Patents by Inventor Kimmo Pernu

Kimmo Pernu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11944441
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an electro-mechanic assembly comprising a snap connector. In order to provide a connection interface for an electronic device having a housing with at least one protruding stud which detachably fits within a socket region of the snap connector, the electro-mechanic assembly comprises a snap and at least one material layer being in at least one portion electrically conductive to electrically connect least one electrode with the snap. At least one surface of said snap is metallic and deposited with a non-oxidizing conductive material layer which faces and is in contact with a conductive portion of the material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tuomo Nousiainen
  • Patent number: 11856342
    Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement and a method for configuring equipment for personal performance monitoring comprising at least one carrier item having a mounting zone for receiving a communication module, one or more sensors and/or actuators and a first processing unit functionally connected to said mounting zone and said sensors and/or actuators. The first processing unit is configured to process sensor signals from the sensors and/or actuators and to communicate with a communication module that is mounted on the mounting zone of the carrier item and having a second processing unit configured to further process said sensor/actuator signals and to communicate processed signals to a remote device over a wireless communication protocol. A remote device is adapted to provide a predefined code to configure the equipment to process sensor or actuator signals according to a use of said carrier item as identified by said predefined code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Kimmo Pernu, Erik Lindman, Terho Lahtinen
  • Patent number: 11766214
    Abstract: The invention concerns wearable electronic devices, systems and methods for sports performance monitoring. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a heartbeat sensor for providing a heartbeat signal, a motion sensor for providing a motion signal and processing means adapted to calculate at least one performance parameter depicting said sports performance and/or the person using temporal characteristics of periodic features of the heartbeat signal compared with temporal characteristics of periodic features in the motion signal. The invention allows for utilization of an existing relation between cadence and heart rate for characterizing the performance or the person in a novel way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Heikki Nieminen, Kimmo Pernu, Olli-Pekka Ojanen, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 11457865
    Abstract: The invention relates to wearable electronic equipment and method for measuring heart rate or muscular activity of a person. The equipment comprises one or more heartbeat or muscular activity sensors for providing a heartbeat or muscular activity signal, respectively, and a motion sensor for providing a motion signal corresponding to movement of the person. In addition, there are provided processing means for detecting from the heartbeat or muscular activity signal first events corresponding to individual heartbeats or muscle activations, respectively, and from the motion signal second events corresponding to movement changes stronger than a predefined threshold. The processing means are further programmed to form a first time series of said first events, and to determine the heartbeat or muscular activity parameter using the first time series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Heikki Nieminen, Kimmo Pernu, Olli-Pekka Ojanen, Erik Lindman
  • Publication number: 20220192571
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female snap connector with a base and a cap which opposes the base and forms a depth for the snap connector. The female snap connector further includes a socket that is formed into the cap for receiving the stud of a co-operational male snap connector. The base material of the female snap connector is or comprises a conductive polymer. The socket is set to deform elastically for complying to the passage of the complementary shape of the stud within the socket during insertion and removal of the stud in the depth dimension of the female snap connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Kimmo Pernu
  • Publication number: 20220095749
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a strap for a wearable electronic device. The strap features two mutually superposed layers of a strip having microfiber base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Britta Stockinger, Jere Lallo, Jouni Junes, Atte Kuparinen, Kimmo Pernu
  • Patent number: 11109804
    Abstract: The invention concerns wearable electronic devices, systems and methods for sports performance monitoring. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a heartbeat sensor for providing a heartbeat signal, a motion sensor for providing a motion signal and processing means adapted to calculate at least one performance parameter depicting said sports performance and/or the person using temporal characteristics of periodic features of the heartbeat signal compared with temporal characteristics of periodic features in the motion signal. The invention allows for utilization of an existing relation between cadence and heart rate for characterizing the performance or the person in a novel way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Amer Sports Digital Services Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Heikki Nieminen, Kimmo Pernu, Olli-Pekka Ojanen, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 11058338
    Abstract: An electronic device having a housing and at least one male connection portion for detachably connecting the electronic device to a female snap. The male connection portion having a stud with a male head portion capable of fitting within a socket region of a snap. The male head portion having a terminal end which is the terminal end of the stud and a second end which separates the male head portion from a mid-portion, and an end portion opposite the male head portion. The end portion has a terminal end which is second terminal end of the stud. A mid-portion is between the male head portion and the end portion. The stud is in electrical contact with an electronic component of the electronic device, and the head portion has a centered cavity open at the terminal end of the male head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tapio Selby, Ossi Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 10772518
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for heart rate monitoring of an object, the system comprising means for measuring heart beats of the object with a first unit at a first sampling rate, determining a heart rate, determining a time difference between consecutive heart beats, determining a time of each heart beat, or determining at least a part of a wave form of a heart beat signal, wherein the first unit includes further means for changing the sampling rate as a response to the determined information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Mikko Martikka, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 10750997
    Abstract: Described herein is a biometric sensor package. In particular, a biometric sensor package for integration with a garment. Furthermore, methods of manufacturing of such biometric sensor packages are disclosed. Still yet, methods of integrating biometric sensor packages in to garments are disclosed. The biometric sensor packages described herein can easily be manufactured by current biometric sensor manufactures, for example heart rate monitor belt manufacturers. The biometric sensor packages described here can then be easily integrated in to garments by current garment manufacturers without requiring any special knowledge or tooling relating to the actual biometric sensor arrangements within the biometric sensor packages. Through the use of biometric sensor packages described herein biometric sensor arrangements, such as heart rate monitors and EEG sensors can be easily integrated into garments, such as sports bras, shirts and shorts, without disrupting existing supply chains and factories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Mikko Martikka, Andrea Hartleb
