Wrist borne pulse meter/chronometer

• US 4,224,948 A
• Filed: 11/24/1978
• Issued: 09/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank B. Cramer, Semar J. Lawrence
• Original Assignee: Frank B. Cramer, Semar J. Lawrence
• Inventors: Cramer, Frank B., Semar, J. Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/963,278
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 128/687-690, 128/698, 128/705-706, 128/708, 324/78 D, 324/186, 364/701-702, 364/715-717
• US Class Current: 600/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/063 measuring physiological quantities, e.g. pedometers, heart-rate sensors, blood pressure gauges and the like
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

A combined watch, elapsed time counter and pulse rate meter which is totally portable and worn as an ordinary wristwatch. The timer and pulse rate meter employ the precise timing elements such as a crystal oscillator of the digital watch. Using such precise timing elements, the human'"'"'s pulse may be measured on a pulse by pulse basis and the instantaneous and average pulse values simultaneously displayed to allow a running comparison and noting of pulse aberrations. A novel pulse detector assembly is located on the inner face of the watch assembly.

Claims

1. A combined digital watch and pulse rate meter comprising:

a case having an upper face and a lower face;

the upper face including display means for display in digital form time of any information;

said display further including means for displaying the six digits of pulse information;

a timing signal generator within said case;

timing circuitry coupled to said timing signal generator for deriving fractions of seconds, seconds and minutes information;

means for displaying said time information on said display;

a transducer on the inner face of said case positionable in pulse sensing relationship with the wearer;

said transducer coupled to signal processing circuitry for deriving the pulse rate of the wearer;

said signal processing circuitry coupled to said timing signal generator to provide a time base for pulse measurement accuracy equal to the accuracy of the time of day signal;

means for coupling pulse information from said signal processing circuitry to three digits of said display on a pulse by pulse basis to provide instantaneous pulse rate display;

means for storing the last "N" pulse rates detected;

means for averaging the last "N" pulse rates stored; and

means for coupling the average pulse rate to the last set of three digits of said display whereby the pulse rate average is displayed for the wearer.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display means comprise a pair of six digit decimal displays whereby time and pulse information may be simultaneously displayed for continuous comparison by the wearer.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pulse rate display is controlled and enabled by a single switch means whereby average and instantaneous pulse rate values are simultaneously displayed.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein "N" is four.

5. A combined digital watch and pulse rate meter comprising:

a case having an upper and a lower face;

the upper face including digital display means for displaying time information;

said display means including means for displaying six digits of pulse information;

a timing signal generator within said case;

timing circuitry coupled to said timing signal generator for deriving fraction of seconds, seconds and minutes information;

means for displaying said time information on said display;

a transducer on the inner face of said case positionable in pulse sensing relationship with the wearer;

said transducer coupled to signal processing circuitry for deriving the pulse rate of the wearer;

said signal processing circuitry coupled to said timing signal generator to provide a time base for pulse measurement accuracy equal to the accuracy of the time signal;

means for coupling pulse information from said signal processing circuitry to three digits of said display on a pulse by pulse basis to provide instantaneous pulse rate display;

means for storing the last "N" pulse rates detected;

means for averaging the last "N" pulse rates stored;

means for coupling the average pulse rate to the last set of three digits of said display whereby the pulse rate average is displayed for the wearer;

wherein said signal transducer comprises a light source having a frequency distribution including the 900 nanometer range positioned at a central location in the rear face of the case;

photodetector means positioned radially around said light emitting source;

first light obstructing means preventing direct illumination of said photo detector means by said light source;

second light obstructing means shielding said photo detector means from external sources when the lower face of said case is maintained in contact with the skin of the wearer;

wherein said first and second light obstructing means comprise a pair of annular rings extending above the surface of the lower face of said case whereby said rings are in contact with the skin of the wearer and light transmission to said detector is limited to light emanating from the skin of the wearer.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said light detector comprises a continuous ring detector located between the first and second light obstructing rings.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said light detector comprises a photo diode.

9. A pulse rate meter to be worn by a user comprising;

A case;

means holding one side of said case against the wearers body;

said case enclosing

(a) a timing signal source;

(b) a sensor in pulse sensing relationship with the wearer for producing an electrical signal for each pulse of the user;

(c) means for converting the pulse rate of the user into a train of timing signals, the number of which define the pulse period for each pulse period of the user;

(d) two counting means;

(e) means coupling trains of timing signals in alternate sequential order to said two counting means;

(f) a register;

(g) control means for alternately introducing the count of said two counting means into said register and for resetting said counting means;

(h) means for converting the count from said register into the wearer'"'"'s pulse rate;

(i) a display means on an outer wall of said case;

(j) means for applying the output of said converting means to said display to display the user'"'"'s pulse rate for the last pulse;

(k) means for storing "N" signals representative of "N" pulse rates measured;

(l) means for averaging said "N" pulse rates measured; and

(m) means for applying the output of said averaging means to said display means whereby both the instantaneous and average pulse rates are available to the user by observation of the display on said case wall.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein said display includes sufficient digits to display both average and instantaneous pulse rates simultaneously and said instantaneous and average pulse rates are applied simultaneously thereto.

11. The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein said number "N" is four.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 9 including "N" storage registers coupled to said converting means in service whereby each of the last "N" pulse rates is stored in sequence, said averaging means operative to average the last "N" pulse rates and whereby a running average of "N" pulse rates is displayed.

13. The combination in accordance with claim 9 including clock means for timing seconds, minutes and hours;

said display means coupled to said clock means including means for displaying seconds, minutes and hours as determined by said clock means;

said pulse meter and clock means both employing said timing signal source.

14. The combination in accordance with claim 9 including an elapsed time measuring circuit;

said display means coupled to said elapsed time measuring circuit;

said pulse meter and elapsed time measuring circuit both employing said timing signal source.

15. An improved pulse rate meter comprising:

a housing including an upper face and a lower face;

display means on said upper face for displaying pulse rate information;

sensor means on said lower face for sensing the wearer'"'"'s pulse rate;

means securing said housing to the wearer with the lower face in contact with the wearer'"'"'s skin;

said sensor means comprising a source of radiant energy;

at least one radiant energy detector laterally displaced on said lower face of said housing from said source of radiant energy;

means on said lower face for blocking direct radiation from said source of radiant energy to said detector;

second means on said lower means for blocking radiant energy to said detector from said radiant energy source except that reradiating from the skin of the wearer;

wherein said first and second radiant energy blocking means comprises a pair of concentric raised bosses on the lower face of said housing.