Fitness monitoring device with altimeter and gesture recognition

• US 9,568,492 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/597,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702182-185
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/1123 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/00 Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter spectrophotometry G01J3/00; specially adapted for radiation pyrometry G01J5/00 ; exposure meters built in cameras G03B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/008 using piezoelectric devices piezoelectric resonators G01L9/0022; surface acoustic waves G01L9/0025
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/00 Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
• 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: 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: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 : using orientation information, e.g. compass
• 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 altimeters in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve recalibrating a biometric monitoring device altimeter based on location data; using altimeter data as an aid to gesture recognition; and/or using altimeter data to manage an airplane mode of a biometric monitoring device.

Claims

1. A wearable biometric tracking device, the wearable biometric tracking device comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to detect ambient atmospheric air pressure around the wearable biometric tracking device and to output data representative of altitude, wherein the data representative of altitude is based, at least in part, on the ambient atmospheric air pressure measured by the pressure sensor;

a motion sensor, the motion sensor configured to detect motion of the wearable biometric tracking device and to output corresponding motion data; and

control logic, wherein the pressure sensor, the motion sensor, and the control logic are communicatively connected and the control logic is configured to;

a) receive the data representative of altitude,

b) receive the motion data,

c) determine when the data representative of altitude and the motion data, in combination, correlate with a first arm movement profile of a plurality of arm movement profiles, and

d) store data associated with the first arm movement profile responsive, at least in part, to the determination in (c).

2. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the wearable biometric tracking device is configured to be worn in a location selected from the group consisting of:

a person'"'"'s arm, a person'"'"'s forearm, a person'"'"'s hand, and a person'"'"'s finger.

3. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a barometric altimeter.

4. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of:

accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, piezoelectric sensors, electromagnetic trackers, and camera-based imaging sensors.

5. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arm movement profiles include one or more arm movement profiles approximating arm motions representative of one or more activities, each selected from the group consisting of:

running, walking, elliptical exercises, resistance-training exercises, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, jumping rope, and aerobic dancing.

6. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine a first arm motion profile associated with the first arm movement profile and based on data from the motion sensor and the pressure sensor,

determine a first reference motion profile based on the determination that the data representative of altitude and the motion data, in combination, correlate with the first arm movement profile, wherein the first reference motion profile is associated with the first arm movement profile, and

determine a degree of deviation between the first arm motion profile and the first reference motion profile.

7. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 6, wherein the first arm movement profile and the first reference motion profile are both associated with a gesture or gestures associated with a common action selected from the group consisting of:

swinging a baseball bat;

swinging a softball bat;

swinging a tennis racket;

swinging a badminton racket;

swinging a squash racket;

swinging a racketball racket;

swinging a golfing wood;

swinging a golfing iron;

swinging a golfing wedge;

swinging a golfing putter;

swinging a golfing chipper;

swinging a golfing hybrid;

performing a resistance-training exercise;

performing a martial arts motion;

performing a gymnastics motion;

performing a yoga exercise;

taking a shot in a cue sport such as billiards;

taking a shot in a cue sport such as snooker;

taking a shot in a cue sport such as pool;

taking a swimming stroke;

bowling a bowling ball;

firing a rifle;

firing a pistol;

thrusting a blade;

swinging a blade; and

parrying with a blade.

8. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 6, further comprising an interface device communicatively connected with the control logic, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

h) determine when the degree of deviation exceeds a first threshold amount of deviation, and

i) cause, responsive to a determination in (h) that the degree of deviation exceeds the first threshold amount, the interface device to provide an indication that the degree of deviation exceeded the first threshold amount, wherein;

A) the interface device includes one or more items selected from the group consisting of;

a display, one or more lights, a vibramotor, and an audio device; and

B) the indication includes one or more items selected from the group consisting of;

a numerical score, a vibration, a sound, a graphic, an icon, an animation, a message indicating fatigue, a message cautioning the wearer to slow down, and a message cautioning the wearer to take a rest.

9. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 6, wherein the first reference motion profile includes one or more comparison data points relating to physical parameters selected from the group consisting of position, velocity, acceleration, and jerk.

10. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first arm movement profile is associated with a resistance-training bicep-curl-type activity and the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when the motion data and the data representative of altitude include an instance in which:

the motion data indicates that a forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitioned from a downward-sloping orientation to an upward-sloping orientation during a first time period,

the motion data indicates that the forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitioned from the upward-sloping orientation to a downward-sloping orientation during a second time period following the first time period, and

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an increase in altitude of between 1 ft and 2 ft during the first time period.

11. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 10, wherein the control logic is further configured to determine a number of substantially consecutive instances in which the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile and to determine a number of reps of the resistance-training bicep-curl-type activity based on the number of substantially consecutive instances.

12. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 10, wherein:

the control logic is further configured to determine a number of reps selected from the group consisting of i) 1 to 5 reps, ii) 5 to 8 reps, iii) 8 to 10 reps, iv) 10 to 12 reps, v) 12 to 15 reps, and vi) 15 to 20 reps,

the control logic is further configured to determine that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile for a substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps, and

the control logic is further configured to store the data associated with the first arm movement profile in association with the resistance-training bicep-curl-type activity and responsive to the determination in (c) and to the determination that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlated with the first arm movement profile for the substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps.

13. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 12, wherein the number of reps (i) through (vi) is selected based on data indicating whether a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device is pursuing resistance-training for purposes selected from the group consisting of:

I) emphasizing strength, II) emphasizing strength and muscle bulk substantially equally, III) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on strength, IV) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on endurance, V) emphasizing endurance with some emphasis on muscle, and VI) emphasizing mostly endurance, respectively.

14. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first arm movement profile is associated with a resistance-training deadlift-type activity and the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when the motion data and the data representative of altitude include one instance or two or more substantially consecutive instances in which:

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an increase in altitude of between 1.5 ft and 2 ft during a first time period,

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced a decrease in altitude of between 1.5 ft and 2 ft during a second time period, and

the motion data indicates that a forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn maintained a substantially vertical and downward orientation during substantially all of the first time period and the second time period.

15. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 14, wherein the control logic is further configured to determine a number of substantially consecutive instances in which the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile and to determine a number of reps of the resistance-training deadlift-type activity based on the number of substantially consecutive instances.

16. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 14, wherein:

the control logic is further configured to determine a number of reps selected from the group consisting of i) 1 to 5 reps, ii) 5 to 8 reps, iii) 8 to 10 reps, iv) 10 to 12 reps, v) 12 to 15 reps, and vi) 15 to 20 reps,

the control logic is further configured to determine that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile for a substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps, and

the control logic is further configured to store the data associated with the first arm movement profile in association with the resistance-training deadlift-type activity and responsive to the determination in (c) and to the determination that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlated with the first arm movement profile for the substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps.

17. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 16, wherein the number of reps (i) through (vi) is selected based on data indicating whether a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device is pursuing resistance-training for purposes selected from the group consisting of:

I) emphasizing strength, II) emphasizing strength and muscle bulk substantially equally, III) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on strength, IV) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on endurance, V) emphasizing endurance with some emphasis on muscle, and VI) emphasizing mostly endurance, respectively.

18. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first arm movement profile is associated with a resistance-training squats- or bench-press-type activity and the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when the motion data and the data representative of altitude include one instance or two or more substantially consecutive instances in which:

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an increase in altitude of between 0.5 ft and 2 ft during a first time period,

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced a decrease in altitude of between 0.5 ft and 2 ft during a second time period, and

the motion data indicates that a forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn maintained a substantially vertical and upward orientation during substantially all of the first time period and the second time period.

19. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 18, wherein the control logic is further configured to determine a number of substantially consecutive instances in which the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile and to determine a number of reps of the resistance-training squats- or bench-press-type activity based on the number of substantially consecutive instances.

20. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 18, wherein:

the control logic is further configured to determine a number of reps selected from the group consisting of i) 1 to 5 reps, ii) 5 to 8 reps, iii) 8 to 10 reps, iv) 10 to 12 reps, v) 12 to 15 reps, and vi) 15 to 20 reps,

the control logic is further configured to determine that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile for a substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps, and

the control logic is further configured to store the data associated with the first arm movement profile in association with the resistance-training squats- or bench-press-type activity and responsive to the determination in (c) and to the determination that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlated with the first arm movement profile for the substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps.

21. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 20, wherein the number of reps (i) through (vi) is selected based on data indicating whether a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device is pursuing resistance-training for purposes selected from the group consisting of:

I) emphasizing strength, II) emphasizing strength and muscle bulk substantially equally, III) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on strength, IV) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on endurance, V) emphasizing endurance with some emphasis on muscle, and VI) emphasizing mostly endurance, respectively.

22. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first arm movement profile is associated with a resistance-training front- or lateral-raise-type activity and the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when the motion data and the data representative of altitude include one instance or two or more substantially consecutive instances in which:

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an increase in altitude of between 1 ft and 2 ft during a first time period,

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced a decrease in altitude of between 1 ft and 2 ft during a second time period,

the motion data indicates that a forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitions from a substantially vertical and downward orientation at the start of the first time period to a substantially horizontal orientation at the end of the first time period, and

the motion data indicates that the forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitions from a substantially horizontal orientation at the start of the second time period to a substantially vertical and downward orientation at the end of the second time period.

23. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 22, wherein the control logic is further configured to determine a number of substantially consecutive instances in which the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile and to determine a number of reps of the resistance-training front- or lateral-raise-type activity based on the number of substantially consecutive instances.

24. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 22, wherein:

the control logic is further configured to determine a number of reps selected from the group consisting of i) 1 to 5 reps, ii) 5 to 8 reps, iii) 8 to 10 reps, iv) 10 to 12 reps, v) 12 to 15 reps, and vi) 15 to 20 reps,

the control logic is further configured to determine that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile for a substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps, and

the control logic is further configured to store the data associated with the first arm movement profile in association with the resistance-training front- or lateral-raise-type activity and responsive to the determination in (c) and to the determination that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlated with the first arm movement profile for the substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps.

25. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 24, wherein the number of reps (i) through (vi) is selected based on data indicating whether a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device is pursuing resistance-training for purposes selected from the group consisting of:

I) emphasizing strength, II) emphasizing strength and muscle bulk substantially equally, III) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on strength, IV) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on endurance, V) emphasizing endurance with some emphasis on muscle, and VI) emphasizing mostly endurance, respectively.

26. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first arm movement profile is associated with a resistance-training good-morning-sir-type activity and the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when the motion data and the data representative of altitude include one instance or two or more substantially consecutive instances in which:

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an increase in altitude of between 1.5 ft and 2 ft during a first time period,

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced a decrease in altitude of between 1.5 ft and 2 ft during a second time period,

the motion data indicates that a forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitions from a substantially horizontal orientation at the start of the first time period to a substantially vertical and upward orientation at the end of the first time period, and

the motion data indicates that the forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitions from a substantially vertical and upward orientation at the start of the second time period to a substantially horizontal orientation at the end of the second time period.

27. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 26, wherein the control logic is further configured to determine a number of substantially consecutive instances in which the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile and to determine a number of reps of the resistance-training good-morning-sir-type activity based on the number of substantially consecutive instances.

28. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 26, wherein:

the control logic is further configured to determine a number of reps selected from the group consisting of i) 1 to 5 reps, ii) 5 to 8 reps, iii) 8 to 10 reps, iv) 10 to 12 reps, v) 12 to 15 reps, and vi) 15 to 20 reps,

the control logic is further configured to determine that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile for a substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps, and

the control logic is further configured to store the data associated with the first arm movement profile in association with the resistance-training good-morning-sir-type activity and responsive to the determination in (c) and to the determination that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlated with the first arm movement profile for the substantially consecutive number of instances equal to the number of reps.

29. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 28, wherein the number of reps (i) through (vi) is selected based on data indicating whether a wearer of the wearable biometric tracking device is pursuing resistance-training for purposes selected from the group consisting of:

I) emphasizing strength, II) emphasizing strength and muscle bulk substantially equally, III) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on strength, IV) emphasizing muscle bulk with some emphasis on endurance, V) emphasizing endurance with some emphasis on muscle, and VI) emphasizing mostly endurance, respectively.

30. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first arm movement profile is associated with an elliptical machine activity and the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when:

the data representative of altitude exhibits cyclic behavior during a first time period with small altitude changes during each cycle commensurate with altitude changes experienced by handles of an elliptical machine during normal use,

the motion data exhibits cyclic behavior that is substantially of the same frequency as the cyclic behavior of the data representative of altitude during the first time period, and

the motion data includes acceleration data and the acceleration data indicates acceleration magnitudes during the first time period that are less than acceleration magnitudes used by the control logic in other circumstances to determine if a step counter should be incremented due to acceleration data that indicates that a person wearing the wearable biometric tracking device is engaged in normal walking or running activity in which the person'"'"'s feet leave the ground.

31. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a display communicatively connected with the control logic, wherein:

I) the first arm movement profile is associated with a watch-viewing activity;

II) the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when;

the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an increase in altitude of approximately 1 ft during a first time period, and

the motion data indicates that a forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn transitions from a substantially vertical and downwards orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation during the first time period; and

Ill) the control logic is further configured to cause the display to present clock-related data responsive to a determination in (c) that the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the watch-viewing activity first movement profile.

32. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 31, wherein the motion data and the data representative of altitude correlate with the first arm movement profile when the motion data additionally indicates that the forearm upon which the wearable biometric tracking device is worn remains in the substantially horizontal orientation for a second time period immediately following the first time period, wherein the second time period has a non-zero duration.

33. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arm movement profiles includes an arm movement profile approximating the user resting and the control logic is further configured to:

p) track a duration where the first arm movement profile is substantially similar to the user resting arm movement profile; and

q) determine that the duration where the first arm movement profile is substantially similar to the user resting arm movement profile is greater than a rest duration threshold.

34. A wearable biometric tracking device comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to detect altitude of the wearable biometric tracking device and to output corresponding data representative of altitude; and

a motion sensor, the motion sensor configured to detect motion of the wearable biometric tracking device and to output corresponding motion data; and

control logic, wherein the biometric monitoring device, the pressure sensor, and the control logic are communicatively connected and the control logic is configured to;

a) determine when the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device has not experienced an altitude rate-of-change exceeding a first altitude rate-of-change threshold during a first time period, and

b) place the wearable biometric tracking device into a lower power-consumption state during a second time period following the first time period responsive to, at least, determining in (a) that the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device has not experienced an altitude rate-of-change exceeding the first altitude rate-of-change threshold during the first time period.

35. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 34, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

c) determine when the motion data indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an impact event immediately prior to the first time period, and

d) perform b) by placing the wearable biometric tracking device into the lower power-consumption state responsive to determining in (c) that the motion data indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an impact event immediately prior to the first time period in addition to determining in (a) that the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device has not experienced an altitude rate-of-change exceeding the first altitude rate-of-change threshold during the first time period.

36. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 34, the control logic is further configured to:

c) determine when the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an altitude rate-of-change exceeding a second altitude rate-of-change threshold during the second time period, and

d) cause the wearable biometric tracking device to exit the lower power-consumption state responsive to determining in (c) that the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an altitude rate-of-change exceeding the second altitude rate-of-change threshold during the second time period.

37. The wearable biometric tracking device of claim 36, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

e) cause, responsive to determining in (c) that the data representative of altitude indicates that the wearable biometric tracking device experienced an altitude rate-of-change exceeding the second altitude rate-of-change threshold during the second time period, a display of the wearable biometric tracking device to transition to an on state from an off or standby state and to display a message.