Interchangeable cases for biometric monitoring devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9826935-B2
Application number	US-201615294581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2010
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A biometric monitoring device and multiple carrying cases for same are provided. In some implementations, the case may be made from a flexible viscoelastic material and the biometric monitoring device may be slipped into a receptacle in the case through an opening in the case; the opening may become distended during the insertion of the biometric monitoring device. In some implementations, the case may feature a display window that, in combination with materials of the biometric monitoring device, may mask a display of the biometric monitoring device from view when the display is off and may allow the display to be seen when the display is displaying content.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of biometric sensors, the plurality of biometric sensors including a magnetic sensor; and
processing circuitry, wherein:
the plurality of biometric sensors and the processing circuitry are located within the housing, and
the processing circuitry is configured to:
determine one or more activity-related metrics based on data from the plurality of biometric sensors, and
switch from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when data from the magnetic sensor corresponds with a first magnetic signature associated with a first mounting fixture, wherein the first mounting fixture includes a magnetic source that produces the first magnetic signature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic sensor is a magnetometer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to use at least one algorithm to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors while in the second operating mode that is different from one or more algorithms that the processing circuitry uses to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors while in the first operating mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first mounting fixture is configured for use with a bicycle and the processing circuitry is further configured to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors to determine bicycle-related activity metrics when in the second operating mode and the bicycle-related activity metrics include at least one activity-related metric that is different from the activity-related metrics determined by the processing circuitry in the first operating mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first mounting fixture is part of a strap that allows the housing to be worn on a person's arm and the processing circuitry is further configured to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors to determine sleep-related activity metrics when in the second operating mode and the sleep-related activity metrics include at least one activity-related metric that is different from the activity-related metrics determined by the processing circuitry in the first operating mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to change the orientation of content shown on the display in the second operating mode as compared with the orientation of content shown on the display in the first operating mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first mounting fixture is part of a wristband case that includes a magnet.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wristband case includes injection-molded portions including:
a molded body;
a first molded strap extending away from a first end of the molded body;
a second molded strap extending away from a second end of the molded body opposite the first end, wherein the molded body, the first molded strap, and the second molded strap are configured to completely or partially encircle an organism's limb or neck;
a cavity within the molded body, the cavity sized to receive the housing and to hold the housing securely with respect to the molded body when the housing is fully inserted into the cavity; and
an opening in the molded body leading to the cavity, the opening sized such that the opening must be stretched or deformed during insertion of the housing into the cavity through the opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the display to display an identifier responsive to the receipt of the data from the magnetic sensor that corresponds with the first magnetic signature.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the identifier is an identifier selected from the group consisting of: a specific color, a color sequence, an animation, a nickname, a keyword, a word sequence, a vibration sequence, a custom avatar, and an image.

12. A system comprising:
a biometric monitoring device including:
a housing;
a plurality of biometric sensors, the plurality of biometric sensors including a magnetic sensor; and
processing circuitry, wherein:
the plurality of biometric sensors and the processing circuitry are located within the housing, and
the processing circuitry is configured to:
determine one or more activity-related metrics based on data from the plurality of biometric sensors, and
switch from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when data from the magnetic sensor corresponds with a first magnetic signature associated with a first mounting fixture; and

the first mounting fixture, wherein:
the first mounting feature is configured to couple with the housing, and
the first mounting fixture includes a magnetic source that produces the first magnetic signature.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic sensor is a magnetometer.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to use at least one algorithm to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors while in the second operating mode that is different from one or more algorithms that the processing circuitry uses to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors while in the first operating mode.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first mounting fixture is configured for use with a bicycle and the processing circuitry is further configured to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors to determine bicycle-related activity metrics when in the second operating mode and the bicycle-related activity metrics include at least one activity-related metric that is different from the activity-related metrics determined by the processing circuitry in the first operating mode.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first mounting fixture is part of a strap that allows the housing to be worn on a person's arm and the processing circuitry is further configured to process data from the plurality of biometric sensors to determine sleep-related activity metrics when in the second operating mode and the sleep-related activity metrics include at least one activity-related metric that is different from the activity-related metrics determined by the processing circuitry in the first operating mode.

18. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a display, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to change the orientation of content shown on the display in the second operating mode as compared with the orientation of content shown on the display in the first operating mode.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first mounting fixture is part of a wristband case that includes a magnet.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the wristband case includes injection-molded portions including:
a molded body;
a first molded strap extending away from a first end of the molded body;
a second molded strap extending away from a second end of the molded body opposite the first end, wherein the molded body, the first molded strap, and the second molded strap are configured to completely or partially encircle an organism's limb or neck;
a cavity within the molded body, the cavity sized to receive the housing and to hold the housing securely with respect to the molded body when the housing is fully inserted into the cavity; and

Assignees

• Fitbit Inc

Inventors

• Martinez Mark Manuel
• Park James
• Friedman Eric Nathan
• Yuen Shelten Gee Jao
• Wilcox Keeline Burdick

Classifications

• A43B3/44

  with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position · CPC title

• A61B5/1118

  Determining activity level · CPC title

• G09F3/14

  by strings, straps, chains, or wires · CPC title

• A61B5/0205

  Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition · CPC title

• A45C11/00

  Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) · CPC title