  • Publication number: 20200093390
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an electro-mechanic assembly comprising a snap connector. In order to provide a connection interface for an electronic device having a housing with at least one protruding stud which detachably fits within a socket region of the snap connector, the electro-mechanic assembly comprises a snap and at least one material layer being in at least one portion electrically conductive to electrically connect least one electrode with the snap. At least one surface of said snap is metallic and deposited with a non-oxidizing conductive material layer which faces and is in contact with a conductive portion of the material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tuomo Nousiainen
  • Patent number: 10327481
    Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement and a method for configuring equipment for personal performance monitoring comprising at least one carrier item having a mounting zone for receiving a communication module, one or more sensors and/or actuators and a first processing unit functionally connected to said mounting zone and said sensors and/or actuators. The first processing unit is configured to process sensor signals from the sensors and/or actuators and to communicate with a communication module that is mounted on the mounting zone of the carrier item and having a second processing unit configured to further process said sensor/actuator signals and to communicate processed signals to a remote device over a wireless communication protocol. A remote device is adapted to provide a predefined code to configure the equipment to process sensor or actuator signals according to a use of said carrier item as identified by said predefined code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Kimmo Pernu, Erik Lindman, Terho Lahtinen
  • Publication number: 20180360374
    Abstract: The invention concerns wearable electronic devices, systems and methods for sports performance monitoring. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a heartbeat sensor for providing a heartbeat signal, a motion sensor for providing a motion signal and processing means adapted to calculate at least one performance parameter depicting said sports performance and/or the person using temporal characteristics of periodic features of the heartbeat signal compared with temporal characteristics of periodic features in the motion signal. The invention allows for utilization of an existing relation between cadence and heart rate for characterizing the performance or the person in a novel way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Heikki Nieminen, Kimmo Pernu, Olli-Pekka Ojanen, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 10095265
    Abstract: The invention concerns a portable computing device comprising a microprocessor capable of running software, hardware means capable of providing at least one physical variable, a memory unit carrying the software adapted to read the physical variable and to perform a mathematical operation utilizing the physical variable. An interface means adapted to allow defining of the mathematical operation in the memory unit by a user of the device. The invention also concerns a firmware product of a microcontroller-operated device, a computer program product and a web service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Amer Sports Digital Services Oy
    Inventors: Janne Kallio, Erik Lindman, Mikko Martikka, Kimmo Pernu
  • Publication number: 20180168462
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for heart rate monitoring of an object, the system comprising means for measuring heart beats of the object with a first unit at a first sampling rate, determining a heart rate, determining a time difference between consecutive heart beats, determining a time of each heart beat, or determining at least a part of a wave form of a heart beat signal, wherein the first unit includes further means for changing the sampling rate as a response to the determined information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Mikko Martikka, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 9861291
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an electrode assembly including a thin, low thickness snap for use, for example, in a heart rate monitoring. The electrode assembly can come in the form of a kit with multiple pieces or in an assembled form. The electrode assembly includes two electrodes with respective snaps connected by a non-stretchable material portion. The electrode assembly can be easily integrated into a garment with minimal interference in the usability of the garment itself. Additionally, the present invention relates to a garment having integrated therein an electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tapio Selby
  • Publication number: 20170265767
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an electronic device having a housing and at least one male connection portion for detachably connection the electronic device to a female snap. The male connection portion comprises a stud having a male head portion capable of fitting within a socket region of a snap. The male head portion has a terminal end which is the terminal end of the stud and a second end which separates the male head portion from a mid-portion, and an end portion opposite the male head portion. The end portion has a terminal end which is second terminal end of the stud. A mid-portion is between the male head portion and the end portion. The stud is in electrical contact with an electronic component of the electronic device, and the head portion has a centered cavity open at the terminal end of the male head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tapio Selby, Ossi Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 9616291
    Abstract: The invention relates to sports monitoring equipment and methods. The invention provides a device or system comprising means for reading a heartbeat signal corresponding to heartbeat of the person during the performance, and means for reading a motion signal corresponding to motion of the person during the performance. There are also computing means for estimating energy consumption of the person during the performance using one or both of said signals. According to the invention, the device or system further comprises means for determining the type of the sports performance. The computing means for calculating the energy consumption parameter are adapted to utilize said heartbeat signal, said motion signal or both signals in combination in a manner depending on the type of the sports performance determined. The invention allows for accurate estimation of energy consumption in versatile sports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Martikka, Heikki Nieminen, Kimmo Pernu, Olli-Pekka Ojanen, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 9597005
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a thin, low thickness snap for use, for example, in a heart rate monitor belt. The snap can be integrated or built directly in to a heart rate monitor belt. Furthermore, the heart rate monitor belt can be integrated within a textile or garment, for example a compression shirt, sports bra or cycling shorts. The snap can be flushly integrated into the belt or garment such the snap does not take away from the general wearability of the heart rate monitor belt or garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tapio Selby
  • Patent number: 9568144
    Abstract: A system for attaching a module to an object includes a module having an oblong shape, and an elastic ring. Each elongated end of the module has a recess with an interior surface formed by an upper and lower lip, and the distance between the interior surfaces of the recesses is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the elastic ring such that the module can be releasably affixed to the elastic ring. The system provides easy and reliable attachment of the module to a piece of clothing, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Pernu, Tapio Selby, Timo Yliluoma