Dynamic operation of optical heart rate sensors
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsVinod L. Hingorani, Haithem Albadawi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical heart rate sensor includes an optical source configured to illuminate one or more blood vessels through a user's skin, an optical sensor configured to measure reflected illumination from the blood vessels, and one or more energy storage cells. A controller operates the optical source and optical sensor at a first rate of energy consumption during a first condition, and operates the optical source and optical sensor at a second rate of energy consumption during a second condition.
Claims16
An optical heart rate sensor, comprising:
- an optical source configured to illuminate one or more blood vessels through a user's skin;
- an optical sensor configured to measure reflected illumination from the blood vessels;
- and
- a storage machine holding instructions executable by a logic machine to:
- determine a heart rate of the user over time based on signals output by the optical sensor;
- execute a programmed workout application having a workout schedule including two or more workout segments;
- dynamically operate the optical source and optical sensor at a first rate of energy consumption based on the workout schedule indicating that a first workout segment of the two or more workout segments has begun;
- and
- a period of time after completion of the first workout segment, dynamically operate the optical source and optical sensor at a second rate of energy consumption based on the workout schedule indicating that a second workout segment of the two or more workout segments has replaced the first workout segment.
A method for a determining a heart rate, comprising:
- illuminating one or more blood vessels through a user's skin with an optical source configured to pulse on and off at a pulsation frequency;
- measuring reflected illumination from the one or more blood vessels with an optical sensor;
- and
- dynamically adjusting the pulsation frequency of the optical source based on a downstream application, but not based on a motion signal, the downstream application configured to track a preprogrammed workout including two or more workout segments, and further configured to dynamically increase the pulsation frequency of the optical source based on receiving a signal indicating that first workout segment of the two or more workout segments has begun, and, following a period of time after completion of the first workout segment, to dynamically adjust the pulsation frequency of the optical source based on the preprogrammed workout indicating that a second workout segment of the two or more workout segments has replaced the first workout segment.
An optical heart rate sensor, comprising:
- a user interface configured to receive input indicating a programmed workout including two or more segments;
- an optical source configured to illuminate one or more blood vessels through a user's skin, and further configured to pulse on and off with a pulsation schedule dictated by the programmed workout, the pulsation schedule pulsing the optical source on and off at a first pulsation frequency based on receiving a signal indicating that a first segment of the two or more segments has begun and pulsing the optical source on and off at a second, different, pulsation frequency based on receiving a signal indicating that a second segment of the two or more segments has begun;
- an optical sensor configured to measure illumination from the one or more blood vessels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.