Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot

• US 6,882,955 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fitsense Technology Incorporated (Fitlinxx Incorporated)
• Inventors: Darley, Jesse, Ohlenbusch, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US09/643,195
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 702/160, 702/176, 702/144, 702/150, 702/141, 702/142, 324/160, 735/97, 482/74, 482/901, 482/3, 482/44, 482/51
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

In one embodiment, a display unit to be mounted on a wrist of a user includes a display screen, a base, and at least one strap. The display unit is configured such that, when it is worn by the user, the display screen is oriented at an angle with respect to a surface of the user'"'"'s wrist. In another embodiment, visually-perceptible information indicative of determined values of the instantaneous pace of a user and the average pace of the user are displayed, simultaneously. In another embodiment, visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user are displayed, simultaneously.

Claims

1. A display unit to be mounted on a wrist of a user, comprising:

a display screen to visually display characters, the display screen having a top edge and a bottom edge corresponding, respectively, to tops and bottoms of the characters displayed on the display screen;

a base supporting the display screen and housing electronic circuitry associated with the display screen; and

at least one strap attached to the base and adapted to secure the base to the wrist of the user;

wherein the base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the top edge of the display screen is disposed a first distance away from an outer surface of the user'"'"'s wrist as determined along a first line oriented normal to the outer surface of the user'"'"'s wrist and passing through the top edge of the display screen, and the bottom edge of the display screen is disposed a second distance away from an outer surface of the user'"'"'s wrist as determined along a second line oriented normal to the outer surface of the user'"'"'s wrist and passing through the bottom edge of the display screen, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

2. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the first distance is at least five percent greater than the second distance.

3. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the first distance is at least ten percent greater than the second distance.

4. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the first distance is at least twenty five percent greater than the second distance.

5. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the first distance is at least fifty percent greater than the second distance.

6. The display unit of claim 1, wherein the base is configured and arranged such that, when the base is secured to the wrist of the user with the at least one strap, the first distance is at least twice as great as the second distance.

7. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining respective values of at least an instantaneous pace of the user and an average pace of the user; and

(b) displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the instantaneous pace of the user and the average pace of the user, simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the step (a) comprises determining a value of a distance traveled by the user; and

the step (b) comprises displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the instantaneous pace of the user, the average pace of the user, and the distance traveled by the user, simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step (b) includes a step of:

(b1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the at least one device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the step (a) includes a step of (a1) determining the respective values of the instantaneous pace of the user and the average pace of the user with the first device; and

the step (b) includes a step of (b1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the second device.

11. A method, comprising steps of:

(a) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining a value of at least one variable physiological parameter of the user;

(b) with the at least one device, determining a value of at least one performance parameter of the user; and

(c) displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user, simultaneously.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user includes a heart rate of the user; and

the at least one performance parameter of the user comprises one or more of an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter includes the average pace of the user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter includes the instantaneous pace of the user.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter includes the average speed of the user.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter includes the instantaneous speed of the user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter includes the distance traveled by the user.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the step (c) includes a step of:

(c1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the at least one device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one device includes at least first, second, and third separate devices, and wherein:

the step (a) includes a step of (a1) determining the value of the heart rate of the user with the first device;

the step (b) includes a step of (b1) determining the value of the at least one performance parameter with the second device; and

the step (c) includes a step of (c1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the third device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of:

(d) attaching the third device to a wrist of the user.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the step (c) includes a step of:

(c1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the at least one device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one device includes at least first, second, and third separate devices, and wherein:

the step (a) includes a step of (a1) determining the value of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user with the first device;

the step (b) includes a step of (b1) determining the value of the at least one performance parameter of the user with the second device; and

the step (c) includes a step of (c1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the third device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising a step of:

(d) attaching the third device to a wrist of the user.

24. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the step (a) includes a step of (a1) determining the value of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user with the first device; and

the step (b) includes a step of (b1) determining the value of the at least one performance parameter of the user with the second device.

25. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the step (a) includes a step of (a1) determining the value of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user with the first device; and

the step (c) includes a step of (c1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the second device.

26. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the step (b) includes a step of (b1) determining the value of the at least one performance parameter of the user with the first device; and

the step (c) includes a step of (c1) displaying the visually-perceptible information with the second device.

27. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user includes a heart rate of the user.

28. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user comprises one or more of an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user.

29. A system, comprising:

at least one device adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, the at least one device including at least one sensor to determine respective values of at least an instantaneous pace of the user and an average pace of the user, the at least one device further comprising a display configured to display visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the instantaneous pace of the user and the average pace of the user, simultaneously.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one device is further configured to determine a value of a distance traveled by the user, and the display is configured to display visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the instantaneous pace of the user, the average pace of the user, and the distance traveled by the user, simultaneously.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the at least one sensor is included in the first device; and

the display is included in the second device.

32. A system, comprising:

at least one device adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, the at least one device including a first sensor to determine a value of at least one variable physiological parameter of the user, a second sensor to determine a value of at least one performance parameter of the user, and a display configured to display visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user, simultaneously.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein:

the first sensor includes a heart rate monitor; and

the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor comprises one of more of an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor includes the average pace of the user.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor includes the instantaneous pace of the user.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor includes the average speed of the user.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor includes the instantaneous speed of the user.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor includes the distance traveled by the user.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one device includes at least first, second, and third separate devices, and wherein:

the heart rate monitor is included in the first device;

the second sensor is included in the second device; and

the display is included in the third device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the third device is adapted to be attached to a wrist of the user.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one device includes at least first, second, and third separate devices, and wherein:

the first sensor is included in the first device;

the second sensor is included in the second device; and

the display is included in the third device.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the third device is adapted to be attached to a wrist of the user.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the first sensor is included in the first device; and

the second sensor is included in the second device.

44. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the first sensor is included in the first device; and

the display is included in the second device.

45. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one device includes at least first and second separate devices, and wherein:

the second sensor is included in the first device; and

the display is included in the second device.

46. The system of claim 32, wherein the first sensor includes a heart rate monitor.

47. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user that is determined by the second sensor comprises one or more of an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user.

48. A system, comprising:

means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining respective values of at least an instantaneous pace of the user and an average pace of the user; and

means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the instantaneous pace of the user and the average pace of the user, simultaneously.

49. A system, comprising:

first means, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a value of at least one variable physiological parameter of a user;

second means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for determining a value of at least one performance parameter of the user; and

third means, adapted to be supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, for displaying visually-perceptible information indicative of the determined values of the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user and the at least one performance parameter of the user, simultaneously.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the at least one variable physiological parameter of the user determined by the second means includes a heart rate of the user.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user determined by the third means comprises one or more of an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the at least one performance parameter of the user determined by the third means comprises one or more of an instantaneous pace of the user, an average pace of the user, an instantaneous speed of the user, an average speed of the user, and a distance traveled by the user.