Motion automatic datalink interface

• US 6,401,053 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda of America Manufacturing Incorporated (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stefanik, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US09/670,927
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 702/151, 702/152, 702/153, 345/156, 345/158, 345/473, 345/474, 345/475, 340/573.1, 340/573.3
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

A motion automatic datalink interface including a motion capture device, a motion data collection and analysis program and a motion data interlink program. The motion capture device senses movement of a subject and describes the movement as computer-readable data. The motion data collection and analysis program compiles movement data about the human subject. The motion data interlink program provides communication between the motion capture device and the motion data collection and analysis program. A first set of data is received by the motion data interlink program from the motion capture device and transformed into a second set of data that is used by the motion data collection and analysis program.

Claims

1. A motion automatic datalink interface comprising:

a motion capture means for sensing movement of a subject and describing the sensed movement as computer-readable data;

a motion data collection and analysis means for compiling movement data about the subject; and

a motion data interlink means for providing communication between the motion capture means and the motion data collection and analysis means, wherein a first set of data received by the motion data interlink means from the motion capture means is transformed into a second set of data, said second set of data being provided to the motion data collection and analysis means and being used by the motion data collection and analysis means to provide information regarding the sensed movement of the subject.

2. The motion automatic datalink interface of claim 1, wherein the motion capture means is a motion capture suit worn by the subject.

3. The motion automatic datalink interface of claim 1, wherein the motion data collection and analysis means is a manufacturing process study computer program.

4. The motion automatic datalink interface of claim 1, wherein the motion data collection and analysis means is a computer program designed to study human movement.

5. The motion automatic datalink interface of claim 1, wherein the motion capture means is provided with a force determining means for sensing a magnitude of forces applied during movement and stasis of the subject.

6. The motion automatic datalink interface of claim 1, further comprising a noise filtering means for identifying components of said first set of data as noise data and preventing the noise data from being transformed into the second set of data by the motion data interlink means.

7. The motion automatic datalink interface of claim 6, further comprising a noise archival means for storing the noise data for later study.

8. A method of automatically acquiring and providing movement data to a motion data collection and analysis means, comprising the steps of:

sensing movement of a human subject and describing the sensed movement as a first set of computer-readable movement data;

transforming said first set of data into a second set of data, said second set of data being usable by the motion data collection and analysis means; and

providing said second set of data to the motion data collection and analysis means.

9. The method of automatically acquiring and analyzing movement according to claim 8, further comprising a step of filtering out noise components of the first set of data before said first set of data is transformed into the second set of data.

10. The method of automatically acquiring and analyzing movement according to claim 9, wherein the noise components are identified according to a predetermined minimum threshold level.

11. The method of automatically acquiring and analyzing movement according to claim 9, wherein the noise components are identified as being incomplete portions of known compound movements.

12. The method of automatically acquiring and analyzing movement according to claim 9, wherein the noise components are identified as being unknown movements.

13. The method of automatically acquiring and analyzing movement according to claim 9, further comprising a step of archiving the noise components for later study.