Interactive movement tracking system applicable to articles of clothing

• US 10,046,234 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OBE Gaming Inc. (Machina Wearable Technology SAPI de CV)
• Original Assignee: OBE Gaming Inc. (Machina Wearable Technology SAPI de CV)
• Inventors: Perdigon Rodriguez, Angelo Antonio, Lobato Franco, Linda Paola, Gil Alonso, Juan Pedro, Fernandez de Cordova Shore, Daniel, Serrano Echeverria, Henry, Zoller Chesler, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/957,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an interactive movement detection system applicable to articles of clothing that allows a user to interact with virtualized controllable environments such as the graphical programming environments of personal computers and/or those generated by video game consoles. Similarly, the system of example implementations of the present disclosure allows feedback of actions to the system in the form of impulses that generate pressure and/or vibration sensations that simulate interaction with elements of the controllable interface.

Claims

1. An interactive movement detection system configured for attachment to an article of clothing, the interactive movement detection system comprising:

a central control unit attached to a first region of the article of clothing comprising;

a central processing unit;

a watertight external cover defining a first opening providing access to a control button and one or more second openings providing access to one or more communications ports;

a base comprising a central rib configured to facilitate symmetrical bending of the base, the base comprising;

a plurality of openings, each opening oriented to align with one of the first opening and the one or more second opening; and

a rail disposed in a central middle part of the base configured to support the central processing unit; and

a pair of watertight lids configured to be inserted into the one or more second openings to cover these ports and to keep the central control unit watertight;

at least one movement detection module communicatively coupled to the central control unit and attached to a second region of the article of clothing, the at least one movement detection module comprising at least one sensor configured to detect movements along three axes, wherein the central control unit is configured to detect a relative position of the second region of the article of clothing based on a first signal generated by the at least one movement detection module;

at least one data receptor unit communicatively coupled to the central control unit and attached to a third region of the article of clothing, the at least one data receptor unit configured to generate and transmit a a second signal to the central control unit independent of a position of a wearer of the article of clothing and;

at least one impulse generator unit communicatively coupled to the central control unit and attached to a forth region of the article of clothing, configured to generate a pulse based on a third signal from the central control unit to simulate an immersive sensation for the wearer of the article of clothing;

a communication control unit configured to communicatively couple the central control unit to the at least one movement detection module, the at least one data receptor unit and the at least one impulse generator unit and;

a membrane of flexible material disposed within an inner liner of the article of clothing, configured to adapt ergonomically to the movements of an operator, wherein each of the central control unit, the at least one movement detection module, the at least one data receptor unit, and the at least one impulse generator unit are located in the membrane, and

wherein the central control unit is configured to automatically determine a type of each of the first signal, second signal, and third signal emitted by each of the at least one movement detection module, the at least one data receptor unit, and the at least one impulse generator unit and an outside emitter communicatively coupled to the central control unit, to carry out preprocessing of and distinguish between each first signal, second signal and third signal and couple to a wireless communication module to allow data traffic in at least two directions, enabling the system to send and receive the data to and from a computing device to allow interaction with the computing device and to generate the immersive sensations of immersion based on the signals received from the computing device.

2. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit is configured with to process received signals to allow communicative coupling with the computing device comprising at least one of a personal computer, a data collection station, a Web server, a virtual reality visor, an augmented reality visor and a video game console.

3. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit further comprises, within the watertight external cover,

at least one micro vibration motor configured to provide a feedback sensation;

at least one LED unit configured to indicate a state of the system;

at least one accelerometer configured to detect changes in the position of the wearer of the article of clothing;

at least one biometric sensor configured to measure a biometric reading of the wearer of the article of clothing;

at least one charging port;

a central battery configured to provide power to the system and

the wireless communication module to send and receive data from the computing device.

4. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit comprises a battery configured for inductive charging via non-physical connection to the central control unit.

5. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 1, wherein the first region of the article of clothing to which the central control unit is attached is a central portion of the article of clothing, readily accessible to the operator, and wherein the at least one movement detection module, the at least one data receptor unit, and the at least one impulse generator unit are symmetrically arranged with respect to the central portion of the article of clothing.

6. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 1, wherein the article of clothing is at least one of a jacket, a sweater, a jersey, a T-shirt, a shirt, a sweatshirt, a windbreaker, sportswear, a vest, safety and/or protective equipment, pants, footwear, a caps or gloves.

7. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 6, wherein the first region to which the central control unit is attached is in one of:

a central rear region of a top part of a back of a sweatshirt, a T-shirt, or a jacket;

a region of hips or near a waist in pants;

a central part of a visor of a cap;

a lateral part of a piece of footwear;

or

a region of a back of a hand in a glove.

8. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 6, wherein the first region to which the central control unit is attached is a region of hips or a waist of pants.

9. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 6, wherein the first region to which the central control unit is attached is a central part of a visor of a cap.

10. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 6, wherein the first region to which the central control unit is attached is in a lateral part of a piece of footwear.

11. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 6, wherein the first region to which the central control unit is attached is a region of a back of a hand in a glove.

12. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 1, wherein the second region to which the at least one movement detection module attached is clothing region near bending points corresponding to body joints;

wherein the third region to which the at least one data receptor unit is attached is near regions readily accessible to the wearer of the article of clothing to facilitate voluntary operation to carrying out control actions, the at least one receptor unit being at least one of a button, a switch or a pressure sensor; and

wherein the fourth region to which the at least one impulse generator unit is attached is the regions of the article of clothing selected to simulate events caused by interaction with physical elements simulating mechanical interactions with virtual surroundings.

13. The interactive movement detection system according to claim 12, wherein the fourth region to which the at least one impulse generator unit is a region of the article of clothing located near a highly sensitive region of the wearer'"'"'s body where an action is simulated.