FEEDBACK DEVICE FOR GUIDING AND SUPERVISING PHYSICAL EXERCISES

• US 20100022351A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lanfermann, Gerd, Willmann, Richard Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/12 with mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00

Abstract

The present invention is related to a feedback device (10) for guiding and supervising physical exercises, particularly home rehabilitation exercises of a person (12), comprising a computer device having a CPU and a memory, a mirror display device (11) comprising a conventional display device having a reflective surface, and position-sensing means (13, 14) for a person disposed before the device. Furthermore, the invention is related to a feedback method for guiding and supervising physical exercises, particularly home rehabilitation exercises.

Claims

1. A feedback device (10) for guiding and supervising physical exercises, comprising

a) a computer device having a CPU and a memory,

b) a mirror display device (11) comprising a conventional display device having a reflective surface, and

c) position-sensing means (13, 14) for a person disposed before the device.

2. A feedback device according to claim 1, characterized in that, further, the device comprises means for controlling a transmission and/or a reflectance of the reflective surface.

3. A feedback device according to claim 2, characterized in that said means for controlling the transmission and/or reflectance of the reflective surface comprises a polarizing film, disposed on the mirror display device, that adjusts the whole, or a portion, of its surface so as to be either transmissive, reflective, or semi-reflective.

4. A feedback device according to claim 1, characterized in that, further, the device comprises means for

d) generating an animation of the person, based on data provided by the position-sensing means, and

e) displaying said animation on the mirror display device in such a way that the displayed animation and a reflected image of the person are overlaid one on top of the other.

5. A feedback device according to claim 1, characterized in that the position-sensing means for the person comprises either

a) body-worn sensors or markers (14), and/or

b) a camera system (13).

6. A feedback device according to claim 5, characterized in that said camera system comprises a stereo camera.

12. The use of a feedback device according to claim 1 for carrying out, guiding and supervising physical exercises and movements.

7. A feedback method for guiding and supervising physical exercises, said method comprising the steps of

a) disposing a person before a feedback device comprising:

a CPU and a memory, a mirror display device comprising a conventional display device having a reflective surface, and a position-sensing means for the person,

b) detecting a body posture and/or body movements of the person, and

c) generating and displaying a computer-generated animation on the mirror display device, which represents a template posture and/or movement.

8. A feedback method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method further comprises

a) detecting any deviations between the template posture and/or movement and the person'"'"'s body posture and/or body movements.

9. A feedback method according to claim 8, characterized in that the method further comprises

b) generating feedback information according to said deviation.

10. A feedback method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the execution of algorithms selected from the group consisting of:

a) an algorithm to detect 3D positions of the person and his limbs when disposed before the mirror display device,

b) an algorithm to compute coordinates of the mirror image of the person and/or his limbs on the surface of the mirror display,

c) an algorithm for creating a computer-generated image of a figure the limbs of which appear at the same points on the surface of the mirror display as in the mirror image, as computed by the algorithm mentioned in point b),

d) an algorithm to animate the computer-generated image according to the template posture and/or movement, and/or

e) an algorithm to generate feedback information according to the deviation of the person'"'"'s posture and/or movement from the template posture and/or movement.

11. A method for carrying out, guiding and/or supervising physical exercises and movements, comprising procedural steps according to claim 7.