Method and apparatus for providing a haptic monitoring system using multiple sensors

• US 20180233226A1
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Published: 08/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: RAMSAY, Erin B., HEUBEL, Robert W., OLIEN, Neil
• Application Number:
  US15/951,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20180233226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• 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 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing a haptic monitor system capable of generating haptic cues based on sensed information are disclosed. The haptic system includes a sensing device, a digital processing unit, and a haptic generator. The sensing device is configured to selectively sense an individual'"'"'s or user vital information via one or more wearable sensors, and subsequently forwards the sensed vital information to the digital processing unit for data processing. Upon receipt of the vital information, the digital processing unit provides a haptic signal in response to the vital information. The haptic generator, subsequently, generates haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A haptic enabled wrist band, comprising:

a sensing device configured to generate sensor data that indicates a heart rate of a user;

a haptic generator configured to generate haptic feedback; and

a digital processing unit communicatively coupled with the sensing device and the haptic generator, and configured

to receive the sensor data that indicates the heart rate of the user, and

to control the haptic generator to generate the haptic feedback with a strength that is based on which heart rate zone of a plurality of heart rate zones the heart rate of the user is in.

28. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 27, wherein the plurality of heart rate zones include at least a first heart rate zone associated with a calm condition and a second heart rate zone associated with a racing condition.

29. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 28, wherein the digital processing unit is configured to control the haptic generator to generate the haptic feedback with a first strength level if the heart rate of the user is in the first heart rate zone, and to control the haptic generator to generate the haptic feedback with a second strength level that is higher than the first strength level if the heart rate of the user is in the second heart rate zone.

30. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 29, wherein the digital processing unit is configured to cause the haptic feedback to emulate the heart rate of the user.

31. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 30, wherein the haptic feedback is a series of vibrations, and wherein the haptic generator is an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) actuator.

32. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 31, wherein the haptic enabled wrist band is a wrist watch.

33. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 32, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to identify a physical location of the user of the haptic enabled wrist band.

34. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 27, wherein the digital processing device is further configured to determine a respiratory rate of the user, and to control the haptic generator to generate additional haptic feedback based on the respiratory rate of the user.

35. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 27, wherein the sensing device is further configured to sense a body temperature of the user.

36. The haptic enabled wrist band of claim 27, wherein the digital processing device is further configured to determine a performance level of the user based on the sensor data, and to control the haptic generator to generate additional haptic feedback based on whether the performance level of the user matches a defined optimal performance level.

37. A method of generating feedback, comprising:

generating, by a sensing device of a haptic enabled wrist band, sensor data that indicates a heart rate of a user;

receiving, by a digital processing unit of the haptic enabled wrist band, sensor data that indicates the heart rate of the user; and

controlling, by the digital processing unit, a haptic generator of the haptic enabled wrist band to generate the haptic feedback with a strength that is based on which heart rate zone of a plurality of heart rate zones the heart rate of the user is in.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of heart rate zones include at least a first heart rate zone associated with a calm condition and a second heart rate zone associated with a racing condition.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the haptic feedback is generated with a first strength level if the heart rate of the user is in the first heart rate zone, and is generated with a second strength level that is higher than the first strength level if the heart rate of the user is in the second heart rate zone.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the digital processing unit controls the haptic generator to generate the haptic feedback to emulate the heart rate of the user.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the haptic feedback is a series of vibrations, and wherein the haptic generator is an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) actuator.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the haptic enabled wrist band is a wrist watch.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the wrist band further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to identify a physical location of the user of the haptic enabled wrist band.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a respiratory rate of the user, and controlling the haptic generator to generate additional haptic feedback based on the respiratory rate of the user.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising sensing, with the sensing device, a body temperature of the user.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a performance level of the user based on the sensor data, and to control the haptic generator to generate additional haptic feedback based on whether the performance level of the user matches a defined optimal performance level.