Patents by Inventor Seppo Nissila

Seppo Nissila 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: 6754517
    Abstract: An electrode structure for measuring an ECG signal on a person's skin. The electrode structure (100) to be arranged on the person's finger (102) comprises an inner surface (116) residing against the finger (102), which inner surface (116) of the electrode structure (100) comprises an inner surface electrode (118), the electrode structure (100) further comprising an outer surface (120) opposite to the inner surface (116), which outer surface (120) of the electrode structure (100) comprises an outer surface electrode (122) to be arranged against a point on the person's skin other than said finger (102) having the electrode structure (100) arranged thereon, the electrode structure being arranged to measure a potential difference caused by the ECG signal between a first electrode and a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Nissilä
  • Publication number: 20040111036
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an electronic device for implementing the method for measuring mental load. The electronic device generates at least two different cognitively loading tasks for the person participating in the measurement, the first task determining a reference level and at least one other task determining the loading capacity level. The electronic device determines the pulse parameters of the person participating in the measurement during the cognitively loading tasks. The electronic device also compares the pulse parameters during the different tasks with each other. Finally, the electronic device generates a value descriptive of the mental load of the person participating in the measurement on the basis of the comparison of the pulse parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Polar Electro OY
    Inventor: Seppo Nissila
  • Patent number: 6745069
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic wrist-worn device, such as a heart rate monitor, a sportsman's watch or a diving computer, and its control method. The outside of the casing of the device comprises a bottom surface to be placed against the wrist, a top surface (304), and a side surface (308) between the bottom surface and the top surface (304). On the top surface (304) of the casing there is provided a first display (306) connected to the control electronics. On the side surface (308) of the casing there is provided a second display (400, 402, 404; 406) connected to the control electronics. The best viewing angle of the first display (306) and the best viewing angle of the second display (400, 402, 404; 406) are at an angle of 60 to 120 degrees with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilå, Pertti Puolakanaho
  • Publication number: 20040064061
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for estimating a stress level dependent parameter on a person, comprising means for measuring a person's heart rate, means for calculating a derivate of the measured heart rate, and means for estimating a value for a stress level dependent parameter by using the calculated heart rate derivate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Seppo Nissila
  • Patent number: 6684713
    Abstract: A bicycle which comprises as force transmission equipment a chain for transmitting the muscular strength of a person pedaling the bicycle from the person to the bicycle for the purpose of moving the bicycle, characterized in that the chain has a vibration transducer which is arranged to vibrate at a resonance frequency proportional to the force transmitted by the chain, and the bicycle comprises a reading device separate from the chain for reading the resonance frequency of the vibration transducer, to which reading device calculation means are connected for calculating the force affecting the chain on the basis of the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6687535
    Abstract: A heart rate measuring arrangement for controlling a recovery exercise of a person from a fitness exercise which measures the heart rate, forms control information, and displays the formed control information so that the recovery exercise is performed at a controlled heart rate level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Arto Hautala, Ilkka Heikkilä, Timo Mäkikallio, Seppo Nissilä, Mikko Tulppo
  • Patent number: 6666562
    Abstract: A wrist-worn device (100) comprising a background plate (106) to be illuminated for a display (102) of the wrist-worn device (100), and a light source (108A, 108B) for illuminating the background plate (106). The wrist-worn device (100) comprises a guide chamber (300, 302) at least partly surrounding the light source for collecting light emitted by the light source (108A, 108B) and for directing it to the background plate (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6648827
    Abstract: The invention presents a system for confirming a performer of a fitness exercise. The system includes a heart rate monitor (104) for measuring heart rate parameters (404A to 404N) associated with the fitness exercise from the heart rate of the performer. The system also includes a mathematical model (406) including dependence information between heart rate parameters (404A to 404N) and classes classifying the performer in classes (402A to 402N) such as age or weight. Heart rate parameter data measured from the performer and information in the mathematical model are utilized in identifying the performer of the fitness exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Ilkka Heikkilä, Seppo Nissilä, Raimo Siurua
  • Patent number: 6616612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring arrangement for measuring a pressure signal from a living body. The measuring arrangement comprises a sensor structure comprising a converter for converting the effect of the pressure signal measured from the body into an electrical signal. The measuring arrangement of the invention comprises a pressure transmission structure prior to the converter in the sensor structure, the pressure transmission structure comprising one or more pressure transmission elements. The pressure transmission structure is, through one or more pressure transmission elements, meant to be in direct or indirect contact with the body for detecting the pressure signal measurable from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Jari Miettinen
  • Patent number: 6600942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screen (300), which is particularly intended for a functional unit measuring heart rate from a user's chest. Electrodes (304) of the functional unit and preferably also an electric circuit (306) are protected against extracorporeal interference by the screen (300), which closely follows the electrode (304) or a supporting structure (40, 50, 60, 70) at least at the electrode (104, 204, 304, 402, 502, 602, 702).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Hannu Kinnunen, Pekka Rytky, Jean-Pierre Baumann
  • Patent number: 6580943
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ECG electrode structure suitable for use in water during swimming, for example, and to a method for measuring an ECG signal from a person who is in water. To measure a difference in potential (304), the ECG electrode structure comprises a first measurement electrode (502) arranged to be in contact with an area of the skin (202) on a user's body such that, when in use, the electrode is electrically insulted (510) from the water (108), and a second measurement electrode (300). When in use, the second measurement electrode (300) is arranged to be in contact only with the water (108), the second measurement electrode (300) thus being in contact through the water with an area of the person's body other than the area under the first measurement electrode (502).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6575915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying a heartbeat. In the method, an arterial pressure signal is measured in the form of multichannel measurement, and the required signal-processing operations, such as filtration, are carried out if necessary. The method also comprises carrying out signal detection and decision-making concerning the acceptance as a heartbeat signal. According to the invention, the signal detection includes multichannel channel-specific detection for the purpose of identifying signal components of different channels, and the obtained channel-specific detected channel signals are used as input data during the decision-making stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Antti Ruha, Jari Miettinen, Hannu Sorvoja
  • Patent number: 6554773
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for blood pressure measurement are disclosed. In the method, a variable, compressive, acting pressure is applied to a compression, such as a person's extremity, by a pressure generator, and simultaneously, the effect of the variable acting pressure on the extremity is measured at a second point, the second point being farther from the heart than the compression point. The method determines diastolic and systolic pressure. The measured value of the variable acting pressure acting on the compression point is transferred to an interpreting unit, which also receives a pressure pulse generated by the heart. The pressure pulse is measured by a sensor at the second point for determining the effect of the variable acting pressure on the extremity. Further, diastolic pressure is determined int he interpreting unit based on the variable acting pressure, as the pressure when the interpreting unit detects a change in a trend of a characteristic of the pressure pulse indicative of magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Antti Ruha, Hannu Sorvoja, Mika Niemimäki, Mika Sorvisto
  • Patent number: 6540686
    Abstract: A heart rate measurement arrangement wherein the heart rate measurement arrangement comprises a calculating unit comprising a mathematical model arranged to form a person's energy metabolism level as an output parameter of the model using as input parameters of the model one or more heart rate parameters and one or more physiological parameters each describing a physiological characteristic of the person, the heart rate measurement arrangement further comprising display means for displaying information formed in the calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Ilkka Heikkilä, Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6537227
    Abstract: A heart rate measuring arrangement comprising measuring means (500A to 500B) for measuring a person's heart rate during exercise and a calculating unit (532) for calculating an assessment of the person's energy consumption during exercise using at least two calculating parameters, one of which is a heart rate parameter included in the person's measured heart rate information, the heart rate measuring arrangement further comprising presenting means (530) for presenting the formed assessment of the person's energy consumption. The calculating unit is arranged to use an energy consumption reference value as a calculating parameter, which reference value is obtained by using one or more performance parameters representing the person's physical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Kinnunen, Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6520920
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for measuring a biosignal from the surface of the skin of a living human body. The arrangement comprises a casing (5) on which a measuring sensor (300) rests which is to be arranged against a measurement target (1) on the body, and a fastener (6) for fastening the casing (5) to the measurement target (1). The arrangement is characterized by comprising an element (7), such as a spring element, which rests on the casing (5) and the fastener (6) such that the element (7) is arranged to turn the casing (5) substantially towards the measurement target (1) with respect to the fastener (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Jari Miettinen
  • Patent number: 6443904
    Abstract: A heart rate monitor includes a measuring means for measuring the heart rate of a person during a fitness exercise, and a calculation unit for forming the value of one or more stress parameters from the heart rate measured during the fitness exercise. The calculation unit is arranged to compare the stress parameter value during the fitness exercise with a threshold value formed for the stress parameter before the fitness exercise. The heart rate monitor also includes a display means for showing exceeding of the threshold parameter to the user during the fitness exercise. The calculation unit is arranged to use the value of expiratory flow measured from the person before the fitness exercise for forming the threshold value of the stress parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6443905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for blood pressure measurement. In the method, a variable compressive acting pressure is applied to a measuring point, such as a person's extremity at a compression point by a pressure generator, and at the same time the effect of the variable pressure on the artery is measured at a second point, the second point being located farther away from the heart, i.e. closer to the end point of peripheral circulation than the compression point to which the pressure is applied. In the method diastolic pressure (PDIAS) and/or systolic pressure (PSYS) is determined as a result of an actual measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Eija Vieri-Gashi, Mika Sorvisto, Mika Niemimäki
  • Publication number: 20020120202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying a heartbeat. In the method, an arterial pressure signal is measured in the form of multichannel measurement, and the required signal-processing operations, such as filtration, are carried out if necessary. The method also comprises carrying out signal detection and decision-making concerning the acceptance as a heartbeat signal. According to the invention, the signal detection includes multichannel channel-specific detection for the purpose of identifying signal components of different channels, and the obtained channel-specific detected channel signals are used as input data during the decision-making stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Seppo Nissila, Antti Ruha, Jari Miettinen, Hannu Sorvoja
  • Patent number: 6432061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for measuring venous pressure. The measurement is made non-invasively by applying a variable compressive acting pressure to a measuring point, such as a person's extremity, at a compression point by a pressure generator, and at the same time the effect of the variable pressure on the circulation is measured at a second point located farther away from the heart, i e. closer to the end point of peripheral circulation than the compression point to which pressure is applied. The measured value of the acting pressure is transferred to an interpreting unit to which is also applied a pressure pulse caused by the heart and measured at said second point by a sensor to measure the effect of the variable acting pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Nissilä, Eija Vieri-Gashi, Mika Sorvisto, Mika Niemimäki