Method for Measuring Movement of Cervical Vertebra, Device Thereof and Wearable Apparatus

• US 20160157771A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liu, Xueqiang
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4566 Evaluating the spine A61B5/4561 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/025 for the head or the neck

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for measuring a movement of the cervical vertebra, a device thereof and a wearable apparatus. The method for measuring a movement of the cervical vertebra comprises: obtaining a movement angle of the cervical vertebra with a sensor; and calculating a movement amount of the cervical vertebra based on the movement angle of the cervical vertebra. Therefore, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, exact data values of the movement angles of the cervical vertebra can be acquired with the sensor, and the movement amount of the cervical vertebra can be calculated on the basis of this, thereby a quantitative value of the movement of the cervical vertebra can be acquired exactly in form of a numerical value, which is convenient for future processings.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a movement of the cervical vertebra, comprising:

obtaining a movement angle of the cervical vertebra with a sensor; and

calculating a movement amount of the cervical vertebra based on the movement angle of the cervical vertebra.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculating a movement amount of the cervical vertebra based on the movement angle of the cervical vertebra comprises:

acquiring a movement distance corresponding to each of at least one movement angle of the cervical vertebra based on the at least one movement angle of the cervical vertebra; and

calculating a sum of the movement distances acquired during a measurement period, as the movement amount of the cervical vertebra.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtaining a movement angle of the cervical vertebra with a sensor comprises:

calculating, for the each movement of the cervical vertebra, an average velocity of the cervical vertebra corresponding to this movement; and

acquiring the movement angle of the cervical vertebra by multiplying the average velocity with a movement duration of the cervical vertebra.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the each movement of the cervical vertebra comprises a first motion process and a second motion process which are opposite in direction, and, the method further comprises:

calculating a first average velocity corresponding to the first motion process and a second average velocity corresponding to the second motion process;

acquiring a first angle by multiplying the first average velocity with a movement duration of the first motion process;

acquiring a second angle by multiplying the second average velocity with a movement duration of the second motion process; and

determining the angle whose absolute value is greater between the first angle and the second angle as the movement angle of the cervical vertebra for said movement.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

if the movement angle of the cervical vertebra is greater than or equal to a valid movement threshold value, recording said movement of the cervical vertebra as a valid movement of the cervical vertebra; and

counting the valid movements of the cervical vertebra during the measurement period as a valid movement number of the cervical vertebra.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein, at least one movement angle of the cervical vertebra is all movement angles of the cervical vertebra during the measurement period or valid movement angles of the cervical vertebra during the measurement period.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the sensor is a three-axis angular velocity sensor,

the movement angle of the cervical vertebra comprises at least one of an up-and-down moving angle, a left-and-right horizontal turning angle and a left-and-right flipping angle,

the movement amount of the cervical vertebra comprises at least one of an up-and-down moving amount, a left-and-right horizontal turning amount and a left-and-right flipping amount, and

the valid movement number of the cervical vertebra comprises at least one of an up-and-down valid movement number, a left-and-right horizontal turning valid movement number, and a left-and-right flipping valid movement number.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, the method further comprises:

providing an alarm to a user when at least one of alarm conditions is met,

wherein, the alarm conditions comprise;

at least one of the movement amounts of the cervical vertebra is less than its corresponding movement amount threshold value, and at least one of the valid movement numbers of the cervical vertebra is less than its corresponding valid movement number threshold value.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the method further comprises:

performing an authentication as being connected to a host.

10. A device for measuring a movement of the cervical vertebra, comprising:

an obtaining unit configured to obtain a movement angle of the cervical vertebra with a sensor; and

a processing unit configured to calculate a movement amount of the cervical vertebra based on the movement angle of the cervical vertebra.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein, the processing unit acquires a movement distance corresponding to each of at least one movement angle of the cervical vertebra based on the at least one movement angle of the cervical vertebra, and calculates a sum of the movement distances acquired during a measurement period as the cervical vertebra movement amount.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein, for each movement of the cervical vertebra, the obtaining unit calculates an average velocity of the cervical vertebra corresponding to this movement, and acquires the movement angle of the cervical vertebra by multiplying the average velocity with a movement duration of the cervical vertebra.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein, the each movement of the cervical vertebra comprises a first motion process and a second motion process which are opposite in direction, and, the obtaining unit is further configured to calculate a first average velocity corresponding to the first motion process and a second average velocity corresponding to the second motion process, acquire a first angle by multiplying the first average velocity with a movement duration of the first motion process, acquire a second angle by multiplying the second average velocity with a movement duration of the second motion process, and, determine the angle whose absolute value is greater between the first angle and the second angle as the movement angle of the cervical vertebra for said movement.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, if the movement angle of the cervical vertebra is greater than or equal to a valid movement threshold value, the processing unit records said movement of the cervical vertebra as a valid movement of the cervical vertebra, and counts the valid movements of the cervical vertebra during the measurement period as a valid movement number of the cervical vertebra.

15. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, the at least one movement angle of the cervical vertebra is all movement angles of the cervical vertebra during the measurement period or valid movement angles of the cervical vertebra during the measurement period.

16. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein, the sensor is a three-axis angular velocity sensor,

the movement angle of the cervical vertebra comprises at least one of an up-and-down moving angle, a left-and-right horizontal turning angle and a left-and-right flipping angle,

the movement amount of the cervical vertebra comprises at least one of an up-and-down moving amount, a left-and-right horizontal turning amount and a left-and-right flipping amount, and

the valid movement number of the cervical vertebra comprises at least one of an up-and-down valid movement number, a left-and-right horizontal turning valid movement number, and a left-and-right flipping valid movement number.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein, the device further comprises:

a notifying unit configured to provide an alarm to a user when at least one of alarm conditions is met,

wherein, the alarm conditions comprise;

at least one of the movement amounts of the cervical vertebra is less than its corresponding movement amount threshold value, and at least one of the valid movement numbers of the cervical vertebra is less than its corresponding valid movement number threshold value.

18. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device further comprises at least one of the following:

an authenticating unit configured to perform an authentication as being connected to a host;

a temperature measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of an object to be tested by utilizing a total radiation thermometry; and

a pedometer unit configured to count steps of the object to be tested.

19. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device is included in a wearable apparatus worn on a head.

20. A wearable apparatus worn on a head, comprising a device for measuring a movement of the cervical vertebra, wherein the device comprises:

an obtaining unit configured to obtain a movement angle of the cervical vertebra with a sensor; and

a processing unit configured to calculate a movement amount of the cervical vertebra based on the movement angle of the cervical vertebra.