Movement Monitoring Device For Action Sports, And Associated Methods

• US 20120143514A1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Larkin, Adrian F., Youngs, Perry, Vock, Curtis A., Amsbury, Burl w.
• Application Number:
  US13/372,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143514A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 : Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 : of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 : Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7242 : using integration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 : specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/50 : Force related parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 : attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 : for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: B68B 1/00 : Devices in connection with harness, for hitching, reining, training, breaking or quietening horses or other traction animals devices of this kind combined with traction harness B68B3/00; stable equipment A01K1/00; devices forming part of a vehicle B62C
• CPC Class Codes: B68C 1/00 : Saddling equipment for riding- or pack-animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 : for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 : for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/00 : Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 : by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 : using properties of piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 : using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 : for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 : Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/08 : Systems for determining direction or position line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/00 : Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 : Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 : together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 : Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 9/00 : Traffic control systems for craft where the kind of craft is irrelevant or unspecified
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 : Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A movement monitoring device (MMD) for action sports has a detector for sensing motion associated with action sports, a processor for processing data from the detector to determine one or more movement metrics, and a communications port for wirelessly relaying the movement metrics to a remote location. A method collects motion data within action sports, including: detecting motion of a person or object engaged in action sports; determining one or more events associated with the motion; and wirelessly relaying the events to a remote network. One MMD for action sports is formed within a cell phone having a detector for sensing motion associated with action sports and a processor for processing data from the detector to determine one or more movement metrics for (a) display to a person using carrying the cell phone during action sports or (b) relaying the movement metrics to an external network for review by others.

Claims

1. A movement monitoring device (MMD) for action sports, comprising:

a detector for generating a signal in response to movement of the device;

a clock;

a processor for processing the signal to generate one or more movement events and for time-tagging the movement events with time information from the clock; and

a first communications port for communicating events, tagged with the time information, to a receiver remote from the device.

2. MMD of claim 1, further comprising one of a rigid monolithic housing or a protective wrapper for holding the detector, processor and communications port.

3. MMD of claim 2, further comprising one of an adhesive, a mechanical pin, a magnetic element and a mechanical clip, for attaching the housing to (a) a vehicle used in the action sports or to (b) an individual engaged in the action sports.

4. MMD of claim 1, the action sports being selected from the group of skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding, off-road biking, bmx, mountain biking and FMX.

5. MMD of claim 1, wherein the detector and processor are within a single ASIC.

6. MMD of claim 1, further comprising a label with adhesive for attaching the detector, processor and communications port to a person or to objects used by the person in the action sports.

7. MMD of claim 1, further comprising a plastic body formed in credit card size for housing the detector, processor and communications port, to be carried by the person involved in action sports.

8. MMD of claim 7, wherein the communications port is a transponder.

9. MMD of claim 1, further comprising a battery for powering the detector, processor and communications port.

10. MMD of claim 1, further comprising the receiver at the remote location.

11. MMD of claim 10, the remote receiver comprising one of a cell phone, an MP3 player, a pager, a watch and a PDA.

12. MMD of claim 1, further comprising the remote receiver, the processor relaying event the movement events to the remote receiver.

13. MMD of claim 12, the remote receiver comprising one of a cell phone, an MP3 player, a pager, a watch and a PDA.

14. MMD of claim 1, further comprising the remote receiver, the communications port relaying the movement events within set time intervals to the remote receiver, to reflect movement information of a moving sportsman involved in the action sports.

15. MMD of claim 14, the remote receiver comprising one of a cell phone, an MP3 player, a pager, a watch and a PDA.

16. MMD of claim 14, the set time intervals comprising one of a second, a half minute, a minute, a half hour or an hour.

17. MMD of claim 1, further comprising a cellular network linked to data relayed by the communications port for providing movement metrics to at least one cell phone in the cellular network.

18. MMD of claim 1, wherein the communications port comprises one of an RFID tag, a transceiver and an infrared transmitter.

19. MMD of claim 1, wherein movement events at the remote receiver are time-tagged.

20. MMD of claim 1, the clock being a real time clock for time tagging movement events.

21. MMD of claim 1, the detector and processor formed with a printed circuit board having multilayers, including layers forming terminals for a battery to power the MMD.

22. MMD of claim 1, the detector and processor foamed with a printed circuit board having terminals on each side of the printed circuit board, to connect a battery to power the MMD.

23. MMD of claim 22, one of the terminals comprising a conductive force terminal to force a circuit between the battery and the printed circuit board.

