Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same

• US 8,463,577 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• 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:
  US13/674,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 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 having a physical size/shape that is adapted to couple to the user'"'"'s body, a plurality of sensors including: (i) an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude and to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude, and (ii) a first motion sensor to detect motion and to generate data which is representative of motion. A user interface having a display. Processing circuitry detects a user input using data from one or more of the plurality of sensors, and calculates data which is representative of a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of the change in altitude.

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;

a plurality of sensors including;

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

a first motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect motion and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion;

a user interface, disposed in the housing, including a display; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of sensors and the user interface, to;

detect a user input to the user interface using data from one or more of the plurality of sensors, wherein, in response to the user input, the processing circuitry outputs data to the display, and

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

2. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry detects the user input to the user interface using data from the first motion sensor.

3. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2 wherein, in response to the user input, the processing circuitry outputs data which is representative of the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user to the display.

4. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2 wherein the processing circuitry detects the user input by determining whether changes in orientation of the portable activity monitoring device correspond to an input gesture of the user to the user interface.

5. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2 wherein the processing circuitry detects the user input to the user interface by determining whether the data from one or more of the plurality of sensors corresponds to one or more predetermined ambulatory motions of the user.

6. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 5 wherein the predetermined motions of the user are representative of walking, running or jumping.

7. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2 wherein the processing circuitry, in response to determining the motion data from the first motion sensor is representative of ambulatory motion of the user, calculates data which is representative of a number of steps traversed by the user using the motion data from the first motion sensor.

8. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2 wherein:

the first motion sensor is at least one accelerometer, magnetic compass or gyroscope, and

the processing circuitry navigates a menu system of the portable activity monitoring device in response to detecting the user input to the user interface.

9. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 2 wherein:

the plurality of sensors further includes a second motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect motion of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user,

the processing circuitry is coupled to the second motion sensor and calculates data which is representative of a number of steps traversed by the user using the data which is representative of the motion of the user.

10. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry detects the user input by determining whether the data from the first motion sensor corresponds to an input gesture of the user and wherein the input gesture of the user is a tap on the portable activity monitoring device.

11. 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 plurality of sensors including;

one or more motion sensors, disposed in the housing, to detect motion and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion;

a user interface, disposed in the housing, including a display; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of sensors and the user interface, to;

detect one or more user inputs to the user interface using data from at least one of the motion sensors,

calculate, using the data which is representative of motion from at least one of the motion sensors, data which is representative of;

(i) a number of steps traversed by the user and/or (ii) a calorie burn of the user, and

navigate a menu system of the portable activity monitoring device in response to detecting the one or more user inputs to the user interface.

12. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 11 wherein:

the plurality of sensors further includes an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate data which is representative of a change in altitude, and

the processing circuitry further calculates an altitude metric using the data which is representative of the change in altitude.

13. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 12 wherein the processing circuitry calculates the altitude metric 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, or

(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.

14. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 11 wherein:

the processing circuitry calculates data which is representative of a number of swim strokes and/or swim kicks, swim strokes per lap, swim lap time, swim pace and/or swim distance, and

the display outputs data which is representative of the number of swim strokes and/or swim kicks, swim strokes per lap, swim lap time, swim pace and/or swim distance in response to a user input of the one or more user inputs.

15. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry detects the one or more user inputs by determining whether the data from at least one of the motion sensors corresponds to one or more input gestures of the user to the user interface.

16. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 15 wherein the one or more input gestures of the user is a flick of the portable activity monitoring device.

17. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 15 wherein the one or more input gestures of the user is a tap on the portable activity monitoring device.

18. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 15 wherein the one or more input gestures of the user are changes in orientation of the portable activity monitoring device.

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 plurality of sensors including;

a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect motion and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion;

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

a user interface, disposed in the housing, including a display, wherein, in response to a user input, the display outputs data; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of sensors, to;

detect the user input to the user interface based on the data which is representative of motion,

calculate data which is representative of a number of steps traversed by the user using the data which is representative of the motion, and

calculate data which is representative of an altitude metric using the data which is representative of a change in altitude.

20. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry calculates data which is representative of a number of swim strokes and/or swim kicks, swim strokes per lap, swim lap time, swim pace and/or swim distance.

21. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry detects the user input to the user interface by determining whether the data which is representative of motion corresponds to an input gesture of the user and wherein the input gesture of the user is a change in orientation of the portable activity monitoring device.

22. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry detects the user input to the user interface by determining whether the data which is representative of motion corresponds to an input gesture of the user and wherein the input gesture of the user is a tap on the portable activity monitoring device.

23. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry:

detects the user input to the user interface based on the data output by at least one accelerometer, magnetic compass or gyroscope, and

the processing circuitry navigates a menu system of the portable activity monitoring device in response to detecting the user input.

24. 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 plurality of sensors including;

one or more motion sensors, disposed in the housing, to detect motion and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion;

a user interface disposed in the housing; and

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of sensors, to;

detect one or more user inputs to the user interface using data from at least one of the motion sensors,

calculate data which is representative of a user activity metric using the data which is representative of the motion from at least one of the motion sensors, and

navigate a menu system of the portable activity monitoring device in response to detecting the one or more user inputs to the user interface.

25. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 24 wherein the processing circuitry detects the one or more user inputs by determining whether the data from at least one of the motion sensors corresponds to one or more input gestures of the user to the user interface.

26. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 25 wherein the one or more input gestures of the user is a flick of the portable activity monitoring device.

27. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 25 wherein the one or more input gestures of the user is a tap on the portable activity monitoring device.

28. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 25 wherein the one or more input gestures of the user is a change in orientation of the portable activity monitoring device.

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

the processing circuitry calculates data which is representative of calorie burn of the user using the data which is representative of motion; and

the user interface includes a display and wherein the display outputs data which is representative of calorie burn of the user in response to a user input of the one or more user inputs to the user interface.

30. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 24 wherein the user activity metric is a number of swim strokes and/or swim kicks, swim strokes per lap, swim lap time, swim pace and/or swim distance.