Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same

• US 9,629,558 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao, Park, James, Friedman, Eric Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/603,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20150134268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 702160, 702155, 702182-185, 702188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 : combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 : Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 : Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 : Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 : specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• 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 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 : Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 : Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/70 : body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• 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: G01C 22/00 : Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers, using pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/00 : Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/003 : Kinematic accelerometers, i.e. measuring acceleration in relation to an external reference frame, e.g. Ferratis accelerometers G01P15/001, G01P15/16, G01P15/165 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 : Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 : worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• 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: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a portable activity monitoring device comprising a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user'"'"'s body, a plurality of sensors (for example, motion sensor and altitude sensor) disposed in the housing. The monitoring device may further include processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensor, to calculate the activity points corresponding to the physical activity of the user using the sensor data, wherein the activity points correlate to an amount and intensity of the physical activity of the user, and output the data which is representative of the activity points. The monitoring device may also include a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, may output the data which is representative of the activity points to the user.

Claims

1. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate calorie burn of a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of an amount of altitude change of the user;

a heart rate sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a heart rate of the user and, in response, generate data which is representative of the heart rate of the user; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, configured to;

calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the amount of altitude change of the user,

calculate a heart rate of the user using the data which is representative of the heart rate of the user, and

calculate one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user and (ii) the heart rate of the user.

2. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a number of user steps based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user; and

calculate one of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on the heart rate of the user and at least one of the items selected from the group consisting of;

(i) the number of user steps, (ii) the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, and (iii) the heart rate of the user.

3. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2, wherein the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user is calculated based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the amount of altitude change of the user and the data which is representative of the motion of the user.

4. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a number of user steps based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user;

determine, based, at least in part, on the number of user steps and the heart rate of the user, an elevated heart rate of the user and an absence of user steps; and

calculate, responsive to the elevated heart rate of the user and the absence of user steps, one of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on the heart rate of the user.

5. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a number of user steps based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user;

calculate acceleration data for the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user;

determine, based, at least in part, on the number of user steps and the heart rate of the user, an absence of user steps and a low or normal heart rate of the user; and

calculate, responsive to the absence of user steps and the low or normal heart rate of the user, one of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on the acceleration data for the user.

6. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calculate acceleration data for the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user;

calculate a speed of the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user; and

calculate a first calorie burn of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the heart rate of the user, (ii) the acceleration data for the user, and (iii) the speed of the user.

7. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a heart rate calorie burn of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the heart rate of the user;

calculate an acceleration calorie burn of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (ii) the acceleration data for the user; and

calculate a speed calorie burn of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (iii) the speed of the user, wherein the first calorie burn is calculated by, at least in part, summing the heart rate calorie burn, the acceleration calorie burn, and the speed calorie burn.

8. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user; and

a mode sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a mode of movement of the user and, in response, generate data which is representative of the movement mode of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

calculate a user movement mode using the data which is representative of the movement mode of the user, and

calculate one of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the heart rate of the user, (ii) the data which is representative of the motion of the user, and (iii) the user movement mode.

9. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein a first term and a second term are further included as factors in calculating one of the one or more calorie burns such that the first term and the second term each include at least one parameter and each parameter is selected from the group consisting of a height of the user, a weight of the user, an age of the user, a gender of the user, and an athletic ability of the user.

10. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate calorie burn of a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of an amount of altitude change of the user;

a heart rate sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a heart rate of the user and, in response, generate data which is representative of the heart rate of the user; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, configured to;

calculate, for a first time interval, a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the amount of altitude change of the user,

calculate, for the first time interval, a heart rate of the user using the data which is representative of the heart rate of the user, and

calculate, for the first time interval, one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user and (ii) the heart rate of the user.

11. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 10, further comprising a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calculate, for the first time interval, acceleration data for the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user;

calculate, for the first time interval, a speed of the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user; and

calculate, for the first time interval, a first calorie burn of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the heart rate of the user, (ii) the acceleration data for the user, and (iii) the speed of the user.

12. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 11, further comprising calculating the first calorie burn based, at least in part, on:

(a) multiplying (i) the heart rate of the user by a first parameter;

(b) multiplying (ii) the acceleration data for the user by a second parameter;

(c) multiplying (iii) the speed of the user by a third parameter;

(d) summing the products of (a), (b), and (c); and

multiplying the total of (d) by the duration of the first time interval.

13. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 10, further comprising:

a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user; and

a mode sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a mode of movement of the user and, in response, generate data which is representative of the movement mode of the user, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

calculate, for the first time interval, a user movement mode using the data which is representative of the movement mode of the user, and

calculate, for the first time interval, one of the one or more calorie burns of the user based, at least in part, on (i) the heart rate of the user, (ii) the data which is representative of the motion of the user, and (iii) the user movement mode.

14. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 10, wherein a first term and a second term are further included as factors in calculating a first calorie burn of the one or more calorie burns for the first time interval such that:

the first term and the second term each include at least one parameter;

each parameter is selected from the group consisting of a height of the user, a weight of the user, an age of the user, a gender of the user, and an athletic ability of the user;

the first calorie burn is calculated, at least in part, with a first component associated with the heart rate of the user and a second component associated with the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user;

the first component includes at least a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent;

the first subcomponent is calculated, at least in part, by adding the second term to a multiplication of the heart rate of the user by the first term; and

the second subcomponent is calculated, at least in part, by multiplying the first subcomponent by the first time interval.

15. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate calorie burn of a user, the portable activity monitoring device comprising:

a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user;

a motion sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user;

an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of the altitude change of the user;

a heart rate sensor, disposed in the housing and configured to detect a heart rate of the user and, in response, generate data which is representative of the heart rate of the user; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, configured to;

calculate step count data regarding a number of steps taken by the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user,

calculate one or more altitude change metrics based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the altitude change of the user,

calculate a heart rate of the user using the data which is representative of the heart rate of the user, and

determine a first user state based, at least in part, on at least one item selected from the group consisting of;

(i) the data which is representative of the motion of the user, (ii) the one or more altitude change metrics and (iii) the heart rate of the user.

16. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine step count data regarding a number of steps taken by the user based, at least in part, on the data which is representative of the motion of the user;

determine whether the step count data indicates that the user is running or walking;

determine a first altitude metric of change in altitude per second based on the data representative of altitude;

determine whether the first altitude metric is both above a first threshold and below a second threshold for a period of time exceeding a first duration when the step count data indicates that the user is not running or walking; and

determine, responsive to a determination that the first altitude metric is not both above the first threshold and below the second threshold for the period of time exceeding the first duration when the step count data indicates that the user is not running or walking, that the first user state is a user state associated with user inactivity.

17. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine, responsive to a determination that the first altitude metric is both above the first threshold and below the second threshold for the period of time exceeding the first duration when the step count data indicates that the user is not running or walking, that the first user state is a user state associated with use of an elevator or escalator by the user.

18. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine a second altitude metric of change in altitude per step based on the data representative of altitude and the step count data;

determine whether the second altitude metric is above a first altitude per step threshold;

determine, responsive to a determination that the user is running or walking and that the second altitude metric is above the first altitude per step threshold, that the first user state is a user state associated with traversing level ground.

19. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the second altitude metric is above a second altitude per step threshold;

determine whether the heart rate is above a first heart rate threshold;

determine, responsive to a determination that (i) the user is running or walking, (ii) the second altitude metric is below the first altitude per step threshold, (iii) the second altitude metric is above the second altitude per step threshold, and (iv) the heart rate is above the first heart rate threshold, that the first user state is a user state associated with walking on an escalator; and

determine, responsive to a determination that (i) the user is running or walking, (ii) the second altitude metric is below the first altitude per step threshold, (iii) the second altitude metric is above the second altitude per step threshold, and (iv) the heart rate is below the first heart rate threshold, that the first user state is the user state associated with traversing level ground.

20. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the second altitude metric is above a third altitude per step threshold;

determine whether the heart rate is above a second heart rate threshold;

determine, responsive to a determination that (i) the user is running or walking, (ii) the second altitude metric is below the second altitude per step threshold, (iii) the second altitude metric is above the third altitude per step threshold, and (iv) the heart rate is above the second heart rate threshold, that the first user state is a user state associated with traversing stairs; and

determine, responsive to a determination that (i) the user is running or walking, (ii) the second altitude metric is below the second altitude per step threshold, (iii) the second altitude metric is above the third altitude per step threshold, and (iv) the heart rate is below the first heart rate threshold, that the first user state is the user state associated with traversing level ground.

21. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 20, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the second altitude metric is above a fourth altitude per step threshold;

determine whether the heart rate is above a third heart rate threshold;

determine, responsive to a determination that (i) the user is running or walking, (ii) the second altitude metric is below the third altitude per step threshold, (iii) the second altitude metric is above the fourth altitude per step threshold, and (iv) the heart rate is above the third heart rate threshold, that the first user state is a user state associated with traversing a hill; and

determine, responsive to a determination that (i) the user is running or walking, (ii) the second altitude metric is below the third altitude per step threshold, (iii) the second altitude metric is above the fourth altitude per step threshold, and (iv) the heart rate is below the third heart rate threshold, that the first user state is the user state associated with traversing level ground.

22. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 21, wherein the fourth altitude per step threshold is less than the third altitude per step threshold, the third altitude per step threshold is less than the second altitude per step threshold, and the second altitude per step threshold is less than the first altitude per step threshold.