IP Library Granted Patent US 8,436,810
Granted Patent B2
US 8,436,810 · App. 12/293,115 · Granted May 7, 2013

Indication of the condition of a user

Inventors: Geert Langereis (Eindhoven, NL); Evert Jan Van Loenen (Eindhoven, NL); Ralph Kurt (Eindhoven, NL); David Paul Walker (Redhill Surrey, GB); Steffen Reymann (Redhill, GB)
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,436,810
App. No.
12/293,115
Granted
May 7, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wearable electronic device such as a wrist watch ( 60 ) is supplied with conventional clock with two pointers ( 32,33 ). The device displays a parameter indicative of how “cool” the wearer has been over the past period as a function of time, using the time axis of one of the pointers ( 32,33 ). “Coolness” can be based on the measurement of related physiological parameters like heart-rate, body temperature, movement, skin resistance or muscle activity. “Coolness” of a person is understood as being the ability to cope with stress. Therefore, the stability of physiological parameters can be used to derive a signal for the subjective trait called “coolness”. All physiological parameters can be measured by sensors ( 10 ) in the watch ( 60 ) or in the strap ( 50 ). The invention is used as a gadget for self expression and emotional feedback.

Claims (25)

1. An apparatus for displaying time of a type using at least a rotatable pointer on a dial with a circular time axis, and further being adapted for indicating an emotional condition of a user thereof, the apparatus comprising:

sensing means for sensing at least one physiological parameter of the user; and

display means concurrently displaying (i) time and (ii) a single indicator representative of the emotional condition of the user derived from a stability of the at least one sensed physiological parameter as a function of time, wherein the time and the single indicator use the circular time axis of the rotatable pointer, and

wherein displaying the single indicator includes displaying within an outer circle of the dial a current value and a plurality of past values of the single indicator for a predetermined period of time that is selectable between a first mode that uses a twelve hour time scale of the circular time axis and a second mode that uses a one hour time scale of the circular time axis.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is 12 hours.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is 1 hour.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises processing means adapted for determining a user's average or normal value for the single indicator derived from the stability of the at least one sensed physiological parameter and calculating a difference between a current value of the single indicator and the user's average or normal value and wherein the display means are further adapted for displaying the difference.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the connections between the sensing means, the processing means and the display means is by means of wireless RF.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is incorporated in a wearable electronic device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the wearable electronic device is a wrist watch.

8. A system comprising an apparatus for displaying time of a type using at least a rotating pointer on a dial with a circular time axis, and further being adapted for indicating an emotional condition of a user thereof, the apparatus comprising:

sensing means for sensing at least one physiological parameter of the user;

display means being adapted for concurrently displaying (i) time and (ii) a single indicator representative of the emotional condition of the user derived from a stability of the at least one physiological parameter as a function of time, wherein the time and the single indicator use the circular time axis of the rotating pointer; and

processing means for processing the at least one sensed physiological parameter, the processing means being part of a server, and wherein the apparatus further comprises communication means for communicating with the server,

wherein displaying the single indicator includes displaying within an outer circle of the dial a current value and a plurality of as values of the single indicator for a predetermined period of time that is selectable between a first mode that uses a twelve hour time scale of the circular time axis and a second mode that uses a one hour time scale of the circular time axis.

9. A method comprising the following steps

displaying time by an apparatus using at least a rotatable pointer on a dial with a circular time axis, and

indicating an emotional condition of a user of the apparatus comprising the further steps of:

sensing at least one physiological parameter of the user; and

concurrently displaying (i) time and (ii) a single indicator representative of the emotional condition of the user derived from a stability of the at least one sensed physiological parameter as a function of time, wherein the time and the single indicator use the circular time axis of the rotatable pointer, and

wherein the displaying the single indicator includes displaying within an outer circle of the dial a current value and a plurality of past values of the single indicator for a predetermined period of time that is selectable between a first mode that uses a twelve hour time scale of the circular time axis and a second mode that uses a one hour time scale of the circular time axis.

10. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program code means adapted to perform the following steps, when said program is run on a computer:

processing sensed physiological parameters of a user; and

concurrently displaying (i) a time and (ii) a single indicator representative of an emotional condition of the user derived from a stability of the at least one sensed physiological parameter as a function of time, wherein the time and the single indicator use a circular time axis of a rotatable pointer on a dial with the circular time axis used for displaying time, and

wherein the displaying the single indicator includes displaying within an outer circle of the dial a current value and a plurality of past values of the single indicator for a predetermined period of time that is selectable between a first mode that uses a twelve hour time scale of the circular time axis and a second mode that uses a one hour time scale of the circular time axis.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2008
From: BRUNNER, KLEMENS; WEIJERS, ALDEGONDA LUCIA; SWEEGERS, NORBERTUS ANTONIUS MARIA; VISSER, CORNELIS GERARDUS
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N V
Reel/Frame 021534/0344 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2008
From: LANGEREIS, GEERT; VAN LOENEN, EVERT JAN; KURT, RALPH; WALKER, DAVID PAUL; REYMANN, STEFFEN
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N V
Reel/Frame 021534/0954 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 06111475 · Mar 21, 2006 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090128487A1 · May 21, 2009