Systems and methods for performance training

• US 8,428,357 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Movement Training Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Movement Training Systems LLC
• Inventors: Stephenson, Vincent Ned
• Primary Examiner(s): BHATNAGAR, ANAND P
• Application Number:
  US13/520,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20130028491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/181, 382/190, 382/195, 382/203, 382/206, 382/217, 382/218, 382/219, 382/220, 348/135, 348/143, 348169-172
• US Class Current: 382/181
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20101 Interactive definition of point of interest, landmark or seed
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30221 Sports video; Sports image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

Systems and methods for movement and position training of a human body are provided. An image capture device such as a still camera or video camera captures an image or video of a human body in a selected position or sequence of positions relating to a movement. The position or movement may relate to a physical activity, such as running, jumping, throwing or swinging. The image is then presented to a user on a display, where the user may select one or more positions of the human body for analysis. Upon selecting a position, an angle of the position is determined and then compared to a desired angle determined through known biomechanical measurements. The difference between the two angles is calculated, and the user is then presented with feedback, such as a corrective action, to aid the user in reducing the difference between the measured angle and the desired angle.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing a position of a human body, comprising:

an image capture device which captures an image of a human body;

a user interaction unit where a user selects a position of the human body on the captured image;

a comparison unit which determines an angle of the human body at the selected position and calculates a difference between an angle of the selected position and a desired angle of the selected position; and

a display unit which displays feedback based on the calculated difference.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback is a corrective action designed to minimize the calculated difference.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired angle maximizes the strength of the human body in the selected position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user selects a position of the human body on the user interaction unit by selecting two points on the human body.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the position of the human body is an angle of a body part relative to one of another body part, an object which the user is holding, and a ground surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides the analysis of the position of the human body in near-real time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the angle of the selected position of the human body is compared with the angle of the selected position of the human body obtained from previously obtained images of the same human body to provide an analysis of the progress of the human body toward obtaining the desired angle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device, user interaction unit and display unit are embodied on a portable electronic device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the comparison unit is located on a remote computer connected with the image capture device, user interaction unit and display unit via a network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the image capture device captures a sequence of images of a plurality of positions of the human body over a time interval; and

wherein the user selects the position of the human body for each of the images in the sequence of images; and

wherein the comparison unit calculates the difference between the angle of the selected position and the desired angle for each of the images in the sequence of images; and

wherein the display unit displays feedback in the form of a corrective action to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the corrective action relates to a change in a movement of the human body over the time interval.

12. A method for training a human body, comprising:

capturing at least one image of a human body;

selecting at least one position of the human body in the captured image;

determining an angle of the human body at the selected at least one position;

calculating a difference between the angle of the human body at the at least one selected position and a desired angle of the at least one selected position; and

displaying feedback based on the calculated difference on a display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the feedback is a corrective action based on the difference.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired angle maximizes the strength of the human body in the selected position.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting a position of the human body by selecting two points on the human body.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the position of the human body is an angle of a body part relative to one of another body part, an object which the user is holding, and a ground surface.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the system provides the analysis of the position of the human body in near-real time.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising comparing the angle of the selected position of the human body with the angle of the selected position of the human body obtained from previously obtained images of the same human body to provide an analysis of the progress of the human body toward obtaining the desired angle.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

capturing a sequence of images of a plurality of positions of the human body over a time interval; and

selecting the position of the human body for each of the images in the sequence of images; and

calculating the difference between the angle of the selected position and the desired angle for each of the images in the sequence of images; and

displaying feedback in the form of a corrective action to the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the corrective action relates to a change in a movement of the human body over the time interval.