ACCELEROMETER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ACCELEROMETER

• US 20100211349A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slyde Analytics LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Myotest SA
• Inventors: Bezinge, Alex, Quievre, Jacques, Flaction, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/70 body fat
• 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 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases

Abstract

Method for obtaining physiological muscle values of a user by means of a programmable accelerometer, wherein the method comprises the following operations:

• • selection, by the user, of the type of test to be carried out;
  • measurements of a sequence of acceleration data during the test;
  • emission of sound signals at the beginning, during and at the end of the test. The end of the test is determined by verifying a condition dependent on the type of test selected. The sound signals can indicate the beginning of a test, an action to be carried out during the test, or an error condition during the test;
  • displaying of a value calculated on the basis of said successive measurements of the acceleration and dependent on the type of test selected.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining physiological muscle values of a user by means of an accelerometer, wherein the method comprises the following operations:

selection by the user of the type of test to be carried out;

measurements of a sequence of acceleration data during the test;

emission of a sound signal at the end of the test, the end of the test being determined by verifying a condition dependent on the type of test selected;

displaying a value calculated on the basis of said successive measurements of the acceleration and dependent on the type of test selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is programmable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the end of the test depends for certain tests on the lapsing of a determined period of time,

wherein for other tests the end depends on the execution of a determined number of movements,

and wherein for further other tests the end depends on the execution of a determined number of movement with variable loads.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least certain tests the end of the test depends on the lapsing of a period of time dependent on the selected test.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least certain tests the end of the test depends on a number of executed movements, a signal being emitted between each movement to invite the user to execute each movement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of acquisition of the acceleration depends on the type of test selected.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an error signal is emitted when a value obtained from the sequence of measured acceleration values does not correspond to a pattern dependent on the type of text selected.

8. The method claim 1, wherein a calculation dependent on the type of test selected is performed from said acceleration data,

and wherein a value dependent on the type of test selected is displayed during or at the end of the test.

9. The method of claim 1, including a step during which at least one parameter dependent on the type of selected test is required from the user or read from a memory position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a sequence of speed data is determined during the test by integration of said sequence of acceleration data,

the speed being re-initialized at least once during the test when the accelerometer determines that the speed is zero.

11. The method of claim 10, said test including several movements separated by phases of standstill, the speed being re-initialized during said at least one standstill phase.

12. The method of claim 1, including a step of determining the maximum force or the average force from said acceleration data multiplied by a mass parameter entered by the user.

13. The method of claim 12, including a step of determining the maximum power or the average power from the strength and the speed.

14. The method of claim 1, including a step of determining the height of a jump and/or the duration of a flight from said sequence of acceleration data.

15. The method of claim 1, including a step of determining the muscle explosiveness from said sequence of acceleration data.

16. A method for obtaining physiological muscle values of a user by means of an accelerometer, wherein the method comprises the following operations:

inviting the user to perform a number of successive jumps;

measurements of a sequence of acceleration data during each of said jumps;

determination of a sequence of speed data by integrating said acceleration data;

emission of a first sound signal after the execution of each of said jump, in order to invite the user to execute the next jump;

re-initializing the speed during at least one phase of standstill between two jumps;

automatic determination of the end of the test after a predetermined number of jumps;

emission of a second sound signal different from the first signal, in order to indicate the end of the test; and

displaying a plurality of values calculated on the basis of said sequence of acceleration data.

17. The method of claim 16, said values comprising the force and power of the user.

18. Portable accelerometer for measuring tri-axial physiological values, having:

an acceleration sensor (14);

a display (11);

an electric battery (15);

elements (13, 13A, 13B) enabling parameters and/or commands to be entered manually;

a programmed device (16) for inviting the user to select, by means of said elements, a type of test from among several predefined tests, for emitting a signal at the end of the test determined according to the type of test selected, and for performing calculations from a sequence of acceleration data obtained during the test.

19. The accelerometer of claim 18, said acceleration sensor (14) enabling the acceleration to be measured along several axes, only the acceleration in a privileged direction determined when the accelerometer is immobile being used for said calculations.

20. The accelerometer of claim 18, having an interface (19,22) for connecting it to an external computer in order to load new tests.

21. A portable accelerometer for measuring physiological muscle values of a user, comprising:

computer program means for inviting the user to perform a number of successive jumps;

an accelerometer digitally controlled for measuring a sequence of acceleration data during each of said jumps;

a digitally controlled loudspeaker arranged for generating a first sound signal after each jump, and a second sound signal different from said first signal at the end the test; and

a digitally controlled display arranged for displaying a plurality of values calculated on the basis of said sequence of acceleration data.