WO2007033768A2

WO2007033768A2 - Pulse watch

Info

Publication number: WO2007033768A2
Application number: PCT/EP2006/008686
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patricio Roschk; Werner Meternek; Ernst Merk; Marco BÜHLER
Original assignee: Beurer Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2005-09-24
Filing date: 2006-09-06
Publication date: 2007-03-29
Also published as: WO2007033768A3; DE102005045689A1; DE102005045689B4; EP1931245A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a pulse watch for measuring the pulse rate, comprising a pulse sensor (10), a registering part (ST2) with a data processing part (22) and a display unit having a visual display (30). Transmission of information to the user is facilitated by the fact that the display unit comprises an intermittent or intensity-varying display arrangement, the display frequency varying in the same direction depending on the pulse rate.

Description

Heart rate monitor

The invention relates to a heart rate monitor for measuring the cardiac pulse rate with a pulse sensor, a registration part with data processing part and a display device with visual display.

Such a heart rate monitor, ie a device for measuring the heart rate, in particular during exercise, usually has, as indicated in DE 90 16 970 U1, a chest belt with a pulse sensor arranged in the region of the heart for recording the cardiac pulse rate and converting the acquired pulse rate Signals to these preferably telemetrically transmitted to a receiving part and there convert it into an optical and / or acoustic display for the user. The receiving part is preferably similar to a wristwatch in a unit arranged on the wrist and supplies the received data for further processing to a logic circuit, in particular a processor, from which the data are optionally supplied via further processing components and a suitable driver of the display device on the wrist part. The optical display has, for example, an LCD display unit with which display symbols such as numbers, letters and pictograms can be variably displayed. In this way, the changing heart rate can be displayed numerically at short intervals. The wrist part also generally has a memory device in which pulse data, for example, can also be stored in connection with other data, such as date and time, and data recorded via a manual input part or supplied via a digital input part can also be recorded Data processing can be included. Alternatively, DE 90 16 970 U1 proposes not to arrange a processing part in a wrist part, but in a portion of the chest belt itself, so that telemetri- see data transmission between transmitting part of the chest belt and receiving part is omitted to ensure a more undisturbed data transmission.

A heart rate monitor without a wrist part is also described in EP 0 117 330 A2.

Further pulse watches are shown for example in DE 693 19 639 T2 and DE 299 10 633 U1.

In such heart rate monitors, the information presentation is not always convenient for the user.

The invention has for its object to provide a heart rate monitor, with the changing processes in connection with the pulse rate of the user are better perceived. This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. It is provided according to this that the display device has an intermittent or intensity-varying display arrangement which changes in its display frequency as a function of the heart pulse frequency in the same direction.

As a result of the same direction change of the intermittent or changing in intensity display as a function of the heart rate, the user is constantly informed about the height of the pulse rate and their rate of change so that he can always recognize the physical effort and adjust it in the desired manner.

In this case, various design possibilities exist in that the intermittent or intensity-varying display arrangement has at least one optical, acoustic and / or tactile display means, such as a vibrator.

A favorable indicator is that the optical display means is at least one LED or a flashing controlled, self-luminous area of a display area, resulting in favorable Lichtabstrahlverhältnisse, so that the display is well perceived even with different location of the display means and even in low light conditions without Another good visibility results.

An advantageous construction of the heart rate monitor is that the pulse sensor is arranged in a chest belt, in which a data processing part and a transmitting part are arranged, and that the display device is at least partially disposed in or on the locally separate from the chest belt registration part. Here, an advantageous embodiment is that the registration part is arranged in a wrist unit, so that a closer look at the display for reading a more accurate information is easily possible.

Individual settings and adaptability to physiological requirements of a user are facilitated by the fact that a manual input part, a receiving part for pulse signals detected by the pulse sensor, a memory device and a display driver are arranged in the registration part and that a pulse rate signal part is connected to the data processing part the on-display arrangement is activated intermittently or intensity-varying as a function of the pulse rate.

