Hearing device-based systems and methods for determining a heart rate value
Inventors
Stumpf, Nina • Murtola, Evgeny • El Guindi, Nadim • Ignasiak, Niklas • Parker, Anna M. • Ohs, Nicholas • Feilner, Manuela • Roeck, Hans-Ueli
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12303258-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
An illustrative hearing system may be configured to receive, from a motion sensor included in a hearing device configured to be worn by a user, motion data representative of motion of the user while the user wears the hearing device and an output signal generated by a heart rate sensor in contact with the user. The hearing system may be further configured to determine, based the motion data, a heart rate probability distribution function and to determine, based on the output signal and the heart rate probability distribution function, a heart rate value for the user.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a hearing-device system that estimates a user’s heart rate by using a motion sensor and a heart rate sensor together with an audio signal detected by a microphone included in the hearing device. The method or system receives motion data representative of motion of the user while the user wears the hearing device, receives an output signal generated by a heart rate sensor in contact with the user, and receives an audio signal detected by the microphone. Using these inputs, the system determines a heart rate probability distribution function indicative of a probability of occurrence of potential heart rate values.
After the heart rate probability distribution function is determined, a heart rate value for the user is determined based on the output signal and the heart rate probability distribution function. The determining the heart rate value includes selecting the heart rate value from a plurality of potential heart rate values included in the output signal based on the probability of occurrence of each potential heart rate value in the heart rate probability distribution function. The described approach supports obtaining the heart rate probability distribution function from one or more of multiple distributions or derived parameters.
In described implementations, the heart rate probability distribution function can be conditioned on an activity state determined from motion data and audio signal, where the activity state indicates at least one of intensity, activity type, or stress level. The disclosed processing can further normalize and apply artifact filtering via probability weighting, and can use signal quality metrics to gate heart rate sensing by abstaining or disabling heart rate measurement when motion artifacts degrade signal quality. The heart rate probability distribution function can be updated over time using determined heart rate values.
Claims Coverage
The provided partial content includes three independent claims. Each independent claim shares the central inventive concept of conditioning a heart rate probability distribution function using motion data and microphone audio, then selecting a heart rate value from multiple potential heart rate values in the heart rate sensor output according to probability of occurrence.
Probabilistic heart rate value selection in a hearing device method
Receiving motion data from a motion sensor included in a hearing device; receiving an output signal from a heart rate sensor in contact with the user; receiving an audio signal detected by a microphone included in the hearing device; determining, based on the motion data and the audio signal, a heart rate probability distribution function indicative of a probability of occurrence of potential heart rate values; and determining, based on the output signal and the heart rate probability distribution function, a heart rate value by selecting the heart rate value from a plurality of potential heart rate values included in the output signal based on the probability of occurrence of each potential heart rate value in the heart rate probability distribution function.
Probabilistic heart rate value selection in a hearing device system
A system with a hearing device configured to be worn by a user and comprising a motion sensor, and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the motion sensor and configured to receive motion data; receive an output signal generated by a heart rate sensor in contact with the user; receive an audio signal detected by a microphone included in the hearing device; determine, based on the motion data and the audio signal, a heart rate probability distribution function indicative of a probability of occurrence of potential heart rate values; and determine, based on the output signal and the heart rate probability distribution function, a heart rate value by selecting the heart rate value from a plurality of potential heart rate values included in the output signal based on the probability of occurrence of each potential heart rate value in the heart rate probability distribution function.
Hearing device architecture for probabilistic heart rate value selection
A hearing device configured to be worn by a user comprising a motion sensor, a heart rate sensor, and a microphone; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the motion sensor and the heart rate sensor configured to receive motion data; receive an output signal generated by the heart rate sensor in contact with the user; receive an audio signal detected by the microphone; determine, based on the motion data and the audio signal, a heart rate probability distribution function indicative of a probability of occurrence of potential heart rate values; and determine, based on the output signal and the heart rate probability distribution function, a heart rate value by selecting the heart rate value from a plurality of potential heart rate values included in the output signal based on the probability of occurrence of each potential heart rate value in the heart rate probability distribution function.
Across the independent claims, the common inventive coverage is the probabilistic estimation of heart rate in a hearing device using a heart rate probability distribution function derived from motion data and microphone audio, followed by selecting the heart rate value from potential values in the heart rate sensor output according to probability of occurrence.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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