Athletic performance and technique monitoring

• US 10,049,595 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas C. Chuang
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. Chuang
• Inventors: Chuang, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hull, James
• Application Number:
  US13/422,484
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 434255, 738654
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 1/00 Horizontal bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/52 : Predicting or monitoring the response to treatment, e.g. for selection of therapy based on assay results in personalised medicine; Prognosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/54 : Determining the risk of relapse
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/57415 : of breast
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 : Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 : Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 : Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/2193 : based on specific statistical tests
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10056 : Microscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30024 : Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 : Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 : Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 : Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/698 : Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for athletic performance and technique monitoring are disclosed. In one example, a sensor output associated with a movement of a user arm during a running motion is received. The sensor output is analyzed to identify an undesirable arm motion.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a user running form comprising:

an arm sensor system adapted to be worn on a user arm comprising a global positioning system sensor unit configured to track a first speed and a first direction and a sensor configured to track a rotational motion of the user arm in a second direction independent from the first direction and output a sensor output indicating arm rotation;

a user interface;

a processor; and

a memory comprising an arm analysis application configured to process the sensor output indicating arm rotation to identify an undesirable user arm motion during a running motion comprising an excess arm rotation motion of the user arm in the second direction independent from the first direction, the arm analysis application further configured to provide real-time feedback of the excess arm rotation motion and the first speed at the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm sensor system is adapted to be worn on a user wrist of the user arm and the undesirable user arm motion comprises the user wrist in rotational motion outside a threshold proximity to a user hip during the running motion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm sensor system is adapted to be worn on a user wrist of the user arm and the undesirable user arm motion comprises the user wrist in rotational motion within a threshold proximity to a user waist area or above a threshold level of a user torso during the running motion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the undesirable user arm motion is a value of an arm motion parameter in excess of a threshold value during the running motion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is dependent on the first speed.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a torso sensor adapted to be worn on a user chest, wherein the undesirable user arm motion comprises a motion where the sensor rotates within a threshold proximity of the torso sensor during the running motion.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a torso sensor adapted to be worn in proximity to a user hip, wherein the undesirable user arm motion comprises an arm motion where the sensor rotates outside a desired proximity to the torso sensor during the running motion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time feedback of the excess arm rotation motion comprises a visual indication, vibrate indication, or audible indication of the excess arm rotation motion during the running motion.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm analysis application is further configured to identify an undesirable motion or position of a second body part different from the user arm from an identification of the undesirable user arm motion.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor worn on a second body part, wherein the arm analysis application is configured to determine a proximity between the sensor and the second sensor to identify the undesirable user arm motion during the running motion.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm analysis application is configured to process the sensor output to identify a motion of the user arm relative to a motion of a second body part to identify the undesirable user arm motion during the running motion.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located with a heart rate monitor sensor within a device housing.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is disposed in a smartphone.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm analysis application is configured to process the sensor output to identify a velocity to identify the undesirable user arm motion during the running motion.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is variable during the running motion.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is dependent on a motion of a second body part.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is user defined.

18. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is determined during a prior running motion by a user.

19. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is variable and determined during the running motion.

20. The system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is user specific.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm analysis application is further configured to identify a desirable motion of the user arm comprising utilizing the sensor output.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm analysis application is further configured to receive a second sensor output associated with a motion of a second body part different from the user arm and identify the motion of the second body part comprising utilizing the second sensor output.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the arm analysis application is configured to identify the motion of the second body part utilizing the second sensor output in conjunction with the sensor output.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm analysis application is further configured to receive a second sensor output associated with a motion of a second body part different from the user arm and identify a motion of the user arm comprising utilizing the second sensor output.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the arm analysis application is configured to identify the motion of the user arm utilizing the second sensor output in conjunction with the sensor output.

