ii) a simulated gyroscopic sensor that uses sensors selected from the group consisting of;

two or more accelerometers, a magnetometer, and combinations thereof.

13. A method comprising:

a) obtaining angular motion data from an angular motion sensor,

b) determining each time a full crank revolution of a bicycle drivetrain is indicated, at least in part, by the angular motion data,

c) altering information stored in a memory and pertaining to cadence based on the number of crank revolutions per unit time and responsive to (b),

d) determining that the angular motion data from the angular motion sensor indicates that the rotational axis of a rotating component to which the first housing is mounted is experiencing an oscillating tilt about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis, and

e) altering information stored in the memory and pertaining to a degree of side-to-side rocking motion of the bicycle based on (d).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the angular motion sensor is mounted on a rotating component of a bicycle drivetrain selected from the group consisting of:

a crank arm, a spider, a chainring, a front sprocket, a pedal axle, a sprocket guard, and a pedal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

d) determining a degree of deviation of the cadence over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to a baseline cadence and based on variations in rotational speed of the angular motion sensor about a rotational axis, and

e) altering information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation of the cadence over time responsive to (d).

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

d) determining a degree of deviation of the cadence over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to a baseline cadence and based on variations in rotational speed of the angular motion sensor about a rotational axis, and

e) altering information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation of the cadence as a function of pedal stroke responsive to (d).

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing a display to present an indication of cycling form based on the information pertaining to the degree of deviation of the cadence over time.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the baseline cadence is an average cadence for a predetermined number of preceding consecutive crank revolutions.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the baseline cadence is an average cadence during a predetermined period of time.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the baseline cadence is a user-specified cadence.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

d) determining a degree of deviation in rotational speed of the angular motion sensor over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to a baseline rotational speed, and

e) altering information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation in rotational speed responsive to (d).

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

d) determining a degree of deviation in rotational acceleration of the angular motion sensor over time, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to zero rotational acceleration, and

e) altering information stored in the memory and pertaining to the degree of deviation in rotational acceleration responsive to (d).

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

Causing a display to present an indication of cycling form based on the information pertaining to the degree of side-to-side rocking motion.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the angular motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a true gyroscopic sensor and (ii) a simulated gyroscopic sensor that uses sensors selected from the group consisting of;

two or more accelerometers, a magnetometer, and combinations thereof.