Use of gyroscopes in personal fitness tracking devices and bicycling activities

• US 9,504,408 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• 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:
  US14/732,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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:

one or more angular motion sensors, wherein the one or more angular motion sensors are configured to at least measure angular motion about an axis generally parallel to the ground and in-line with a bicycle and the angular motion data at least describes angular motion about the axis generally parallel to the ground and in-line with the bicycle;

a notification system;

a memory; and

control logic, wherein;

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

the control logic is configured to;

a) cause the biometric monitoring system to enter a state associated with riding the bicycle,

b) obtain angular motion data from the one or more angular motion sensors when the biometric monitoring system is in the state associated with riding the bicycle,

c) determine that the angular motion data indicates that one or more reversals of angular motion associated with left-right rocking motion of the bicycle about the axis generally parallel to the ground and in-line with the bicycle have occurred,

d) determine, for each reversal of angular motion, the magnitude of angular displacement from vertical at the point of reversal, and

e) cause the notification system to present a notification relating to left-right rocking motion of the bicycle based on the magnitude of the one or more angular displacements.

2. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the notification is selected from the group consisting of:

a chime and content displayed on a display device.

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

alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to cadence over time responsive to (c).

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

g) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to a degree of left-right rocking motion of the bicycle based on the magnitudes of the one or more angular displacements.

5. The biometric monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the notification system includes a display and wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine an average amount of angular displacement from vertical for rocking movements to the left of vertical over time,

determine an average amount of angular displacement from vertical for rocking movements to the right of vertical over time, and

cause the display to present separate indications of the average amounts of angular displacement for rocking movements to the left of vertical over time and the average amounts of angular displacement for rocking movements to the right of vertical over time.

6. The biometric monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the notification system includes a display and wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine an average amount of angular displacement from vertical for rocking movements to the left and right of vertical over time, and

cause the display to present an indication of the average amount of angular displacement from vertical for the rocking movements to the left and right of vertical over time.

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

determine that the magnitude of angular displacement from vertical associated with one or more of the reversals exceeds a first threshold amount, and

cause the notification system to provide a notification to a user of the biometric monitoring system that indicates that the magnitude of angular displacement from vertical associated with one or more of the reversals has exceeded the first threshold amount.

8. The biometric monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the first threshold amount is a user-specified amount.

9. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the bicycle includes a drivetrain, the one or more angular motion sensors includes an angular motion sensor that is fixed with respect to a rotatable component of the drivetrain, the angular motion data includes data describing rotational movement of the rotatable component, and the control logic is further configured to:

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

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

10. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the bicycle includes a drivetrain, the one or more angular motion sensors includes an angular motion sensor that is fixed with respect to a rotatable component of the drivetrain, the angular motion data includes data describing rotational movement of the rotatable component, and the control logic is further configured to:

f) determine a degree of deviation in rotational acceleration of the rotatable component, as indicated by the angular motion data, with respect to zero rotational acceleration, and

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

11. The biometric monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the bicycle includes a drivetrain, the one or more angular motion sensors includes an angular motion sensor that is fixed with respect to a rotatable component of the drivetrain, the angular motion data includes data describing rotational movement of the rotatable component, and the control logic is further configured to:

f) determine a number of rotations per unit time of the rotatable component based on the angular motion data, and

g) alter information stored in the memory and pertaining to cadence responsive to (f).

12. The biometric monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the notification system includes a display and 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 left-right rocking motion.

13. 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.