Fiber-Optic Weight Management Mat
First Claim
1. A weight management mat, comprising:
- an outer housing comprising an upper mat and a lower mat;
a first sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the first sensor array comprises a plurality of first fiber optic cables adapted to carry a light signal;
a first inducer array positioned above the first sensor array;
a second inducer array positioned beneath the first sensor array, wherein the first inducer array and the second inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the first sensor array;
a second sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the second sensor array comprises a plurality of second fiber optic cables adapted to carry the light signal;
a third inducer array positioned above the second sensor array;
a fourth inducer array positioned beneath the second sensor array, wherein the third inducer array and the fourth inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the second sensor array; and
at least one photodetector adapted to detect sensitivity changes of the light signal caused by the microbends.
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Abstract
A weight management mat for passively and automatically monitoring weight for one or more individuals in a household. The weight management mat generally includes a housing having an upper mat and a lower mat between which is sealed a pair of perpendicular sensor arrays. Each sensor array includes fiber optic cables laid out in a grid pattern. One or more microbend inducers act to induce detectable microbends in the fiber optic cables when an individual steps on the upper mat. The change in light intensity caused by these microbends is recorded by photodetectors and processed by a microcontroller. The present invention may be utilized to identify each unique individual stepping on the present invention by the pressure map of their feet. Thus, recorded weight measurements may be tracked to aid in weight management.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A weight management mat, comprising:
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an outer housing comprising an upper mat and a lower mat; a first sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the first sensor array comprises a plurality of first fiber optic cables adapted to carry a light signal; a first inducer array positioned above the first sensor array; a second inducer array positioned beneath the first sensor array, wherein the first inducer array and the second inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the first sensor array; a second sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the second sensor array comprises a plurality of second fiber optic cables adapted to carry the light signal; a third inducer array positioned above the second sensor array; a fourth inducer array positioned beneath the second sensor array, wherein the third inducer array and the fourth inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the second sensor array; and at least one photodetector adapted to detect sensitivity changes of the light signal caused by the microbends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A weight management mat, comprising:
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an outer housing comprising an upper mat and a lower mat; a first inducer support positioned within the housing, wherein a lower surface of the first inducer support includes a first inducer array; a first sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the first sensor array comprises a plurality of first fiber optic cables adapted to carry a light signal; a second inducer support positioned within the housing, wherein an upper surface of the second inducer support includes a second inducer array, wherein a lower surface of the second inducer support includes a third inducer array, wherein the first inducer array and the second inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the first sensor array; a second sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the second sensor array comprises a plurality of second fiber optic cables adapted to carry the light signal; a third inducer support positioned within the housing, wherein an upper surface of the third inducer support includes a fourth inducer array, wherein the third inducer array and the fourth inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the second sensor array; and at least one photodetector adapted to detect sensitivity changes of the light signal caused by the microbends. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A weight management mat, comprising:
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an outer housing comprising an upper mat and a lower mat; a first inducer support positioned within the housing, wherein a lower surface of the first inducer support includes a first inducer array, wherein the first inducer array comprises a plurality of first splines; a first sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the first sensor array comprises a plurality of first fiber optic cables adapted to carry a light signal; a second inducer support positioned within the housing, wherein an upper surface of the second inducer support includes a second inducer array, wherein the second inducer array comprises a plurality of second splines; wherein a lower surface of the second inducer support includes a third inducer array, wherein the third inducer array comprises a plurality of third splines, wherein the first inducer array and the second inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the first sensor array; a second sensor array positioned within the outer housing, wherein the second sensor array comprises a plurality of second fiber optic cables adapted to carry the light signal; a third inducer support positioned within the housing, wherein an upper surface of the third inducer support includes a fourth inducer array, wherein the fourth inducer array comprises a plurality of fourth splines, wherein the third inducer array and the fourth inducer array are adapted to induce microbends within the second sensor array; and at least one photodetector adapted to detect sensitivity changes of the light signal caused by the microbends. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification