Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Sham et al.
`
`US005891042A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,891,042
`Apr. 6, 1999
`
`[54] FITNESS MONITORING DEVICE HAVING
`AN ELECTRONIC PEDOMETER AND A
`WIRELESS HEART RATE MONITOR
`
`5,456,262 10/1995 Birnbaum .
`5,491,474
`2/1996 surli et al- -
`5,539,706
`7/1996 Takenaka et al. .
`
`[75] Inventors: Ka Yiu Sham, Great Falls, Va.; Philip
`Lim-Kong Wong, Northants, England
`
`[73] Ass1gnee: Acumen, Inc., Sterhng, Va.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 926,035
`.
`_
`Sep' 9’ 1997
`Flled'
`[22]
`Int. Cl.6 ................................................. .. A61B 5/0205
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl. ............................................................ .. 600/483
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 600/483 503
`600/508 509 519 520. 158/903’
`’
`’
`’
`’
`References Cited
`
`[56]
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`P 1’ imary Examiner—w?liam E~ Kamm
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Evenson, McKeoWn, Edwards &
`Lenahan P.L.L.C.
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A ?tness monitoring device includes an electronic pedom
`eter Which responds to a user’s body motion at each step and
`a Wireless heart rate monitor Which is Wirelessly coupled to
`the electronic pedometer. The Wireless heart rate monitor
`Provides a heart beat Signal indicative of an exertion level of
`the user‘ Avisual display is provided to display the pedom'
`eter functions and the heart rate signal. A microprocessor
`receives the pedometer output signal and the heart rate
`signal. The microprocessor is programmed to provide visual
`display data relating to the heart rate and pedometer func
`tions_
`
`4,367,752
`5,335,664
`
`1/1983 Jimenez et al. ....................... .. 600/519
`8/1994 Nagashima ............................ .. 128/903
`
`9 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`1 4
`_____ __r:i________________.___________~__
`|
`30
`I
`|
`> d
`i
`l
`'
`I
`I
`1
`I0
`I
`I
`18
`H
`l
`H |
`|
`|
`WIRELESS
`BELT /Z/ I
`I
`TRANSMITTER
`:
`{
`|
`|
`LOW FREQ. I
`I
`(KHZ)
`l
`WIRELESS ,
`:
`LINK
`1
`|
`I
`I
`I
`|
`I
`I
`I
`|
`I
`I
`
`PEDOMETER
`SENSING
`CIRCUIT n
`
`I
`OPERATING EL. I
`
`32
`
`20
`
`31
`I
`
`TL
`
`HEART
`RATE
`RECEIVER
`
`34
`f/
`
`._E_ 1/p
`HP
`
`V
`
`1/p
`
`DISPLAY
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 1 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of5
`
`5,891,042
`
`@r
`
`t
`
`2
`
`ON
`
`N .OE
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 2 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of5
`
`5,891,042
`
`_ _ _ _ _ _
`
`_ _
`
`_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ “ ><iw6
`
`n m:
`
`vm
`
`A
`
`n_1
`Q:
`
`Q:
`
`IE @ZEQMEQO
`
`MmFMEOQmE
`
`OZ_mZmw
`
`CDOEO
`
`
`
`dwE >>o4
`
`v2:
`
`whqm
`
`Pm<mI
`
`mwZmOmm
`
`or
`
`\Iv
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 3 of 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 5
`
`5,891,042
`
`v0
`
`VON
`
`mm
`
`2%
`
`E:
`
`v:mo3
`
`8/7
`
`5;8
`
`mm
`
`ow
`
`(\»memzmmona00>
`
`C
`
`AAA-mmmo
`
`mmE2ngwv:<3szmmo
`omemzoomM‘.Em
`
`AA-mfiv
`
`m__—vv
`
`N?v?H30
`
`00>NVmo4
`
`onVNNN
`
`«aMmNo
`
`zaeXVN<0?
`
`va
`
`moOONmm
`
`zeom
`
`Ora
`
`2Q:mo
`
`mo_
`
`wMV.OE3.».0E
`
`0
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 4 of 9
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 4 of 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Am
`
`2
`
`88m1H_mm>amv.m:N2050
`w|2mi
`“wm.mzmom>Fmmagafi
`N.F:
`
`QQ>Q08$.
