Fullpower Technologies

Fullpower is a Santa Cruz, California-based privately held developer of cloud-based IoT and wearable product technology used for activity tracking and sleep monitoring. Fullpower specializes in wireless technology, microelectromechanical systems, and nanotechnology.[3] The company holds over 125 patents for its intellectual property, which it licenses to manufacturers.

Fullpower Technologies, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryWireless, Life Sciences, Biotech
Founded2005[1]
FoundersPhilippe Kahn
Sonia Lee
HeadquartersSanta Cruz, California, United States
Key people
  • Philippe Kahn
  • (CEO)
  • Sonia Lee
  • (President)[2]
ProductsSleeptracker sleep monitoring, MotionX motion sensing, Opioid management and compliance
WebsiteOfficial website

The company was founded in 2005 by entrepreneurs Philippe Kahn and Sonia Lee.

History

2005-2009

Fullpower was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 2005 by entrepreneurs Philippe Kahn and Sonia Lee, who had previously founded and sold technology companies Starfish Software and LightSurf.[4][5] The inspiration behind some of the key Fullpower technology came from Kahn's passion for sailing; he created prototype sleep trackers using biosensors that optimized 26-minute power naps to maximize sleep benefits and sail time.[6]

In 2008, the company launched its MotionX Platform tracking technology, which included licensing deals to include the technology on third party devices.[7] Later in 2008, the company launched iOS gaming apps MotionX Poker and MotionX Dice, along with handheld GPS app MotionX-GPS, targeted to outdoor enthusiasts.[8][9][2]

In September 2009, the company released MotionX-GPS Drive for the iPhone, a door-to-door pedestrian and driving navigation application.[10] The company later released customized versions of its navigation application for the iPad.[11]

2010-2016

In September 2010, Nike released the Nike+ Running App (now called Nike+ Running) that tracks human motion using the accelerometer and GPS sensors of the iPhone and Android phones. MotionX provides the underlying motion sensing technology for the Nike+ Running Application, which was later named one of 2010's best apps of the year by the Wall Street Journal.[12][13]

At the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, JVC and Pioneer Corporation announced car stereo systems that integrate with the MotionX-GPS Drive application so that driving directions are shown on the in-car screen and audio verbal directions are heard over the car speakers. This was said to be the first time a commercially available iPhone navigation application used an after-market in-car screen as a display.[14] In November 2011, Jawbone launched the UP band with ID design by Yves Béhar and integrated with the MotionX technology.[15]

In February 2012, the MotionX 24/7 application was announced for the Apple App Store, with functions for sleep analysis, heart rate monitoring, and activity monitoring.[16]

In 2015, Fullpower partnered with Swiss watch corporation Union Horlogere Holdings to form the joint venture Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT), and launched the MotionX Horological Smartwatch Open Platform for the Swiss watch industry.[17] The initial partners were Frederique Constant, the Geneva-based luxury watch manufacturer of classical watches; Alpina, the Swiss Sports Watch manufacturer founded in 1883; and Mondaine, known for its SBB Swiss Railway watches.[18]

In November 2015, watchmaker Movado announced the release of the Movado Motion collection of fine Swiss made watches, using MMT's MotionX technology platform.[19]

2017-present

In February 2017, Fullpower partnered with bedding product company Simmons to launch the Beautyrest Sleeptracker monitor, designed to monitor two individuals' sleep patterns.[20] In June, Tomorrow Sleep also started selling Sleeptracker monitors powered by Fullpower technology.[21]

In August 2019, Fullpower announced a partnership with mattress manufacturer Tempur Sealy to make beds that analyze sleep and snoring patterns, and adjust to correct sleep problems.[1]

In January 2020, Fullpower partnered with opioid risk management company OPOS to develop an application to monitor the effects of opioids on patient sleep cycles.[22]

Products

MotionX
MotionX brand logo

The MotionX Platform is a suite of coupled and integrated firmware, software and communication components for wearable wireless devices. The MotionX Platform is used by several wearable product brands, including Nike, Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT), Alpina, Frederique Constant, Mondaine, and Jawbone.[23]

MotionX-GPS is a handheld GPS Multi-Sport app for runners, hikers, sailors, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), cyclists, geocachers, and other outdoor sport enthusiasts. It leverages the iPhone built-in GPS chip as well as other on-board sensors to provide location data. MotionX-GPS supports map data provided by OpenStreetMap, Google, USGS and others.

Jawbone UP Band with MotionX technology inside
Movado Museum Sport Motion Smartwatch powered by MotionX

Sleeptracker

Sleeptracker is a cloud-based, stand-alone solution capable of monitoring two individuals simultaneously and providing personalized tips to improve sleep. The system utilizes Fullpower's Sleeptracker Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engine, which has sensors to detect snoring and silently adjusts a sleeper's head position. It can also raise the bed and elevate the upper body 15 degrees to minimize snoring, and produces a daily customized sleep report and sleep score.[24] The technology is used by bedding product companies including Serta, Simmons, Tempur Sealy, and Tomorrow Sleep.

