Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same

• US 9,113,823 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• 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:
  US14/448,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 comprising a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user'"'"'s body, a plurality of sensors (for example, motion sensor and altitude sensor) disposed in the housing. The monitoring device may further include processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensor, to calculate the activity points corresponding to the physical activity of the user using the sensor data, wherein the activity points correlate to an amount and intensity of the physical activity of the user, and output the data which is representative of the activity points. The monitoring device may also include a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, may output the data which is representative of the activity points to the user.

Claims

1. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate activity points of a user corresponding to physical activity of the 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, disposed in the housing, configured to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user, wherein the plurality of sensors includes an altitude sensor configured to generate altitude data which is representative of an amount of altitude change of the user and a heart rate sensor configured to generate heart rate data which is representative of a heart rate of the user;

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

calculate the activity points of the user using the sensor data, wherein the activity points are based, at least in part, on at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of;

metabolic equivalent units (MET) of the user, a parameter based on the altitude data, and a parameter based on the heart rate data; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, configured to output the data which is representative of the activity points to the user.

2. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate, based on or using the activity points, at least one summary statistic, wherein the summary statistic is selected from the group consisting of:

a state of an avatar, a badge, and an activity grade.

3. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors further include one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of:

a motion sensor and a physiological sensor.

4. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the activity points are calculated, at least in part, based on the MET of the user, the altitude data, and the heart rate data.

5. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the activity points are calculated, at least in part, by summing at least two of the parameters selected from the group consisting of:

the MET of the user, the parameter based on the altitude data, and the parameter based on the heart rate data.

6. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the activity points are calculated, at least in part, from the MET of the user and the parameter based on the heart rate data.

7. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

data which is representative of user speed, data which is representative of user step frequency, data which is representative of user step count, and data which is representative of a number of flights of stairs traversed by the user.

8. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the activity points are calculated, at least in part, using the parameter based on the altitude and the parameter based on the heart rate data.

9. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the parameter based on the altitude data is indicative of a change in the altitude of the user.

10. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the heart rate data is indicative of a difference between a current heart rate of the user and a nominal at-rest heart rate of the user.

11. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the activity points are calculated, at least in part, by multiplying one or more of the parameters by a parameter constant before summing the parameters.

12. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate activity points of a user corresponding to physical activity of the 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 heart rate sensor configured to generate heart rate data which is representative of a heart rate of the user;

at least one sensor, disposed in the housing, configured to generate sensor data which is representative of ambulatory activity of the user;

an altitude sensor configured to generate altitude data which is representative of an amount of altitude change of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the heart rate sensor, the altitude sensor, and the at least one sensor, and configured to;

calculate the activity points of the user using the sensor data, wherein the activity points are calculated based, at least in part, on at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of;

metabolic equivalent units (MET) of the user, a parameter based on altitude data of the user generated by the altitude sensor, and a parameter based on the heart rate data; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, configured to output data which is representative of the activity points to the user.

13. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate, based on or using the activity points corresponding to the physical activity of the user, at least one summary statistic, wherein the summary statistic is selected from the group consisting of:

a state of an avatar, a badge, and an activity grade.

14. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the sensor data includes data representative of a change in elevation of the user.

15. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the activity points are further based, at least in part, on changes in altitude of the user.

16. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the activity points are further based, at least in part, on (i) changes in altitude of the user and (ii) at least one metric, the at least one metric selected from the group consisting of:

user speed, user step frequency, user energy expenditure, and user heart rate.

17. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the activity points are further based, at least in part, on (i) changes in altitude of the user or (ii) at least one metric, the at least one metric selected from the group consisting of:

user speed, user step frequency, and user calorie burn.

18. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate activity points of a user corresponding to physical activity of the 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, configured to generate motion data which is representative of motion of the user;

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

a heart rate sensor configured to generate heart rate data which is representative of a heart rate of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the motion sensor, the altitude sensor, and the heart rate sensor, configured to;

calculate the activity points of the user using the data from at least the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, wherein the activity points are based, at least in part, on at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of;

metabolic equivalent units MET), a parameter based on the altitude data, a parameter based on the heart rate data, and a parameter based on the motion data; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, configured to output data which is representative of the activity points to the user.

19. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, further including a physiological sensor, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the processing circuitry, configured to generate data which is representative of physiological information of the user.

20. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate a physiological condition of the user using the data which is representative of physiological information of the user, the physiological condition selected from the group consisting of:

user blood pressure, user respiration rate, user skin conduction, user blood glucose levels, user blood oxygenation, user skin temperature, user body temperature, user electromyography, and user electroencephalography.

21. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the activity points based, at least in part, on (i) changes in altitude of the user and (ii) at least one metric, the at least one metric selected from the group consisting of:

user speed, user step frequency, user calorie burn, user energy expenditure, and user heart rate.

22. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the activity points based, at least in part, on (i) changes in altitude of the user and (ii) at least one metric, the at least one metric selected from the group consisting of:

user speed, user step frequency, and user calorie burn.

23. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, wherein activity points are based, at least in part, on (i) changes in altitude of the user and (ii) at least one metric, the at least one metric selected from the group consisting of:

user speed, user step frequency, user surface grade, user stair steps, user calorie burn, user energy expenditure, and user heart rate.

24. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate, based on or using the activity points, at least one summary statistic, wherein the summary statistic is selected from the group consisting of:

a state of an avatar, a badge, and an activity grade.

25. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 18, wherein the portable activity monitoring device further includes a user interface and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to (i) detect one or more user inputs to the user interface using data generated by the motion sensor, and (ii) output data which is representative of the activity points in response to detecting the one or more user inputs to the user interface.

26. A portable activity monitoring device to calculate activity points of a user corresponding to physical activity of the 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, disposed in the housing, configured to generate sensor data which is representative of activity of the user;

wherein the plurality of sensors includes an altitude sensor configured to generate altitude data which is representative of an amount of altitude change of the user and a heart rate sensor configured to generate heart rate data which is representative of a heart rate of the user;

processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensor, configured to;

calculate the activity points of the user using the sensor data, wherein the activity points are based, at least in part, on at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of;

metabolic equivalent units (MET) of the user;

a parameter based on the altitude data, a parameter based on the heart rate data, and a parameter based on an amount and intensity of the physical activity of the user; and

a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, configured to output data which is representative of the activity points to the user.

27. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the portable activity monitoring device further includes a user interface and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to (i) detect one or more user inputs to the user interface using data generated by a motion sensor in the plurality of sensors, and (ii) output data which is representative of the activity points in response to detecting the one or more user inputs to the user interface.

28. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to calculate, based on or using the activity points corresponding to the physical activity of the user, at least one summary statistic, wherein the summary statistic is selected from the group consisting of:

a state of an avatar, a badge and an activity grade.

29. The portable activity monitoring device of claim 26, wherein the processing circuitry calculates the activity points based, at least in part, on (i) changes in altitude of the user and (ii) at least one metric, the at least one metric selected from the group consisting of:

user speed, user step frequency, and user calorie burn.