# US 10,311,687 B2 · Enhancing controlling of haptic output > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,687 B2 - Document ID: US10311687B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/347,436 - Filed: 2016-11-09 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-24 - Assignees: Polar Electro Oy - Applicants: Polar Electro Oy - Inventors: Tommy Granlund; Mikko Tuunanen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311687B2 ## CPC - G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices} - A61B 5/7405: {using sound} - A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation} - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS} - A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches - A61B 2562/0271: Thermal or temperature sensors - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method in an activity tracking apparatus configured to be worn by a user includes obtaining, by the activity tracking apparatus, motion data from one or more sensors, wherein the motion data characterizes motion of the activity tracking apparatus; and controlling, based on the motion data, characteristics of a vibration causing a haptic output, wherein the haptic output is configured to be output as a response to an event on the activity tracking apparatus. Corresponding apparatus and computer programs are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method in an activity tracking apparatus configured to be worn by a user, the method comprising: obtaining, by the activity tracking apparatus, motion data from one or more sensors, the motion data characterizing motion of the activity tracking apparatus; and controlling, based on the motion data, characteristics of a vibration causing a haptic output, wherein the haptic output is configured to be output as a response to an event on the activity tracking apparatus, wherein the activity tracking apparatus comprises a plurality of modes, the characteristics of the vibration being configurable in each of the plurality of modes respectively, wherein the controlling of the characteristics of the vibration causing the haptic output comprises controlling, in a first mode of the plurality of modes, the vibration such that the vibration is produced substantially between signature points during a first part of a motion cycle of the activity tracking apparatus, the motion of the activity tracking apparatus changing direction most significantly during the motion cycle at the signature points, wherein an absolute value of acceleration of the activity tracking apparatus during the first part of the motion cycle is less than an absolute value of acceleration of the activity tracking apparatus during a second part of the motion cycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration is produced by a haptic member of the activity tracking apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the vibration is produced by the haptic member such that the haptic output is transferred via a body, a display, and/or a fastening strap of the activity tracking apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the vibration causes at least one element of the activity tracking apparatus to produce audible sound according to the vibration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are comprised in the activity tracking apparatus, and wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of an acceleration sensor, gyroscope, magnetometer, satellite positioning circuitry, radio communication circuitry. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the characteristics of the vibration causing the haptic output comprises controlling at least one of amplitude of the vibration, frequency of the vibration, sequence of the vibration, duration of the vibration, dimension of the vibration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the activity tracking apparatus comprises a first mode and a second mode, and wherein the characteristics of the vibration is configurable in the first mode and in the second mode respectively. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the controlling the characteristics of the vibration comprises controlling the vibration such that the amplitude of the vibration is higher when the activity tracking apparatus is in the first mode compared with the activity tracking apparatus being in the second mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the activity tracking apparatus enters the first mode in order to monitor physical training of a user of the activity tracking apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the first mode comprises a plurality of physical training modes, and wherein the characteristics of the vibration is configurable in each of the plurality of physical training modes respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the characteristics of the vibration causing the haptic output comprises controlling, in a first mode of the plurality of modes, the vibration such that the vibration is produced in a sequence, and wherein the produced vibration sequence comprises one or more vibration subsets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: controlling the vibration sequence such that the one or more vibration subsets are produced according to a target motion cycle sequence. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the target motion cycle sequence represents at least one of a target running cadence, a target swimming cadence, a target cycling cadence. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory comprising a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause an activity tracking apparatus to perform operations comprising: obtaining motion data from one or more sensors, the motion data characterizing motion of the activity tracking apparatus; and controlling, based on the motion data, characteristics of a vibration causing a haptic output, wherein the haptic output is configured to be output as a response to an event on the activity tracking apparatus, wherein the activity tracking apparatus comprises a plurality of modes, the characteristics of the vibration being configurable in each of the plurality of modes respectively, wherein the controlling of the characteristics of the vibration causing the haptic output comprises controlling, in a first mode of the plurality of modes, the vibration such that the vibration is produced substantially between signature points during a first part of a motion cycle of the activity tracking apparatus, the motion of the activity tracking apparatus changing direction most significantly during the motion cycle at the signature points, wherein an absolute value of acceleration of the activity tracking apparatus during the first part of the motion cycle is less than an absolute value of acceleration of the activity tracking apparatus during a second part of the motion cycle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is the activity tracking apparatus, the apparatus further comprising: a haptic member configured to produce the vibration causing the haptic output. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controlling the characteristics of the vibration causing the haptic output comprises controlling at least one of amplitude of the vibration, frequency of the vibration, sequence of the vibration, duration of the vibration, dimension of the vibration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controlling the characteristics of the vibration comprises controlling the vibration such that the amplitude of the vibration is higher when the activity tracking apparatus is in a first mode of the plurality of modes compared with the activity tracking apparatus being in a second mode of the plurality of modes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the activity tracking apparatus enters the first mode in order to monitor physical training of a user of the activity tracking apparatus. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by an activity tracking apparatus cause the activity tracking apparatus to perform operations comprising: obtaining motion data from one or more sensors, the motion data characterizing motion of the activity tracking apparatus; and controlling, based on the motion data, characteristics of a vibration causing a haptic output, wherein the haptic output is configured to be output as a response to an event on the activity tracking apparatus, wherein the activity tracking apparatus comprises a plurality of modes, the characteristics of the vibration being configurable in each of the plurality of modes respectively, wherein the controlling of the characteristics of the vibration causing the haptic output comprises controlling, in a first mode of the plurality of modes, the vibration such that the vibration is produced substantially between signature points during a first part of a motion cycle of the activity tracking apparatus, the motion of the activity tracking apparatus changing direction most significantly during the motion cycle at the signature points, wherein an absolute value of acceleration of the activity tracking apparatus during the first part of the motion cycle is less than an absolute value of acceleration of the activity tracking apparatus during a second part of the motion cycle.