Device for monitoring a user's posture

• US 7,850,574 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/814,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 183 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/142, 482/148, 482900-902, 715/700, 715/706, 700/56, 700/62, 340/573.7, 600/300
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/02 posture
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/14 for the hands, e.g. baseball, boxing or golfing gloves archer's finger tabs F41B5/1473

Abstract

A device, wearable by a user, includes: a plurality of sensors, each for providing an indication of position of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body; a receiver for receiving each indication of position provided by each of the plurality of sensor elements to provide a composite position signal. The individual sensor readings may all be transmitted to the external entity for further analysis. The sensors may be placed in different locations or positions for measuring the curvature of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A device wearable by a user for monitoring position of the user, the device comprising:

a tube comprising a plurality of ovoid sensors along the length and width of the tube, each sensor for providing an indication of position of at least a part of the user'"'"'s body where the tube is placed;

wherein the sensors comprise a property of elastic deformation and further comprise an element that generates measurable signals, the element selected from a group consisting of;

fiber optic elements, piezoelectric elements, and magnetic elements;

wherein, when the part of the user'"'"'s body where the tube is placed bends, at least one of the sensors deforms, the deformation producing a first electrical signal, and wherein unbent sensors produce a second electrical signal; and

wherein a combination of first and second electrical signals are used to determine a curvature of the body part.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a processing unit operatively coupled with the tube, the processing unit comprising;

a receiver for receiving each indication of position change provided by each of the plurality of sensors to provide a composite position signal wherein the plurality of sensors are each operatively coupled with the receiver;

a transmitter, operatively coupled with the receiver, for transmitting the composite position signal to a processor;

an internal memory for receiving an initial placement position for each of the plurality of sensors; and

the processor, operatively coupled with the receiver, for receiving the composite position signal and computing an indication of the user'"'"'s posture.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the receiver is configured to receive information representing a three-dimensional position of each sensor.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the receiver is configured to receive information representing the position of each sensor element continuously.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the receiver is configured to receive information representing the position of each sensor element at a high sample rate.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the composite position signal to a physician for analysis.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the composite position signal to the remote processing unit for analysis.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is flexible.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user feedback mechanism for providing a signal to the user and wherein the signal provides information relating to correction of the user'"'"'s posture.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the user feedback mechanism comprises a computer system comprising a display for presenting a representation of the user'"'"'s posture and suggestions for improving the posture.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the composite position signal to a therapist for analysis.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of:

a watch, a phone, and a music player.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured for measuring a composite three dimensional contour, and wherein the three dimensional contour is calculated by integrating individual curvature readings by each sensor element.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the individual sensor readings are transmitted to an external entity for further analysis.

15. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is attached to the sensor.

16. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is a wireless device.