Portable biometric monitoring devices and methods of operating same

• US 9,603,524 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Park, James, Brumback, Christine Boomer, Knight, David Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US14/073,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.52, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.22, 340/573.1, 713/186
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• 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 5/4809 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 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to portable biometric monitoring device including a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user'"'"'s body, at least one band to secure the monitoring device to the user, a physiological sensor, disposed in the housing, to generate data which is representative of a physiological condition of the user data. The physiological sensor may include a light source to generate and output light having at least a first wavelength, and a photodetector to detect scattered light (e.g., from the user). A light pipe is disposed in the housing and optically coupled to the light source directs/transmits light therefrom along a predetermined path to an outer surface of the housing. Processing circuitry calculates a heart rate of the user using data which is representative of the scattered light.

Claims

1. A biometric monitoring apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

memory;

one or more biometric sensors comprising a motion sensor;

an interface for communicating with an external device; and

an element configured to present information on the biometric monitoring apparatus,

wherein the memory, the one or more processors, the one or more biometric sensors, and the element configured to present information are communicatively connected with one another, and

wherein the memory and one or more processors are configured to;

receive external data about a phone call or a text message addressed to a user from the external device;

obtain motion data using the motion sensor of the biometric monitoring apparatus, wherein the motion data are indicative of physical movements or physical states of the user;

analyze the motion data to determine that one or more criteria for presenting the external data about the phone call or the text message have been met; and

present, based at least partly on determining that the one or more criteria have been met, to the user the external data about the phone call or the text message via the element configured to present information on the biometric monitoring apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external data comprises information about an incoming phone call on the external device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and one or more processors are further configured to receive an email message from the external device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external data comprises a text message.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and one or more processors are further configured to receive a calendar notification from the external device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and one or more processors are further configured to receive a location detected for the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and one or more processors are further configured to receive from the external device cues to train the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external data comprises an alert to the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and one or more processors are further configured to receive, from the external device, Internet content.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the Internet content comprises social media content.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the Internet content comprises information from a periodical.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the Internet content comprises coaching advice for the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the Internet content comprises weather information.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external device is a smart phone, a tablet or a computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more biometric sensors comprises an optical sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element configured to present information is configured to present the information by sound, by motion, and/or visually.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be worn by the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus comprises a band designed to be worn around a wrist or ankle or wherein the apparatus is configured to be worn in a clip mounted to an article of clothing.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a watch.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and one or more processors are configured to:

detect proximity between the apparatus and the external device; and

in response, trigger launching of an application on the external device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface for communicating with an external device is configured to communicate via Bluetooth, ANT, WLAN, power-line networking, and/or a cell phone network.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to vibrate the apparatus to alert the user of the phone call or the text message.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory and the one or more processors are further configured to:

measure or calculate a physiological metric from sensor data obtained from the one or more biometric sensors;

determine that a goal achievement for the physiological metric has been reached; and

vibrate the apparatus to alert the user of the goal achievement.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the memory and the one or more processors are further configured to cause the vibration from the goal achievement based on priority, the priority being assigned to the goal achievement.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein an activity amount for the goal achievement is user-defined through the external device.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the priority assigned to the communication is user-defined through the external device.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element configured to present information comprises a visual display device, the memory and the one or more processors are further configured to:

based on a determination that the user moved their wrist in a manner that is similar to that performed when viewing a watch, present the external data to the user of the apparatus via the visual display device.

29. A biometric monitoring apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

memory;

one or more biometric sensors;

an interface for communicating with an external device; and

an element configured to present information on the biometric monitoring apparatus,

wherein the memory, the one or more processors, the one or more biometric sensors, and the element configured to present information are communicatively connected with one another, and

wherein the memory and one or more processors are configured to;

receive external data about a phone call or a text message addressed to a user from the external device;

obtain biometric information provided by one or more biometric sensors of the biometric monitoring apparatus, wherein the biometric information is indicative of physical movements or physical states of the user;

analyze the biometric information to determine that one or more criteria for presenting the external data about the phone call or the text message have been met; and

present, based at least partly on determining that the one or more criteria have been met, to the user the external data about the phone call or the text message via the element configured to present information on the biometric monitoring apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the biometric information comprises information regarding:

activity, motion, heart rate, SpO2, respiration, stress, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood glucose levels, blood volume, body temperature, body position, falling, stress, and/or muscle tension.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:

the one or more biometric sensors comprise one or more motion sensors;

the element configured to present information on the apparatus comprises a visual display device; and

the memory and one or more processors are configured to;

analyze motion data provided by the one or more motion sensors of the apparatus to determine that the user moves a wrist wearing the apparatus in a manner similar to that performed when viewing a watch; and

present, based at least partly on determining that the user moves the wrist in said manner, the external data or information derived therefrom to the user via the visual display device.