Back to results
US 2019/0319067 A1Published application
Athletic Activity Monitoring Device with Energy Capture
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSummer Schneider, Vikram Malhotra, Marcus Ward, Jerry Wiant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects relate to an energy harvesting device adapted for use by an athlete while exercising. The device may utilize a mass of phase-change material to store heat energy, the stored heat energy subsequently converted into electrical energy by one or more thermoelectric generator modules. The energy harvesting device may be integrated into an item of clothing, and such that the mass of phase change material may store heat energy as the item of clothing is laundered.
Claims20
An activity monitoring device, comprising:
- a flexible support structure comprising a first end spaced apart from a second end
- a first coupling mechanism at the first end configured to be removably-coupled to a second coupling mechanism at the second end;
- the support structure further comprising a first side configured to be exposed to an external environment, and a second side, opposite the first side along a second axis, the second side configured to be positioned proximate to an area of skin of a user;
- an activity monitoring circuit coupled to the flexible support structure;
- at least two series-connected thermoelectric generator modules configured to generate and transfer electrical energy to a processor and an activity monitoring circuit,
- wherein the at least two series-connected thermoelectric generator modules are configured to generate electrical energy in response to a thermal gradient between the first side and the second side;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor perform at least:
- obtaining sensor data from the activity monitoring circuit;
- determining that the sensor data is indicative of a threshold level of athletic movement, and in response, causing the device to enter into a first active state;
- based upon the sensor data obtained from the device while in the first active state, calculating athletic measurements based upon a user's athletic movements;
- and
- switching the device to a second active state, and based upon the sensor data from the device while in the second active state, calculating athletic measurements based upon the user's athletic movements.
10 more elements
An activity monitoring device
- a flexible support structure comprising a plurality of individual rigid interconnected components, wherein at least a first and a second individual interconnected components of the plurality of components each comprise a first end spaced apart from a second end along a first axis, the support structure further comprising a first side configured to be exposed to an external environment, and a second side, opposite the first side along a second axis, the second side configured to be positioned proximate to an area of skin of a user;
- an activity monitoring circuit coupled to the flexible support structure;
- at least two series-connected thermoelectric generator modules configured to generate and transfer electrical energy to a processor and the activity monitoring circuit, wherein the at least two series-connected thermoelectric generator modules are configured to generate electrical energy in response to a thermal gradient between the first side and the second side;
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor perform at least:
- obtaining sensor data from the activity monitoring circuit;
- and
- based upon the sensor data, calculating athletic measurements based upon a user's athletic movements;
- and
- a transceiver configured to automatically transmit the calculated athletic measurements to a mobile device.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.