Various ways of optimizing the visibility of the display result from the fact that the frequency of the intermittent control of the display arrangement is selected to be directly proportional to the pulse rate of equal, smaller or greater frequency or that the frequency or the intensity of the control is not proportional, eg is selected in exponential or logarithmic dependence on the pulse rate. Here, a defined center of the pulse rate (for example, 120 pulses / min.) Can be selected, below which the drive frequency is lower and above which the drive frequency is higher than the pulse rate. The display frequency may be e.g. below the center to an absolute rest rate of heart rate (of, for example, 40 pulses / min) a low ratio (display / pulse) of e.g. 1: 4 and over the middle a relatively high ratio of e.g. 4: 1 own.

A more differentiated information of the user is obtained in that the optical display means and its control are designed in such a way that in an adjustable or set range of acceptance of the pulse rate, the display glows green and red in a hazardous area outside the range of admissibility. In order to avoid as far as possible endangerment states of the user, there are further advantageous measures in that the data processing part is designed in such a way that it can detect anomalies of the pulse signals which lie in a predefined or predefinable anomaly region and can be displayed via the display device and / or in the memory device can be stored. Such an abnormality, for example arrhythmia of the cardiac pulse or changes in the ECG signal or an abnormal change in blood pressure, may be indicated by the pulse rate according to the risk zone, or deviating from the same or another display means.

An advantageous measure for clear information consists in the fact that even with anomalies of the pulse signals, the optical display means is controlled so that it shines red. For example, the red display can be switched to permanent display in case of abnormality. It is also conceivable, instead of green, to choose the color yellow for the normal training area.

Advantageous further differentiation possibilities of the information presentation are that between the admissibility area and the danger area and / or in a precursor of the anomaly area a predetermined or predeterminable warning area is defined, in which the correspondingly formed optical display means is controlled such that it shines yellow.

In order to exclude as completely as possible error sources of the pulse rate detection or display, another embodiment is that it is provided with a test device with a test program for testing its functionality and that the test result can be displayed by means of the display device.

In order to determine long-term changes safely and to be able to respond appropriately eg by adapting setting values or a training behavior, There are further measures in that the heart rate monitor via a digital input part for data input from the outside with an external computer in data transmission connection can be brought and / or that data from the heart rate monitor for further processing to an external PC can be read. The external computer, such as a PC, may be configured to also output data to other heart rate monitors via appropriate encryption or connectors. This measure can be advantageous, for example, when data is to be transferred from a predecessor model to a successor model, or when a higher-level master clock (for example from a trainer) logs a recorded training run or the like (log-file) as a prerequisite to other persons ( and thus other watches).

The user or observer's assessment of the physical condition of the user is further facilitated by the fact that the heart rate monitor is designed to acquire, process and display additional information.

In this case, advantageous embodiments are that the additional information comprise detection data acquired with at least one additional detector, additional data entered by means of the manual input part, a digital input part or the receiving part, and additional display data.

Furthermore, favorable conditions for the perception of the information result from the fact that the detection data comprise brightness data detected by means of a photodetector with which the display brightness can be adapted to external conditions for optimizing the visual perceptibility or a reversal of the display device to an acoustic or tactile display ,

The accuracy of the information and reliability of the statements is facilitated by the fact that the detection data temperature data, barometric pressure data and / or humidity data and / or performance data and that the detection data can be displayed and / or processed with the data processing part.

Furthermore, there are advantageous embodiments for the perception of information in that the display device is provided with at least one attached to a pair of glasses or clothing display element.

A further advantageous embodiment is that the display device is also designed to display at least part of a symbolism.

For the reliability of the operation, the measures are also advantageous in that a power saving function is provided in such a way that when heart pulse frequencies are received within set limits within a permissible range over a longer period of time, the display arrangement switches to a power saving mode and this state is indicated by a power saving type of display. Here, the power-saving mode may be indicated, for example, by an intermittent short flash-like light (flash light) with a long pause.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a first embodiment of a pulse watch in a schematic representation with arranged in different stages components for detection, processing and display of the pulse rate,

Fig. 2 to 6 different embodiments of extensions of a heart rate monitor of FIG. 1 in a schematic representation. As shown in FIG. 1, the beat rate of the heart 1 is detected by means of a pulse sensor 10 and via several signal or data processing stages for displaying the information on a display device with eg a visual display 30 and an intermittent optical display in the form of a Pulsblinkein- 31 brought. The pulse sensor 10 is located in a first stage ST1, such as a chest strap near the heart, to detect the pulse rate, for example by means of electrodes similar to an ECG signal and forward to a data processing part 11 and a subsequent transmitting part 13, which is also in of level ST1.