`
`
`
`
`
`52mohmammganja>m+
`
`z<2:asn:Basemm
`mafia;._<zmm:z_mag
`
`
`mmn=22
`
`zQEOIF‘
`
`22as
`
`:
`
`2m:9>m+
`
`23
`
`N559OH89*mza
`
`Qo>TE>>NIeri
`
`>3.2Em
`
`529
`
`M>m+n.“mhmmNmmvF:Sl
`ll|
`
`late
`
`8,u-5|NED”Fm...is?“mcqmIemq
`4-N15:Nzém0nHm,D05KEé:ummza
`
`
`
`lgso'1
`
`
`
`
`_:og>;_3Q<_zozo<”HMQONV.v
`
`
`
`
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 5 of 9
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 5 of 9
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 6, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of5
`
`5,891,042
`
`52
`X
`
`———]
`CLICKB
`
`TIMEMODE
`
`CLICKA
`‘
`E'S'TA'R'M'S'T'O'E'EfBG
`s_ gyggvwgw
`V X K
`A L’
`STOPWATCH MODE
`
`58
`
`50
`
`NO KEY PRESS FOR 1 MIN
`
`PRESSZQHOLDB
`
`CLICKB
`
`=
`
`NO KEY PRESS FOR 1 MIN
`
`54
`F)
`SETTIMEMODE
`
`60
`
`I’)
`\
`PRES“ HOLD B E SET PERSONAL DATA MODE
`
`CLICKA
`
`\
`
`CLICKB
`
`/
`
`62
`
`NO KEY PRESS FOR 1 MIN
`
`V
`
`64
`F)
`
`QL'CKB HEARTRATEMODE
`cMcKA l
`
`\
`
`PRESSWOLDB E SETTARGETZONEMODE
`CLICKB
`/
`
`cMcKB
`~
`
`CLICKB
`=
`
`CALORIESMODE x64
`
`CLICKAl
`CLICKA l
`
`STEPSMODE was
`
`QL'CKB
`
`SPEEDMODE was
`CLlCKAl
`QL'CKB DISTANCE MODE N70
`CLICKAl
`PACEMODE
`CLICKA]
`
`QL'CKB
`
`’\/72
`
`6
`
`I
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 6 of 9
`
`

`

`1
`FITNESS MONITORING DEVICE HAVING
`AN ELECTRONIC PEDOMETER AND A
`WIRELESS HEART RATE MONITOR
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a ?tness activity monitoring
`device and, more particularly, to a ?tness activity monitoring
`device Which monitors the heart rate of its user While
`providing pedometer functions.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In order to measure the Walking or jogging distance
`covered by a user, both mechanical and electronic pedom
`eters have been developed. Typically, such pedometers are
`Worn on the side of the user such as by being clipped to a belt
`or the Waist line of the user’s pants in the manner of a pager
`or the like. Other knoWn pedometers are built into a Wrist
`Watch Worn on the user’s Wrist. In general, the pedometer
`functions to record the distance covered by the user by
`responding to the user’s body motion at each step. Pedom
`eters include various features and functions such that they
`can be adapted to the personal stride of the user. The
`pedometer includes a display, such as an LCD or LED
`display, for displaying the distance covered, number of steps
`taken during the Workout, stopWatch and clock features, etc.
`In most cases, the knoWn pedometers use a mechanical
`sensing device to respond to the user’s body motion at each
`step. HoWever, the use of the mechanical sensor is disad
`vantageous as it is more susceptible to breakage and inac
`curacies.
`Electronic pedometers are also knoWn Which include an
`electronic sensor circuit to respond to the user’s body
`motion at each step or stride. These electronic pedometers
`are more reliable and less susceptible to breakage.
`While the knoWn pedometers provide useful information
`during a Workout, they unfortunately do not provide the user
`With any indication as to the level of exertion being placed
`on the user’s body. Thus, While speci?c performance limi
`tations may be indicated, the pedometer cannot inform the
`user Whether they are training to hard or to little. The user
`therefore needs some indication of the degree of physical
`effort actually exerted as measured by physiological signs.
`The use of physiological signs provides a more direct
`indication to guide the exercise than the information pro
`vided by the knoWn pedometers such as the distance
`travelled, amount of time involved, or the physical Work
`load.
`In vieW of the above, heart rate monitors have been
`developed to alloW a person to consistently engage in an
`appropriate quantity and quality of exercise by monitoring
`the cardiovascular system via the heart rate. In general,
`effective aerobic conditioning requires that one’s heart rate
`is maintained at a proper level or “target Zone” for at least
`?fteen minutes. Prior to the use of heart rate monitors, a
`person Would have to interrupt the Workout in order to
`manually check their heart rate before continuing or modi
`fying the exertion level of their Workout. Of course, the
`sudden interruption of a Workout to check the heart rate is
`itself disadvantageous.
