IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,740,719
Granted Patent B2
US 12,740,719 · App. 17/957,345 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Techniques for heart rate detection

Inventors: Heidi Similä (Oulu, FI); Xi Zhang (Daly City, CA); Tero Juhani Vallius (Kontio, FI); Jussi Petteri Järvelä (Kempele, FI); Juha-Pekka Syrjälä (Oulu, FI); Tommi Heinonen (Oulu, FI); Pauli Ensio Tikkanen (Liminka, FI)
Assignee: Oura Health Oy
A61B5/02438A61B5/02433A61B5/7221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,740,719
App. No.
17/957,345
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for heart rate detection are described. A method may include receiving physiological data associated with the user, where the physiological data may include motion data and temperature data collected throughout a time interval via a wearable device associated with the user. The method may include determining a condition quality metric associated with the time interval based on the received motion data and temperature data. The condition quality metric may indicate a relative quality of the physiological data collected throughout the time interval for determination of heart rate measurements. The method may include sampling photoplethysmogram (PPG) data for the user via the wearable device based on the condition quality metric satisfying a threshold metric value and a timer satisfying a first threshold time duration. The method may include determining a heart rate measurement for the user based at least in part on the sampled PPG data.

Claims (56)

1 . A method for measuring heart rate for a user comprising:

receiving physiological data associated with the user, the physiological data comprising motion data and temperature data collected throughout a time interval via a wearable device associated with the user;

determining a condition quality metric associated with the time interval based at least in part on the received motion data and temperature data, the condition quality metric indicating a relative quality of the physiological data collected throughout the time interval for determination of heart rate measurements;

initiating sampling of photoplethysmogram (PPG) data for the user via the wearable device based at least in part on the condition quality metric satisfying a threshold metric value and an elapsed time since a previous sampling of PPG data satisfying a first threshold time duration; and

determining a heart rate measurement for the user based at least in part on the sampled PPG data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating sampling of the PPG data comprises:

acquiring a first PPG signal via a first pair of PPG sensors including at least a light-emitting diode configured to emit light within a visible spectrum;

acquiring a second PPG signal via a second pair of PPG sensors including at least an infrared diode; and

comparing a first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal and a second PPG quality metric associated with the second PPG signal, the first and second PPG quality metrics indicating relative qualities of the first and second PPG signals, respectively, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on the comparison.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

selecting one of the first or second PPG signal based at least in part on the comparison, wherein the heart rate measurement is determined based at least in part on the selected first or second PPG signal.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

selectively deactivating the other of the first or second PPG signal that was not selected, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on selectively deactivating the other of the first or second PPG signal.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

acquiring an additional PPG signal via one of the first or second pairs of PPG sensors associated with the selected one of the first or second PPG signals based at least in part on the selecting, wherein the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on the additional PPG signal.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

selectively activating the other of the first or second PPG signal that was not selected based at least in part on the additional PPG signal failing to satisfy a threshold quality metric; and

acquiring a third PPG signal via the other of the first or second PPG signal that was not selected based at least in part on activating the other of the first or second PPG signal that was not selected, wherein the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on the third PPG signal.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating sampling of the PPG data comprises:

acquiring a first PPG signal via a first pair of PPG sensors including at least an infrared diode; and

comparing a first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal to a threshold quality metric, the first PPG quality metric indicating a relative quality of the first PPG signal, respectively, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on the comparison.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

acquiring an additional PPG signal via the first pair of PPG sensors based at least in part on the first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal satisfying the threshold quality metric, wherein the heart rate measurement is determined based at least in part on the additional PPG signal.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

selectively activating a second pair of PPG sensors including at least a light-emitting diode configured to emit light within a visible spectrum based at least in part on the first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal failing to satisfy the threshold quality metric; and

acquiring a second PPG signal via the second pair of PPG sensors based at least in part on selectively activating the second pair of PPG sensors, wherein the heart rate measurement is determined based at least in part on the second PPG signal.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

selectively deactivating the first pair of PPG sensors based at least in part on the first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal failing to satisfy the threshold quality metric, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on selectively deactivating the first pair of PPG sensors.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a quantity of heart beats within the first PPG signal, wherein the first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal is based at least in part on the quantity of heart beats.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition quality metric satisfies the threshold metric value based at least in part on the motion data being less than or equal to a motion threshold, and the temperature data being greater than or equal to a temperature threshold.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating sampling of the PPG data comprises:

acquiring a first PPG signal throughout a first time interval; and

determining that a first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal satisfies a first threshold quality metric, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on the first PPG quality metric satisfying the first threshold quality metric.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

acquiring a second PPG signal throughout a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval;

determining that a second PPG quality metric associated with the second PPG signal fails to satisfy the first threshold quality metric; and

determining a second heart rate measurement for the user for the second time interval based at least in part on the second PPG quality metric satisfying a second threshold quality metric that is less than the first threshold quality metric.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises a wearable ring device.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device collects the physiological data from the user based on arterial blood flow.

17 . An apparatus for measuring heart rate for a user, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories coupled with the one or more processors; and

instructions stored in the one or more memories and executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:

receive physiological data associated with the user, the physiological data comprising motion data and temperature data collected throughout a time interval via a wearable device associated with the user;

determine a condition quality metric associated with the time interval based at least in part on the received motion data and temperature data, the condition quality metric indicating a relative quality of the physiological data collected throughout the time interval for determination of heart rate measurements;

initiate sampling of photoplethysmogram (PPG) data for the user via the wearable device based at least in part on the condition quality metric satisfying a threshold metric value and an elapsed time since a previous sampling of PPG data satisfying a first threshold time duration; and

determine a heart rate measurement for the user based at least in part on the sampled PPG data.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to initiate sampling of the PPG data are executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:

acquire a first PPG signal via a first pair of PPG sensors including at least a light-emitting diode configured to emit light within a visible spectrum;

acquire a second PPG signal via a second pair of PPG sensors including at least an infrared diode; and

compare a first PPG quality metric associated with the first PPG signal and a second PPG quality metric associated with the second PPG signal, the first and second PPG quality metrics indicating relative qualities of the first and second PPG signals, respectively, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on the comparison.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:

select one of the first or second PPG signal based at least in part on the comparison, wherein the heart rate measurement is determined based at least in part on the selected first or second PPG signal.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:

selectively deactivate the other of the first or second PPG signal that was not selected, wherein determining the heart rate measurement is based at least in part on selectively deactivating the other of the first or second PPG signal.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 66986/0101 Recorded May 16, 2025
From: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: OURA HEALTH OY
Reel/Frame 071297/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: OURA HEALTH OY; OURARING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 071302/0800 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2024
From: OURA HEALTH OY
To: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 066986/0101 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2023
From: SIMILÄ, HEIDI; ZHANG, XI; VALLIUS, TERO JUHANI; JÄRVELÄ, JUSSI PETTERI; SYRJÄLÄ, JUHA-PEKKA; HEINONEN, TOMMI; TIKKANEN, PAULI ENSIO
To: OURA HEALTH OY
Reel/Frame 063373/0071 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63251086 · Oct 1, 2021
Related Publication 20230107454A1 · Apr 6, 2023
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