The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 12, 2000
Harry A. Linden, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Infoeye, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
A heart rate monitor adapted to be worn on eyewear such as a pair of eyeglasses, a mask or goggles. The heart rate monitor includes a sensor in contact with the bridge of the user's nose. The sensor is responsive to pressure variations or pulses produced during a heart beat cycle. The sensor provides an analog signal having a frequency equal to the user's pulse rate. The analog signal output from the sensor provides an input signal for a microprocessor which includes a frequency counter and signal averager. A microprocessor output signal having a magnitude which is proportional to the heart rate in beats per minute provides the input signal for an optical readout device such as a digital display which is preferably mounted on the frame or stem of the user's eyewear. The image on the optical display is conducted to an eyepiece lens which is mounted most preferably on one of the lenses of the eyewear by means of an image conduit such as a fiber optic or fiber optic bundle. The eyepiece lens is positioned such that the image of the optical display is positioned at the focal plane of the user's eye for comfortable viewing. In a most preferred embodiment of the heart rate monitor, the microprocessor, power supply and digital display are contained within a housing that is releasably attached to eyewear. The proximal end of a fiber optic bundle is adjustably attached to the housing and in optical communication with the digital display. A display lens is adjustably attached to the opposing distal end of the fiber optic bundle. A pair of pulse rate sensor electrodes in contact with a user's nose provide an electrical signal containing pulse rate data to the microprocessor. The image on the digital display is conducted by the fiber optic bundle to the display lens adjustably disposed within the field of view of the user.