Systems and methods for monitoring athletic and physiological performance

• US 10,363,453 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Balance Athletics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: New Balance Athletics, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Michael William On, Gothie, Bryan Decker, Gutmann, Anne, Murphy, Sean B., Petrecca, Katherine Elizabeth, Rodrigues, Pedro, Tenbroek, Trampas, Wawrousek, Christopher James
• Primary Examiner(s): Quigley, Kyle R
• Application Number:
  US15/065,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/00 Aspects of pattern recognition specially adapted for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring one or more athletic performance characteristic and physiological characteristic of a user. An exemplary system includes a first sensing unit adapted to monitor at least one performance characteristic of a user, a second sensing unit adapted to monitor at least one physiological characteristic of the user, and a transmitter for transmitting the at least one performance characteristic and at least one physiological characteristic to a remote receiver that is adapted to identify a relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring athletic performance and physiological characteristics of a user, the system comprising:

(a) a first sensing unit adapted to monitor at least one performance characteristic of the user, the first sensing unit adapted to be attachable to a shoe of the user and comprising;

at least one motion sensor adapted to gather motion data relating to a movement of a foot of the user;

a first processor for processing the motion data to determine the at least one performance characteristic of the user, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) process angular velocity data from the motion sensor to determine a processed value indicative of a first performance characteristic of the user, the first performance characteristic comprising a foot strike location of the foot of the user upon striking a ground surface;

(ii) compare the processed value to a range of predetermined comparison values, the range of predetermined comparison values comprising a first range of values indicative of a heel strike, a second range of values indicative of a midfoot strike, and a third range of values indicative of a forefoot strike; and

(iii) determine, based on the comparison, the first performance characteristic;

a periodic trigger adapted to initiate and terminate processing of angular velocity data by the processor during a window of time corresponding to a portion of a foot strike event; and

a transmitter for transmitting a first data package representative of the first performance characteristic to a remote receiver, wherein the first data package comprises an indication of which of the heel strike, the midfoot strike, and the forefoot strike has occurred; and

(b) a second sensing unit adapted to monitor a plurality of physiological metrics of the user, the second sensing unit adapted to be at least one of incorporated into an item of apparel of the user and attached to a portion of the user and comprising;

a first physiological sensor adapted to gather first physiological data relating to at least one function of a heart of the user;

a second physiological sensor adapted to gather second physiological data relating to at least one of a temperature and a perspiration level of the user;

a second processor for processing the first physiological data and the second physiological data to determine at least one physiological characteristic of the user; and

a transmitter for transmitting a second data package representative of the at least one physiological characteristic to the remote receiver;

wherein the remote receiver is adapted to identify a relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a gyroscopic sensor for measuring an angular velocity data of the foot of the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer for measuring an acceleration of the foot of the user.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the accelerometer comprises a multi-axis accelerometer.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and the second processor is adapted to process the acceleration data from the accelerometer to determine a cadence of the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensing unit is at least one of embedded within and releasably attachable to the item of apparel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first physiological sensor comprises at least one of an electrocardiograph sensor and a heart-rate monitor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensing unit further comprises a third physiological sensor adapted to monitor at least one function of a chest of the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the third physiological sensor comprises at least one of a pneumograph sensor and a breathing rate sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote receiver is adapted to communicate information representative of at least one of the at least one performance characteristic, the at least one physiological characteristic, and the relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote receiver comprises at least one remote user feedback device selected from the group consisting of:

a watch, a detachable strap, a mobile phone, an earpiece, a hand-held feedback device, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a head-mounted feedback device, and a desktop personal computer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the information is communicated to the user in substantially real-time.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote receiver is adapted to store data related to at least one of the at least one performance characteristic, the at least one physiological characteristic, and the relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic is indicative of a level of performance of the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote receiver is further adapted to compare the level of performance to a predetermined optimal level of performance.

16. A method for monitoring athletic performance and physiological characteristics of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first sensing unit adapted to monitor at least one performance characteristic of the user, the first sensing unit adapted to be attachable to a shoe of the user and comprising a periodic trigger, monitoring comprising;

gathering, by at least one motion sensor, motion data relating to a movement of a foot of the user;

processing, by a processor, the motion data to determine the at least one performance characteristic of the user, wherein processing comprises;

(i) processing angular velocity data from the motion sensor to determine a processed value indicative of a first performance characteristic of the user, the first performance characteristic comprising a foot strike location of the foot of the user upon striking a ground surface;

(ii) initiating and terminating, by the periodic trigger, processing of angular velocity data during a window of time corresponding to a portion of a foot strike event;

(iii) comparing the processed value to a range of predetermined comparison values, the range of predetermined comparison values comprising a first range of values indicative of a heel strike, a second range of values indicative of a midfoot strike, and a third range of values indicative of a forefoot strike; and

(iv) determining, based on the comparison, the first performance characteristic; and

transmitting, by a transmitter, a first data package representative of the first performance characteristic to a remote receiver, wherein the first data package comprises an indication of which of the heel strike, the midfoot strike, and the forefoot strike has occurred; and

(b) providing a second sensing unit adapted to monitor a plurality of physiological metrics of the user, the second sensing unit adapted to be at least one of incorporated into an item of apparel of the user and attached to a portion of the user, monitoring comprising;

gathering, by a first physiological sensor, first physiological data relating to at least one function of a heart of the user;

gathering, by a second physiological sensor, second physiological data relating to at least one of a temperature and a perspiration level of the user;

processing, by a processor, the first physiological data and the second physiological data to determine at least one physiological characteristic of the user; and

transmitting, by a transmitter, a second data package representative of the at least one physiological characteristic to the remote receiver; and

(c) identifying, at the remote receiver, a relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a level of performance of the user based on the relationship between the at least one performance characteristic and the at least one physiological characteristic.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising comparing the determined level of performance to a predetermined optimal level of performance.