Device for determining an orientation of at least a portion of a living body
First Claim
1. A device for determining an orientation of at least a portion of a living body comprising:
- housing means for attachment to a movable portion of the body; and
means, operatively connected to said housing means, for sensing the relative movement between said movable portion and another portion of the body, said sensing means having mechanical linkage means and position signal generating means adapted to generate a signal in response to movement of said mechanical linkage means, wherein said mechanical linkage means is adapted to respond to relative movement between said movable portion and said other portion of the body, said mechanical linkage means including a reciprocable member having a portion adapted for attachment to said other portion of the body and connector means adapted to slidably receive said reciprocable member, for moving in response to reciprocal movement of said reciprocable member so as to actuate said position signal generating means in response to movement of said movable portion of the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device used for measuring the orientation of a human head about one or two axes and converting that information into an electrical signal in the analog or digital domain includes a headset and includes one or two electromechanical orientation sensors which provide an electrical signal that corresponds to the orientation of the head without any reference to an off-of-the body reference. The orientation sensor includes a signal generating device, such as a variable resistor, coupled to the torso of the user via a mechanical linkage. As the head moves, the linkage moves and changes the resistance of the variable resistor. The change in resistance corresponds to the orientation of the head. One orientation sensor is used to measure the horizontal, or lateral angle, of the head with respect to the torso, or shoulder blades. Two orientation sensors mounted on each side of the head measure both the lateral and vertical angles of the head with respect to the torso, or shoulder blades. Also disclosed is a single sensor having two signal generating devices wherein one signal generating device detects primarily lateral movement while the other signal generating device detects primarily vertical movement.
48 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device for determining an orientation of at least a portion of a living body comprising:
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housing means for attachment to a movable portion of the body; and means, operatively connected to said housing means, for sensing the relative movement between said movable portion and another portion of the body, said sensing means having mechanical linkage means and position signal generating means adapted to generate a signal in response to movement of said mechanical linkage means, wherein said mechanical linkage means is adapted to respond to relative movement between said movable portion and said other portion of the body, said mechanical linkage means including a reciprocable member having a portion adapted for attachment to said other portion of the body and connector means adapted to slidably receive said reciprocable member, for moving in response to reciprocal movement of said reciprocable member so as to actuate said position signal generating means in response to movement of said movable portion of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for determining an orientation of at least a portion of a living body comprising:
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housing means for attachment to a movable portion of the body; first sensing means, connected to said housing means and adapted for attachment to another first portion of the body, said sensing means including first means for indicating relative movement between said movable portion and said first portion;
said first means for indicating relative movement having a first flexible member with a portion adapted for attachment to said first portion of the body and also having first connector means adapted to operatively couple with another portion of said first flexible member so as to be movable in response to movement of said movable portion of the body;second sensing means, connected to said housing means and adapted for attachment to another second portion of the body, said second sensing means including second means for indicating relative movement between said movement portion and said second portion;
said second means for indicating relative movement having a second flexible member having a portion adapted for attachment to said second portion of the body and also having second connector means adapted to operatively couple with another portion of said second flexible member so as to be movable in response to movement of said movable portion of the body;wherein each of said first and second sensing means further comprises position signal generating means adapted to operatively connect with said corresponding connector means such that movement of said movable portion of the body causes said first and second flexible members to operatively engage said first and second connector means and actuate each of said respective position signal generating means; and computing means, operatively connected to both first and second sensing means, for determining both lateral displacement and vertical displacement of said movable portion of the body in response to position signals from said first and second sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for determining the orientation of an object comprising:
a headset including orientation sensor means for determining the angular displacement of a head relative to an upper body area of a headset user, said orientation sensor means having electromechanical linkage includes a reciprocable flexible member having a portion adapted for attachment to said upper body area, and connector means adapted to reciprocably couple with another portion of said reciprocable flexible member so as to be movable in response to movement of the head. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
Specification