Arrangement, a communication module, a sensor unit and a method for monitoring physical performance

• US 9,555,286 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Martikka, Mikko, Pernu, Kimmo, Lindman, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Don N
• Application Number:
  US14/587,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.07
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An arrangement, a communication module, a sensor unit and a method for monitoring physical performance includes at least one communication module having means for providing an output DC power by wire, and means for receiving at least one sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity from at least one sensor unit. Said at least one sensor unit adapted to measure physiologic activity and to generate analog measurement signals in response thereof and is connected to said DC power wire and having means for processing and sending a sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity by a wire to said communication module. A processing unit is adapted to form from said analog measurement signals data messages in predetermined transmission time slots. A wireless communication unit is used for transmitting the data messages at successive time slots using a wireless communication protocol to a wireless receiver device.

Claims

1. An arrangement for monitoring physical performance, including:

at least one communication module having means for providing an output DC power by wire, and means for receiving at least one sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity from at least one sensor unit;

at least one sensor unit adapted to measure physiologic activity and to generate analog measurement signals in response thereof, the sensor unit being connected to said DC power wire, and having means for processing and sending a sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity by a wire to said communication module;

a processing unit adapted to form from said analog measurement signals data messages assigned to successive predetermined transmission time slots of a wireless communication protocol;

a wireless communication unit for transmitting in said time slots said data messages in a temporal order using said wireless communication protocol; and

a wireless receiver device adapted to receive said data messages at successive time slots.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the communication module includes said processing unit and said wireless communication unit and said sensor unit includes said processing unit.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor unit is adapted to send a sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity to said communication module by applying said sensor signal on said DC power wire or on a dedicated signal wire.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor unit is adapted to add a digital sensor unit identification code to said measurement signal representative of measured physiologic activity on said wire.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to:

execute a sensor signal analysis algorithm specific to the type of sensor unit and/or the physiologic activity being measured, so as to determine first time points based on a predefined characteristics of the sensor signals;

determine second time points corresponding to the timing of said predetermined transmission time slots according to said wireless communication protocol for the transfer of data messages to said wireless communication unit;

pair a first and a second time point for each data message to be sent to said wireless communication unit; and

add information on the difference between said first and second time points to said data messages.

6. A communication module for monitoring physical performance, including:

means for providing DC power by wire to at least one sensor unit;

means for receiving at least one sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity from at least one sensor unit by a wire;

means for allocating measurement data signals into data messages in successive predetermined transmission time slots of a wireless communication protocol; and

a wireless communication unit for transmitting in said successive time slots said data messages in a temporal order to a wireless receiver device using said wireless communication protocol.

7. The communication module according to claim 6, including a processing unit being adapted to:

receive analog measurement signals sent from a sensor unit on said wire;

identify said analog measurement signals based on a digital sensor unit identification code added to said measurement signal on the wire;

process said measurement signals into data messages allocated to predetermined transmission time slots; and

transmit said data messages to a wireless receiver device at successive time slots using said wireless communication protocol.

8. The communication module according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to detect said digital sensor unit identification code by using a lookup algorithm coded in a memory unit of said processing unit, and to combine data derived from said measurement signals with data relating to the identified digital code into said data messages to be sent by said wireless communication unit to said wireless receiver device at predetermined and successive time slots according to said wireless communication protocol.

9. The communication module according to claim 7, wherein:

said communication module includes means for mounting the module to a mounting zone on a sports item, the means for mounting comprising two electronic contact terminals for making an electronic contact with the sports item while being mounted thereon, said processing unit being functionally connected to said contact terminals and to said wireless communication unit and capable of processing data received through the contact terminals and/or the wireless communication unit according to data processing instructions, wherein

the communication module including means for receiving sensor signals from at least one sensor unit located in the sports item and for detecting a digital sensor unit identification code in order to identify the sports item while being mounted thereon, and

the processing unit being capable of changing said data processing instructions based on the value of the identifier read from the sports item.

10. The communication module according to claim 6, wherein the means for receiving a sensor signal representative of measured physiologic activity is using said DC power wire or a dedicated wire as a signaling channel.

11. The communication module according to claim 6, wherein the means for receiving the sensor signals and the processing unit are adapted to receive and process electromyographic (EMG) signals from at least one EMG electrode.

12. The communication module according to claim 6, wherein the communication module includes a memory unit for storing an identifier of the communication module and is adapted to include said identifier in said data messages to said wireless receiver device.

13. The communication module according to claim 6, wherein the module is capable of receiving data messages from another communication module and to interleave received data messages received therefrom with its own data messages according to said wireless communication protocol.

14. The communication module according to claim 6, wherein the communication module is capable of receiving data messages from a similar communication module and to interleave and relay said received data messages with its own data messages by allocating the data messages in said predetermined transmission time slots for transmission to a wireless receiver device, and to include in the relayed data an identifier of the other similar communication module and information on the time of receipt of the data to be relayed.

15. A sensor unit for monitoring physical performance comprising:

a connection to a communication module;

an input for a DC power wire from the communication module;

means for measuring physiologic activity and to generate analog measurement signals in response thereof;

means for providing a sensor unit identification;

means for processing and combining said measurement signals with said sensor unit identification into an output signal to be sent to the communication module on a wire; and

means for sending said output signal representative of the measured physiologic activity to said communication module.

16. The sensor unit according to claim 15, wherein the sensor unit includes a processing unit further adapted to:

execute a sensor signal analysis algorithm specific to the type of sensor unit and/or the physiologic activity being measured so as to determine first time points based on predefined characteristics of the sensor signals;

determine second time points corresponding to the timing of said predetermined transmission time slots according to a communication protocol for the transfer of data messages to said wireless communication unit;

pair a first and a second time point for each data message to be sent to said wireless communication unit; and

add information on the difference between said first and second time points to said data messages to be sent to said communication module.

17. The sensor unit according to claim 16, wherein:

said sensor unit includes means for mounting the unit to a mounting zone on a sports item, the means for mounting comprising two electronic contact terminals for making an electronic contact with the sports item while being mounted thereon, said processing unit being functionally connected to said contact terminals and to said communication module and capable of processing data received through the contact terminals according to data processing instructions, wherein

the sensor unit including means for receiving an identification code located in the sports item in order to identify the sports item while being mounted thereon, and

the processing unit being capable of changing said data processing instructions based on the value of the identifier read from the sports item.

18. The sensor unit according to claim 15, wherein the sensor unit identification is provided by adding a digital code unique to each sensor unit to said measurement signal or a communication protocol allocating predetermined time slots in which the output signals are sent to said communication module.

19. The sensor unit according to claim 15, wherein the means for sending said output signal representative of measured physiologic activity is provided by using said DC power wire or a dedicated wire as a signaling channel.

20. The sensor unit according to claim 15, wherein the sensor unit signals is adapted to measure and process electromyographic (EMG) signals from at least one EMG electrode.