`One knoWn method of monitoring the heart rate uses
`electrodes attached to the user in the vicinity of the heart.
`Electrical signals detected by the electrodes are transmitted
`via conductors or Wires to a processor Which can compute
`the heart rate. These “Wired” heart rate monitors present
`various problems in that the Wires often interfere With an
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,891,042
`
`2
`exercise Workout, particularly during running or Walking
`Workouts. They are therefore not particularly suited to active
`exercising.
`There have also been developed so-called “Wireless” heart
`rate monitors Which use a telemetric transmitter unit for
`Wirelessly transmitting electrical signals detected by elec
`trodes to a separate receiver device. One such telemetric
`transmitter unit is described in US. Pat. No. 5,491,474. It is
`also knoWn to use Wired or telemetric Wireless heart rate
`monitors With stationary exercise devices such as a cycle
`ergometer as described, for example, in US. Pat. No.
`5,456,262. The ergometer is used to simulate an exercise
`program. HoWever, such combined devices restrict the
`user’s exercise routines to stationary exercise units.
`Pedometers have also been developed Which incorporate
`pulse meters for sensing the user’s heartbeat, such as in US.
`Pat. No. 5,539,706. In contrast to heart rate monitors Which
`determine the heartbeat in beats per minute (bpm) based on
`electrical signals from the heart, the pulse meters calculate
`the heartbeat by sensing blood ?oW through the user’s veins.
`Typically, pulse meters incorporate an infrared light sensor
`Which is pressed against the user’s ?ngertip or clipped
`against the user’s ear. The infrared light sensor determines
`hoW fast the user’s blood is pumping through their veins.
`Unfortunately, such pulse meters encounter problems in that
`if the user’s ?nger is pressed too hard against the sensor, the
`blood How Will sloW doWn. By contrast, if pressed too
`lightly against the sensor, then even the slightest movement
`of the user’s ?ngertip can give erratic readings. Similarly,
`the ear-clip pulse meter models can also provide faulty
`readings due to poor circulation in the user’s ears, or to
`sensor movements caused by the connecting Wires Which
`must dangle from the sensor. While the use of pulse meters
`is accurate When the user remains very still, they become
`unstable and inaccurate during a ?tness routine. This there
`fore defeats the purpose of using the pulse meter to deter
`mine the user’s heartbeat during exercise. Proper use of
`heart rate measurement requires that the user be aWare of the
`heart rate during the exercise. As noted above, hoWever,
`accurate readings With the pulse meters are accomplished by
`interrupting or sloWing doWn the exercise routine, Which has
`its oWn disadvantages notWithstanding the fact that the
`user’s heart rate instantaneously loWers during a stoppage or
`sloW doWn.
`There is therefore needed a ?tness monitoring device
`Which can effectively provide the user With physiological
`information concerning their exercise level While at the
`same time providing empirical information With respect to
`the duration and extent of a Workout.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`These needs are met according to the present invention by
`providing a ?tness monitoring device having an electronic
`pedometer and a Wireless heart rate monitor. The present
`invention provides all of the functional features of a pedom
`eter together With the advantageous features of a Wireless
`heart rate monitor.
`The ?tness monitoring device according to the invention
`measures the actual electrical signal from the user’s heart via
`a chest belt transmitter, such as a telemetric transmitter,
`Which is placed on the user’s skin next to the heart. The
`transmitter transmits the heart rate signal, or some variation
`thereof, to a processor in the electronic pedometer via a high
`frequency magnetic ?eld in a Wireless manner. The micro
`processor in the electronic pedometer not only determines
`the user’s heart rate, but also calculates a target Zone heart
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 7 of 9
`
`

`

`3
`rate based on the user’s physical characteristics. Further, the
`microprocessor is programmed to calculate and display the
`pedometer functions such as the distance covered, number
`of steps taken, current speed, average speed, calories burned,
`etc.
`Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
`present invention Will become apparent from the folloWing
`detailed description of the invention When considered in
`conjunction With the accompanying draWings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a jogger using the ?tness
`monitoring device according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a side vieW of the ?tness monitoring device
`according to the present invention, including a display
`Which is vieWed by the user;
`FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the ?tness monitoring
`device according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 4 and 4a are a circuit diagram of the electronic
`pedometer used in the ?tness monitoring device and an
`equivalent electrical circuit for the sensor, respectively,
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of a heart rate
`receiver; and
`FIG. 6 is a How chart illustrating the operation of the
`?tness monitoring device according to the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Referring to FIG. 1, a user is shoWn performing a running
`Workout routine. The user has a Wireless telemetric trans
`mitter unit 10 arranged on the user’s skin adjacent his heart.
