SYSTEM AND GARMENT FOR DETECTING MOVEMENT
First Claim
1. A system for detecting movement, for example and without limitation, for detecting movement of a part of a person such as their limb or a section of their limb, the system including:
- a) two or more than two contactors that can be mounted directly or indirectly to parts of a person or object that move relative to each other, such that when in use, the spacing between the contactors can change as a result of the person or object moving; and
b) an elongate electrical element that, when in use, conducts an electrical current and is in electrical connection with the contactors, wherein the element is substantially un-extendable along its longitudinal axis and the element is either i) at least in part resiliently deformable in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis and/or ii) supported directly or indirectly by a guide structure having elastic properties that is configured to minimise deformation of the element in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the effective length of the element that defines a path of least electrical resistance between the contactors is minimised, and wherein relative movement of the contactors can cause the effective length of the element between the contactors to change such that movement can be measured or detected as a change in electrical resistance between the contactors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to the present invention there is provided a system for detecting movement, for example and without limitation, for detecting movement of a part of a person such as their limb or a section of their limb or deformable surface. The system preferably includes: a) an electrical power source; two or more than two contactors that can be mounted directly or indirectly to parts of a person or object that move relative to each other; and c) an electrical element that, when in use, conducts an electrical current and is in electrical connection with the contactors, wherein the element is substantially un-extendable along its longitudinal axis and the element is either i) at least in part resiliently deformable in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis and/or ii) supported directly or indirectly by a guide structure having elastic properties that is configured to minimise deformation of the element in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the effective length of the element that defines a path of least electrical resistance between the contactors is minimised, and wherein relative movement of the contactors can cause the effective length of the element between the contactors to change such that movement can be measured or detected as a change in electrical resistance between the contactors.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A system for detecting movement, for example and without limitation, for detecting movement of a part of a person such as their limb or a section of their limb, the system including:
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a) two or more than two contactors that can be mounted directly or indirectly to parts of a person or object that move relative to each other, such that when in use, the spacing between the contactors can change as a result of the person or object moving; and b) an elongate electrical element that, when in use, conducts an electrical current and is in electrical connection with the contactors, wherein the element is substantially un-extendable along its longitudinal axis and the element is either i) at least in part resiliently deformable in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis and/or ii) supported directly or indirectly by a guide structure having elastic properties that is configured to minimise deformation of the element in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the effective length of the element that defines a path of least electrical resistance between the contactors is minimised, and wherein relative movement of the contactors can cause the effective length of the element between the contactors to change such that movement can be measured or detected as a change in electrical resistance between the contactors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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- 7. The system according to claim 7, wherein when the substrate is fitted to a person or object, the substrate is capable of taking up the shape of the person or object such that the contactors are held in substantially the same position on the object during movement.
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30. A garment for detecting movement of a part of a person such as their limb or a section of their limb, the garment including:
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a) two or more than two contactors directly or indirectly mounted to selected positions on the garment, such that when the garment is worn the spacing between the connectors changes as a result of the person moving; and b) an elongate electrical element that is connectable to an electrical power source and the contactors, wherein the element is substantially un-extendable along its longitudinal axis and the element is either i) at least in part resiliently deformable in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis and/or ii) supported directly or indirectly by a guide structure having elastic properties that is configured to minimise deformation of the element in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis such that the effective length of the element that defines a path of least electrical resistance between the contactors is minimised, and wherein relative movement of the contactors and thus a person wearing the garment can cause the effective length of the element between the contactors to change and be measured or detected as a change in electrical resistance between the contactors. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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49. The garment according to claim 49, wherein the point of interconnection is able to move along at least one of the sub-elements in response to relative movement between the contactors.
Specification