Detecting Means Associated With Exercise Machine Patents (Class 600/520)
  • Patent number: 11318351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for determining body's readiness to respond to physical exercise and for providing feedback to a user. In the method the user starts to perform an exercise, an earlier performance level is determined before starting a performance check having steps of: an instant performance level of the user is determined, the earlier performance level is compared to the instant performance level, a readiness index is determined according to the said comparison and optionally with background and/or training history of the user, a feedback is given according to the determined readiness index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Aki Pulkkinen, Sami Saalasti, Kaisa Hämäläinen
  • Patent number: 11164596
    Abstract: A system for evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) can include a sensor adapted to generate sensor data for a user, a memory adapted to store the sensor data, and a processor coupled to the sensor and the memory. The processor can be configured to initiate executable operations including determining a first biological marker for the user from the sensor data, wherein the first biological marker is indicative of a first dimension of HRQOL, performing speech analysis on user provided speech to determine a second biological marker indicative of a second dimension of HRQOL. The processor is further configured to initiate executable operations including comparing the first biological marker and the second biological marker with a baseline for the first biological marker and a baseline for the second biological marker, respectively, and outputting a result of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jawahar Jain, Cody Wortham, James Young, Sajid Sadi, Pranav Mistry
  • Patent number: 11040247
    Abstract: Real-time and dynamically generated graphical user interfaces for competitive events and broadcast data are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining, for each of a plurality of individuals, at least one of an absolute performance threshold or a personal performance threshold; receiving a data feed from each of a plurality of workout devices associated with the plurality of individuals over a network, the data feed including at least one of real-time absolute performance data or real-time personal performance data; determining, for each of the individuals, a performance zone based on a comparison of at least one of the real-time absolute performance data and the absolute performance threshold or the real-time personal performance data and the personal performance threshold; generating a graphical user interface that includes a broadcast of a real-time video of an instructor leading a workout; and a real-time leaderboard overlaid on the broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOGYM S.p.A.
    Inventor: Filippo Casalini
  • Patent number: 11013417
    Abstract: A health-monitoring method, system, and computer program product include operating at least one sensor of a health-monitoring device having a plurality of sensors, detecting a health condition event that requires operation of an additional sensor of the plurality of sensors to monitor the health condition event, activating the additional sensor of the health-monitoring device, and deactivating the additional sensor when the health condition event that requires the second sensor is no longer detected by the detecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Scott Mashford, Mahtab Mirmomeni, Subhrajit Roy, Filiz Isabell Kiral-Kornek, Stefan Harrer
  • Patent number: 10856788
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a handheld multi-parameter patient monitor capable of determining multiple physiological parameters from the output of a light sensitive detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue. For example, in an embodiment, the monitor is capable of advantageously and accurately displaying one or more of pulse rate, plethysmograph data, perfusion quality, signal confidence, and values of blood constituents in body tissue, including for example, arterial carbon monoxide saturation (“HbCO”), methemoglobin saturation (“HbMet”), total hemoglobin (“Hbt”), arterial oxygen saturation (“SpO2”), fractional arterial oxygen saturation (“SpaO2”), or the like. In an embodiment, the monitor displays a line associated with a patient wellness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ammar Al-Ali, Joe E. Kiani
  • Patent number: 10732058
    Abstract: A force measuring system for exercise equipment provided for using in an exercise equipment, the system includes a measured body, a force sensor, a circuit board; a Wheatstone bridge, a data transmission module and a power module disposed on the circuit board; and a receiving device. The power module provides a working power supply. The measured body is connected to the exercise equipment. The force sensor is disposed on the measured body, and the resistance value thereof changes along with a deformation amount of the measured body. The Wheatstone bridge is electrically connected to the force sensor to output a measurement signal. The data transmission module transmits a force taken information to the receiving device, wherein the force taken information is obtained according to the measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: DIRECTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 10692603