The signals processed in a suitable manner in the data processing part 11 and converted in the receiving part 13 are transmitted from the stage 1 either via a transmission line, but preferably telemetrically wireless to a receiving part 21 of a second stage ST2 in the form of a registration part, for example a hand-held unit. In the second stage ST2, further data processing takes place in a data processing part 22, in particular a microcomputer or microcontroller, which has an internal or external memory device 26, a display driver 25, pulse rate signal parts 27, 28 and optionally 29 and a further driver 23 for the transmission of processed data and partly for the exchange of data. Further, in step ST2, a manual input part 20 is arranged to manually set setting values, for example, a lower and an upper limit of an allowable range of the pulse rate. If the pulse rate falls below the lower limit or exceeds the upper limit, a suitable display signal is output in a manner known per se, for example an intermittent beep. In a filter part 24, for example, interference signals can be filtered out so that they do not influence the pulse rate to be displayed as much as possible. The manually entered data as well as data processed with the data processing part 22 are stored to the required extent in the memory device 26. The pulse rate signal parts 27, 28, 29 form intermittent display signals whose frequency increases or decreases in the same direction as the pulse rate, to drive a display means, in the present case the pulse blinking unit 31, intermittently to output an indication signal. In this exemplary embodiment, the pulse-blinking unit 31 has at least one light-emitting diode which responds exactly to the activation signal and is also clearly visible from unfavorable angles of view and in different light conditions. The pulse blinking unit 31 is positioned, for example, in a housing of the arm hinge unit. Alternatively, the pulse blinking unit 31 can also be arranged in the display 30, which is designed, for example, as an LCD display element, as a special, self-illuminating display area. The display part forms a third stage ST3 of the heart rate monitor. An alternative embodiment of the intermittent display with the Pulsblinkeinheit 31 is that it is designed as an acoustic or tactile, in particular based on vibration display means whose display frequency also increases or decreases in the same direction with the pulse rate.

The frequency of the intermittent display which changes with the pulse rate is directly proportional to the frequency of the pulse and may correspond to the heart pulse frequency or may be greater or less than a predetermined ratio. Such a ratio can be established with the signal part 28, which is designed as a signal conversion part. Other signal transformations for a display frequency varying in the same direction with the pulse rate can also be generated, for which purpose a signal conversion part 29 is provided. For example, the dependency of the display frequency on the pulse rate can be predefined exponentially or logarithmically or can be preset in a disproportionately higher or lower order by a defined mean value, as described above.

In addition, an embodiment variant is that the intermittent display means, such as the pulse blinking unit 31, is formed in a spectacle frame or on a garment. For a garment is particularly suitable also an organic light-emitting diode which can be attached at a suitable position. The transmission of the drive signal with the changing pulse rate can be effected by a projection or via a guided to the position of the display means line.

A further variant consists in that the drive signal is processed in such a way that the display intensity increases or decreases in the same direction as the pulse rate, whereby the abovementioned linear, exponential or logarithmic dependence or another suitable dependency can likewise be selected.

In addition, a further embodiment is that by means of the data processing part 22 and the associated circuit parts and / or implimented programs also abnormalities of the pulse rate of other vital parameters, e.g. of the blood pressure, can be detected and the visual display 30 and / or the pulse-blinking unit 31 can be controlled as a function of an occurring anomaly / are. The display of the abnormality with the display means, for example the pulse blinking unit 31, has the advantage that it can be perceived without difficulty and quickly when it occurs, so that the user or an observer can react appropriately.

