Athletic band with removable module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10813388-B2
Application number	US-201514946739-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

Methods of detecting and reducing error of athletic sensor readouts are disclosed. Methods relate to receiving properties, such as an athlete's body mass index and a physiological property, such as heart rate. Based on a body mass index or other parameter being outside a range, selecting a protocol, such as a heart rate measurement protocol. In further embodiments, a heart rate measurement protocol may be augmented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of selecting and modifying a heart rate measurement protocol:
receiving at a processor a body mass index of an athlete and demographic information of the athlete;
determining by the processor that the athlete's body mass index is less than a lower threshold of a predetermined index range having at least the lower threshold;
receiving a first heart rate value from an optical heart rate sensor retained in a housing configured to be in contact with a body of the athlete, where the optical heart rate sensor is at a first orientation and at a first position with respect to the athlete's body;
based upon the athlete's demographic information and the determination that the athlete's body mass index is less than the lower threshold of the predetermined index range, selecting a first heart rate measurement protocol instead of at least a second heart rate measurement protocol, wherein the first heart rate measurement protocol is different than the at least a second heart rate measurement protocol with respect to at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: wavelength of light transmitted by the optical heart rate sensor, intensity of light transmitted from the optical heart rate sensor, algorithm utilized, weights, confidences, and combinations thereof;
calculating, using the first heart rate measurement protocol, a first heart rate measurement from the first heart rate value;
based upon both the athlete's body mass index being less than the lower threshold of the predetermined index range, and the first heart rate measurement being outside of a first heart rate range, determining with the processor that at least one of the first orientation and the first position is not optimal for obtaining athletic data from the athlete;
based upon determining that the at least one of the first orientation and the first position is not optimal for obtaining athletic data from the athlete, outputting a human-detectable output to the athlete configured prompt the athlete to change the at least one of the first orientation and the first position of the optical heart rate sensor;
storing the first heart rate measurement on a non-transitory computer-readable medium;
receiving a second heart rate value from the optical heart rate sensor; and
calculating a second heart rate measurement calculated using the first heart rate measurement protocol from the second heart rate value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the human-detectable output to the athlete is further configured to guide the athlete in changing the at least one of the first orientation and the first position of the optical heart rate sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving at the processor athletic data from an external database from a plurality of athletes obtained while each of the plurality of athletes performed athletic activities known to cause muscle flexure in a first muscle group at the first position;
wherein the human-detectable output is based upon the athletic data from the external database from the plurality of athletes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the athlete's body mass index comprises:
calculating the athlete's body mass index at the processor, using at least a first sensor measurement from a second sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be worn at a first position located on the athlete's lower arm.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a band configured to be entirely worn on a proximate region of a lower arm.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the optical heart rate sensor is configured to be removably attachable to the band.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the band is configured to permit movement of up to 1 mm along a length of the lower arm.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein with respect to the predetermined index range, the lower threshold is 20.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein when at the first position, the band is configured to be located within a first distance range with respect to the athlete's carpus and wherein the optical heart rate sensor comprises a sensor surface, the sensor surface being configured to be at a second distance range from the carpus.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the athlete's demographic information comprises gender information.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of an athletic parameter of the athlete; and
augmenting an aspect of the first heart rate measurement protocol based on the indication of the athletic parameter.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the second heart rate measurement from the optical heart rate sensor is outside of a second heart rate range; and
augmenting an aspect of the first heart rate protocol in response to determining that the second heart rate measurement from the optical heart rate sensor is outside of the second heart rate range.

14. A method of selecting and modifying a heart rate measurement protocol comprising:
receiving a first heart rate measurement determined from a first heart rate value from an optical heart rate sensor retained in a housing in contact with a body of an athlete, where the optical heart rate sensor is orientated at a first orientation and at a first position with respect to the athlete's body;
receiving at a processor a body mass index of the athlete;
determining by the processor that the athlete's body mass index is less than a lower threshold of a predetermined index range having at least the lower threshold;
using a first heart rate measurement protocol, determining that a first heart rate measurement determined from the first heart rate value is outside of a first heart rate range;
based upon both the athlete's body mass index being less than the lower threshold of the predetermined index range and the first heart rate measurement being outside of the first heart rate range, determining with the processor that at least one of the first orientation and the first position is not optimal for obtaining athletic data from the athlete;
based upon determining that the at least one of the first orientation and the first position is not optimal for obtaining athletic data from the athlete, outputting a human-detectable output to the athlete configured prompt the athlete to change the at least one of the first orientation and the first position of the optical heart rate sensor; and
receiving a second heart rate value from the optical heart rate sensor; and
calculating a second heart rate measurement calculated using the first heart rate measurement protocol from the second heart rate value.

15. A computer-implemented method of selecting and modifying a heart rate measurement protocol:
receiving at a processor a body mass index of an athlete and demographic information of the athlete;
determining by the processor that the athlete's body mass index is less than a lower threshold of a predetermined index range having at least the lower threshold;
receiving a first heart rate value from an optical heart rate sensor retained in a housing configured to be in contact with a body of the athlete, where the optical heart rate sensor is at a first orientation and at a first position with respect to the athlete's body;
based upon the athlete's demographic information and the determination that the athlete's body mass index is less than the lower threshold of the predetermined index range, selecting a first heart rate measurement protocol instead of at least a second heart rate measurement protocol, wherein the first heart rat

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Cobbett Jamian R
• Judge Monica
• Schneider Summer
• Manesh Ariana
• Quay Simon
• Webb Bill
• Fitzgerald Quinn
• Watt Russ

Classifications

• A61B2560/0443

  Modular apparatus · CPC title

• A61B5/7475

  User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick · CPC title

• A61B5/6802 Primary

  Sensor mounted on worn items · CPC title

• A61B5/0004

  characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted · CPC title

• A61B5/6831

  Straps, bands or harnesses · CPC title