Systems and Methods for Ergonomic Measurement

• US 20120075483A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nan Chang O-Film Optoelectronics Technology, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nan Chang O-Film Optoelectronics Technology, Ltd.
• Inventors: Paoletti, Tomaso
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/242 by image rotation, e.g. by 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Systems and methods for ergonomic measurement are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment a method for ergonomic measurement includes: receiving a first signal from an image sensor, the first signal comprising data associated with a user'"'"'s orientation with respect to the image sensor. A second signal is received from a orientation sensor, the second signal comprising data associated with the image sensor'"'"'s orientation with respect to gravity. An ergonomic measurement of the user is determined based at least in part on the first and second signals. Another embodiment includes a computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable code for executing such a method.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an image sensor configured to transmit a first signal comprising data associated with a user'"'"'s orientation with respect to the image sensor;

an orientation sensor configured to transmit a second signal comprising data associated with the image sensor'"'"'s orientation with respect to gravity;

a processor in communication with the image sensor and the orientation sensor, the processor configured to;

determine an ergonomic measurement of the user based at least in part on the first and second signals; and

transmit an ergonomic signal based at least in part on the ergonomic measurement; and

an output in communication with the processor and configured to provide a message to the user based at least in part on the ergonomic signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is further configured to receive a third signal comprising an ergonomic quality metric; and

the ergonomic signal is based at least in part on the third signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the ergonomic quality metric is based at least in part on an ergonomic guideline.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the ergonomic quality metric comprises a user-defined value.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the ergonomic quality metric comprises a default value.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor comprises an accelerometer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor comprises a gyroscope.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a display.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor is further configured to transmit display signals to the display.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing, and wherein the orientation sensor and the processor are mounted inside the housing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the housing is a mobile device housing.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the housing is a mobile computing device housing.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from an image sensor, the first signal comprising data associated with a user'"'"'s orientation with respect to the image sensor;

receiving a second signal from a orientation sensor, the second signal comprising data associated with the image sensor'"'"'s orientation with respect to gravity; and

determining an ergonomic measurement of the user based at least in part on the first and second signals.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting an ergonomic signal based at least in part on the ergonomic measurement to an output configured to provide a message to the user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining an ergonomic measurement of the user comprises:

recognizing a facial feature of the user based at least in part on the first signal;

measuring a first feature angle between the facial feature of the user and a first axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor based at least in part on the first signal;

measuring a first sensor angle between the first axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor and gravity based at least in part on the second signal;

correcting at least a portion of the ergonomic measurement by subtracting the first sensor angle from the first feature angle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining an ergonomic measurement of the user further comprises:

measuring a second feature angle between the facial feature of the user and a second axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor based at least in part on the first signal;

measuring a second sensor angle between the second axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor and gravity based at least in part on the second signal;

correcting at least a portion of the ergonomic measurement by subtracting the second sensor angle from the second feature angle.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the ergonomic measurement of the user is determined, at least in part, on an ergonomic quality metric.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the ergonomic measurement of the user is determined at predetermined intervals.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the ergonomic measurement of the user is determined based at least in part on a user input command.

20. A computer readable medium comprising program code configured to:

receive a first signal from an image sensor, the first signal comprising data associated with a user'"'"'s orientation with respect to the image sensor;

receive a second signal from a orientation sensor, the second signal comprising data associated with the image sensor'"'"'s orientation with respect to gravity; and

determine an ergonomic measurement of the user based at least in part on the first and second signals.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising program code configured to:

transmit an ergonomic signal based at least in part on the ergonomic measurement to an output configured to provide a message to the user.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising program code configured to:

recognize a facial feature of the user based at least in part on the first signal;

measure a first feature angle between the facial feature of the user and a first axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor based at least in part on the first signal;

measure a first sensor angle between the first axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor and gravity based at least in part on the second signal;

correct at least a portion of the ergonomic measurement by subtracting the first sensor angle from the first feature angle.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further comprising program code configured to:

measure a second feature angle between the facial feature of the user and a second axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor based at least in part on the first signal;

measure a second sensor angle between the second axis associated with the orientation of the image sensor and gravity based at least in part on the second signal;

correct at least a portion of the ergonomic measurement by subtracting the second sensor angle from the second feature angle.