Athletic Watch Modular Monitoring With Periodic GPS Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing athletic watches are often cumbersome and not user-friendly, with limited athletic performance monitoring capabilities, failing to utilize their full potential.

Innovation Solution

A watch with enhanced athletic functionality, incorporating a portable electronic module connected to a wristband, featuring a controller with a processor, input and output devices, and a USB connector, capable of wirelessly communicating with sensors to monitor performance and provide user-friendly operation through a tri-axis input configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If athletic watches incorporate more monitoring capabilities and features, then athletic performance monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveathletic performance monitoring capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The watch is divided into distinct functional modules: a controller unit with processor for data processing, a display unit for user interaction, a GPS receiver for location tracking, and multiple sensor interfaces for physiological monitoring. Each module operates independently but communicates through standardized protocols, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive athletic monitoring capabilities while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If athletic watches incorporate more monitoring capabilities and features, then athletic performance monitoring capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveathletic performance monitoring capabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A microprocessor-based controller serves as an intermediary that automatically processes sensor data, calculates athletic performance metrics, and presents information in an easily interpretable format on the display. The controller handles complex computations such as pace calculation, distance measurement, and physiological analysis, while the user simply needs to start/stop timing and view results, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite sophisticated monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The watch incorporates automatic functions that eliminate the need for manual intervention during athletic activities. The GPS receiver automatically tracks location, sensors continuously monitor physiological parameters, and the processor automatically calculates performance metrics. The system self-calibrates and self-manages data collection, allowing athletes to focus on their performance rather than operating the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the watch activates GPS receiver continuously to obtain position updates, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition update accuracyVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The GPS receiver operates in periodic intervals rather than continuously. The microprocessor determines position updates based on elapsed time since the last update and activates the GPS receiver only when necessary. This periodic operation maintains adequate position tracking precision for athletic activities while dramatically reducing power consumption compared to continuous GPS reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2918227B1Athletic watch
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 NIKE INNOVATE CV
  • EP2918227B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2918227B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2918227B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A device for monitoring athletic performance of a user has a wristband configured to be worn by the user. The electronic module may include a controller and a screen and a plurality of user inputs operably associated with the controller. The user inputs may include a user input configured to be applied by the user against the screen and in a direction generally normal to the screen. The controller may further be configured to generate one or more user interfaces in response to various user inputs and conditions. For example, the controller may generate workout mode interfaces and non-workout mode interfaces including various goal information, workout data, reminders and the like. In one or more arrangements, multiple types of information may be displayed simultaneously.