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed which provide a way to diagnose frailty using an upper extremity (and/or other body portions) frailty assessment. Within this method, several parameters can be calculated based on the kinematics (e.g., pure motion without including forces) and kinetics (e.g., analysis of forces and moments) of, for example, joint flexion/extension. An ordinal and/or continuous frailty score can be determined based on calculated markers of frailty, such as slowness, weakness, flexibility, and/or exhaustion, while performing a short-duration upper extremity task. Patients can be classified as non-frail, pre-frail, or frail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Bijan Najafi, Martha Jane Mohler, Nima Toosizadeh
  • Patent number: 10674958
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for favorably coordinating a timing relationship between a musculoskeletal activity cycle and a cardiac cycle of a user. A method may include repetitively detecting a signal that correlates to a blood volume in the user; determining an actual value of the signal that varies with the timing relationship; computing a trend of the actual value of the signal; and adjusting the movement guidance based on the trend of the actual value. A system may include a prompt device configured to provide recurrently a movement guidance to the user for guiding performance of the rhythmic musculoskeletal activity; a sensor configured to provide a signal that correlates to a blood volume in the user; and a processor configured to determine an actual value of the signal that varies with the timing relationship and to adjust the movement guidance based on the trend of the actual value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Pulson, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Lee Bleich, Paul David Mannheimer
  • Patent number: 10488659
    Abstract: An apparatus, methods and systems to provide a personal viewing device configured to display an image. The personal viewing device configured to be worn by a user. At least one sensor coupled to the personal viewing device. At least one camera coupled to the personal viewing device and facing outwardly with respect to the personal viewing device. A processor configured for interaction analysis. The processor in communication with the personal viewing device, the at least one sensor and the at least one camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: RAZER (ASIA-PACIFIC) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yuval Boger, Meir Machlin, Yosef Korakin
  • Patent number: 10422810
    Abstract: Systems and methods configured to process motion data associated with a user. The systems and methods are configured to receive motion data from a sensor, calculate motion attributes from the data, and classify the motion data using one or more mathematical models. Further, the systems and methods are configured to identify and quantify, using the one or more mathematical models, the motion data as linear travel motion associated with the user running or walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Santoshkumar Balakrishnan, Manan Goel, Bradley W. Wilkins, Corey Dow-Hygelund, Jeff Hazel, John Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9964766
    Abstract: An apparatus may include circuitry configured to control reproduction, at a head-mounted display device, of content, based on a determination of importance of an event occurring around the head-mounted display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayasu Kon, Kenta Kawamoto, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9924901
    Abstract: Some embodiments described herein relate to receiving lactate concentration data from a non-invasive sensor. A ratio of aerobic to anaerobic exertion can be determined based on the concentration of lactate, and real-time feedback can be provided based on the ratio of aerobic to anaerobic exertion. For example, the user can be encouraged to maintain a level of intensity in which he or she approaches (but does not exceed) maximal oxygen consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Potomac Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Guthrie, Kenneth Jay Gordon
  • Patent number: 9878081
    Abstract: An assembly includes at least two medical treatment units, each of which can be allocated to a patient and at least two peripheral devices, each of which can be allocated to a patient. The peripheral devices and the treatment units have means for allocating a peripheral device to a treatment unit and means for verifying the allocation of a peripheral device to a patient. To allocate a peripheral device to a treatment unit, the peripheral device is placed by operators in a receiving unit belonging to the treatment unit. Said receiving unit is preferably designed as a charging station for the battery of the peripheral device. In the event of a successful allocation of peripheral device and patient, confirmed by the receipt of physiological data of the patient, the operators verify the correct allocation of a peripheral device to the patient and must confirm the correct allocation by confirmation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Leiendecker, Carsten Müller, Elke Schulte, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9615785
    Abstract: A procedure and apparatus to determine the overall fitness of a test subject. For this purpose the qualitative and temporal progression of the heart rate under constant physical stress of the subject is prescribed with at least one parameter dependent on the subject. The heart rate of the subject is measured under constant physical stress during a period of time. The parameter(s) are determined from the measured values, and the maximum heart rate and/or the initial heart rate and/or the increase characteristic of the heart rate are determined from the function and the measured values by numerical procedures. The apparatus can measure the heart rate of the subject, record a temporal progression of the heart rate under physical stress, and determines numerically from the temporal progression of the heart rate, the maximum heart rate and/or the initial heart rate without physical stress and/or the increase characteristic of the heart rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Kai Röcker, Albert Gollhofer
