Salutron, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160099497 | USER-WEARABLE DEVICES WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RADIATOR ANTENNAS - A user-wearable device include a wireless transceiver, a primary radiator antenna and a secondary radiator antenna. The primary radiator antenna produces a first radio frequency (RF) radiation pattern when driven by the wireless transceiver, wherein the first RF radiation pattern is at least partially circularly polarized. The secondary radiator antenna, which is spaced apart from the primary radiator antenna, is configured to modify the first RF radiation pattern produced by the primary radiator antenna to thereby produce a second RF radiation pattern having increased RF radiation in a specific direction (e.g., away from the user's/wearer's skin) compared to the first RF radiation pattern. Inclusion of both the primary radiator antenna and the secondary radiator antenna increases an overall antenna efficiency (e.g., by about 3 dB) in the specific direction compared to if only the primary radiator antenna was included. | 04-07-2016 |
20160029911 | INTEGRATED SENSOR MODULES - An integrated sensor module includes one or more packaged light source semiconductor devices and one or more packaged light detector semiconductor devices mounted to a top surface of a substrate. A pre-molded cover structure includes a portion molded from an opaque molding compound and a further portion molded from a light transmissive molding compound. For each of the packaged light source and light detector semiconductor devices, the pre-molded cover structure includes a pre-molded cavity covered by a window formed of the light transmissive molding compound. The pre-molded cover structure is attached to the substrate such that each of the packaged light source and light detector semiconductor devices fits within a respective cavity, and such that a barrier formed of the opaque molding compound is positioned between each packaged light source semiconductor device and light detector semiconductor device. The module can also include additional sensors and/or electrodes for use by sensors. | 02-04-2016 |
20160027282 | USER-WEARABLE DEVICES THAT MONITOR EXPOSURE TO BLUE LIGHT AND RECOMMEND ADJUSTMENTS THERETO - Described herein are user-wearable devices that include an optical sensor, and methods for use therewith. In certain embodiments, an optical sensor of a user-wearable device (e.g., a wrist-worn device) is used to detect blue light that is incident on the optical sensor and to produce a blue light detection signal indicative thereof, and thus, indicative of the response of the user's intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGCs). In dependence on the blue light detection signal, there is a determination of a metric indicative of an amount of blue light detected by the optical sensor. The metric is compared to a corresponding threshold, and a user notification is triggered in dependence on results of the comparing, wherein the user notification informs a person wearing the user-wearable device to adjust their exposure to light. | 01-28-2016 |
20140215246 | Ultra Low Power Actigraphy Based On Dynamic Threshold - A processor for an activity monitor for a user has a reduced power mode in which it does not process data samples from an accelerometer. A wake up circuit or logic evaluates an output from the accelerometer and determines whether the output exceeds a threshold, indicating a threshold amount of activity of the user. If the threshold is exceeded, the wake up circuit or logic causes the processor to enter an active mode. The processor evaluates samples of the accelerometer in an evaluation period and decides whether to continue in the active mode or return to the reduced power mode. If the user is deemed to be sufficiently active, the processor continues in the active mode. In another aspect, the threshold can be set based on an activity level of the user before the reduced power mode or sensor data such as ambient light level or skin temperature. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213920 | Energy Expenditure Computation Based On Accelerometer And Heart Rate Monitor - An activity monitor such as a wrist-worn device has an accelerometer which continuously detects motion of the user. The activity monitor also has an on-demand heart rate monitor which is activated by the user touching it from time to time. A calorie expenditure based on the motion of the user can be modified based on a heart rate measurement. Further, a determination can be made as to whether the user has made repetitive motions for a period of time. If the repetitive motions are detected, a calorie expenditure based on the heart rate is determined and compared to the calorie expenditure based on the user motion, and the higher value prevails. A situation is avoided in which the activity monitor underestimates the calories expended, such as when the user is exercising strenuously but the accelerometer indicates relatively little motion, e.g., during strength training. | 07-31-2014 |
20140208546 | REVERSIBLE PIN PLATE FOR FINE WRIST STRAP ADJUSTMENT - A device is disclosed for wearing on a wrist or other body part including a central piece held on the body part by a pair of straps. A first strap includes fastening holes and the second strap includes a pin plate having pins for mating within the fastening holes in the first strap to affix the device to the body part. The pins are off-center with respect to a lengthwise centerline dividing a width of the pin plate in half. The pin plate may be affixed to the second strap into different orientations, to thereby allow adjustment of a fit of the device to the body part with finer granularity than provided by the pitch of the fastening holes in the first strap. | 07-31-2014 |
20140083133 | REVERSIBLE WRIST STRAP INSERT AND CURVED CUTOUT FOR CENTERING WRIST STRAP - A device is disclosed for wearing on a wrist or other body part including a central piece held on the body part by a pair of straps. The proximal end of a strap includes a mounting pin for sliding into and out of a slot on the central piece. The proximal end of the strap further includes a positioning curve which mates with a correspondingly shaped receiving curve on the central piece when the strap is properly affixed and centered on the central piece. When properly affixed and centered on the central piece, the positioning curve on the strap aligns with the receiving curve of the central piece, so that the positioning and receiving curves are at their lowest energy state, resisting lateral movement out of a centered position. | 03-27-2014 |
20130053696 | PROBABILISTIC SEGMENTAL MODEL FOR DOPPLER ULTRASOUND HEART RATE MONITORING - A heart rate of a subject is determined using a probabilistic segmental model. Reflections of ultrasound signals from the subject, for instance, are down modulated to an audio band and velocity samples are obtained. For a signal analysis window of the samples, e.g., 25 msec. of samples, features of the samples are obtained. Based on the features, a first set of probabilities is obtained for different candidate current heartbeat periods. A second set of probabilities is determined based on combinations of different previous heartbeat periods. One of the candidate current heartbeat periods is determined to be most probable, based on the first and second sets of probabilities. | 02-28-2013 |
20090312656 | Electrostatic Discharge Protection For Wrist-Worn Device - Electro static discharge (ESD) protection is provided for electronic devices with integrated circuits, such as for example heart rate monitors. The ESD protection protects against voltage accumulation and discharge through device external parts that are connected to internal device circuitry. The ESD protection isolates the internal device circuitry and provides a low impedance path over which electro static charges and any transient voltages in the device may discharge. The integrated circuits, electrical components, and other parts protected from ESD may be connected to monitor circuitry and be externally exposed, such as sensing or measurement parts exposed outside the device. The external parts may include a sensing case back, sensing push-buttons, or other components that provide a signal to or are otherwise in communication with the internal device circuitry. | 12-17-2009 |
20090312655 | Electrostatic discharge protection for analog component of wrist-worn device - A heart rate monitor with analog and digital input mechanisms is provided with electro static discharge (ESD) protection which protects electrical components within the monitor. The heart rate monitor input mechanisms may include externally exposed sensors comprised of a conducting material, such as metal. The sensors may include push buttons, a dial, and one or more sensors for retrieving a heart rate signal, such as a case back for the monitor device. Internal circuitry such as an integrated circuit (IC) performs operations to provide time, a heart rate, and other information through a display. The ESD protection prevents any voltage discharge accumulating on the externally exposed sensors from reaching the one or more ICs and interrupting or negatively affecting performance of the monitor. | 12-17-2009 |