Opioid management

Fullpower develops an application in conjunction with opioid risk management company OPOS that combines artificial intelligence and sleep sensors to help monitor the effects of opioids on a patient's sleep cycles.[25]

Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT)
Main article: Manufacture Modules Technologies

Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT) is a joint venture between Fullpower and Swiss watch corporation Union Horlogere Holdings.[17] Fullpower creates and manages the circuit design, firmware, smartphone applications, as well as the cloud Infrastructure. MMT manages the Swiss watch movement development and production, as well as licensing and support for the Swiss watch industry.[26]

Patents

As of December 2016, the Fullpower wearable patent portfolio includes more than 125 patents issued or pending covering Sleeptracker, MotionX, bands, pods, smartwatches, eyewear, clothing, sensor-fusion, health, medical, wellness and machine learning.[27]

Some of Fullpower's issued US patents include:[28]

  • US patent number 9,474,876 B1 covers a sleep monitoring system, including a “method or apparatus to improve sleep efficacy” by monitoring user's sleep patterns continuously and making adjustments to various types of sleep aids accordingly.[29]
  • US patent number 9,192,326 covers covering a sleep monitoring system, including monitoring a user's movement to determine when the user is falling asleep, as well as distinguishing between power naps and longer sleeps. This enables the user to optimize their sleep patterns, including setting wake-up alarms, allowing them to wake at the optimal time in their sleep cycle to feel more refreshed.[30]
  • US patent number 8,996,332 covers key practical aspects of monitoring human activity, specifically identifying motion states of the user. Automatic activity identification is important for smartwatches and advanced fitness trackers.[31]
  • US patent number 8,568,310 is "a method of using a motion sensor and a location-based sensor together to perform sensor fusion, enabling activity identification," according to the patent description. Other related US Patents include numbers 7,647,195, 7,970,586, and 8,320,578.
  • US patent number 8,187,182 outlines a method and apparatus using sensor fusion for accurate activity identification. US patent number 7,705,723 outlines a method and apparatus to provide outbreak notifications based on historical location data.

References
  1. "Tech company Fullpower partners with Tempur Sealy to make smart bed". Santa Cruz Sentinel. June 27, 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  2. "What is MotionX technology and why are Swiss smartwatches using it?". Pocket-lint. 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  3. Sahay (2009). Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation. Excel Books India. p. 312. ISBN 9788174466075.
  4. Randy Weston (1998-07-14). "Motorola to purchase Starfish". CNET. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  5. Dawn Kawamoto and Ben Charny (2005-01-10). "VeriSign to buy messaging firm LightSurf". CNET. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  6. "How an Obsessive Sailor and His Fitness Tracker Supercharged Yacht Racing". Wired. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  7. "MotionX: What you need to know". Wareable. 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  8. "'MotionX Poker' for iPhone is Impressive". Touch Arcade. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  9. "MotionX Dice lets you roll dem bones on your iPhone". Engadget. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  10. Wilson Rothman (2009-10-28). "MotionX GPS Drive Review: Hands Down the Best Value In GPS Apps". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  11. "MotionX GPS HD 22.0 For iPad". Tom's Guide. 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  12. Graham Bower (2011-01-23). "Are Apple and Nike Falling Out?". Cult of Mac. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  13. "2010 Year in Review: Best iPhone Apps". Wall Street Journal. 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  14. Akhtar, Iyaz (2011-01-07). "CES: New JVC receivers upgradable with MotionX-GPS app". CNET. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  15. Courtney Boyd Myers (2011-11-03). "Jawbone's UP wristband and iPhone app available Nov. 6th for $99". The Next Web. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  16. Bumgardner, Wendy (2018-03-13). "MotionX 24/7 Sleep Monitor App Review". Walking.about.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  17. Paul Lamkin (2015-02-27). "Swiss guard: MMT promises stylish smartwatch revolution". Wareable. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  18. Stephen Pulvirent (2015-02-26). "The Swiss Have Finally Started Making Luxury Smartwatches". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  19. Kristina Rodulfo (2015-11-16). "Movado Debuts a Smartwatch that Actually Looks Like a Watch". Elle. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  20. "Simmons puts AI technology to work in new Sleeptracker". Furniture Today. 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  21. Emily Singer (2017-06-27). "The New Mattress Company Selling More Than Just a Bed". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  22. "Safer way to use opioid therapy". Scripps National News. 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  23. Stephen Pulvirent (2015-02-26). "The Swiss Have Finally Started Making Luxury Smartwatches". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  24. "Beautyrest Launches New Sleeptracker Monitor with Fullpower as Technology Partner". Santa Cruz Tech Beat. 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  25. "Safer way to use opioid therapy". Scripps National News. 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  26. Sarah Mitroff (2015-02-26). "Swiss watches are getting smart without sacrificing style". CNET. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  27. Olivier Müller (2015-02-27). "The horological smartwatch is here!". WorldTempus. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  28. Darryl K. Taft (2013-10-31). "Fullpower Awarded Key Patents for Wearable Technology". eWeek. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  29. "Fullpower-patent-9474876". Data Sheet Archive. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  30. "It knows when you are sleeping, it knows when you're awake". Santa Cruz Tech Beat. 2015-12-09. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  31. "Fullpower awarded another important patent". Santa Cruz Tech Beat. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
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