  • Patent number: 9551623
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring and determining the force, the torque and the power on a crank, in particular the pedal crank of a bicycle, comprising an evaluation device, in particular a bicycle computer, and at least one pedal, wherein the force and angular speed variables are converted into electrical signals and supplied to the evaluation device, the pedal comprises a pedal body, a deformation element, a pedal shaft and an angle transmitter, and wherein the force variable is determined by measuring the deformation of the deformation element using strain gauges, preferably by measuring the individual normal strains of the strain gauges, and wherein four pairs of strain gauges assigned to each other are arranged at different angles, preferably +/?45, with respect to the pedal shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Momes GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Biermann, Jean-Michel Asfour
  • Patent number: 9463356
    Abstract: Exercise systems and methods are provided that create and run exercise programs that are custom tailored to individual users. An exercise program for a specific user is based upon the user's average work heart rate and recovery heart rate. The exercise programs may include a series of workouts for the user to perform. Each workout requires the user to exercise at various intensity levels so that the user's heart rate moves between different predetermined target heart rate zones. The target heart rate zones are calculated from data relating to the user's average work heart rate and recovery heart rate. As the user's fitness level changes, the user's average work heart rate and recovery heart rate also change. Creation of new exercise programs uses the most current heart rate data to calculate the target heart rate zones, thereby continuously tailoring the exercise programs to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Rhea
  • Patent number: 9370706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a training device, which can comprise a drive that can be configured for the locomotion of the training device and a control circuit that can comprise an interface configured for receiving a physiological parameter of a user of the training device. The control circuit can be configured to specify a speed of the drive based on the received physiological parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Locomotec US (Haftungsbeschrankt)
    Inventors: Erwin Prassler, Walter Nowak, Sebastian Blumenthal, Alexey Zakharov, Thilo Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9330238
    Abstract: Performance intensity zones are disclosed. An apparatus comprises one or more processors, and one or more memories storing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: obtain performance intensity data measured from a user with at least one measurement sensor during a first activity and/or a second activity; and classify the performance intensity data in relation to a plurality of predetermined performance intensity zones, wherein each performance intensity zone is predetermined by a first numerical range for the first activity, and a second numerical range for the second activity, wherein the first activity and the second activity are different types of sports or different types of physical activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventors: Juho Rahko, Hannu Kinnunen, Harri Maatta, Jarkko Haataja, Tanja Kalliojarvi, Ville Peltola
  • Patent number: 9314209
    Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may generate a correlation sequence between two segments of the physiological signal at multiple correlation lag values. The system may compare the correlation sequence to a predetermined threshold, which may vary as a function of lag. Based on the comparison, the system may determine whether the correlation sequence value exceeds the threshold, and whether the correlation sequence value corresponds to a peak. The system may identify a lag value when the correlation sequence corresponding to the lag value exceeds the threshold and corresponds to a peak. The system may determine physiological rate information based on the identified lag value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Fernando Rodriguez-Llorente, Pirow Engelbrecht, Nicholas James Wooder
  • Patent number: 9158890
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for relaying information from a cardiac pacemaker to an external device. Logic on the pacemaker modulates a heartbeat clock of the pacemaker to encode information onto a blood pressure sequence. This is accomplished by adding or subtracting a small subinterval to or from a pulse repetition interval of the pacemaker. A muscle stimulator beats the heart according to the modulated sequence. A monitoring device external to the body monitors the blood pressure to retrieve the encoded information, or message. The encoded information is then decoded to determine the information in the message. This information may concern the pacemaker as well as other devices within the body that are in communication with the pacemaker such as blood monitors, etc. Since the message is conveyed via simple modulation of the heart beat intervals, no separate transmitter is required in the pacemaker which would otherwise increase cost and decrease battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Sheldon Kent Meredith, Brandon Bowers Hilliard, Mario B. Kosseifi
  • Patent number: 9111437