The display means with the at least one display element can be designed in monochrome or with a green display for a permissible range of the pulse rate and a red area for undershooting or exceeding the admissibility range or for the occurrence of an abnormality in the pulse rate or heart rate or in another vitality parameter. With another yellow color, transition areas between permissible and impermissible pulse rate ranges or, in a preliminary stage, an abnormality can be signaled. With acoustic display there is a corresponding possibility for more differentiated information including an anomaly in a signaling of two or three areas on the pitch. Further, for various users, individual data may be input to the memory device 26, for example via the manual input part 20 or a digital input part 211, such as a computer connected externally, as shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a transmitting / receiving part 13 'or 21' is provided in comparison with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 in the step ST1 and in the step ST2, so that transmitting and receiving possibilities exist on both sides. Furthermore, a digital data input part 211 is shown, with which setting data or programs or program changes, in particular in the data processing part 22, can be made, for example, by an external computer. Conversely, data can be read out via the digital interface 211 if an output part is assigned to it.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, further detectors are associated with the stage ST2, namely a CO2 measuring part 212, an O2 measuring part 213, a temperature sensor 214, a humidity sensor 215, a pressure sensor 216 and a brightness sensor 217, with which the data processing part 22 and optionally additional circuit parts corresponding additional information can be supplied, which can be set in relation to the detected pulse rate and thus brought to the evaluation and display.

For example, the limit values of the admissibility range can be varied with this additional information depending on the air pressure, the humidity and / or the temperature and / or the oxygen saturation or the CO2 content, or the dependency of the display frequency on the pulse rate can be different. By means of the brightness sensor 217, the display brightness, in particular of the pulse blinking unit 31, can be suitably controlled or regulated as a function of the ambient light, ie the display brightness becomes suitable for higher external brightness increased, while it can be lowered in the dark. Furthermore, a vital data acquisition 270 is provided, with which the physiological condition of the user can be detected and displayed, wherein also influence on the intermittent display in dependence on the pulse rate can be taken. The reliability of the vital data is thereby increased by the additional information with the at least partially present additional detectors 212 to 216.

Furthermore, the embodiment according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in the third stage ST3, that is to say the display part, contains the indicated display in a pair of glasses 32 and / or clothing 33, for example via a projection device, for example a laser diode 34 for projection can be used as a projection device. Also, glass fibers for transmission can be used.

Furthermore, the third stage ST3 may be equipped with an IR transmitting / receiving unit or similar wireless transmitting / receiving unit 36 for controlling further devices 40 arranged outside the heart rate monitor in a fourth stage ST4, such as an external computer, in particular PC, a transmission module for forwarding the data to a monitoring center, to an evaluation station or the like.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, in the first stage ST1 the data processing part 11 is followed by an A / D converter in order to already generate digital data of the pulse rate in the first stage ST1 and subsequently via the transmitting / receiving parts 13 ', 21'. to the second stage ST2 forward. In this embodiment, the digital data input part 211 is also provided in comparison with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, a test device 220 for testing the heart rate monitor is additionally provided in the second stage ST2, so that fault influences, which originate from the heart rate monitor, can be detected or excluded. Accordingly, the data processing part 22 is designed with the connected circuit parts and program parts, so that suitable test procedures can be run through and test results, in particular error states, can be stored and brought to the display. In this case, an alarm / warning device 221 is also provided in order to be able to deliver a corresponding warning indication if necessary in case of improper operation. The alarm / warning display can also be used for abnormalities in the pulse rate or the heart activity or other vital parameters.

Further, in the embodiment of Fig. 5 in the fourth stage ST4 for display in remote stations pulse flashing means 42, 43 are provided, which are controlled with prepared in the second stage ST2 signals of the pulse rate, for example via a further wireless transmitting unit. Also, a test result obtained by means of the test device 220 in the fourth stage ST4 is visually and alternatively or additionally acoustically displayable, in particular in a further viewing device 41, the wireless transmitting / receiving unit 36 serving for data transmission.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, an A / D converter 12 is provided in the first stage ST1 in comparison to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, and a digital data input 211 in the second stage ST2. The alarm / warning display device is omitted here as well as the pulse flashing means 42 in the fourth stage ST4.

