Versatile sensors with data fusion functionality

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for identifying with a single, small, intelligent activity monitor a particular type of activity from among a plurality of different activities. The monitor may include a multi-axis accelerometer and microcontroller configured to combine and process accelerometer data so as to generate features representative of an activity. The features may be processed to identify a particular activity (e.g., running, biking, swimming) from among a plurality of different activities that may include activities not performed by a human subject. An intelligent activity monitor may be configured to operate as a versatile sensor, or to operate in combination with a versatile sensor, to further receive and process physiological data and compute a fitness metric for a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fitness sensing system configured to be supported by a subject, the fitness sensing system comprising:
 an intelligent activity monitor comprising an accelerometer;   a heart-rate sensor; and   a processor in communication with the accelerometer and heart-rate sensor, wherein the processor is configured to process data received from the accelerometer and heart-rate sensor to compute a fitness metric F m  value that comprises a ratio of a pace P of an activity performed by the subject and a heart-rate H of the subject performing the activity.   
     
     
         2 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a blood oxygenation sensor, wherein F m  further comprises a blood oxygenation level O of the subject performing the activity. 
     
     
         3 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a respiratory sensor, wherein F m  further comprises a respiratory rate R of the subject performing the activity. 
     
     
         4 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a respiratory sensor; and   a blood oxygenation sensor, wherein F m  is equivalent to the following expression:   
       
         
           
             
               β 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 P 
                 
                   R 
                   × 
                   O 
                   × 
                   H 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       where R represents a respiratory rate of the subject performing the activity, O represents a blood oxygenation level of the subject performing the activity, and β is a proportionality constant. 
     
     
         5 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the blood oxygenation sensor comprises at least one light emitter. 
     
     
         6 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the respiratory sensor comprises at least one acoustic sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a blood pressure sensor, wherein F m  further comprises a blood pressure of the subject performing the activity. 
     
     
         8 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein F m  further comprises a body mass index. 
     
     
         9 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a metabolic rate or caloric burn rate of the subject performing the activity and F m  further comprises the metabolic rate and/or caloric burn rate. 
     
     
         10 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein P represents an equivalent pace calculated from a different activity using metabolic equivalents. 
     
     
         11 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fitness metric is representative of a VO 2  max value. 
     
     
         12 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fitness metric is representative of a standardized health index value. 
     
     
         13 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fitness sensing system is disposed in a single wearable band. 
     
     
         14 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to indicate a progress toward activity goals. 
     
     
         15 . The fitness sensing system of  claim 14 , wherein the display comprises a plurality of light emitters arranged in a circle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a fitness sensing system configured to be supported by a subject, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, acceleration data from an accelerometer of the fitness sensing system;   receiving, by the processor, heart-rate data from a heart-rate sensor of the fitness sensing system;   computing a fitness metric F m  value that comprises a ratio of a pace P of an activity performed by the subject and a heart-rate H of the subject performing the activity.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, blood oxygenation data from a blood oxygenation sensor, wherein F m  further comprises a blood oxygenation level O of the subject performing the activity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, respiratory data from a respiratory sensor, wherein F m  further comprises a respiratory rate R of the subject performing the activity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor, respiratory data from a respiratory sensor; and   receiving, by the processor, blood oxygenation data from a blood oxygenation sensor, wherein F m  is equivalent to the following expression:   
       
         
           
             
               β 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 P 
                 
                   R 
                   × 
                   O 
                   × 
                   H 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       where R represents a respiratory rate of the subject performing the activity, O represents a blood oxygenation level of the subject performing the activity, and β is a proportionality constant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving, by the processor, blood pressure data from a blood pressure sensor, wherein F m  further comprises a blood pressure of the subject performing the activity. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein computing F m  is further based on a body mass index for the subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 calculating a metabolic rate or caloric burn rate of the subject performing the activity; and   computing F m  is further based on the metabolic rate and/or caloric burn rate.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising computing an equivalent pace for P from a different activity using metabolic equivalents. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising computing the fitness metric to be representative of a VO 2  max value. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising computing the fitness metric to be representative of a standardized health index value. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising indicating a stage of a disease based upon the fitness metric. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising indicating a progress towards a vigorous activity goal recommended by the Center for Disease Control.