"Electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user"

The present invention relates to the field of fitness, and in particular to an electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user.

For the purposes of the present description, "physical activity" means any kind of movement of the user which determines an increase of the energy expenditure with respect to the rest condition, i.e. both the movement during daily and working life and the movement during the "physical exercise" with which all activities are identified which require human body movement executed with precise purposes (rehabilitation, physical shape, aesthetics, performance) and following precise criteria in terms of duration, intensity, frequency .

In the fitness industry, electronic accessories and devices are known which allow to measure and monitor the physical activity and/or physical exercise of a user during the whole day, regardless of whether the user is at the gym or elsewhere.

Such monitoring accessories and devices typically comprise a sensor (for example, an accelerometer or the like) configured to detect information representative of

l the physical activity of a user calculating the respective amount of movement executed during the day and communicate this information to the mobile phone of the user .

This allows the user to receive information about the amount of movement executed and to assess whether such amount of movement is sufficient in the first place to maintain in general a lifestyle as healthy as possible, or characterized by a good level of physical activity or physical exercise distributed over the day and by reduced moments of inactivity, or specifically whether such amount of movement is sufficient to fulfill a training program, a weight-loss program, or other, or whether, on the contrary, it should be increased, and by how much.

Such monitoring accessories and devices are inevitably added to the other devices or accessories which a user already has available during the physical activity or physical exercise or in general during generic leisure time such as, for example, mobile phones ( smartphones ) , tablets, media players (MP3 players), a handheld computer or PDA (from the acronym, Personal Digital Assistant) and so on.

This may obviously create a nuisance to the user, also in terms of costs and safety of the devices themselves which, especially during the performance of the physical activity and/or physical exercise, are subject to stresses, possible falls and so on.

In order to reduce the number of devices or accessories available to the user, electronic monitoring devices have been developed adapted to be integrated with electronic devices which the user is typically already in possess of (for example, the smartphone) .

However, a technological evolution of this kind led to the development of electronic monitoring devices still increasingly sophisticated and expensive. This is due to the need to integrate such a device inside another device or accessory of the user and to the need, in many cases, to allow communication and operation between them.

This latter aspect, inter alia, in addition to making the monitoring device and the device or accessory of the user more sophisticated, is a solution not very versatile and scarcely adaptable to other devices or accessories of the user, unless further modifications.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user which allows to obviate at least partially the drawbacks complained about previously with reference to the prior art and in particular which is able to ensure greater versatility with still low costs.

Such an object is achieved by means of an electronic monitoring device according to claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of said monitoring device are defined in the dependent claims.

Further features and advantages of the electronic device for monitoring the physical activity and/or the physical exercise according to the present invention will become apparent in the following description which shows preferred embodiments, given by way of indicative, non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 diagrammatically shows a side view of an electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user according to an embodiment of the present invention and a portion of wristwatch separated from one another;

figure 2 diagrammatically shows a side view of the electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user of figure 1 secured to the portion of wristwatch of figure 1 ;

figure 3 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of the electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user secured to the portion of wristwatch as in figure 2, and figure 4 diagrammatically shows by means of a block diagram the electronic circuitry of the device for monitoring the physical activity of a user according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the aforesaid figures, according to the present invention, it will now be described an electronic device for monitoring the physical activity of a user, hereinafter for the sake of brevity also simply electronic device or device, which has been generally indicated by the reference numeral 100.

For the purposes of the present description, it is worth reasserting that "physical activity" means any kind of movement of the user which determines an increase of the energy expenditure with respect to the rest condition, i.e. both the movement during daily and working life and the movement during the "physical exercise" with which all activities are identified which require human body movement executed with precise purposes (rehabilitation, physical shape, aesthetics, performance) and following precise criteria in terms of duration, intensity, frequency.

The device 100 comprises one casing 1 adapted to define a housing, the latter not shown in the figures.

The device 100, moreover, comprises an electronic circuitry housed inside the casing 1. The electronic circuitry is advantageously configured to monitor the physical activity of a user.

It is worth noting that the electronic circuitry, not shown in figures 1-3 because inside the casing 1, will be described hereinafter with reference to the block diagram of figure 4.

According to the present invention, the device is advantageously configured to be secured to a case 2 of a wristwatch 3.

An example of wristwatch 3, case 2 thereof the device 100 is securable to, is diagrammatically shown in figures 1-3, in which also portions 4, 4' of the strap are shown of the same wristwatch 3.

The device 100 according to the present invention advantageously comprises securing means 5 of the casing 1 to at least one portion of said case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

This configuration allows the device 100 to be securable to any wristwatch.

