SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF POWER OUTPUT MEASUREMENT
First Claim
1. An athletic activity pressure sensing device comprising:
- a pressure sensor disposed in a particular location to receive pressure during an athletic activity, wherein the particular location is related to the athletic activity, and wherein the pressure sensor is configured to convert received pressure into electrical data;
a wireless communication system electrically coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical data;
a housing substantially enclosing the wireless communication system while facilitating the electrical coupling between the pressure sensor and the wireless communication system; and
a mounting system configured to mechanically couple the athletic activity pressure sensing device to an athletic article in a manner that facilitates the disposal of the pressure sensor at the particular location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to systems and methods of individual power output measurement. One embodiment relates to a pressure sensing device configured to be mounted on the bottom surface of a shoe. The device includes a sensor, a wireless communication system, a housing, and a mounting system. A second embodiment relates to a direct power measurement system including a pressure sensing device, a computer module, and a display module. In a bicycling application of the system, the device is mounted on the bottom surface of a shoe so as to measure applied pressure between at least one of the rider'"'"'s shoe and corresponding bicycle pedal. The computing module mathematically converts the measured pressure as a function of time to a value of power exerted by the rider. In addition, the computing module may utilize the measured pressure as a function of time to compute the rider'"'"'s cadence (pedal revolutions per unit of time). Various well-known communication systems such as RF may be integrated within the device and computing module to facilitate data transmission. Similar systems may be used to calculate an individual'"'"'s power output during other activities including but not limited to running, rowing, walking, etc. A third embodiment relates to a method for calculating individual power output during an athletic activity. The method includes sensing pressure at a particular location, calculating or computing power, and displaying power.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An athletic activity pressure sensing device comprising:
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a pressure sensor disposed in a particular location to receive pressure during an athletic activity, wherein the particular location is related to the athletic activity, and wherein the pressure sensor is configured to convert received pressure into electrical data;
a wireless communication system electrically coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical data;
a housing substantially enclosing the wireless communication system while facilitating the electrical coupling between the pressure sensor and the wireless communication system; and
a mounting system configured to mechanically couple the athletic activity pressure sensing device to an athletic article in a manner that facilitates the disposal of the pressure sensor at the particular location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for measuring athletic power output during an athletic activity comprising:
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a pressure sensing device configured to measure pressure at a particular location, wherein the particular location is related to the athletic activity, and wherein the pressure sensing device converts the measured pressure into data and wirelessly transmits the data;
a computing module configured to wirelessly receive the data and mathematically convert the data into a value of power output according to a specific algorithm; and
a display module configured to display the power output value, wherein the display module is disposed in a second location that allows a user to view the display during the athletic activity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22)
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14. A method for calculating individual power output during an athletic activity comprising the acts of:
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sensing pressure at a particular location, wherein the particular location is related to the athletic activity;
computing power as a function of time through the application of a particular mathematical algorithm; and
displaying power to a user in a manner that allows the user to view the power while performing the athletic activity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of dynamically bracketing a metric during an athletic activity comprising the acts of:
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providing a user performing an athletic activity that affects at least one of heart rate, power output, muscle fatigue, and body heat;
continuously measuring a metric during the performance of the athletic activity, wherein the metric is associated with at least one of the performance level of the user at the athletic activity and the exertion level of the user;
receiving a bracket request from the user at a particular time during the performance of the athletic activity;
assigning a bracket of metric values corresponding to a set of values substantially centered around the measured metric value at the particular time at which the bracket request was received.
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Specification