`The telemetric transmitter unit 10 can be secured in this
`position via a belt strap 12. Further details regarding the belt
`strap and the manner in Which the belt strap arranges the
`transmitter unit adjacent the heart are not necessary for an
`understanding of the present invention, although they are
`provided in copending application Ser. No. 08/577,015, ?led
`Dec. 22, 1995, commonly assigned to the assignee of the
`present invention.
`The user is also provided With a ?tness monitoring device
`14 Which can, for example, be clipped to the user’s Waist
`band. Of course, the ?tness monitoring device 14 can be
`secured to the user in other Ways such as via a Wrist
`Watch-type arrangement or by simply being held by the user.
`As Will be described in further detail beloW, the ?tness
`monitoring device 14 includes an electronic pedometer
`integrated together With a Wireless heart rate monitor. In this
`manner, no cumbersome lead lines must be provided
`betWeen the telemetric transmitter unit 10 and the ?tness
`monitoring device 14.
`Referring to FIG. 2, there is shoWn a side vieW of a ?tness
`monitoring device 14. The ?tness monitoring device 14
`includes a belt clip 16 Which alloWs the device 14 to be
`secured to the user’s belt or Waist band. Further, the ?tness
`monitoring device 14 includes a display 18 and an operating
`element 20 incorporated into its housing 17. Of course, more
`than one operating element 20 can be provided in order to
`alloW the user to make full use of the functional capabilities
`of the ?tness monitoring device 14. The display 18 can be,
`for example, an LCD display Which includes an alpha/
`numeric display portion 22 as Well as a heart rate monitoring
`indicator icon 24. Other shapes and forms of the ?tness
`monitoring device 14, its operating elements 20 and its
`display 18 can be provided based on the speci?c require
`ments of the design Without departing from the spirit and
`scope of the present invention.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,891,042
`
`4
`Referring to FIG. 3, there is shoWn a schematic block
`diagram of the ?tness monitoring device 14. The ?tness
`monitoring device 14 includes an antenna 30 Which receives
`the telemetrically transmitted electrical signals from the
`telemetric transmitter 10. These signals are transmitted, for
`example, as a loW frequency Wireless link (in the kHZ
`range). The signals from the antenna 30 are input to the heart
`rate receiver 31 Each time a heart beat pulse is received by
`the heart rate receiver 31, the heart rate receiver 31 Will
`output a Well de?ned pulse to the microprocessor 34. The
`microprocessor 34 then uses an averaging algorithm in order
`to calculate the heart rate. Similarly, an electronic pedometer
`circuit 32 provides input signals to the microprocessor 34.
`As the pedometer sensing circuit 32 outputs a pulse per step
`to the microprocessor 34, the microprocessor 34 Will update
`and display the step counter. The microprocessor 34 further
`receives inputs from the operating elements 20. The display
`18 is coupled to the microprocessor for displaying the
`processed results.
`Referring to FIG. 4, there is shoWn a schematic circuit
`diagram of the electronic pedometer 32. The pedometer 32
`makes use of a pieZoelectric sensor 40 (quartz vibrator) for
`detecting the user’s body motion at each step. At frequencies
`close to resonance, the operation of the quartZ vibrator 40
`can be modeled by the equivalent electrical circuit diagram
`of FIG. 4a (as far as the associated electrical circuits are
`concerned). In FIG. 4a, the inductance L represents the
`electrical equivalent of the vibrating mass of the pieZo
`element 40. The capacitance C is the electrical equivalent of
`the mechanical compliance of the sensor 40. The resistance
`R represents the electrical equivalent of mechanical friction.
`In addition to the electrical equivalent L-R-C series reso
`nance circuit for the mechanical quantities, there also is a
`parallel capacitance C1 Which is the electrical capacitance of
`the quartZ element betWeen the terminal electrodes. It has
`been found that the ratio C1/C normally has a value of at
`least 125, such that C1>>C. Therefore, it is this capacitance
`C1, together With the ampli?cation performed by opera
`tional ampli?er 50 (IC1:B) that forms the vibration sensor.
`The operational ampli?er circuit 52 (IC1:A) provides the
`voltage source to bias the sensor mid-point operating volt
`age. Operational ampli?er circuit 54 (IC1:C) functions as a
`loW-pass ?lter/integrator to remove high frequency signal
`components. Finally, the output operational ampli?er circuit
`56 (IC1:D) functions as a voltage comparator to generate a
`single pulse corresponding to a user’s step. This pulse is fed
`into the microprocessor 34 (FIG. 3) for performing step
`counting.
