Abstract: In an example method, a mobile device obtains a signal indicating an acceleration measured by a sensor over a time period. The mobile device determines an impact experienced by the user based on the signal. The mobile device also determines, based on the signal, one or more first motion characteristics of the user during a time prior to the impact, and one or more second motion characteristics of the user during a time after the impact. The mobile device determines that the user has fallen based on the impact, the one or more first motion characteristics of the user, and the one or more second motion characteristics of the user, and in response, generates a notification indicating that the user has fallen.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining an energy expenditure of a user while practicing yoga are described. A heart rate sensing module can measure the user's heart rate. A temperature sensing module can measure ambient temperature. A motion sensing module can collect user's motion data. In some embodiments, a hot yoga session can be detected based on measured ambient temperature. In some embodiments, a yoga type can be detected based on the motion data. In some embodiments, an energy expenditure model can be applied based on the determined yoga type.

Abstract: A relationship relating a load of exercise and a user's aerobic capacity may be determined as follows. A processor circuit of a device may retrieve, from a memory, a prior probability distribution of the load of exercise and a prior probability distribution of the user's aerobic capacity. The processor circuit may compute a joint prior probability of the load of exercise and the user's aerobic capacity. The processor circuit may compute a joint likelihood of the load of exercise and the user's aerobic capacity based on data indicative of a measured time-stamped work rate and a measured time-stamped heart rate. The processor circuit may combine the joint prior probability and the joint likelihood to produce a joint posterior probability. The processor circuit may use the joint posterior probability to determine a relationship relating the load of exercise and the user's aerobic capacity and output a calorie calculation.

Abstract: Improved techniques and systems are disclosed for determining the components of resistance experienced by a wearer of a wearable device engaged in an activity such as bicycling or running. By monitoring data using the wearable device, improved estimates can be derived for various factors contributing to the resistance experienced by the user in the course of the activity. Using these improved estimates, data sampling rates may be reduced for some or all of the monitored data.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining an energy expenditure of a user by detecting unmeasurable loads using heart rate and work rate are described. Time-stamped heart rate data and work rate data can be collected by one or more sensing modules. A processor circuit can calculate a heart rate-based energy expenditure and a work rate-based energy expenditure. The processor circuit can output a hybrid energy expenditure based on a heart rate confidence parameter, an exercise type, a fraction of heart rate reserve, and a hear rate-based metabolic equivalents of task.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of detecting activity by a wheelchair user. In one aspect, a method comprises collecting motion data of a user device located on an appendage of the user; detecting, by a processor circuit, that one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred based on the motion data; calculating, by a processor circuit, an energy expenditure by the user based the one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred; and outputting, by a processor circuit, the energy expenditure estimation.

Abstract: Examples of image background removal using a multi-touch surface input are disclosed. One example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure may include a computing system to display an image on a display of the computing system and to project the image onto a multi-touch surface of the computing system, the multi-touch surface to receive a touch input. The computing system receives a foreground input on the multi-touch surface indicative of a foreground region within the image and a background input on the multi-touch surface indicative of a background region within the image. The computing system then removes the background region from the image based on the foreground input and the background input.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of detecting activity by a wheelchair user. In one aspect, a method comprises collecting motion data of a user device located on an appendage of the user; detecting, by a processor circuit, that one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred based on the motion data; calculating, by a processor circuit, an energy expenditure by the user based the one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred; and outputting, by a processor circuit, the energy expenditure estimation.

Abstract: Improved techniques and systems are disclosed for determining the components of resistance experienced by a wearer of a wearable device engaged in an activity such as bicycling or running. By monitoring data using the wearable device, improved estimates can be derived for various factors contributing to the resistance experienced by the user in the course of the activity. Using these improved estimates, data sampling rates may be reduced for some or all of the monitored data.

Abstract: In an example method, a mobile device obtains a signal indicating an acceleration measured by a sensor over a time period. The mobile device determines an impact experienced by the user based on the signal. The mobile device also determines, based on the signal, one or more first motion characteristics of the user during a time prior to the impact, and one or more second motion characteristics of the user during a time after the impact. The mobile device determines that the user has fallen based on the impact, the one or more first motion characteristics of the user, and the one or more second motion characteristics of the user, and in response, generates a notification indicating that the user has fallen.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of estimating energy expenditure of a user while swimming. A processor circuit of a user device can estimate a speed of the user based on a stroke rate and a stroke length. The processor circuit can estimate an efficiency of the user. The processor circuit can classify a swimming style of the user. The processor circuit can determine energy expenditure of the user based on the speed, the efficiency, and the style. The processor circuit can also detect glides of the user and adjust the energy expenditure.

