Use of gyroscopes in personal fitness tracking devices

• US 9,168,419 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• 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): Lau, Tung S
• Application Number:
  US14/292,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188
• 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 housing configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s forearm or insertable into an accessory worn on the person'"'"'s forearm;

a gyroscopic motion sensor located in the housing;

a memory; and

control logic, wherein;

the control logic, the memory, and the gyroscopic motion sensor are communicatively connected with one another, and

the control logic is configured to;

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

b) determine each time a swim stroke is indicated, at least in part, by the angular motion data, and

c) alter stored information pertaining to a number of swim strokes in the memory responsive to (b).

2. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising an immersion sensor, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

perform (a) through (c) responsive to determining that data from the immersion sensor indicates that the immersion sensor is submerged in liquid on a substantially continuous or regular basis consistent with immersion experienced by the person'"'"'s forearm when the person is swimming.

3. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

an immersion sensor; and

a notification system, wherein the control logic is further configured to;

provide a notification regarding achievement of a biometric performance goal using the notification system, and

increase an intensity with which the notification system provides the notification when data from the immersion sensor indicates that the immersion sensor is submerged in liquid on a substantially continuous or regular basis consistent with immersion experienced by a person'"'"'s hand when the person is swimming as compared with the intensity with which the notification system normally provides notifications when data from the immersion sensor indicates that the immersion sensor is not submerged in liquid on a substantially continuous or regular basis consistent with immersion experienced by a person'"'"'s hand when the person is swimming.

4. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to perform (b) by using peak detection to detect peaks associated with each swim stroke.

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

d) determine one or more swim stroke types represented by the angular motion data, and

e) alter stored information pertaining to the one or more swim stroke types based on the determination of the one or more swim stroke types, wherein the one or more swim stroke types are selected from the group consisting of crawl stroke, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, back stroke, and side stroke.

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

d) determine, for each swim stroke, a swim stroke type that corresponds to that swim stroke based, at least in part, on the angular motion data; and

e) alter stored information pertaining to the corresponding swim stroke type based on each swim stroke type determination in (d), wherein the swim stroke type is selected from the group consisting of crawl stroke, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, back stroke, and side stroke.

7. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a barometric altimeter sensor communicatively connected with the control logic and configured to output pressure data, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) analyze at least the angular motion data for each swim stroke in conjunction with the pressure data for that swim stroke to determine a corresponding swim stroke type for that swim stroke; and

e) alter stored information pertaining to the corresponding swim stroke type based on each swim stroke type determination in (d), wherein the swim stroke type is selected from the group consisting of crawl stroke, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, back stroke, and side stroke.

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

d) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that a swimming lap has ended, and

e) alter stored information pertaining to an amount of swimming laps responsive, at least in part, to (d).

9. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a notification system communicatively connected with the control logic, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

d) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a first stroke rate at a first time,

e) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a second stroke rate at a second time after the first time,

f) determine that the second stroke rate is lower than the first stroke rate by a predefined metric, and

g) cause the notification system to provide a notification responsive to (f), wherein the notification is indicative of potential swimmer fatigue.

10. The biometric monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the control logic is further configured to perform (d) by:

determining one or more data points for each swim stroke, each data point representative of an item selected from the group consisting of;

a maximum within a portion of the angular motion data for that swim stroke and a minimum within the portion of the angular motion data for that swim stroke, and

determining, for each swim stroke, that the one or more data points for that swim stroke at least correlate temporally with a temporal maxima/minima signature associated with the corresponding swim stroke type.

11. The biometric monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

perform (d) by determining, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately preceding the one or more consecutive swim strokes.

12. The biometric monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

perform (d) by determining, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately preceding the one or more consecutive swim strokes and that the one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately following the one or more consecutive swim strokes.

13. The biometric monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

perform (d) by determining, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately preceding the one or more consecutive swim strokes and that the angular motion data for the one or more consecutive swim strokes does not correlate with any of one or more predetermined swim stroke type signatures.

14. The biometric monitoring system of claim 8, further comprising a notification system communicatively connected with the control logic, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

f) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a first number of swim strokes per lap for a first lap,

g) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a second number of swim strokes per lap for a second lap after the first lap,

h) determine that the second number of swim strokes per lap is higher than the first number of swim strokes per lap by a predetermined amount, and

i) cause the notification system to provide a notification responsive to (h), wherein the notification is indicative of potential swimmer fatigue.

15. The biometric monitoring system of claim 8, further comprising a notification system communicatively connected with the control logic, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

f) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a first lap duration for a first lap,

g) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a second lap duration for a second lap after the first lap,

h) determine that the second lap duration is higher than the first lap duration by a predetermined amount, and

i) cause the notification system to provide a notification responsive to (h), wherein the notification is indicative of potential swimmer fatigue.

16. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for controlling one or more processors to:

a) obtain angular motion data from a gyroscopic motion sensor located in a housing worn on a person'"'"'s forearm,

b) determine each time a swim stroke is indicated, at least in part, by the angular motion data, and

c) alter stored information pertaining to a number of swim strokes in a memory responsive to (b).

17. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to perform (a) through (c) responsive to determining that data from an immersion sensor associated with the housing worn on the person'"'"'s forearm indicates that the immersion sensor is submerged in liquid on a substantially continuous or regular basis consistent with immersion experienced by the person'"'"'s forearm when the person is swimming.

18. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

provide a notification regarding achievement of a biometric performance goal using a notification system associated with the housing, and

increase an intensity with which the notification system provides the notification when data from an immersion sensor associated with the housing worn on the person'"'"'s forearm indicates that the immersion sensor is submerged in liquid on a substantially continuous or regular basis consistent with immersion experienced by a person'"'"'s hand when the person is swimming as compared with the intensity with which the notification system normally provides notifications when data from the immersion sensor indicates that the immersion sensor is not submerged in liquid on a substantially continuous or regular basis consistent with immersion experienced by a person'"'"'s hand when the person is swimming.

19. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

d) determine one or more swim stroke types represented by the angular motion data, and

e) alter stored information pertaining to the one or more swim stroke types based on the determination of the one or more swim stroke types, wherein the one or more swim stroke types are selected from the group consisting of crawl stroke, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, back stroke, and side stroke.

20. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

d) determine, for each swim stroke, a swim stroke type that corresponds to that swim stroke based, at least in part, on the angular motion data; and

e) alter stored information pertaining to the corresponding swim stroke type based on each swim stroke type determination in (d), wherein the swim stroke type is selected from the group consisting of crawl stroke, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, back stroke, and side stroke.

21. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

d) analyze at least the angular motion data for each swim stroke in conjunction with pressure data for that swim stroke to determine a corresponding swim stroke type for that swim stroke, wherein the pressure data is obtained from a barometric altimeter sensor associated with the housing worn on the person'"'"'s forearm, wherein the pressure data is obtained from a barometric altimeter sensor located in the housing and configured to output pressure data; and

e) alter stored information pertaining to the corresponding swim stroke type based on each swim stroke type determination in (d), wherein the swim stroke type is selected from the group consisting of crawl stroke, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, back stroke, and side stroke.

22. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

d) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that a swimming lap has ended, and

e) alter stored information pertaining to an amount of swimming laps responsive, at least in part, to (d).

23. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

d) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a first stroke rate at a first time,

e) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a second stroke rate at a second time after the first time,

f) determine that the second stroke rate is lower than the first stroke rate by a predefined metric, and

g) cause a notification system associated with the housing to provide a notification responsive to (f), wherein the notification is indicative of potential swimmer fatigue.

24. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to, as part of (d):

determine one or more data points for each swim stroke, each data point representative of an item selected from the group consisting of;

a maximum within a portion of the angular motion data for that swim stroke and a minimum within the portion of the angular motion data for that swim stroke, and

determine, for each swim stroke, that the one or more data points for that swim stroke at least correlate temporally with a temporal maxima/minima signature associated with the corresponding swim stroke type.

25. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer-executable instructions for (d) include computer-exectuable instructions for controlling the one or more processors to determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately preceding the one or more consecutive swim strokes and that the one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately following the one or more consecutive swim strokes.

26. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer-executable instructions for (d) include computer-exectuable instructions for controlling the one or more processors to determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, that one or more consecutive swim strokes has a duration or durations that are substantially different from durations of a plurality of swim strokes immediately preceding the one or more consecutive swim strokes and that the angular motion data for the one or more consecutive swim strokes does not correlate with any of one or more predetermined swim stroke type signatures.

27. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

f) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a first number of swim strokes per lap for a first lap,

g) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a second number of swim strokes per lap for a second lap after the first lap,

h) determine that the second number of swim strokes per lap is higher than the first number of swim strokes per lap by a predetermined amount, and

i) cause a notification system associated with the housing to provide a notification responsive to (h), wherein the notification is indicative of potential swimmer fatigue.

28. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

f) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a first lap duration for a first lap,

g) determine, based at least in part on the angular motion data, a second lap duration for a second lap after the first lap,

h) determine that the second lap duration is higher than the first lap duration by a predetermined amount, and

i) cause a notification system associated with the housing to provide a notification responsive to (h), wherein the notification is indicative of potential swimmer fatigue.