As shown in figures 1-3, according to an embodiment, the casing 1 is configured to be secured to the rear surface 6 of the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

According to a further embodiment, not shown in the figures, the casing 1 is configured to be instead secured to any other portion of the case 2 other than the rear surface, for example the side surface of the case 2 or the front surface of the case 2 (quadrant) .

Turning back to the securing means 5, according to one embodiment, they are configured to allow an immovable securing between the device 100 and the portion of the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

This configuration advantageously allows to prevent any detachment of the device 100 from the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

In this regard, according to one embodiment, the securing means 5 comprise an adhesive.

According to a further embodiment, alternative to that indicated above, the securing means 5 are configured to allow a removable securing between the device 1 and the portion of the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

This configuration allows instead to remove the device 100 from the case 2 of the wristwatch 3 and to reattach it to the case of another wristwatch.

In this regard, the securing means 5 comprise at least one magnet.

According to another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the securing means 5 may comprise any other mechanism adapted to allow the removable securing to the case 2 of the wristwatch 3. According to a further embodiment, in combination with those described above, the securing means 5 are distributed on a portion of the casing 1 which can face the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

According to different embodiments, such portion of the casing 1 may be for example any portion of the surface of the casing 1 which can face the case 2 of the wristwatch 3, or a peripheral portion (edge) , a central portion, or also the entire surface of the casing 1 which can face the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

With reference to the embodiment of figures 1-3, the casing 1 has a substantially disk-like shape. Such shape allows the device 100 to be applied to wristwatches with a substantially circular case.

According to a further embodiment, not shown in the figures, the casing 1 has a substantially quadrangular shape (for example, rectangular or square) . Such shape allows the device 100 to be applied to wristwatches with a substantially quadrangular case.

According to further embodiments, also not shown in the figures, the casing 1 may have any shape other than circular and quadrangular.

It is worth noting that the casing 1 advantageously has a thickness rather reduced with respect to the thickness of the case 2 of the watch 3 (for example, several millimeters) so as to allow the user to wear the wristwatch 3 to which the device 100 is secured without experiencing any nuisance.

According to other embodiments, alternatively to, or in combination with the preceding ones, the securing means 5 are configured to secure the casing 1 to a substantially flat surface, as for example shown in figures 1-3.

According to other embodiments, alternatively to those just described in the preceding paragraph, the securing means 5 are configured to secure the casing to a substantially curved surface.

For example, if the securing means 5 are an adhesive, the thickness of the adhesive may be such so as to assume and maintain the substantially curved shape of the surface on which the device 100 is secured.

With particular reference to the block diagram of figure 4, it is now described the electronic circuitry of the device 100.

As previously mentioned, such electronic circuitry, indicated in figure 4 by the reference numeral 400, is configured to monitor the physical activity of the user.

In greater detail, the electronic circuitry 400 comprises a data processing unit 401, for example a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

Moreover, the electronic circuitry 400 comprises a memory unit 402 operatively connected to the data processing unit 401.

The memory unit 402 and the data processing unit

401 are configured, respectively, to store program codes and data processed during the execution of such program codes and to load and execute such program codes to allow the device 100 to monitor the physical activity of the user.

Moreover, the electronic circuitry 100 comprises at least one sensor 403 for detecting at least one parameter representative of a movement of a user. The at least one sensor is operatively associated with the data processing unit 401.

Such at least one parameter representative of a movement of the user may be, for example, acceleration, speed, position, and so on.

In this regard, examples of said at least one sensor are the following: an accelerometer (of the mono- axial, bi-axial or tri-axial kind) , a gyroscope, a sensor for detecting the position of the user (for example, in GPS technology), a compass, and so on.

According to other embodiments, the device 100 may comprise two or more sensors, in combination to one another, of the kind described in the preceding paragraph .

According to a further embodiment, not shown in the figures, the electronic circuitry 100 may also comprise a biometric sensor, operatively connected to the data processing unit 401, configured to detect biometric parameters of the user.

Examples of biometric parameters of the user are: heart rate, body temperature, and so on.

It is worth noting that, in this embodiment, the detection of biometric parameters by the biometric sensor, which preferably requires a contact with the surface of the skin of the user, is more reliable because the device 100 is very advantageously secured to the rear surface 6 of the case 2 of the wristwatch 3, thus in a position in which the device 100, thus the biometric sensor, is more and mostly in a constant manner in contact with the skin of the user.

Turning back to the data processing unit 401, it is worth noting that, in one embodiment, it is advantageously configured to generate an information representative of the physical activity of the user on the basis of said at least one parameter representative of a movement of the user detected by said at least one sensor. It is worth noting that such information representative of the physical activity of the user is for example the number of steps performed, the distance covered, the speed of movement, the calories consumed, one or more time periods of inactivity, one or more time periods of activity and so on, over a determined time span (for example: hourly, daily, weekly, and so on), also possibly at the choice of the user.

