Wearable Device Assembly Having Athletic Functionality

• US 20100311544A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Robinette, Christopher A., Moll-Carrillo, Hector, Hoffman, Michael T., Lakovic, Tomislav, Capozzi, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• 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 24/0062 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• 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

Abstract

A wearable device has a carrier having an aperture. A device has a USB connection and a protrusion wherein the protrusion is received in the aperture to connect the device to the wristband. The device is a USB type device having athletic functionality. The device may further be configured to receive calibration data such that a measured distance may be converted to a known distance based on athletic activity performed by a user.

Claims

1. A method of calibration relating to monitoring athletic performance of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an athletic performance monitoring device;

performing an athletic activity by the user traversing a known distance wherein the device records the athletic performance by measuring the distance traversed;

displaying the measured distance traversed to provide a measured value;

adjusting the measured value to correspond to the known distance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user traverses by walking.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user traverses by running.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user runs at a pace corresponding to a pace to be run during a race.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the known distance is generally between 0.25 miles and 1.25 miles.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the measured distance traversed is performed on a device remote from the athletic performance monitoring device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of adjusting the measured value is performed on the remote device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to displaying the measured distance, transferring the measured distance traversed to a remote website.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the measured distance is displayed on a computer connected to the remote website.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the user adjusts the measured distance via the computer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the athletic performance monitoring device has sensor configured to worn by the user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the step of adjusting the measured value to correspond to the known distance is performed for each sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of adjusting the measured value is performed based on an adjustment value and wherein a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a first adjustment value and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a second adjustment value different from the first adjustment value.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the known distance is determined by a web-based mapping service.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the known distance is determined from an average of prior multiple athletic performances.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving athletic activity data corresponding to a traversal of a second measured distance different from the measured distance; and

converting the second measured distance to a calibrated distance based on the adjustment made to the measured value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the conversion is performed by the athletic performance monitoring device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting the measured distance is performed based on an adjustment formula and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second measured distance corresponding to the user traversing the known distance after adjusting the measured distance;

determining the that second measured distance is different from the measured distance; and

in response, modifying the adjustment formula based on the second measured distance.

19. An athletic performance monitoring system for a user wherein the user utilizes a shoe-based sensor, the device comprising:

a device having a USB connector, the device connected to a carrier configured to be worn by the user, the device having a controller configured to communicate with the sensor to record an athletic performance of the user, the athletic performance recording including measuring a distance traversed by the user;

a calibration module operably associated with the device, the calibration module configured to display the measured distance traversed by the user wherein the user can compare the measured distance to a known distance associated with the athletic performance and adjust the measured distance to correspond to the known distance.

29. The system of claim 19 wherein the known distance is determined by a web-based mapping service.

30. The system of claim 19 wherein the known distance is determined from an average of prior multiple athletic performances.

20. The system of 19 wherein the device measures the distance walked by the user.

21. The system of 19 wherein the device measures the distance run by the user.

22. The system of 21 wherein the user runs at a pace corresponding to a pace to be run during a race.

23. The system of 19 wherein the known distance is generally between 0.25 miles and 1.25 miles.

24. The system of 19 wherein the calibration module is located on a computer, the device being connected to the computer via the USB connector, wherein the measured distance traversed is transferred from the device to the computer and wherein the computer displays the measured distance traversed.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein calibration module is configured for the user to adjust the measured distance traversed via the computer.

26. The system of 19 wherein the calibration module is located on a remote website, the device being connected to a computer via the USB connector wherein the computer is in communication with the remote website, wherein the measured distance traversed is transferred from the device to the computer and to the website and wherein the website displayed the measured distance traversed on the computer.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein in response to plugging the device into the computer, the measured distance traversed is automatically uploaded to the calibration module.

27. The system of 26 wherein the calibration module is configured for the user to adjust the measured distance traversed via the computer.

31. A calibration system for use with an athletic performance monitoring device for a user wherein the user utilizes a shoe-based sensor in communication with the device, the device having a controller configured to communicate with the sensor to record an athletic performance of the user, the athletic performance recording including measuring a distance traversed by the user, the system comprising:

a calibration module configured to be operably associated with the device, the calibration module configured to display the measured distance traversed by the user wherein the user can compare the measured distance to a known distance associated with the athletic performance and adjust the measured distance to correspond to the known distance.

32. The calibration system of claim 31, wherein the adjustment of the measured distance to correspond to the known distance is performed based on an adjustment formula and wherein the calibration module is further configured to modify the adjustment formula based on one or more additional athletic performances of the user.