Position monitoring system

• US 7,625,316 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Performance Health Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Performance Health Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Amsbury, Burl W., Repenning, William C., Mellman, Michael F., Granof, Joshua K., Herr, David W., Gerber, Susan L., Silverman, Marc R., Holme, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman; Glenn
• Application Number:
  US10/834,324
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482 51- 54, 482600-902, 434/247, 701/200, 701/207, 701/213, 463/1, 463/36, 463/39
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system for monitoring movement of a user while performing an exercise includes a position monitor, a receiver, and a display generator. The position monitor is capable of generating positional information based on a movement of a user. The movement is associated with performance of an exercise by the user. The position monitor is further capable of wirelessly transmitting the positional information to a remote component. The receiver is capable of receiving the positional information from the position monitor and communicating the positional information to the display generator. The display generator is capable of providing, based on the positional information, sensory feedback relating to the performance of the exercise by the user.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring movement of a user while performing an exercise, comprising:

measuring, within a position monitor, an angular movement of the position monitor;

generating, within the position monitor, positional information based on the measured movement of the position monitor, wherein the positional information is associated with an exercise performed by a user and wherein the positional information describes a movement of a portion of the user'"'"'s body relative to one of the user'"'"'s joints;

transmitting the positional information over a wireless interface to a receiver while the user is performing the exercise;

receiving the positional information at the receiver; and

generating real-time sensory feedback based on the received positional information, the sensory feedback describing performance of the user in completing the exercise.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating sensory feedback comprises:

generating real-time display information based on the positional information while the user is performing the exercise; and

transmitting the display information to a display to be used to provide sensory feedback describing performance of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating display information comprises:

accessing a display profile associated with an exercise to be performed by the user; and

generating real-time display information based on the display profile and the positional information while the user is performing the exercise.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a score for the user based on at least the positional information, the score rating the performance of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input, the input identifying the user;

accessing a user profile associated with the user; and

storing the positional information in the user profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating display information comprises:

accessing a user profile associated with the user, the user profile specifying an exercise to be performed; and

generating real-time display information based on the exercise to be performed and the positional information while the user is performing the exercise.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user profile specifies an exercise to be performed by defining a range of motion associated with the exercise and further comprising generating real-time display information by generating display information based on the range of motion and the positional information.