Biometric monitoring device with heart rate measurement activated by a single user-gesture

Abstract

A biometric monitoring device having a heart rate sensor for measuring various biometric information is provided. In some embodiments, the biometric monitoring device 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, moving the device in a defined motion pattern, or clenching the fist. Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a biometric monitoring device that allows 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more biometric sensors comprising an optical heart rate sensor;   an activator of the optical heart rate sensor;   a heart rate sensor surface area through which the optical heart rate sensor can collect heart rate data from a user;   an activator surface area through which the activator can receive activation signals from the user;   a feedback mechanism;   at least one processor; and   a memory, wherein
 the optical heart rate sensor, the activator, the at least one processor, and the memory are communicatively connected, and 
 the memory stores computer-executable instructions for:
 receiving an activation signal through the activator surface area, the activation signal resulting from the user touching the activator surface area with a single body part or bringing a single body part into proximity with the activator surface area, 
 collecting heart rate data from the user through the heart rate sensor surface area in response to the activator receiving the activation signal without requiring further user input, and 
 providing user feedback through the feedback mechanism with reference to the collected heart rate data also in response to the activator receiving the activation signal without requiring further user input. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to cause the heart rate sensor to automatically stop collecting heart rate data after a defined criterion is met without requiring further user gestures in addition to the single user-gesture. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to cause the heart rate sensor to remain in a state that does not collect heart rate data, after it stops collecting heart rate data, until another activation signal caused by a new user-gesture is received. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be wearable as a wrist-band. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to provide motion data to compensate for disruptions caused by arm movements that would otherwise interfere with the heart rate data. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to provide feedback to the user indicating that heart rate data collection has started. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to provide feedback to the user indicating that heart rate data collection is successful. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to provide feedback to the user indicating that heart rate data collection has ended. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to provide feedback to the user indicating that heart rate data collection has failed to complete 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to automatically authenticate the user based on the collected heart rate data. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback to the user with reference to the collected heart rate data comprises one or more of the following: average heart rate, minimum heart rate, maximum heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate relative to target heart rate zone, heart rate relative to resting heart rate, change in heart rate, decrease in heart rate, increase in heart rate, training advice with reference to heart rate, and a medical condition with reference to heart rate. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more biometric sensors further comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of: a motion sensor, a GPS sensor, a proximity sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, a touch screen, a temperature sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, a fingerprint reader, an electromyographic sensor, a pressure transducer, a force transducer, an audio sensor, a bioelectrical impedance sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a moisture sensor, and a blood glucose sensor. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more biometric sensors comprising an optical heart rate sensor;   an activator of the optical heart rate sensor;   a feedback mechanism;   at least one processor;   a memory; and   a housing enclosing at least the optical heart rate sensor and the activator of the optical heart rate sensor,
 wherein the housing has an external surface comprising (a) a heart rate sensor surface area through which the optical heart rate sensor can collect heart rate data from a user, and (b) an activator surface area by way of which the activator can receive activation signals from the user; 
 and wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area are less than about 1 centimeter apart as measured by a distance along the exterior surface of the housing, thereby allowing a single body part of a user to simultaneously interact with the activator and the optical heart rate sensor. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area are arranged on a substantially flat plane. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area are less than about 0.5 centimeter apart as measured by a distance along the exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area are less than about 0.2 centimeter apart as measured by a distance along the exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area are less than about 0.1 centimeter apart as measured by a distance along the exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area overlap along the exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area is a seamless portion of the surface of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the activator surface area is a seamless portion of the surface of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus has only one heart rate sensor surface area. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heart rate sensor surface area and the activator surface area form one continuous surface area. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the activator of the optical heart rate sensor is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the single user-gesture consists of the user bringing a body part into proximity with the activator surface area. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more biometric sensors comprising a heart rate sensor;   an activator of the heart rate sensor, wherein the activator comprises at least one motion sensor selected from the group consisting of: single-axis gyroscopes, multi-axis gyroscopes, single-axis accelerometers, and multi-axis accelerometers;   a heart rate sensor surface area through which the heart rate sensor can collect heart rate data from a user;   a feedback mechanism;   at least one processor; and   a memory,
 wherein: 
 the heart rate sensor, the activator, the feedback mechanism, the at least one processor, and the memory are communicatively connected, and 
 the memory stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to:
 cause the heart rate sensor to start collecting heart rate data through the heart rate sensor surface area in response to the activator receiving an activation signal caused by a single user-gesture, the single user-gesture consisting of the user moving or interacting with the apparatus in a defined motion pattern as indicated by the at least one motion sensor, and 
 provide user feedback, through the feedback mechanism, with reference to the collected heart rate data without requiring further user-gestures in addition to the single user-gesture. 
 
   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to cause the heart rate sensor to automatically stop collecting heart rate data after a defined criterion is met without requiring further user gestures in addition to the single user-gesture. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to cause the heart rate sensor to remain in a state that does not collect heart rate data, after it stops collecting heart rate data, until another activation signal caused by a new user-gesture is received. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the feedback to the user with reference to the collected heart rate data comprises one or more of the following: average heart rate, minimum heart rate, maximum heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate relative to target heart rate zone, heart rate relative to resting heart rate, change in heart rate, decrease in heart rate, increase in heart rate, training advice with reference to heart rate, and a medical condition with reference to heart rate. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be wearable as a wrist-band. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for controlling the at least one processor to provide feedback to the user indicating that heart rate data collection is successful.