Module for measuring physical attributes linked to exercise, system for analyzing physical attributes linked to exercise and including the module, and method of applying the module

• US 8,036,849 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Woo-young, Shin, Kun-soo, Kim, Youn-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; John H
• Application Number:
  US12/169,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 702/74, 702/96, 702/104, 702/106, 702/116, 702/127, 702/141, 702/183, 702/188, 702/189, 702/32, 600/300, 600/301, 607/59, 340/539.12, 705/2, 345/156
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• 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 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A module for measuring physical attributes linked to includes a pad that is attachable or wearable to the body of a person; a signal sensing unit installed on the pad to sense at least one type of physical attributes signal that changes according to motions of the body; and a transmitting unit transmitting the physical attributes signal sensed by the signal sensing unit. A system including the module and a method of applying the module is also provided.

Claims

1. A module for measuring physical attributes linked to exercise, the module comprising:

a pad that is attachable or wearable to the body of a person;

a signal sensing unit installed in the pad to sense at least one type of physical attributes signal that changes according to motions of the body, wherein the signal sensing unit is embodied to sense an electromyogram (EMG) signal;

a transmitting unit transmitting the physical attributes signal sensed by the signal sensing unit; and

a signal analyzing unit which receives the transmitted physical attributes signal and determines whether or not a posture is correct by comparing the sensed EMG signal with a reference EMG measurement.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the signal sensing unit is embodied to sense an acceleration signal or a body fat signal.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the signal sensing unit includes at least a pair of electromyogram (EMG) measuring electrodes for measuring an EMG signal, or at least a pair of body fat measuring electrodes for measuring a body fat signal, the EMG and body fat measuring electrodes being attachable to the body for sensing signals.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein the pad is long enough to correspondingly surround a preset body portion, and flexible enough to be closely conformable to attach to curved or angled body portions.

5. A system for analyzing physical attributes linked to exercise, the system comprising:

a module, for measuring physical attributes linked to exercise, comprising;

a pad that is attachable or wearable to the body of a person;

a signal sensing unit installed in the pad to sense at least one type of physical attributes signal that changes according to motions of the body, wherein the signal sensing unit is embodied to sense an electromyogram (EMG) signal; and

a transmitting unit transmitting the physical attributes signal sensed by the signal sensing unit; and

a signal analyzer comprising;

a receiving unit receiving the transmitted physical attributes signal;

an analyzing unit analyzing physical attributes of the person; and

a result feedback unit notifying the person of the analysis result,

wherein the analyzing unit determines whether or not a posture is correct by comparing the sensed EMG signal with a reference EMG measurement.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the signal sensing unit is embodied to sense an acceleration signal, or a body fat signal.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the signal sensing unit includes at least a pair of electromyogram (EMG) measuring electrodes for measuring an EMG signal, or at least a pair of body fat measuring electrodes for measuring a body fat signal, the EMG and body fat measuring electrodes being attachable to the body for sensing signals.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the pad is long enough to correspondingly surround a preset body portion, and flexible enough to be closely conformable to attach to curved or angled body portions.

9. The system of claim 5, comprising a plurality of the modules for measuring physical attributes linked to exercise so as to sense physical attributes signals at various body portions.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the analyzing unit measures change in body fat due to exercise, or measures calories spent through exercising.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the result feedback unit notifies the person of the analysis result using images, sound, or vibration.

12. A method of applying a module, for measuring physical attributes linked to exercise, comprising:

a pad that is attachable or wearable to the body of a person;

a signal sensing unit installed in the pad to sense at least one type of physical attributes signal that changes according to motions of the body; and

a transmitting unit transmitting the physical attributes signal sensed by the signal sensing unit, the method comprising;

attaching or wearing the module on a preset body portion,

exercising while having the module attached to the body;

sensing at least one physical attributes signal changing through exercising; and

analyzing the physical attributes of a person by receiving the sensed physical attributes signal and analyzing the sensed physical attributes signal,

wherein the physical attributes signal includes an electromyogram (EMG) signal, and

wherein the analyzing of the physical attributes includes determining whether the posture of the person is correct by comparing the sensed EMG signal with a reference EMG measurement.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensing of the physical attributes signal includes consecutively sensing electromyogram signals changing during exercising, and the analyzing of the physical attributes includes determining whether the posture of the person is correct based on the electromyogram signals, or measuring the calories spent based on the electomygrogram signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the physical attributes signal includes an electromyogram signal and an acceleration signal, and the sensing of the physical attributes signal includes consecutively sensing electromyogram signals and acceleration signals changing during exercising, and the analyzing of the physical attributes includes determining whether the posture of the person is correct, based on the electromyogram signal and the acceleration signal.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the physical attributes signal includes a body fat signal, and the sensing of the physical attributes signal includes sensing body fat signals before and after exercising, and the analyzing of the physical attributes includes measuring a difference in the body fat due to the exercising based on the difference in the body fat signals before and after exercising.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the attaching or wearing of the module includes attaching or wearing a plurality of the modules on the body of the person so that physical attribute signals can be sensed at various body portions.