Posture monitor
First Claim
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1. A posture monitoring system comprising:
- a first unit generating a first ultrasonic signal;
a first mounting member for locating said first unit in substantially fixed relation to a first position on a user'"'"'s body;
a second unit, the first unit transmitting the first ultrasonic signal toward the second unit and the second unit returning a second ultrasonic signal to the first unit in response to the first ultrasonic signal;
a second mounting member for locating said second unit in substantially fixed relation to a second position on the user'"'"'s body at a distance from the first unit;
a sensor in the first unit that senses the second ultrasonic signal to determine the distance between the first unit and the second unit;
an alarm circuit in the first unit coupled to the sensor and having an alarm to communicate to the user a posture characteristic related to the distance between the first unit and the second unit; and
a recorder circuit in the first unit storing posture data related to the distance between the first unit and second unit.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring posture are disclosed. A first unit is attached to a first position on a user'"'"'s body, and a second unit is attached to a second position on the user'"'"'s body. A signal such as an ultrasonic signal is transmitted by the first unit to the second unit. In response, the second unit transmits a signal back to the first unit. The round-trip travel time of the signals is proportional to the distance between the units. If the distance differs from an ideal distance by more than a maximum allowable amount, improper posture is indicated to the user by an alarm signal.
144 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A posture monitoring system comprising:
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a first unit generating a first ultrasonic signal; a first mounting member for locating said first unit in substantially fixed relation to a first position on a user'"'"'s body; a second unit, the first unit transmitting the first ultrasonic signal toward the second unit and the second unit returning a second ultrasonic signal to the first unit in response to the first ultrasonic signal;
a second mounting member for locating said second unit in substantially fixed relation to a second position on the user'"'"'s body at a distance from the first unit;a sensor in the first unit that senses the second ultrasonic signal to determine the distance between the first unit and the second unit; an alarm circuit in the first unit coupled to the sensor and having an alarm to communicate to the user a posture characteristic related to the distance between the first unit and the second unit; and a recorder circuit in the first unit storing posture data related to the distance between the first unit and second unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A posture monitoring system comprising:
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first unit comprising a first transmitter that generates a first ultrasonic signal and a first receiver that detects a second ultrasonic signal;
a first mounting ember for locating said first unit in substantially fixed relation to a first position on a user'"'"'s body;
second unit comprising a second transmitter that transmits the second ultrasonic signal and a second receiver that detects the first ultrasonic signal, the second transmitter transmitting the second ultrasonic signal in response to the second receiver detecting the first ultrasonic signal;
a second mounting member for locating said second unit in substantially fixed relation to a second position on the user'"'"'s body at a distance from the first unit;a sensor in the first unit that senses the time between transmission of the first ultrasonic signal and reception of the second ultrasonic signal at the first unit to determine the distance between the first unit and second unit; and an alarm circuit in the first unit having an alarm to communicate to the user a posture characteristic related to the distance between the first and second units.
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16. A posture monitoring system comprising:
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first unit having a first transmitter that transmits a first ultrasonic signal and a first receiver that detects a second ultrasonic signal;
a first mounting member for locating said first unit in substantially fixed relation to a first position on a user'"'"'s body;second unit having a second transmitter that transmits the second ultrasonic signal and a second receiver that detects the first ultrasonic signal, the second transmitter transmitting the second ultrasonic signal in response to the detected first ultrasonic signal;
a second mounting member for locating said second unit in substantially fixed relation to a second position on the user'"'"'s body at a distance from the first unit;a sensor in the first unit that senses the time between transmission of the first ultrasonic signal and reception of the second ultrasonic signal at the first unit to determine the distance between the first unit and the second unit; and a recorder circuit that stores posture data related to the distance between the first and second units.
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17. A posture monitoring system comprising:
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first unit having a first transmitter that transmits a first ultrasonic signal and a first receiver that receives a second ultrasonic signal;
a first mounting member for locating said first unit in substantially fixed relation to a first position on a user'"'"'s body;
second unit comprising a second transmitter that transmits the second ultrasonic signal and a second receiver that receives the first ultrasonic signal, the second transmitter transmitting the second ultrasonic signal in response to the second receiver receiving the first ultrasonic signal;
a second mounting member for locating said second unit in substantially fixed relation to a second position on the user'"'"'s body at a distance from the first unit;a sensor in the first unit that senses the time between transmission of the first ultrasonic signal and reception of the second ultrasonic signal at the first unit to determine the distance between the first unit and the second unit; an alarm circuit in the first unit having an alarm to communicate to the user a posture characteristic related to the distance between the first and second units a recorder circuit in the first unit that stores posture data related to the distance between the first and second units; and a data communication port in the first unit that couples the first unit to a peripheral device.
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18. A posture monitoring system comprising:
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a first unit comprising a first transmitter that transmits a first ultrasonic signal and a first receiver that receives a second ultrasonic signal;
a first mounting member for locating said first unit in substantially fixed relation to a first position on a user'"'"'s body;a second unit comprising a second transmitter that transmits the second ultrasonic signal and a second receiver that receives the first ultrasonic signal, the second transmitter transmitting the second ultrasonic signal in response to the second receiver receiving the first ultrasonic signal;
a second mounting member for locating said second unit in substantially fixed relation to a second position on the user'"'"'s body at a distance from the first unit;a sensor in the first unit that senses the time between transmission of the first ultrasonic signal and reception of the second ultrasonic signal at the first unit to determine the distance between the first unit and the second unit; and a communication port in the first unit that provides posture data related to the distance between the first and second units from the first unit to a peripheral device.
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Specification