In this embodiment, the device 100, as will be explained below, is configured to communicate the stored and generated data (thus also such information representative of the physical activity of the user and possibly the biometric parameters detected by the biometric sensor, if present) to a further electronic device, separate from the electronic device 100 for monitoring the physical activity of the user, which is specifically configured to make available to the user (for example, by means of displaying) the data received from the device 100.

According to another embodiment, the data processing unit 401 is simply configured to store said at least one parameter representative of a movement of the user detected by said at least one sensor 403 without proceeding to any subsequent processing of such at least one parameter. Moreover, according to another embodiment, if also the biometric sensor is present, the data processing unit 401 is configured simply to store one or more biometric parameters detected by the biometric sensor without proceeding to any subsequent processing of such parameter .

In this embodiment, the device 100, as will be explained below, is configured to communicate the stored data (thus also said at least one parameter representative of a movement of the user detected by said at least one sensor 403 and the biometric parameters detected by the biometric sensor, if present) to a further electronic device, separate from the electronic device 100 for monitoring the physical activity of the user, which is specifically configured to generate, on the basis of the data received from the device 100, such information representative of the physical activity of the user and make it available to the user (for example, by means of displaying) and possibly display the biometric parameters received from the device 100.

Turning back to figure 4, the electronic circuitry 400, moreover, comprises a data communication module 404, in wireless technology, operatively connected to the data processing unit 401. The data communication module 404 is configured to allow the data processing unit 401, thus the device 100, to transmit to, and receive data from a further electronic device, separate from the electronic device 100 for monitoring the physical activity of the user, already introduced above.

Such further electronic device is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook, a PDA handheld computer, an electronic computer (personal computer or server computer) configured to communicate data according to the wireless technology of the data communication module 404.

In this regard, such wireless technology may be, for example, Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi, NFC (from the acronym, Near Field Communication) , or other technologies equivalent to NFC technology as Mifare, Felica, RFID, or the technology of data transmission via the mobile network (GSM, UMTS or 4G) and so on.

Turning back to the block diagram of figure 4, the electronic circuitry 400, moreover, comprises an electrical power supply battery 405.

It is worth noting that all the electrical/electronic components described above, forming part of the electronic circuitry 400, are preferably integrated on the same support, for example a printed circuit or a substrate of a semiconductor material .

An example of operation of the device 100 described above, will now be described with reference to the aforesaid figures, in its simplest embodiment.

A user secures the device 100 to a portion (the rear surface 6) of the case 2 of the wristwatch 3.

Once worn the wristwatch 3, the device 100, by means of the data processing unit 401, monitors the physical activity storing said at least one parameter representative of a movement of the user detected by said at least one sensor 403.

Such at least one parameter is stored in the memory unit 402 and subsequently transmitted from the data communication module 404 to a further electronic device which the user has available, for example a smartphone, which, being configured with a specific software application, generates an information representative of the physical activity of the user on the basis of said at least one parameter representative of a movement of the user received from the device 100 and makes it available to the user, for example it displays it on the display of the smartphone.

If the user wanted to change wristwatch and the device 100 was secured to the portion of the case 2 of the wristwatch 3 by means of a magnet, it is sufficient to remove the device 100 to secure it on a portion (for example, again the rear surface) of the case of another wristwatch .

As apparent, the object of the invention is achieved because the fact that the monitoring device can be secured to the case of a wristwatch allows to have available such a device without necessarily having to have available other electronic devices much more sophisticated where a monitoring device is integrated in the interior thereof.

Such device is certainly cheaper, lighter, less bulky and simpler to secure to the wristwatch.

Moreover, the configuration of such device and the presence of securing means of the casing of the device to the rear surface of the case of the wristwatch advantageously allow to secure such a device to a wide range of wristwatches , actually increasing the versatility .

Finally, the fact that the securing means may be configured to movably secure the device to the case of the wristwatch advantageously allows to increase again the versatility and the ease of replacement.

Moreover, the fact that the device 100 stores one or more parameters representative of the movement of the user which may be downloaded also subsequently on a further electronic device or the fact that the device 100 autonomously generates one or more information representative of the physical activity of the user to be downloaded also subsequently on a further electronic device, advantageously allows the user to avoid carrying other electronic devices (for example, the smartphone) and to perform the physical activity, especially the physical exercise, in a more practical and free manner.

Again, if the device is equipped with a biometric sensor, the fact of also having available biometric parameters allows the user to better monitor the physical condition during or upon completion of the performance of the physical activity, in particular the physical exercise.

Those skilled in the art may make changes and adaptations to the above-described embodiments of the electronic monitoring device or can replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent in order to meet contingent needs without departing from the scope of the following claims. Each of the features described as belonging to one possible embodiment may be implemented independently of the other embodiments described .