Human activity monitoring device

DC CAFC

US 7,653,508 B1
Filed: 12/22/2006
Issued: 01/26/2010
Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
Status: Active Grant

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1. A method of monitoring human activity using an inertial sensor, comprising:

continuously determining an orientation of the inertial sensor;

assigning a dominant axis;

updating the dominant axis as the orientation of the inertial sensor changes; and

counting periodic human motions by monitoring accelerations relative to the dominant axis.

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Abstract

A method for monitoring human activity using an inertial sensor includes continuously determining an orientation of the inertial sensor, assigning a dominant axis, updating the dominant axis as the orientation of the inertial sensor changes, and counting periodic human motions by monitoring accelerations relative to the dominant axis.

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20 Claims

1. A method of monitoring human activity using an inertial sensor, comprising:
- continuously determining an orientation of the inertial sensor;
  
  assigning a dominant axis;
  
  updating the dominant axis as the orientation of the inertial sensor changes; and
  
  counting periodic human motions by monitoring accelerations relative to the dominant axis.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
    - using acceleration measurements along only the dominant axis to count steps.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
    - maintaining a cadence window, wherein the cadence window is continuously updated as an actual cadence changes; and
      
      counting a periodic human motion when an acceleration measurement that meets motion criteria is within the cadence window.
  - 4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the motion criteria is a dynamic motion criterion, the dynamic motion criterion being continuously updated to reflect current conditions.
  - 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the dynamic motion criteria includes at least a lower threshold, wherein the lower threshold is adjusted based on at least one of a rolling average of accelerations and the orientation of the inertial sensor.

6. A method of monitoring human activity using an inertial sensor, comprising:
- running a device that includes the inertial sensor in a non-active mode, in which periodic human motions are buffered;
  
  switching the device from the non-active mode to an active mode, after identifying a number of periodic human motions within appropriate cadence windows; and
  
  during the active mode, counting each of the periodic human motions to enable the monitoring of human activity.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- - 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
    - switching the device from the active mode to the non-active mode when a number of expected periodic human motions are not identified in the appropriate cadence windows.
  - 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
    - switching from a sleep mode to the non-active mode of operation when an acceleration is detected.
  - 9. The method of claim 6, wherein running the device in a non-active mode comprises running the device in one of an exit mode and an entry mode.
  - 10. The method of claim 9, wherein:
    - a requirement for switching the device from the exit mode to the active mode is lower than a requirement for switching the device from the entry mode to the active mode.

11. An inertial sensor based device, comprising:
- a dominant axis logic, to continuously determine an orientation of a device, to assign a dominant axis, and to update the dominant axis as the orientation of the device changes; and
  
  a counting logic to count periodic human motions by monitoring accelerations relative to the dominant axis.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- - 12. The device of claim 11, wherein:
    - The counting logic uses acceleration measurements along only the dominant axis to count steps.
  - 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:
    - a cadence logic to continuously update a dynamic cadence window; and
      
      the counting logic to count a periodic human motion when an acceleration measurement that meets motion criteria is taken within the cadence window.
  - 14. The device of claim 11, further comprising:
    - a comparator, to compare measurements of acceleration to dynamic motion criteria, the dynamic motion criteria being continuously updated to reflect current conditions; and
      
      the counting logic to count a periodic human motion when the measurements of acceleration satisfy the dynamic motion criteria.

15. A device including an inertial sensor, comprising:
- a counting logic, to identify and count periodic human motions;
  
  a mode logic, to switch the device from a non-active mode to an active mode after a number of periodic human motions are detected within appropriate cadence windows by the counting logic; and
  
  a buffer, to buffer periodic human motions when the device is in the non-active mode.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 16. The device of claim 15, wherein:
    - the mode logic to switch the device from the active mode to the non-active mode when a number of expected periodic human motions are not identified in the appropriate cadence windows.
  - 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the non-active mode comprises one of an exit mode and an entry mode.
  - 18. The device of claim 17, wherein:
    - a requirement for the mode logic to switch the device from the exit mode to the active mode is lower than a requirement for the mode logic to switch the device from the entry mode to the active mode.
  - 19. The device of claim 15, further comprising:
    - a cadence logic, to set the appropriate cadence windows.
  - 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the cadence logic adjusts the cadence windows based on a measured cadence associated with the periodic human motion.

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Current Assignee
Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
Original Assignee
DP Technologies, Inc.
Inventors
Kahn, Philippe, Kinsolving, Arthur, Christensen, Mark Andrew, Lee, Brian Y., Vogel, David
Primary Examiner(s)
Cosimano, Edward R

Application Number

US11/644,455
Time in Patent Office

1,131 Days
Field of Search

337/00, 337/01, 73/10.1, 73/13.7, 73/13.8, 73/17.5, 73/17.6, 73/17.7, 73/17.8, 73/17.9, 73/18.1, 377/1, 377/13, 377/15, 377/17, 377/20, 377/24, 377/24.1, 377/24.2, 702/1, 702/85, 702/97, 702/127, 702/141, 702/150, 702/155, 702/158, 702/160, 702/187, 702/189
US Class Current

702/160
CPC Class Codes

G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width...

G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Human activity monitoring device

First Claim

4 Assignments

Litigations

6 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

263 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Human activity monitoring device

First Claim

4 Assignments

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Litigations

6 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

263 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Use Cases

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