SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC POSTURE CALIBRATION

• US 20170258374A1
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lumo LLC
• Original Assignee: LUMO BodyTech, Inc.
• Inventors: Ly, Daniel, Hauenstein, Andreas Martin, Wang, Chung-Che Charles, Chang, Andrew Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/454,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20170258374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients

Abstract

A system and method for posture feedback can include collecting kinematic data by an activity monitoring device coupled to a user; calibrating the kinematic data to a base walking orientation of the activity monitoring device, which comprises: detecting a walking activity state through the kinematic data, and when a walking activity state is detected, generating the base walking orientation from kinematic data; setting a posture correction factor; measuring user posture with the calibrated kinematic data; triggering posture feedback based on the user posture adjusted by the posture correction factor.

Claims

1. A method for posture feedback comprising:

collecting kinematic data by an activity monitoring device coupled to a user;

calibrating the kinematic data to a base walking orientation of the activity monitoring device, which comprises;

detecting a walking activity state through the kinematic data, and

when a walking activity state is detected, generating the base walking orientation from kinematic data;

setting a posture correction factor;

measuring user posture with the calibrated kinematic data;

triggering posture feedback based on the user posture adjusted by the posture correction factor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a posture correction factor comprises receiving a calibration event signal through the activity monitoring device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein setting a posture correction factor further comprises measuring user posture over a sustained period in response to the calibration event signal, and setting the posture correction factor as an average of measured user posture during multiple calibration events.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein setting a posture correction factor further comprises measuring user posture over a sustained period in response to the calibration event signal, and setting the posture correction factor as a result of machine learning analysis of measured posture of multiple users.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising classifying the calibration event signal and rejecting calibration events classified as false calibrations.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising classifying the calibration event signal and suspending posture feedback during a posture state where a calibration event is classified as a silencing event.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the activity monitoring device is attached to an article of clothing of a user and the calibration event signal is triggered by the activation of an input on the activity monitoring device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the kinematic data to a base walking orientation comprises recalibrating the kinematic data to an updated base walking orientation upon subsequently detecting walking.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein calibrating the kinematic data to a base walking orientation further comprises recording kinematic data during the walking activity state for at least five steps.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a sitting activity state, wherein measuring user posture with the calibrated kinematic data is measured during the sitting activity state.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting at least a second posture correction factor, wherein the first posture correction factor is for a first activity state and the second posture correction factor is for a second activity distinct from the first activity state;

and wherein triggering posture feedback comprises triggering posture feedback based on the user posture adjusted by the first posture correction factor when in a first activity state and triggering posture feedback based on the user posture adjusted by the second posture correction factor when in the second activity state.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the base walking orientation from kinematic data comprises correcting pitch and roll of the kinematic data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein generating the base walking orientation from kinematic data comprises correcting yaw of the kinematic data.

14. A system for posture feedback comprising:

an activity monitoring device that couples to a user that includes

an inertial measurement unit that collects kinematic data,

user feedback mechanism, and

a processor; and

wherein the processor is configured to;

detect a walking activity state through the kinematic data,

calibrate the kinematic data when in the walking activity state,

set a posture correction factor,

measure user posture, and

activate the user feedback mechanism based on the user posture adjusted by the posture correction factor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the activity monitoring device further comprises a calibration input;

and wherein the processor is further configured to;

detect a calibration event signal triggered by the calibration input,

measure user posture over a sustained period in response to the calibration event signal, and

set the posture correction factor as an average of measured user posture during multiple calibration events.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the calibration input is a button, and the user feedback mechanism is vibrational actuator.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the activity monitoring device further comprises a calibration input;

and wherein the processor is further configured to;

detect a calibration event signal triggered by the calibration input,

measure user posture over a sustained period in response to the calibration event signal, and

set the posture correction factor as a machine learning analysis of measured posture of multiple users.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to classify the calibration event signal and suspend activation of the user feedback mechanism where a calibration event is classified as a silencing event.