    Abstract: A time interval setting unit sets a time interval that depends on the number of items of data stored by a storage unit. A storage processing unit stores the data in the storage unit at every time interval that is set by the time interval setting unit. The storage unit retains the data at the time interval that depends on data acquirement time. A data extraction unit extracts the data by the number of items of data that depends on the number of items of display data, from the items of data stored by the storage unit. When the time interval setting unit updates the time interval, it is not necessary to perform subsampling or compression on the data stored by the storage unit and the data can be retained at the time interval that depends on the data acquirement time with less processing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 9089285
    Abstract: An activity monitor such as a wrist-worn device has an accelerometer which continuously detects motion of the user. The activity monitor also has an on-demand heart rate monitor which is activated by the user touching it from time to time. A calorie expenditure based on the motion of the user can be modified based on a heart rate measurement. Further, a determination can be made as to whether the user has made repetitive motions for a period of time. If the repetitive motions are detected, a calorie expenditure based on the heart rate is determined and compared to the calorie expenditure based on the user motion, and the higher value prevails. A situation is avoided in which the activity monitor underestimates the calories expended, such as when the user is exercising strenuously but the accelerometer indicates relatively little motion, e.g., during strength training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Salutron, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Jin Lee, Eddy Hui, Kaiping Chen
  • Patent number: 9042971
    Abstract: A biometric monitoring device measuring various biometric information is provided that allows the person to take and/or display a heart rate reading by a simple user interaction with the device, e.g., by simply touching a heart rate sensor surface area or moving the device in a defined motion pattern. Some embodiments of this disclosure provide biometric monitoring devices that allow a person to get a quick heart rate reading without removing the device or interrupting their other activities. Some embodiments provide heart rate monitoring with other desirable features such as feedback on data acquisition status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine Boomer Brumback, Nicholas Adrian Myers, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, James Park, Todd Sutham Diemer
  • Patent number: 8942796
    Abstract: An exercise determination method includes: acquiring a detection value from an acceleration sensor; and controlling, by a processor, starting or stopping of a heart rate sensor depending on the acquired detection value. An electronic device includes a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to acquire a detection value from an acceleration sensor, and control starting or stopping of a heart rate sensor depending on the acquired detection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kouichirou Kasama
  • Patent number: 8876724
    Abstract: Contact pressure sensing apparatus for use with exercise equipment sensors are described. An example apparatus includes a sensor to detect a physiological condition of a user of an exercise device through physical contact with the user and a pressure sensor to detect a contact pressure applied by the user to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Sherwin Twery
  • Patent number: 8862215
    Abstract: The present document discloses an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to: trigger a start of a physical exercise; in response to said triggering, start a measurement mode in which the apparatus receives measurement data of the physical exercise wirelessly from at least one sensor device and analyzes the received measurement data; detect a predetermined event in the received measurement data during the physical exercise; and in response to detecting said predetermined event, cause transmission of a reconfiguration message to at least one of the at least one sensor device to reconfigure at least one parameter of said at least one of the at least one sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Pertti Puolakanaho, Elias Pekonen
  • Patent number: 8855756
    Abstract: Methods and program products for providing heart rate information are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for providing heart rate information about a user includes the steps of defining a plurality of heart rate zones as ranges of percentages of a maximum heart rate of the user, determining upper and lower limits for said heart rate zones based on the maximum heart rate of the user, associating a color with each of said heart rate zones, receiving heart rate information from the user, and initiating a graphical display in response to receiving heart rate information from the user, wherein a color of a portion of the graphical display corresponds with the color associated with one of said heart rate zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Adidas AG
    Inventors: Christian DiBenedetto, Maya Ann Powch, Stephen John Black
  • Patent number: 8849387
    Abstract: A monitor of a physiological parameter of subject under test to which the monitor is attached, in operation. The monitor includes a set of accelerometers operating in different ranges of acceleration and a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor may include an ECG circuit producing an output data characterizing the subject as a function of a degree of motion and/or reorientation of the monitor or an oximeter device. The process of monitoring includes a determination of R-wave of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Barry Gilbert, Clifton Haider, Christopher Felton, Daniel Schwab
  • Patent number: 8768445
    Abstract: There is provided electronic device, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive heart rate data generated by a heart rate measuring system; a calculation unit configured to calculate heart rate variation data on the basis of the received heart rate data. The electronic device further comprises: a processing unit configured to analyse the calculated heart rate variation data in comparison with the corresponding heart rate data, and to determine at least one threshold value for fat burning on the basis of the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Kinnunen, Juuso Nissilä, Tero Posio, Ulla Salmi
  • Patent number: 8712510
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for a wireless exercise monitoring system for interactively monitoring an aspect of exercise, nutrition, or fitness by connecting a wireless internet device to or with a digital camera and/or an exercise monitoring device. Exercise-related data and/or visual information from the camera is transmitted to a server using standard internet protocols and may be integrated with various operating systems for mobile wireless devices, especially those with enhanced capabilities for handing images and visual data. Responses may be calculated and transmitted back to a user, trainer, or coach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Q-Tec Systems LLC
    Inventor: Roger J. Quy
  • Patent number: 8712725
    Abstract: One disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically measure amounts of time taken by the user to complete respective distance intervals. During the outing, data representing the automatically measured amounts of time may be automatically stored in memory of the least one device. Another disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically identify occasions on which a user completes respective distance intervals. During the outing, the at least one device may display at least one of an average pace of the user since a most recently completed distance interval, an average speed of the user since the most recently completed distance interval, and a projected time to complete a current distance interval based on monitored performance since the most recently completed distance interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Darley, Thomas P. Blackadar
  • Patent number: 8694083
    Abstract: In a biometric sensor provided for use with an exercise apparatus and having a pair electrodes for sensing a biopotential signal, a common-mode rejection circuit can be used to cancel noise in the signal resulting from various sources including motion of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Russell W. Krch, Sr., Emil S. Golen, Gregory A. Joseph
  • Patent number: 8652051
    Abstract: Contact pressure sensing apparatus for use with exercise equipment sensors are described. An example apparatus includes a sensor to detect a physiological condition of a user of an exercise device through physical contact with the user and a pressure sensor to detect a contact pressure applied by the user to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Sherwin Twery
  • Patent number: 8588897
    Abstract: A device for detecting pulsations or heartbeats of a person using cycles in general and movable and training implements, includes a plurality of detecting electrodes operating to contact the hands of the person and operatively coupled to at least a cardiac frequency meter, the electrodes being arranged on a cycle or training implement steering control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bigolin
  • Patent number: 8529457
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a kit for stress and relaxation management. A cardiac activity sensor (101) is used for measuring the heart rate variability (HRV) signal of the user and a respiration sensor (102) for measuring the respiratory signal of the user. The system contains a user interaction device (103) having an input unit (104) for receiving user specific data and an output unit for providing information output to the user. A processor (106) is used to assess the stress level of the user by determining a user related stress index. The processor is also used to monitor the user during a relaxation exercise by means of determining a relaxation index based on the measured HRV and respiratory signals, the relaxation index being continuously adapted to the incoming measured signals and based thereon the processor instructs the output unit to provide the user with biofeedback and support messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Sandrine Magali Laure Devot, Andreas Brauers, Elke Naujokat, Robert Pinter, Harald Reiter, Jeroen Adrianus Johannes Thijs
  • Patent number: 8401630
    Abstract: Method of determining the training intensity of a person (2), whereby time intervals RRi (13) between consecutive heartbeats are recorded whereupon from sequences of these time intervals RRi (13) a sequence of standardised intervals rri (14) is generated through mathematical modelling. From two consecutive standardised intervals rri (14) and rri+1 points in a Poincaré plot are generated and with regard to the principal horizontal axis X0 (16) of a confidence ellipse of these points a standard deviation SOL is calculated. From pairs of values formed of a mean value RRMV of the sequence of intervals RRi (13) and the standard deviation SOL for further sequences of standardised intervals rri (14) a training intensity curve (20) is then produced for the person (2) whereby the training intensity curve (20) is produced from pairs of values of the heart frequencies HF (HF=1/RRMV) corresponding to the mean values RRMV and the standard deviations SOL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: PULSE7 GmbH
    Inventor: Nikolaus Klepp
  • Patent number: 8391962
    Abstract: Systems and Methods for stratifying relative risks of adverse cardiac events by processing a duration of electrocardiograph recordings generally recorded by a Holter type of device. The duration of electrocardiograph recordings are processed to resolve RR interval related data, QT interval related data, and are fitted to formulas to at least partially establish fitting related measures. The fitting formulas incorporate circadian related periodic factors, and can further incorporate additional processing including utilizing Lissajous analysis techniques, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Mari Alford Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8376944
    Abstract: A caloric consumption measuring device measures a caloric consumption of a user during an activity. The caloric consumption measuring device includes a first personal data creating component, a second personal data creating component, a heart rate input component, and a caloric consumption calculating component. The first personal data creating component sets at least one personal physical condition of the user and creates first personal data based on the set personal physical condition. The second personal data creating component sets at least one environmental condition of the user and creates second personal data based on the environmental condition. The heart rate input component receives data indicative of a detected heart rate. The caloric consumption calculating component calculates the caloric consumption based on the detected heart rate that was received and the first and second personal data created by the first and second personal data creating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuji Abe
  • Patent number: 8359095
    Abstract: In a medical system and a method for operating such a system, the system includes an implantable medical device of a patient, a programmer device, and an extracorporeal stress equipment adapted to exert a physiological stress on the patient, for automatically determining settings of a sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of the patient or for automatically determining a pacing setting of the device over a broad range of workloads of the equipment. The ingoing units and/or devices of the medical system, i.e. the implantable medical device of the patient, the programmer device, and the extracorporeal stress equipment, communicate bi-directionally with each other and form a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Sven-Erik Hedberg, Patrik Malmberg, Leif Lychou, Jürgen Kerstna
  • Patent number: 8224429
    Abstract: A watch or other type of portable electronic console that employs a number of different functions in order to improve its usability. The watch may, for example, allow a user to connect the watch to one or more remote electronic devices, such as an electronic performance sensor or MP3 player. The watch then displays information related to the connected electronic devices. Still further, the watch may allow a user to control the operation of one or more connected remote electronic devices. Thus, if the watch is connected to a remote speed/distance monitor employing a calibration variable, then the watch may allow the user to adjust the calibration variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Prstojevich, Christopher A. Robinette, Theodore H. Helprin, Charles W. Case, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8200323
    Abstract: Program products, methods, and systems for providing fitness monitoring services are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for providing heart rate information to a user of a portable fitness monitoring service includes: (a) defining a plurality of heart rate zones as ranges of percentages of a maximum heart rate; (b) associating a color with each of said heart rate zones; (c) receiving heart rate information from the user; and (d) providing a graphical display of the heart rate information, wherein a color of a portion of the graphical display corresponds with the color associated with one of said heart rate zones, wherein steps (a)-(d) are executed using at least one processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christian DiBenedetto, Maya Ann Powch, Stephen John Black
  • Patent number: 8165667
    Abstract: A medical device detects certain patient activity based on a programmable activity threshold and determines the duration of detected activity. The activity threshold may be optimized by obtaining first and second duration measurements for at least one of a first activity session and second activity session. The first duration measurement is based on the activity threshold, while the second duration measurement is based on actual start and stop of the activity session. An adjustment of the activity threshold is suggested based on a correspondence between the first duration measurement and the second duration measurement of the first activity session, or a correspondence between the first duration measurement and the second duration measurement of the second activity session. One of the first and second activities is non-significant activity expected to be undetected by the device, while the other of the two activities is low-level activity expected to be detected by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecilia Qin Xi
  • Patent number: 8095208
    Abstract: System for effective training heart rate zone determination, the system comprising:—a training module adapted to determine target training heart rate zone based on at least one stored parameter;—at least one sensor for measuring core temperature of a user's body during training;—at least one sensor for measuring a user's heart rate during training;—a compensation module, which is arranged for compensating the target training heart rate zone based on said core temperature;—an indicating module adapted to compare the users heart rate to an effective training heart rate zone based on information from the compensation module and to inform the user when the heart rate exceeds or drops under the effective training heart rate zone. The invention further relates to use of such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Johannes Van Der Loo