`Referring to FIG. 5, there is shoWn the circuit diagram for
`the heart rate receiver 31. The heart rate receiver makes use
`of a processor or hard Wired circuit 60 in order to receive the
`loW frequency signals from the Wireless belt transmitter 10
`and convert them into Well-de?ned output pulses represen
`tative of the heart rate to the microprocessor 34. The heart
`rate receiver circuit shoWn in FIG. 5 is a conventionally
`knoWn circuit.
`Referring to FIG. 6, there is shoWn a How chart indicating
`the operation of the pedometer With the Wireless heart rate
`monitor. Areset button 50 is ?rst activated to reset the ?tness
`monitoring device. Next, the time mode 52 is selected.
`Within the time mode 52, the user can set 54 the time mode
`via the operating elements. Next, in the time mode 52, the
`user can activate the stopWatch 56 and enter the stopWatch
`mode 58. Within the stopWatch mode 58, the user can set
`personal data 60 particular to their situation. From the
`stopWatch mode 58, the user can next enter the heart rate
`mode 62. During the heart rate mode 62, the user can set a
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 8 of 9
`
`

`

`5,891,042
`
`5
`target heart rate Zone 64. Also, the user can activate the
`stopwatch 56 from the heart rate mode 62.
`Next, the user can enter the calorie mode 64, the step
`mode 66, speed mode 68, the distance mode 70, or the pace
`mode 72 by cycling the mode/reset button. Following the
`pace mode 72, the ?tness monitor device cycles back to the
`time mode 52. The ?tness monitoring device thus provides
`an electronic pedometer in combination With a Wireless heart
`rate monitor.
`Although the invention has been described and illustrated
`in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by
`Way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by
`Way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present
`invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended
`claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A ?tness monitoring device, comprising:
`an electronic pedometer Which electronically senses a
`user’s body motion at each step;
`a Wireless heart rate monitor including a heart rate
`receiver Which Wirelessly receives electric signals from
`a user’s heart and outputs a heartbeat signal indicative
`of an eXertion level of said user; and
`an indicator Which indicates pedometer functions of the
`electronic pedometer and heart rate functions of the
`heart rate monitor.
`2. The ?tness monitoring device according to claim 1,
`Wherein said indicator is a visual display for displaying the
`pedometer functions and the heart rate functions.
`3. The ?tness monitoring device according to claim 2,
`Wherein said electronic pedometer includes a pieZoelectric
`sensor for responding to the user’s body motion at each step
`and providing a pedometer output signal.
`4. The ?tness monitoring device according to claim 1,
`further comprising:
`a telemetric transmitter unit for receiving electric signals
`from a user’s heart and Wirelessly transmitting said
`electric signals to the heart rate receiver.
`
`10
`
`25
`
`35
`
`6
`5. The ?tness monitoring device according to claim 1,
`further comprising:
`a single housing in Which said heart rate monitor and
`electronic pedometer are arranged.
`6. The ?tness monitoring device according to claim 3,
`further comprising:
`a microprocessor Which receives said pedometer output
`signal and said heart beat signal, said microprocessor
`including a program to provide visual display data
`relating to said heart rate and pedometer functions.
`7. A ?tness monitoring system, comprising:
`a telemetric transmitter unit for receiving electric signals
`from a user’s heart and Wirelessly transmitting said
`electric signals; and
`a ?tness monitoring device, comprising:
`(a) an electronic pedometer Which electronically senses
`a user’s body motion at each step and outputs a
`pedometer output signal;
`(b) a Wireless heart rate monitor including a heart rate
`receiver Which Wirelessly receives the electric sig
`nals from the transmitter unit and outputs a heartbeat
`signal indicative of an eXertion level of said user; and
`(c) an indicator Which indicates pedometer functions of
`the electronic pedometer based on the pedometer
`output signal and heart rate functions based on the
`heart beat signal from the heart rate monitor.
`8. The system according to claim 7, Wherein the ?tness
`monitoring device further comprises a microprocessor
`Which receives the pedometer output and heartbeat signals,
`said microprocessor including a program to provide the
`pedometer function and the heart beat signal to the indicator.
`9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a
`single housing in Which the ?tness monitoring device is
`arranged.
`
`TomTom Exhibit 1019, Page 9 of 9
`
`