Activity monitoring and directing system

• US 9,668,041 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonaar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zonaar Corporation
• Inventors: Pedersen, Stig M., Vavrus, Jon L., Weill, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Junpeng
• Application Number:
  US13/999,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20140348367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A system for monitoring and directing athletic or other physical activities is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a headset worn by an athlete includes one or more sensors, a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory and a communication link. The athlete'"'"'s headset receives and transmits signals to a coach while the athlete is performing an activity. In this embodiment, the present invention provides coordinated audio streams to the athlete during his/her activity and training.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enhancing the experience of a swimmer in the water comprising:

a sensor;

said sensor for providing an output; and

an audio headset for a swimmer in the water;

said audio headset for a swimmer in the water for receiving a stream of content;

said audio headset for a swimmer in the water also for receiving said output from said sensor;

said audio headset also including automatic gain control;

said audio headset for a swimmer in the water including a computing device;

said computing device including a processor and a non-volatile memory;

said computing device also for converting said output from said sensor to audio information;

said audio headset for a swimmer in the water, being worn by said swimmer, for providing a combination of said stream of content and audio information to said swimmer;

a system communication module;

said system communication module for sending signals with said audio headset;

said system communication module also for sending interrupt audio messages to a swimmer in the water;

said system communication module also for delivering multiple audio streams to said audio headset;

said system communication module also for tracking stroke and body orientation changes of a swimmer in the water;

said system communication module also for logging output from said sensor for evaluation in real time by a coach;

said plurality of signals including a plurality of content channels in a frequency band that generally spans 100 to 250 KHz;

said system communication module also for combining a plurality of ultrasonic communication links used generally simultaneously in the same swimming pool by a plurality of coaches;

said system communication module also for enabling a coach to provide voice commands using a first content channel;

said voice commands being conveyed through a first amplifier and a first low pass filter;

said voice commands being modulated at a specific frequency using a modulator to produce a first unspread audio channel;

said system communication module for producing a second content channel that is conveyed through a second amplifier a second low pass filter;

said second content stream being modulated at a specific frequency using a modulator to produce a second unspread audio channel;

said system communication module also for summing said plurality of content channels to produce a combined signal;

said plurality of content channels being summed by a signal adder, and then added to a pilot frequency;

said system communication module also for multiplying said combined signal by a pseudorandom number code, which produces spread spectrum signal;

said system communication module also for adding an unspread pilot frequency signal to said combined signal to ease the process of signal tracking at said audio headset;

said system communication module also for increasing the level of the combined signal using a third amplifier to produce a transmission signal before being transmitted to said headset via an omnidirectional hydrophone;

said audio headset for receiving said transmission signal;

said audio headset also for splitting said transmission signal into a plurality of channels that may be used by said swimmer;

said sensor including a magnetometer for lap counting;

said sensor further including

a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a mutually orthogonal configuration;

a plurality of acceleration sensors in a mutually orthogonal configuration;

said plurality of magnetic sensors and said plurality of acceleration sensors being used to count laps and to determine speed;

said audio headset for receiving ultrasonic signals through water;

said ultrasonic signal being propagated as a composite signal multiplied by a PN code to form a spread spectrum signal which mitigates multipath distortion;

said ultrasonic signal including a pilot signal;

said pilot signal being used to facilitate code and carrier acquisition in said headset to compensate for Doppler shift due to the motion of said swimmer;

said ultrasonic signal being transmitted by said omnidirectional hydrophone with a wide radiation pattern to cover the pool underwater as uniformly as possible;

a web portal;

said system communication module also for distributing workouts through said web portal;

said web portal for providing a connection to performance data for workouts and swim meet results.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor is configured to supply real-time information.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor includes a radio for emitting a wireless output that may be received by said audio headset.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor is a swimmer'"'"'s lap counter.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor is a heart rate monitor.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor is a respiration monitor.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor is a swimmer'"'"'s stroke counter.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor measures a swimmer'"'"'s speed.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor records a swimmer'"'"'s lap time.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said memory in said processor stores a plurality of pre-recorded voice messages which are conveyed to said audio headset based on a signal received from said sensor.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said audio headset includes a radio for receiving said stream of content.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said audio headset includes a radio for receiving said output of said sensor.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a systems communication hub;

said systems communication hub including a processor and a non-volatile memory;

said systems communication hub including a radio for providing wireless communications to said audio headset;

said systems communication hub for providing information to said swimmer from another person.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a microphone;

said microphone being attached to said audio headset;

said microphone for receiving ambient sound and for enabling a first person to send voice information using said radio to another person.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said stream of content includes entertainment.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a remote transceiver;

said remote transceiver including a processor and a non-volatile memory and a radio.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said remote transceiver is a smart phone.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said remote transceiver is a tablet.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said remote transceiver is used by a coach for communicating with said swimmer wearing said audio headset.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a remote server;

said remote server including a processor and a non-volatile memory;

said non-volatile memory including a web portal software program;

said web portal software program for conveying information received from said audio headset to other persons who connect to said remote server.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20, in which data from said sensor is archived on said remote server.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 20, in which data from said sensor is retrieved from said remote server.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said sensor includes an accelerometer for performance measurement.