Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same

#The present inventions relate to portable monitoring devices, and method of operating and controlling same, wherein the portable monitoring devices include an altitude sensor, motion sensor and processing circuitry to calculate, assess and/or determine calorie burn and/or other activity-related quantities of the user (for example, a human or non-human animal such as a dog, cat or horse). In these aspects, the present inventions employ the altitude sensor data and the motion sensor data to calculate, assess and/or determine the calorie burn and/or other activity-related quantities of the user (for example, number of steps and/or stairs, number of stair flights, elevation gain/loss from ambulatory and/or non-ambulatory locomotion, absolute elevation, elevation and/or activity points, activity intensity, distance traveled and/or pace, number of swim strokes and/or kicks, strokes per lap, lap time, pace and/or distance, number of pedal rotations of a bicycle, arm or wheel rotation of a wheelchair, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate, stress levels, skin temperature, body temperature). In the following disclosure, use of the term “activity” includes sedentary and nonsedentary activities. As such, the present inventions also may be used to monitor activities related to sleeping, lying, sitting, and standing stationary and may provide corresponding metrics (for example, time asleep, the onset, duration, and number of awakenings while attempting to sleep, the time spent in various stages of sleep, sleep latency, sleep efficiency and other sleep quality parameters, the presence of sleep apnea and other diagnostic measures, time spent in a prone non-standing state, and resting heart rate).

#In other aspects, the portable monitoring device of the present inventions may include a physiological sensor, in addition to the altitude sensor, motion sensor and processing circuitry. In these aspects, the present inventions employ the physiological sensor data, altitude sensor data and motion sensor data to calculate, assess and/or determine the calorie burn and/or such other activity-related quantities of the user.

#In certain aspects the processing circuitry is partially or wholly disposed external to the portable monitoring device wherein the external processing circuitry receives partially processed or “raw” sensor data. Here, the external processing circuitry partially or wholly calculates, assesses and/or determines the calorie burn and/or other activity-related quantities of the user.

#In the course of the detailed description to follow, reference will be made to the attached drawings. These drawings show different aspects of the present inventions and, where appropriate, reference numerals illustrating like structures, components, materials and/or elements in different figures are labeled similarly. It is understood that various combinations of the structures, components, and/or elements, other than those specifically shown, are contemplated and are within the scope of the present inventions.

#Moreover, there are many inventions described and illustrated herein. The present inventions are neither limited to any single aspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of such aspects and/or embodiments. Moreover, each of the aspects of the present inventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may be employed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects of the present inventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake of brevity, certain permutations and combinations are not discussed and/or illustrated separately herein.

#FIGS. 1A-1L are block diagram representations of exemplary portable monitoring devices, according to at least certain aspects of certain embodiments of the present inventions, wherein the portable monitoring devices, according to at least certain aspects of certain embodiments of the present inventions, include processing circuitry, one or more altitude sensors, one or more motion sensors and, in certain embodiments, one or more physiological sensors, one or more mode sensors, transmitter circuitry and/or receiver circuitry;

#Again, there are many inventions described and illustrated herein. The present inventions are neither limited to any single aspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of such aspects and/or embodiments. Each of the aspects of the present inventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may be employed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects of the present inventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake of brevity, many of those combinations and permutations are not discussed separately herein.

#There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present inventions are directed to portable monitoring devices, and method of operating and controlling same, which monitor, calculate, determine and/or detect energy and/or calorie “burn” due to physical activity of the user (for example, a human or non-human animal) and/or other activity-related metrics. The portable monitoring devices of the present inventions include an altitude sensor, motion sensor and processing circuitry to calculate, assess and/or determine the calorie burn of the user and/or other activity-related metrics. (See, for example, FIG. 1A). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the portable monitoring device (including the one or more altitude sensors and/or motion sensors) is affixed to the user during operation wherein the housing of the device includes a physical size and shape that facilitates coupling to the user, for example, the body of the user (such as, for example, arm, wrist, angle, waist and/or foot) and allows the user to perform normal or typical user activities (including, for example, exercise of all kinds and type) without hindering the user from performing such activities. The portable monitoring device may include a mechanism (for example, a clip, strap and/or tie) that facilitates coupling or affixing the device to the user during such normal or typical user activities.

#Briefly, during operation, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of the altitude and/or changes in altitude of the user. The motion sensor generates data which is representative of motion of the user. The processing circuitry, using (i) data which is representative of the altitude and/or changes in altitude and (ii) data which is representative of the motion of the user, determines, calculates, assesses, estimates and/or detects energy and/or calorie “burn” of the user. (See, FIG. 2).