Stride-monitoring device

• US 7,857,772 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Bouvier, Alain, Blanpain, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US10/574,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 600/595, 600/181, 600/583, 600/584, 33/6, 33/3.A, 33/3.B, 333/16, 333/18, 333/19, 333/21, 333/55.R, 702/160, 482/8
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/02 Foot-measuring devices measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence

Abstract

A stride monitoring device that can be used particularly for sports applications and that includes a pair of shoes, one of which includes at least one magnetic mass, and the other includes at least a measurement device to make at least one measurement, and a processor for processing of the measurement. The measurement device includes at least one accelerometer and at least one magnetometer capable of outputting signals that can be processed to determine stride parameters.

Claims

1. A stride monitoring device, comprising:

a first shoe including at least one magnetic mass;

a second shoe including at least one magnetometer configured to measure a magnetic field produced by the magnetic mass in the first shoe and to output magnetic field signals based on the measured magnetic field produced by the magnetic mass in the first shoe, wherein said magnetic field signals can be processed to determine stride parameters and a distance between the shoes, and

said second shoe further includes at least one accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration and to output acceleration signals based on the measured acceleration, and the accelerometer is further configured to output acceleration signals which are analyzed by a processor to determine instants of impact of said second shoe, and wherein the instants of impact are taken into account for calibrating in time a dynamic measurement of the distance between the shoes.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second shoes includes the at least one magnetic mass, measurement means for making at least one physical measurement, and electronic means for processing the physical measurement, the measurement means including the at least one accelerometer and the at least one magnetometer configured to output signals that can be processed to determine the stride parameters.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic mass includes at least one permanent magnet.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second shoe includes a plurality of accelerometers.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second shoe includes a plurality of magnetometers.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second shoe comprises said at least one accelerometer and electronic means for processing said magnetic field signals and said acceleration signals, wherein said electronic means comprises means for transmitting a signal output by the electronic means.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising portable means for receiving the signal transmitted by the means for transmitting and for displaying data representative of the signal.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the portable means comprises:

means for receiving data;

electronic data processing means for processing data, the electronic data processing means including a memory;

means for controlling inputs; and

means for displaying.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the memory includes:

a calibration unit configured to calibrate the signal transmitted by the transmission means, as a function of stride length and magnetic characteristics of the shoes,

a stride length estimating algorithm,

an algorithm to calibrate the signal transmitted by the transmission means as a function of the parameters input by a user, and

an algorithm to estimate the stride speed.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the calibration unit is configured to determine a mathematical calibration law by a polynomial regression, and to determine a direct correspondence between the measured signal and the stride length, for given shoes and a given individual.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the stride length estimating algorithm uses a measurement of a variation in magnetic field resulting from movement of the magnetic mass.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second shoe includes said at least one accelerometer and electronic means for processing said magnetic field signals and said acceleration signals.

13. A device according to claim 1, further comprising electronic processing means for determining instants of impact of said second shoe based on said acceleration signals outputted by said accelerometer.

14. A device according to claim 13, further comprising calibration means for performing a calibration in time of the dynamic measurement of the distance between shoes based on the instants of impact.

15. A device according to claim 14, further comprising means for determining, based on said calibration, instants at which said magnetic field signals are to be processed.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein said calibration means perform said calibration based on said acceleration signals output by said accelerometer.

17. A device according to claim 13, wherein said electronic processing means calculate a time difference between consecutive impact times and calculate a stride based on said time difference.