Abstract: A two-stage power converter includes a dual-level driver to control a current conducted by a switch transistor in a charge pump to control the charging of a flying capacitor in the charge pump.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method including obtaining, by a fitness tracking device, a plurality of heart rate measurements of the user over a period of time, wherein the plurality of heart rate measurements can include heart rate data from a heart rate sensor of the fitness tracking device; analyzing, by the fitness tracking device, the plurality of heart rate measurements to determine a rate of change of a heart rate of the user during the period of time; determining, by the fitness tracking device, that the user is experiencing an onset phase if the rate of change of the heart rate during the period of time is greater than zero; determining, by the fitness tracking device, that the user is experiencing a cool-down phase if the rate of change of the heart rate during the period of time is less than zero; estimating, by the fitness tracking device, a first rate of energy expenditure of the user if the user is experiencing an onset phase using an onset calorimetry model; and estimating

Abstract: Power converters and method with reverse charge capability are presented. A power converter operates either in a buck mode for transferring electrical power from a first terminal of the power converter to a second terminal of the power converter, or in a boost mode for transferring electrical power from the second terminal of the power converter to the first terminal of the power converter. The power converter has several switching elements, a flying capacitor, an inductor, and a control unit. The switching elements couple the first terminal of the power converter and the flying capacitor, couple the first terminal of the flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, couple the first terminal of the inductor and a second terminal of the flying capacitor and couple the second terminal of the flying capacitor and a reference potential. The control unit controls the switching elements.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for indoor/outdoor detection using a mobile device, such as wearable computer (e.g., smartwatch). In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving, by one or more processors of a wearable computer, wireless access point (AP) scan data, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data and inertial sensor data; determining, by the one or more processors, a first state of the wearable computer based on the wireless AP scan data; determining, by the one or more processors, a second state of the wearable computer based on a comparison of the GNSS data and the inertial sensor data; and outputting, by the one or more processors, an indoor/outdoor signal indicating that the wearable computer is indoors or outdoors based on the first and second states.

Abstract: Ear buds may have optical proximity sensors and accelerometers. Control circuitry may analyze output from the optical proximity sensors and the accelerometers to identify a current operational state for the ear buds. The control circuitry may also analyze the accelerometer output to identify tap input such as double taps made by a user on ear bud housings. Samples in the accelerometer output may be analyzed to determine whether the samples associated with a tap have been clipped. If the samples have been clipped, a curve may be fit to the samples. Optical sensor data may be analyzed in conjunction with potential tap input data from the accelerometer. If the optical sensor data is ordered, a tap input may be confirmed. If the optical sensor data is disordered, the control circuitry can conclude that accelerometer data corresponds to false tap input associated with unintentional contact with the housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods of communicating with an unsupported input device to make an application interact with the unsupported input device are described herein. The method comprises obtaining, for the application to be subscribed to the unsupported input device, a mapping of each of a plurality of hotkeys with a corresponding function performed in the application. The method further comprises retrieving a list of universal identifiers, where each of the universal identifiers corresponds to an unsupported input of the unsupported input device. Also, each of the universal identifiers is tagged with a function to be performed in the application in response to the corresponding unsupported input. The method also includes generating a configuration map for the application. The configuration map comprises a mapping of at least one universal identifier, from amongst the list of universal identifiers, with at least one of the plurality of hotkeys.

Abstract: Ear buds may have optical proximity sensors and accelerometers. Control circuitry may analyze output from the optical proximity sensors and the accelerometers to identify a current operational state for the ear buds. The control circuitry may also analyze the accelerometer output to identify tap input such as double taps made by a user on ear bud housings. Samples in the accelerometer output may be analyzed to determine whether the samples associated with a tap have been clipped. If the samples have been clipped, a curve may be fit to the samples. Optical sensor data may be analyzed in conjunction with potential tap input data from the accelerometer. If the optical sensor data is ordered, a tap input may be confirmed. If the optical sensor data is disordered, the control circuitry can conclude that accelerometer data corresponds to false tap input associated with unintentional contact with the housing.

Abstract: In an example method, a mobile device obtains a signal indicating an acceleration measured by a sensor over a time period. The mobile device determines an impact experienced by the user based on the signal. The mobile device also determines, based on the signal, one or more first motion characteristics of the user during a time prior to the impact, and one or more second motion characteristics of the user during a time after the impact. The mobile device determines that the user has fallen based on the impact, the one or more first motion characteristics of the user, and the one or more second motion characteristics of the user, and in response, generates a notification indicating that the user has fallen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking physiological states and parameters for calorie estimation. A start of an exercise session associated with a user of a wearable computing device is determined. Heart rate data is measured for a first period of time. An onset heart rate value of the user is determined based on the measured heart rate data, the onset heart rate value associated with a lowest valid heart rate measured during the first period of time. A resting heart rate parameter (RHR) of a calorimetry model is associated with at least one of the onset heart rate value, a preset RHR, and an RHR based on user biometric data. Energy expenditure of the user during a second period of time is estimated based on the calorimetry model and a plurality of heart rate measurements obtained by the wearable computing device during the second period of time.