26. A method comprising:

tracking a first speed and a first direction with a global positioning system sensor unit, the global positioning system sensor unit disposed at an arm sensor system adapted to be worn on a user arm, the arm sensor system further comprising a sensor;

tracking a rotational motion of the user arm with the sensor in a second direction independent from the first direction and outputting a sensor output indicating arm rotation;

identifying from the sensor output indicating arm rotation an undesirable user arm motion during a running motion comprising an excess arm rotation motion of the user arm in the second direction independent from the first direction; and

providing real-time feedback of the excess arm rotation motion and the first speed at a user interface.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the arm sensor system is adapted to be worn on a user wrist of the user arm and the undesirable user arm motion comprises the user wrist in rotational motion outside a threshold proximity to a user hip during the running motion.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the arm sensor system is adapted to be worn on a user wrist of the user arm and the undesirable user arm motion comprises the user wrist in rotational motion within a threshold proximity to a user waist area or above a threshold level of a user torso during the running motion.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the undesirable user arm motion is a value of an arm motion parameter in excess of a threshold value during the running motion.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the threshold value is dependent on the first speed.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is variable during the running motion.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the threshold value is dependent on a motion of a second body part.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is user defined.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the threshold value is determined during a prior running motion by a user.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is variable and determined during the running motion.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is user specific.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the undesirable user arm motion comprises a motion where the sensor rotates within a threshold proximity of a torso sensor adapted to be worn on a user chest during the running motion.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein the undesirable user arm motion comprises an arm motion where the sensor rotates outside a desired proximity to a torso sensor adapted to be worn in proximity to a user hip during the running motion.

39. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

identifying an undesirable motion or position of a second body part different from the user arm from an identification of the undesirable user arm motion.

40. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining a proximity between the sensor and a second sensor worn on a second body part to identify the undesirable user arm motion during the running motion.

41. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

identifying from the sensor output a motion of the user arm relative to a motion of a second body part to identify the undesirable user arm motion during the running motion.

42. The method of claim 26, wherein the sensor is located with a heart rate monitor sensor within a device housing.

43. The method of claim 26, wherein the sensor utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is disposed in a smartphone.

44. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

identifying a velocity from the sensor output to identify the undesirable user arm motion during the running motion.

45. The method of claim 26, further comprising identifying a desirable motion of the user arm comprising utilizing the sensor output.

46. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a second sensor output associated with a motion of a second body part different from the user arm and identifying an undesirable motion of the second body part comprising utilizing the second sensor output.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein identifying the undesirable motion of the second body part comprises utilizing the second sensor output in conjunction with the sensor output.

48. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a second sensor output associated with a motion of a second body part different from the user arm and identifying a second undesirable motion of the user arm comprising utilizing the second sensor output.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein identifying the second undesirable motion of the user arm comprises utilizing the second sensor output in conjunction with the sensor output.

50. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one more computers to perform operations comprising:

tracking a first speed and a first direction with a global positioning system sensor unit, the global positioning system sensor unit disposed at an arm sensor system adapted to be worn on a user arm, the arm sensor system further comprising a sensor;

tracking a rotational motion of the user arm with the sensor in a second direction independent from the first direction and outputting a sensor output indicating arm rotation;

identifying from the sensor output indicating arm rotation an undesirable user arm motion during a running motion comprising an excess arm rotation motion of the user arm in the second direction independent from the first direction; and

providing real-time feedback of the excess arm rotation motion and the first speed at a user interface.

51. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 50, wherein the arm sensor system is adapted to be worn on a user wrist of the user arm and the undesirable user arm motion comprises the user wrist in rotational motion outside a threshold proximity to a user hip during the running motion.

52. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 50, wherein the arm sensor system is adapted to be worn on a user wrist of the user arm and the undesirable user arm motion comprises the user wrist in rotational motion within a threshold proximity to a user waist area or above a threshold level of a user torso during the running motion.

53. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 50, wherein the undesirable user arm motion is a value of an arm motion parameter in excess of a threshold value during the running motion.

54. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value is dependent on the first speed.

55. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is variable during the running motion.

56. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value is dependent on a motion of a second body part.

57. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is user defined.

58. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value is determined during a prior running motion by a user.

59. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is variable and determined during the running motion.

60. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 53, wherein the threshold value utilized to determine the undesirable user arm motion is user specific.