Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same

• US 8,463,576 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• 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:
  US13/667,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 702/160, 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/160
• 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 adapted to couple to a body of a user, comprising a housing having a physical size/shape that is adapted to couple to the user'"'"'s body, an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude of the user and to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user, and processing circuitry to calculate: (i) a number or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and (ii) a state of an avatar using the data which is representative of the number or flights of stairs traversed by the user. The device also includes a display to output data which is representative of the state of the avatar.

Claims

1. A portable activity monitoring device adapted to couple to a body 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, to generate data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the altitude sensor, to calculate;

a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

a state of an avatar using the data which is representative of the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, wherein the avatar is (i) digital representation of a pet or physical object, (ii) a graphical representation of the user or alter ego thereof, and/or (iii) a game character; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of the state of the avatar.

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

the altitude sensor, samples an altitude of the user in response to a sample signal, wherein, in response, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

the processing circuitry generates the sample signal using the data which is representative of motion of the user.

3. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the display further outputs data of a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

4. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry calculates the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs using (i) data which is representative of a change in altitude per step and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude for a given time period.

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

the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs by calculating a change in altitude over one or more steps of the user using (i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user.

6. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step being within or exceeding a first threshold range and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period being within or exceeding a second threshold range.

7. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs based on evaluating (i) a change in altitude in relation to a first threshold, and (ii) a change in altitude of the user per step in relation to a second threshold range and (iii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period in relation to a third threshold range.

8. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the state of the avatar is representative of a physical appearance of the avatar on the display.

9. A portable activity monitoring device adapted to couple to a body 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, to sample an altitude of the user in response to an altitude sample signal, wherein, in response, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the altitude sensor, to;

calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

calculate a state of an avatar using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, wherein the avatar is (i) digital representation of a pet or physical object, (ii) a graphical representation of the user or alter ego thereof, and/or (iii) a game character; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of the state of the avatar.

10. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry generates the altitude sample signal in response to detecting a motion event using the data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein the motion event is a step by the user.

11. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 10 wherein the processing circuitry detects a motion event in response to determining a step by the user.

12. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry generates the altitude sample signal in response to detecting a motion event or after a predetermined period of time.

13. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry correlates data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user to a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

14. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry calculates the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs using (i) data which is representative of a change in altitude per step and (ii) data which is representative of a change in height for a given time period.

15. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 further including a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, wherein:

the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs by calculating a change in altitude over one or more steps of the user using (i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user.

16. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step exceeding a first threshold and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period exceeding a second threshold.

17. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step being within a first threshold range and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period being within a second threshold range.

18. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs or flights of stairs based on evaluating (i) a change in altitude in relation to a threshold, (ii) a change in altitude of the user per step in relation to a first threshold range and (iii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period in relation to a second threshold range.

19. A portable activity monitoring device adapted to couple to a body 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, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user;

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

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to calculate;

a calorie burn of the user using (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

a state of an avatar using the data which is representative of the calorie burn of the user, wherein the avatar is (i) digital representation of a pet or physical object, (ii) a graphical representation of the user or alter ego thereof, and/or (iii) a game character; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of the state of the avatar.

20. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein:

the altitude sensor, samples an altitude of the user in response to a sample signal, wherein, in response, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

the processing circuitry generates the sample signal using the data which is representative of motion of the user.

21. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the state of the avatar is representative of a physical appearance of the avatar.

22. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry calculates data which is representative of a number of steps traversed by the user using the data which is representative of motion of the user and wherein the display further outputs data which is representative of the number of steps traversed by the user.

23. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry correlates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user to a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user and wherein the display further outputs data of the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

24. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein:

the altitude sensor samples an altitude of the user in response to a sample signal, wherein, in response, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

the processing circuitry generates the sample signal in response to detecting a motion event.

25. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 24 wherein the motion event is a step by the user.

26. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein:

the motion sensor samples the motion of the user at a predetermined rate,

the altitude sensor samples an altitude of the user in response to a sample signal, wherein, in response, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and

the processing circuitry generates the sample signal in response to detecting a motion event using the data which is representative of motion of the user.

27. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry correlates data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user to a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user.

28. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate one or more metrics corresponding to 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 sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the sensor, to calculate;

a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the sensor data, and

a state of an avatar using the data which is representative of the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, wherein the avatar is (i) digital representation of a pet or physical object, (ii) a graphical representation of the user or alter ego thereof, and/or (iii) a game character; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of the state of the avatar.

29. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 28 further including:

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

wherein the sensor data is data which is representative of or a change in altitude of the user and the processing circuitry calculates a number of steps taken by the user using the second sensor data.

30. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 28 wherein the sensor is an altitude sensor and the sensor data is a change in altitude data.