Device for monitoring a user's posture

• US 20070149360A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/02 posture
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/14 for the hands, e.g. baseball, boxing or golfing gloves archer's finger tabs F41B5/1473

Abstract

A device, wearable by a user, includes: a plurality of sensor elements each for providing an indication of position of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body; a receiver for receiving each indication of position provided by each of the plurality of sensor elements to provide a composite position signal. The individual sensor readings may all be transmitted to the external entity for further analysis. The sensors may be placed in different locations or positions for measuring the curvature of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A device, wearable by a user, comprising:

a plurality of sensor elements each for providing an indication of position of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body; and

a receiver for receiving each indication of position provided by each of the plurality of sensor elements to provide a composite position signal.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the composite position signal to a point external to the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive information representing a three-dimensional position of each sensor element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive information representing the position of each sensor element continuously.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive information representing the position of each sensor element at a high sample rate.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensors elements comprises sensor elements for determining a curvature of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the composite curvature signal to a physician for analysis.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the composite curvature signal to a machine for analysis.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors elements is flexible.

10. The device of claim 2, further comprising a user feedback mechanism for providing a signal to the user and wherein the signal provides information relating to correction of the user'"'"'s posture.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the user feedback mechanism comprises a computer system comprising a display for presenting a representation of the user'"'"'s posture and suggestions for improving the posture.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the composite curvature signal to a therapist for analysis.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises a watch.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises a phone.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises a music player.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the user feedback mechanism comprises a device for measuring a composite three dimensional contour, and wherein the three dimensional contour is calculated by integrating the individual curvature readings by each sensor.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the individual sensor readings are transmitted to an external entity for further analysis.

18. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is attached to the sensor.

19. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is a wireless device.

20. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter transmits a sample at a time.