  • Patent number: 8082029
    Abstract: Adjustable sensors for use with exercise apparatus are described. An example apparatus includes a support frame to assist a user in an exercise and a sensor integral with the support frame. The sensor is to detect a physiological condition of the user through physical contact with the user, and a position of the sensor is adjustable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Honda
  • Patent number: 8082030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, equipment implementing the method, and a computer software product, the method generating exercise instructions for a physical exercise. The method comprises determining the standard condition value of a heart rate parameter in a user-specific performance monitor by measuring the user's heart rate wherein the standard condition value of the heart rate parameter is a function of the standard condition value of the heart rate variation; performing comparison between the standard condition value of the heart rate parameter and a standard condition reference value of the heart rate parameter; and generating exercise instruction information for at least one future physical exercise on the basis of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Antti Kiviniemi, Hannu Kinnunen, Arto Hautala, Mikko Tulppo
  • Patent number: 8041801
    Abstract: State information of a user is detected via a biometric information sensor and is stored, in a nonvolatile memory, in association with a content identifier of content that is being reproduced for the user when the state information is detected. An information request, including the state information of another user at another terminal apparatus, is generated and transmitted. Provided information transmitted in response to the information request is received and provided to the user. When an information request is received by the user, information is extracted from the nonvolatile memory based on the state information of another user. Provided information that is based on the extracted information is transmitted to another user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakamura, Toru Sasaki, Yuichi Sakai, Yoichiro Sako, Toshiro Terauchi, Hirofumi Tamori, Makoto Inoue, Katsuya Shirai, Motoyuki Takai, Kenichi Makino, Akihiro Komori, Akane Sano, Susumu Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 7922668
    Abstract: An aerobic spa system comprising a water source providing water, an ozone source providing ozone, an ozone introduction mechanism adapted to introduce at least some of the ozone into the water, an ozone saturation mechanism adapted to cause at least some of the ozone to be dissolved into the water, a substantially enclosed chamber receiving water containing dissolved ozone; and a user at least partially disposed inside the chamber who comes into contact with the water containing dissolved ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Aerobic Water Works LLC
    Inventors: Donald A Rimdzius, Rajeshwar Alwa, James W McGinley
  • Patent number: 7914418
    Abstract: An apparatus for an interval exercise performable by a person, the interval exercise including at least two training intervals, each including a work phase and a recovery phase, wherein processing a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise, detecting a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data, detecting a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at end of the work phase, and determining a threshold level of a physiological parameter, measured from the person and characterizing the person's recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Juuso Nissilå
  • Publication number: 20100292600
    Abstract: Program products, methods, and systems for providing fitness monitoring services are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for providing heart rate information to a user of a portable fitness monitoring service includes: (a) defining a plurality of heart rate zones as ranges of percentages of a maximum heart rate; (b) associating a color with each of said heart rate zones; (c) receiving heart rate information from the user; and (d) providing a graphical display of the heart rate information, wherein a color of a portion of the graphical display corresponds with the color associated with one of said heart rate zones, wherein steps (a)-(d) are executed using at least one processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Adidas AG
    Inventors: Christian DiBENEDETTO, Maya Ann Powch, Stephen John Black
  • Patent number: 7822472
    Abstract: A medical device detects certain patient activity based on a programmable activity threshold and determines the duration of detected activity. The activity threshold may be optimized by obtaining first and second duration measurements for at least one of a first activity session and second activity session. The first duration measurement is based on the activity threshold, while the second duration measurement is based on actual start and stop of the activity session. An adjustment of the activity threshold is suggested based on a correspondence between the first duration measurement and the second duration measurement of the first activity session, or a correspondence between the first duration measurement and the second duration measurement of the second activity session. One of the first and second activities is non-significant activity expected to be undetected by the device, while the other of the two activities is low-level activity expected to be detected by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecilia Qin Xi