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

• US 8,387,468 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Hughes, Robert D., Dishongh, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US13/087,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 737/60, 737/77
• 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:

receiving at a transceiver at least a portion of recorded data associated with a first plurality of deformation signals recorded at a first non-volatile memory;

receiving at the transceiver at least a portion of recorded data associated with a second plurality of deformation signals recorded at a second non-volatile memory;

comparing, at one or more processors, the at least the portion of recorded data associated with the first plurality of deformation signals with the at least the portion of recorded data associated with the second plurality of deformation signals;

diagnosing, at the one or more processors, a user'"'"'s gait based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of deformation signals are generated by one or more piezoelectric films coupled to first outerwear worn on the user'"'"'s left side and wherein the second plurality of deformation signals are generated by one or more other piezoelectric films coupled to second outerwear worn on the user'"'"'s right side.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising producing, based on said diagnosing, data indicative of walking symmetry of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing comprises comparing a duration of the first plurality of deformation signals with a duration of the second plurality of deformation signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing comprises comparing an amplitude of the first plurality of deformation signals with an amplitude of the second plurality of deformation signals.

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

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the transceiver, acceleration data from an accelerometer attached to the user.

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging a piezoelectric film in a shoe of the wherefrom the first plurality of deformation signals are generated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing comprises comparing heel strike or toe strike data in the first plurality of deformation signals with heel strike or toe strike data in the second plurality of deformation signals.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a threshold voltage is configured to discriminate between actual steps taken and shuffling of the feet by the user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the diagnosing the user'"'"'s gait comprises comparing data from a piezoelectric film different from a piezoelectric film used for generating the plurality of deformation signals.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

diagnosing or predicting irregularities in the user'"'"'s 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.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating timing signals using a real time clock.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using heel and toe strikes to diagnose a gait or stride to help determine abnormalities of the user.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

measuring a time between a toe strike and a heel strike of the user.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring acceleration of the user in tenths of a second.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

analyzing step data based upon a step time and a relative time delta between steps of the user.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said comparing comprises comparing a time between a toe strike and a heel strike in the user'"'"'s left foot with a time between a toe strike and a heel strike in the user'"'"'s right foot.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said diagnosing further comprises determining a distance walked by the user.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of deformation signals generated are generated by one or more piezoelectric films in a plurality of self powered devices.

22. A device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive at least a portion of recorded data recorded at a first non-volatile memory and to receive at least a portion of recorded data recorded at a second non-volatile memory, wherein the recorded data recorded at the first non-volatile memory is associated with a first plurality of deformation signals detected by a first pressure sensor and the recorded data recorded at the second non-volatile memory is associated with a second plurality of deformation signals detected by a second pressure sensor; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to

compare the at least the portion of recorded data recorded at the first non-volatile memory with the at least the portion of recorded data recorded at the second non-volatile memory; and

diagnose a user'"'"'s gait based on the comparison.

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 first sensor configured to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated first plurality of deformations caused by a user'"'"'s first appendage;

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

a second sensor configured to generate a second plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated second plurality of deformations caused by the user'"'"'s second appendage;

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

a transceiver configured to receive at least a portion of the data recorded in the first non-volatile memory and at least a portion of the data recorded in the second non-volatile memory;

and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to

compare the at least the portion of data recorded at the first non-volatile memory with the at least the portion of data recorded at the second non-volatile memory; and

diagnose a user'"'"'s gait based on the comparison.

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