Real-Time Self-Visualization System

• US 20090102746A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: FISHER, James Brian, PREVIC, Fred Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,094,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system which may allow a user to visualize and/or monitor motor activities during, e.g., rehabilitation exercises and/or athletic training. The system may include a camera that may be configured to capture images of a user performing a motor activity. The system may also include a computer configured to receive the captured images from the camera while the user is performing the motor activity. The computer may be further configured to provide static and dynamic augmentation of the captured images. The system may further include a display for the user. The display may be configured to receive the augmented captured images from the computer and to display the augmented captured images to the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a camera configured to capture images of a user performing a motor activity;

a computer configured to receive said captured images from said camera while said user is performing said motor activity wherein said computer is further configured to provide static and dynamic augmentation of said captured images; and

a display for said user wherein said display is configured to receive said augmented captured images from said computer and to display said augmented captured images to said user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said static augmentation comprises a fixed visual reference on said captured images.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said dynamic augmentation comprises a moving visual reference on said captured images.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said moving visual reference comprises a moving target.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said user'"'"'s motor activity includes movement of an object and said system detects a position of said object, compares said object position to a position of said target and provides an alert to said user if said object position and said target position differ by more than a specified tolerance.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said alert is visible or audible to said user.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said camera, computer and display are configured to communicate over a network.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of a plurality of users each performing a motor activity wherein said computer is further configured to receive said captured images from each of said plurality of cameras,

a plurality of displays for said plurality of users wherein each of said plurality of displays is configured to receive augmented captured images from said computer, wherein said augmented captured images include static and dynamic augmentation.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of cameras and plurality of displays are configured to communicate over a network to said computer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is configured to store said captured images of said user'"'"'s motor activity.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said computer is configured to compare said stored captured images to a desired performance criterion for said user.

12. A method for allowing a user to visualize a motor activity comprising:

positioning a camera configured to capture images of a user performing a motor activity wherein said images are supplied to a computer;

providing a display for said user wherein said display is configured to receive images from said computer;

wherein said computer is configured to supply static and dynamic augmentation of said captured images from said camera to said display.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said static augmentation comprises placing a fixed visual reference on said captured images.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said dynamic augmentation comprises placing a moving visual reference on said captured images.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing said captured images of said user'"'"'s motor activity.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising inputting a performance criterion for a user to said computer and comparing said stored captured images to said desired performance criterion for said user.

17. An article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following operations:

receiving captured images of a user performing a motor activity;

providing static and dynamic augmentation to said captured images; and

outputting to a display augmented captured images wherein said augmented captured images include said static and dynamic augmentation.

18. The article of claim 17 wherein static augmentation comprises a fixed visual reference on said captured images.

19. The article of claim 17 wherein said dynamic augmentation comprises a moving visual reference on said captured images.

20. The article of claim 17 said instructions when executed include detecting an actual position of an object moved by a user and comparing said actual position to a desired position for said object and providing an alert to said user if said actual position and said desired position differ by more than a specified tolerance.