IMU system for assessing head and torso orientation during physical motion
First Claim
1. An apparatus for athlete development, coaching, or training using real time monitoring of the head and cervical spine orientation of an athlete during physical motion on a field of play, said apparatus comprising:
- at least two inertial measurement units each measuring three degrees of freedom of angular velocity and three degrees of freedom of acceleration and outputting acceleration data and angular rate gyro data, a first of the at least two inertial measurement units being temporally synchronized with a second of the at least two inertial measurement units such that the acceleration data and angular rate gyro data from the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit are temporally synchronized;
a first mounting system supporting the first inertial measurement unit for movement therewith, the first mounting system configured to be connectable to the head of the subject such that the data from the first inertial measurement unit is used to calculate the orientation of the head of the subject;
a second mounting system supporting the second inertial measurement unit for movement therewith, the second mounting system configured to be connectable to the cervical spine of the subject such that the data from the second inertial measurement unit is used to calculate the orientation of the cervical spine of the subject;
a central processing unit configured to receive in real time the acceleration data and the angular rate gyro data from the first and second inertial measurements units, the central processing unit calculating the real time orientation of the head, the real time orientation of the cervical spine, and the real time orientation of the head relative to the cervical spine in response to the acceleration data and the angular rate gyro data from the first and second inertial measurement units during the physical motion on the field of play and outputting resultant real time data; and
a host device receiving the resultant real time data and outputting a response to a user on the host device indicative of the real time orientation of the head and the orientation of the cervical spine of the athlete on the field of play.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring the head and torso orientation of a subject during physical motion. The method and apparatus employ at least two inertial measurement units (IMUs) being temporally synchronized with each other and each measuring three degrees of freedom of angular velocity, acceleration, and optionally magnetic field. A first IMU being affixed to the head of the subject and the second IMU being affixed to the torso of the subject. The orientation of the head, the orientation of the torso, and optionally the relative orientation of the head and torso are calculated based on the data from the IMU'"'"'s and optionally magnetometer data. The resultant output data is transmitted to a host device (computer, tablet, smart phone) and can be used for monitoring, training, coaching, worker safety and health, and/or rehabilitation.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for athlete development, coaching, or training using real time monitoring of the head and cervical spine orientation of an athlete during physical motion on a field of play, said apparatus comprising:
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at least two inertial measurement units each measuring three degrees of freedom of angular velocity and three degrees of freedom of acceleration and outputting acceleration data and angular rate gyro data, a first of the at least two inertial measurement units being temporally synchronized with a second of the at least two inertial measurement units such that the acceleration data and angular rate gyro data from the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit are temporally synchronized; a first mounting system supporting the first inertial measurement unit for movement therewith, the first mounting system configured to be connectable to the head of the subject such that the data from the first inertial measurement unit is used to calculate the orientation of the head of the subject; a second mounting system supporting the second inertial measurement unit for movement therewith, the second mounting system configured to be connectable to the cervical spine of the subject such that the data from the second inertial measurement unit is used to calculate the orientation of the cervical spine of the subject; a central processing unit configured to receive in real time the acceleration data and the angular rate gyro data from the first and second inertial measurements units, the central processing unit calculating the real time orientation of the head, the real time orientation of the cervical spine, and the real time orientation of the head relative to the cervical spine in response to the acceleration data and the angular rate gyro data from the first and second inertial measurement units during the physical motion on the field of play and outputting resultant real time data; and a host device receiving the resultant real time data and outputting a response to a user on the host device indicative of the real time orientation of the head and the orientation of the cervical spine of the athlete on the field of play. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for athlete development, coaching, or training using real time monitoring of the head and cervical spine orientation of an athlete during physical motion on a field of play, said method comprising:
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employing at least two inertial measurement units each measuring three degrees of freedom of angular velocity and three degrees of freedom of acceleration and outputting acceleration data and angular rate gyro data, a first of the at least two inertial measurement units being temporally synchronized with a second of the at least two inertial measurement units such that the acceleration data and angular rate gyro data from the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit are temporally synchronized; affixing the first inertial measurement unit to the head of the athlete for movement therewith; affixing the second inertial measurement unit to the torso of the athlete within a cervical spine region for movement therewith; calculating the real time orientation of the head, the real time orientation of the cervical spine, and the real time orientation of the head relative to the cervical spine in response to the acceleration data and the angular rate gyro data from the first and second inertial measurement units during the physical motion on the field of play and outputting resultant real time data; and receiving the resultant real time data by a host device and outputting a response to a user on the host device indicative of the real time orientation of the head and the orientation of the cervical spine of the athlete on the field of play, using the response on the host device for athlete development, coaching, or training. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for athlete development, coaching, or training using real time monitoring of the head and cervical spine orientation of a plurality of athletes during physical motion on a field of play, said method comprising:
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employing at least two inertial measurement units for each of the plurality of athletes, each of the inertial measurement units measuring three degrees of freedom of angular velocity and three degrees of freedom of acceleration and outputting acceleration data and angular rate gyro data, a first of the at least two inertial measurement units being temporally synchronized with a second of the at least two inertial measurement units such that the acceleration data and angular rate gyro data from the first inertial measurement unit and the second inertial measurement unit are temporally synchronized; affixing the first inertial measurement unit to the head of each of the plurality of athletes for movement therewith; affixing the second inertial measurement unit to the torso of each of the plurality of athletes within a cervical spine region for movement therewith; calculating the real time orientation of the head, the real time orientation of the cervical spine, and the real time orientation of the head relative to the cervical spine of each of the plurality of athletes in response to the acceleration data and the angular rate gyro data from the first and second inertial measurement units during the physical motion on the field of play and outputting resultant real time data for each of the plurality of athletes; and receiving the resultant real time data for each of the plurality of athletes by a host device and outputting a response to a user on the host device indicative of at least one of the real time orientation of the head, the real time orientation of the cervical spine, and the real time orientation of the head relative to the cervical spine of each of the plurality of athletes on the field of play, using the response on the host device for athlete development, coaching, or training.
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Specification