Method and apparatus for a self-powered RFID-readable pedometer

• US 7,938,013 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Care Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Dishongh, Terry, Hughes, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MASOUD H
• Application Number:
  US12/567,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 73760-777
• US Class Current: 73/777
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A device, system and method for analyzing a user'"'"'s motion using a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations, an EEPROM to record data associated with the plurality of deformation signals, and a transceiver to receive at least a portion of the recorded data from the EEPROM and to transmit data, wherein the analysis may determine an abnormality in the user'"'"'s gait.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

actuating a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals;

generating timing data using a real time clock;

recording data associated with the plurality of deformation signals and the timing data to a non-volatile memory;

receiving at least a portion of the recorded data from the non-volatile memory and transmitting at least a portion of the received data by a transceiver,

receiving data from the transceiver at a reader; and

a processor to receive the data from the reader;

wherein the processor is configured to analyze the deformation signals generated by the plurality of devices;

analyzing the deformation signals by a processor; and

diagnosing a user'"'"'s gait based on the analyzed deformation signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing data related to a user'"'"'s gait based on the analyzing of the deformation signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing the deformation signals comprises analyzing a duration of the deformation signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing the deformation signals comprises analyzing an amplitude of the deformation signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or a near field communications NFC (device).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an acceleration of the user using an accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the accelerometer is selected from piezoelectric (PE), piezoresistive (PR) and variable capacitance (VC).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the piezoelectric film in a shoe.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising recording heel, toe strikes or both heel and toe strikes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the diagnosing the user'"'"'s gait comprises comparing data from another piezoelectric film.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising diagnosing or predicting irregularities in their steps, determining walking ability, standing ability, walking symmetry, health of walk or gait, the onset of mobility deterioration, using as a pedometer for fitness applications, early detection of physical ailments related to the back, hips and lower body.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating timing signals.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising using heel and toe strikes to diagnose a gait or stride to help determine abnormalities.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising measuring the time between a toe strike and a heel strike.

16. The method of claim 6, comprising measuring acceleration in tenths of a second.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending data to an external processor.

18. The method of claim 8, comprising analyzing step data based upon a step time and a relative time delta between steps.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising analyzing the relationship between feet and the symmetry of the walk to determine walk health and distance walked.

20. The method of claim 8, further comprising conversion of steps run into a distance and/or determining running symmetry.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric film is self powered.

10. The method of 9, further comprising measuring a threshold voltage and wherein the threshold voltage is configured to discriminate between actual steps taken and shuffling of the feet.

22. A device, comprising:

a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations;

a real time clock to generate timing data;

a non-volatile memory to record data associated with the plurality of deformation signals and the timing data;

a transceiver to receive at least a portion of recorded data from the non-volatile memory and to transmit at least a portion of received data; and

a processor to analyze the deformation signals to determine abnormalities in a user'"'"'s step,

wherein the device is a pedometer or gait sensor.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or a near field communications (NFC) device.

24. A system comprising a plurality of devices, each device comprising a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations;

a real time clock to generate timing data;

a non-volatile memory to record data associated with the plurality of deformation signals and the timing data; and

a transceiver to receive at least a portion of the recorded data from the non-volatile memory and to transmit at least a portion of the received data, a reader to receive data from the transceivers of the plurality of devices; and

a processor to receive the data from the reader;

wherein the processor is configured to analyze the deformation signals generated by the plurality of devices;

wherein system is configured to transmit data from the plurality of devices to a processor, analyze the deformation signals generated by the plurality of devices and diagnose a user'"'"'s gait.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or a near field communications (NFC) device.