Method and system for improving bodily dexterity

• US 9,586,137 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embodify APS
• Original Assignee: Embodify APS
• Inventors: Holme, Sren
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US14/399,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20150119122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A system for improving bodily dexterity includes a plurality of wearable sensor units and a processing unit. The plurality of wearable sensor units each include a sensor for sensing a user action, a generating module for generating an action signal that includes information about the user action, and a sensor transmitter for transmitting the action signal. The processing unit includes a processing unit receiver for receiving the action signal, an interpretation module for interpreting the action signal in accordance with a set of pre-assigned criteria, and an output signal generator for generating an output signal based on the interpreted action signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising

a) a plurality of wearable sensor units comprising

i) a sensor, in each of the plurality of wearable sensor units, adapted to sensing a user action,

ii) a generating module, in each of the plurality of wearable sensor units, adapted to generating an action signal that includes information about the user action performed on at least one of the plurality of wearable sensor units,

wherein more than one sensor of the plurality of wearable sensor units are adapted to sense the user action performed substantially simultaneously on more than one sensor;

iii) a sensor transmitter, in each of the plurality of wearable sensor units, adapted to transmitting the action signal;

iv) a sensor receiver, in each of the plurality of wearable sensor units, adapted to receiving an activation signal from a processing unit transmitter indicating that at least one of the plurality of wearable sensor units requires a user action;

and

b) a processing unit comprising

i) a processing unit receiver adapted to receiving an action signal,

wherein the processing unit receiver is capable of receiving substantially simultaneously more than one action signal;

ii) an interpretation module adapted to interpreting the action signal in accordance with a set of pre-assigned criteria,

wherein the interpretation module is capable of collectively interpreting the more than one action signals in accordance with the set of pre-assigned criteria; and

iii) an output signal generator adapted to generating an output signal comprising instructions for producing a perceivable effect based on the interpreted action signal,

wherein the output signal generator is capable of generating a collective output signal comprising instructions for producing a perceivable effect based on the collective interpretation of more than one action signal, and

wherein a collective output signal is different from the output signals generated for individual sensors sensing a user action outside of the requirement of a substantially simultaneously performed user action,

iv) a processing unit transmitter adapted to transmitting an activation signal to a sensor receiver of a wearable sensor unit indicating that at least one of the plurality of wearable sensor units requires a user action;

wherein the activation signal comprises instructions for producing a perceivable effect on the at least one of the plurality of wearable sensor units,

wherein the produced perceivable effect indicates that at least one of the plurality of wearable sensor units require a user action;

wherein the plurality of wearable sensor units are individually adapted to produce the perceivable effect in accordance with the output signal, or the collective output signal, generated by the output signal generator of the processing unit and comprising instructions for producing said perceivable effect.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is wearable.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensor units and the processing unit are portable.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensor units and/or the processing unit individually comprises a mounting means for mounting the plurality of wearable sensor units and/or the processing unit on a body part of the user.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the perceivable effect is selected from a group consisting of a number of visual effects, a number audio effects, a number of smoke effects, a number of vibrational effects, variation in the perceivable effect and a combination thereof.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a device that is communicatively connected to the processing unit and is capable of producing the perceivable effect.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein more than one sensor of the plurality of wearable sensor units are adapted to sense the user action performed, within a specified time period, or as an overlapping user action, on the more than one sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor in each of the plurality of wearable sensor unit is selected from a group consisting of pressure sensor, tactile sensor, level sensor, proximity sensor, touch sensor, motion sensor, piezo electric sensor, mechanical button, digital button, vibration sensor, accelerometer, micro-gyros, 3-D compass, audio sensor and a combination thereof.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a user interface for selecting the activation signal.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the user interface is selected from a group consisting of physical buttons, graphical touch screen, and a combination thereof.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a first power source in each of the plurality of wearable sensor units.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises a second power source.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first power source and the second power source are batteries.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a storage means for storing information included in the action signal, and information to be associated with the output signal.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a storage means for storing information included in the activation signal.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is communicatively connected to a storage device, the processing unit being adapted to download data from the storage device and to upload information to the storage device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the communication connection communicatively connecting the processing unit and the storage device is selected from a group consisting of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is integrated within one of the plurality of wearable sensor units.

19. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a pluggable means comprising a connectable end adapted to couple with an electronic device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the pluggable means comprises executable instructions in order to provide a set of functionality of the processing unit to the electronic device.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the pluggable means with the electronic device is configured to operate like the processing unit when communicatively interfaced with the plurality of wearable sensor units.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein the electronic device is a portable smartphone.