The heart rate monitor can be equipped with additional additional information sources, which also affect the pulse rate variation and can be taken into account in the data processing for more detailed analysis, for example, with altitude measurement signals obtained via an attached altimeter. Accordingly, the programming of the data processing part and a Storage of data in the memory device 26 made to influence the display frequency and / or set values.

A further exemplary embodiment is that the heart rate monitor is supplied with occurrence force data, for example via a pressure sensor in a shoe, and displayed via the display part in step ST3.

Claims

1. Heart rate monitor for measuring the cardiac pulse rate with a pulse sensor (10), a registration part (ST2) with data processing part (22) and a display device with visual display (30), characterized in that the display device in one of its display frequency as a function of the heart rate in the same direction changing having intermittent or intensity varying display arrangement.

2. Heart rate monitor according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermittent or intensity-varying display arrangement has at least one optical, acoustic and / or a tactile display means.

3. Heart rate monitor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical display means is at least one light emitting diode (31) or a flashing controlled area of a display surface.

4. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulse sensor (10) in a chest belt (ST1) is arranged, in which a data processing part (11) and a transmitting part (13, 13 ') are arranged, and that the Display device is at least partially disposed in or on the locally separated from the chest strap (ST1) registration part (ST2).

5. Heart rate monitor according to claim 4, characterized in that the registration part (ST2) is arranged in a wrist unit.

6. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the registration part (ST2) a manual input part (20), a receiving part (21) for the pulse sensor (10) detected pulse signals, a memory device (26) and a display driver (25 ) are arranged and that with the data processing part (22) is a pulse rate signal part (27) is in communication, via which the display device is driven in response to the pulse rate intermittently or intensity varying.

7. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frequency of the intermittent control of the display arrangement is selected directly proportional to the pulse rate with the same, smaller or greater frequency or that the frequency or the intensity of the control in exponential or logarithmic dependence of the Pulse rate is selected or that the frequency of the control at a defined average pulse rate disproportionately lower and above the defined pulse rate disproportionately higher than the pulse rate is set or adjustable.

8. Heart rate monitor according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the optical display means and its control are designed in such a way that in an adjustable or adjusted range of admissibility the pulse rate is green and red in a hazardous area outside the permissible range.

9. Pulse clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data processing part (22) is designed such that anomalies of the pulse signals or other vital parameters can be determined with it, which are in a predetermined or predeterminable anomaly region, and can be displayed via the display device and / or in the memory device (26) are storable.

10. Heart rate monitor according to claim 9, characterized in that even in anomalies of the pulse signals or other vital parameters, the optical display means is driven so that it lights up red.

11. Heart rate monitor according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that between the admissibility range and the danger zone and / or in a precursor of the anomaly area, a predetermined or predeterminable warning range is set, in which the correspondingly formed optical display means is driven so that it yellow lights.

12. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a test device with a test program (220) for testing their functionality and that the test result can be displayed by means of the display device.

13. Pulse clock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be brought via a digital input part (221) for data input with an external computer in data transmission connection and / or that data from the heart rate monitor for further processing to an external PC can be read out.

14. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heart rate monitor for detecting, processing and displaying additional information is formed.

15. A heart rate monitor according to claim 14, characterized in that the additional information with at least one additional detector detected detection data, by means of the manual input part (20), a digital input part (211) or the receiving part (21, 21 ') input additional data and or include additional display data.

16. Heart rate monitor according to claim 15, characterized in that the detection data comprise brightness data detected by means of a photodetector, with which the display brightness can be adapted to external conditions for optimizing the visual perceptibility or a reversal of the display device to an acoustic or tactile display is feasible.

17. Heart rate monitor according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the detection data comprise temperature data, air pressure data and / or humidity data and / or occurrence force data and that the detection data can be displayed and / or processed by the data processing part.

18. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device is provided with at least one attached to a pair of glasses or clothing display element.

19. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device is also designed to display at least part of a symbolism.

20. Heart rate monitor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a power saving function is provided in such a way that when heart pulse frequencies are received for a long time only within a permissible range within set limits, the display device switches to a power saving mode and this Condition is indicated by a power-saving display mode.