24. MMD of claim 1, the communications port relaying movement metrics in batches or bursts.

25. MMD of claim 1, further comprising adhesive bandage packaging to hold the detector, processor and communications port, such that the MMD may be attached to a person or object engaged in the action sports.

26. MMD of claim 1, the detector comprising at least one accelerometer, and wherein the movement events comprise free fall airtime.

27. MMD of claim 1, the movement events comprising one or more of airtime, speed, power, impact, drop distance, jarring and spin.

28. MMD of claim 27, wherein the detector comprises at least one accelerometer and wherein the processor determines one or more of the movement events as airtime, speed, power, drop or jump distance, vertical travel, jarring and spin for a moving person involved in board sports.

29. MMD of claim 27, wherein the detector comprises a pressure sensor, and wherein the processor determines one or more of the movement events as vertical travel or jump distance.

30. MMD of claim 27, wherein the detector comprises at least one of a magnetorestrive element, a hall effect detector, a gyroscope, an electrolytic tilt device and a rotational accelerometer, and wherein the processor determines the movement event of spin.

31. MMD of claim 1, the communications port time sequentially relaying movement events to the remote location such that a person'"'"'s movement in the action sports is tracked in real time.

32. MMD of claim 1, further comprising a shoe to house the detector, processor and communications port, wherein the shoe, worn by a user engaged in board sports as the action sports, relays the movement events to the remote location.

33. MMD of claim 32, the movement events comprising weight of the person.

34. MMD of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises at least one accelerometer and wherein the movement events comprise g'"'"'s.

35. MMD of claim 34, wherein the g'"'"'s are reported as movement events in intervals of 1, 5 or 10 g'"'"'s.

36. MMD of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises tension or compression load cells, such that the movement events comprise an event exceeding, or alternatively not exceeding, a preselected threshold.

37. MMD of claim 1, the processor further determining caloric burn for relay to the receiver.

38. MMD of claim 1, further comprising interne or television networks to capture data from the remote receiver.

39. MMD of claim 1, further comprising sensors for determining one or more of temperature, humidity, chemicals, heart rate, pulse, pressure, stress and weight, to be relayed with the movement events to the remote receiver.

40. MMD of claim 1, wherein the detector, processor and communications port are constructed and arranged in packaging for single use.

41. MMD of claim 1, further comprising a GPS sensor to determine position to be relayed with the movement events.

42. MMD of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises at least one accelerometer and wherein the processor processes data from the accelerometer using an airtime detection algorithm involving two pseudo-power level signals, to determine movement events of airtime.

43. MMD of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises at least one accelerometer and wherein the processor processes data from the accelerometer using state machine logic to determine airtime as one movement event.

44. A method for collecting motion data within action sports, comprising:

detecting motion of a person or object engaged in action sports;

determining one or more events associated with the motion;

wirelessly relaying the events to a remote network, and time-tagging the events.

45. The method of claim 44, the remote network comprising at least one mobile phone.

46. The method of claim 44, the events comprising one or more of g'"'"'s, airtime, spin, drop distance, impact, power, speed and jarring, the action sports comprising one of skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding, off-road biking, bmx, mountain biking and FMX.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein detecting motion comprises utilizing one or more of at least one accelerometer, a magnetorestrictive element, a gyroscope, a pressure sensor, a hall effect sensor and a tilt device.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein detecting motion comprises utilizing at least one accelerometer, and further comprising processing data from the accelerometer through an airtime detection algorithm involving two pseudo-power level signals and state machine logic dependent upon confidence of take-off and landings of a vehicle used in the action sports.

49. The method of claim 48, the vehicle comprising one of a skateboard, a snowboard, a ski and a wakeboard.

50. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing data to computer software such that limitations are placed on participant movements within the computer software based upon actual events relayed to the remote network.

51. A movement monitoring device (MMD) for board sports, comprising:

a cell phone having a detector for sensing motion associated with board sports, and

a processor for processing data from the detector to determine, and time-tag, one or more movement metrics for display to a person using or carrying the cell phone while involved in board sports.

52. MMD of claim 51, the cell phone optionally relaying movement metrics to a remote location through a cellular network, for access by others through the internet.

53. MMD of claim 51, the board sports comprising one of skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding and skateboarding.

54. MMD of claim 51, wherein the detector and processor are within a single ASIC.

55. MMD of claim 51, wherein the detector comprises at least one accelerometer for sensing acceleration, and wherein the processor processes the acceleration to determine one or more of g'"'"'s, airtime, spin, drop distance, impact, power, speed and jarring as the movement metrics.