Augmented kinematic feedback device and method

• US 20030181832A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David M. Blackshear, James V. Carnahan
• Original Assignee: David M. Blackshear, James V. Carnahan
• Inventors: Blackshear, David M., Carnahan, James V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence

Abstract

The biomechanical angle of a body joint 11 of a trainee during a given physical activity is continuously monitored and a corresponding audible tracking signal (31, 32, 33, 43, 42, 44) is provided, in real time, to the trainee. This audible tracking signal augments kinematic feedback to the trainee regarding the physical activity and thereby facilitates ease or rapidity of training. In various embodiments, multiple body joints can be monitored, sensitivity of the tracking signal with respect to biomechanical angle excursions can be modified, tracking signals can be recorded for later playback, and a metronome beat can be provided in conjunction with the tracking signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a biomechanical angle sensor positioned to substantially continuously sense a biomechanical angle of a user and having an output that corresponds to the biomechanical angle; and

an electronic signal device having;

an input coupled to the output of the biomechanical angle sensor; and

an output comprising a user-discernable audible signal, which audio signal substantially continuously uniquely corresponds in real-time to a substantially instantaneous output of the biomechanical angle sensor, such that the audible signal as discerned by the user will vary as the user'"'"'s biomechanical angle varies.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biomechanical angle sensor comprises a bend sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including wearable material configured to be worn on a biological joint and which carries the biomechanical angle sensor for being disposed across the biological joint.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biomechanical angle sensor comprises sensor means for sensing the biomechanical angle and for providing an output signal corresponding to the biomechanical angle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal device comprises signal means for providing substantially real-time audible signals corresponding to the biomechanical angle that augment kinematic feedback to the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the signal means provides the audible signals as a direct function of the biomechanical angle without reference to a previously stored performance threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal device further comprises adjustment means for at least partially adjusting the audible signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the adjustment means at least partially adjusts sensitivity of the audible signal with respect to the output of the biomechanical angle sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the adjustment means further permits adjustment of a degree of change to the audible signal as will correspond to a given degree of change of the biomechanical angle.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 the adjustment means at least partially adjusts pitch of the audible signal with respect to the output of the biomechanical angle sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output of the signal device further includes an audible periodic signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the audible periodic signal comprises a metronome beat.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the output of the signal device comprises a first output for providing the audible signal and a second output for providing the metronome beat.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the biomechanical angle sensor is positioned to substantially continuously sense the biomechanical angle of the user over a predetermined position continuum; and

the output of the signal device comprises a user-discernable audible signal comprising a part of a user-discernable audible signal continuum that corresponds to the position continuum such that various angles of the biomechanical angle have a corresponding substantially unique user-discernable output.

15. A method comprising:

establishing a range of positions that correspond to a biomechanical angle of a user;

establishing user-discernable audible signals that correspond to the range of positions such that each of the various angles of the biomechanical angle has a corresponding substantially unique audio signal;

determining a present angle of the biomechanical angle;

providing, substantially in real-time, the audible signal to the user that corresponds to the present angle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein establishing a range of positions includes establishing a range of positions corresponding to a biomechanical angle of from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 130 degrees.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein establishing user-discernable audible signals includes establishing user-discernible audible signals wherein the audible signals each have a pitch that corresponds to the range of positions such that various angles of the biomechanical angle have a corresponding substantially uniquely pitched audible signal.

18. The method of claim 15 and further comprising rapidly repeating the determining and providing steps to thereby provide substantially continuous user-discernible audible signals comprised of a plurality of unique audible signals that each correspond to a given angle of the biomechanical angle.

19. An apparatus for training body movements of a trainee in a highly individualized manner, the apparatus comprising:

a piece of fabric material configured to be worn at a body joint of the trainee;

a flex sensor carried in the fabric material so that with the fabric material worn at the body joint, the flex sensor will extend across the joint and will flex as the joint flexes;

output signals generated by the flex sensor that correspond to different degrees of flexure of the joint; and

circuitry in electrical communication with the sensor for receiving the output signals therefrom with the circuitry configured to generate audible tones that vary based on the output signal received so as to generate recognizable tonal signatures each associated with distinct movements of the joint for providing the trainee enhanced sensory perception of their joint movements.

20. The training apparatus for claim 19 wherein the flex sensor is a thin, film sensor having resistive material whose resistance varies as the file sensor is flexed to correspondingly vary the output signals generated therefrom as a function of the degree of flexure of the joint, and the circuitry is calibrated to generate the audible tones as a function of the amount of the variable resistance being created by flexing of the film sensor.

21. The training apparatus of claim 19 wherein the fabric material piece comprises a resilient cuff of material sized to fit about one of the elbow, knee and wrist joints for flexing with the joint and staying in generally tight engagement thereabout with the joint unflexed.

22. The training apparatus of claim 21 wherein the resilient cuff material includes elastic material to allow the cuff material to be worn about joints of different sizes of trainees.

23. The training apparatus of claim 19 wherein the flex sensor generates output signals over a predetermined range of angular bending of the sensor that generally exceeds or corresponds to the maximum movement of bending that can occur at the body joint.

24. The training apparatus of claim 19 wherein the flex sensor generates a predetermined range of output signals and the circuitry generates audible tones having a predetermined range of levels generally corresponding to the range of output signals.

25. The training apparatus of claim 19 wherein the flex sensor comprises a variable resistance sensor.

26. The training apparatus of claim 19 wherein the circuitry generates audible tones that range in frequency from approximately 400 HZ with the flex sensor unbent to approximately 2,000 HZ with the flex sensor bent at a generally ninety degree angle.

27. A method of motion training, the method comprising:

sensing degrees of flexure of a predetermined body joint that flexes during a predetermined activity of a trainee;

generating signals that are based on the degrees of joint flexure by the trainee;

generating audible tones based on the signals to create a recognizable tonal signature associated with flexing of the joint during the predetermined activity; and

providing the audible tones in real-time to the trainee as the joint is being flexed to allow the trainee to attempt to replicate tonal signatures the trainee has identified as being associated with desired results from the predetermined activity.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the predetermined activity comprises a golf swing, and the tonal signatures to be replicated are those associated with a good golf shot.

29. The method of claim 27 including:

providing a resilient piece of material configured to fit about the body joint and carrying a flex sensor therewith; and

positioning the material at the body joint so that the flex sensor spans the joint for sensing the degrees of flexure thereof.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the body joint has a predetermined angular range of flexure motion, and the audible tones can be generated for substantially the full range of the flexure motion so that continuous audio input is provided to the trainee during the predetermined activity.

31. A training device comprising:

a sensor positionable on a trainee'"'"'s body joint and having an output providing signals that correspond to a substantially current angle of the body joint;

a signal processor having an input operably coupled to the output of the sensor and having an output comprising a trainee-discernable real-time audible tracking signal, wherein the real-time audible tracking signal corresponds to and tracks the angle of the body joint.

32. The training device of claim 31 wherein the real-time audible tracking signal tends to increase in frequency as the corresponding angle of the body joint increases.

33. The training device of claim 31 wherein the real-time audible tracking signal tends to decrease in frequency as the corresponding angle of the body joint increases.

34. The training device of claim 31 and further comprising at least one earphone operably coupled to the output of the signal processor.

35. A method of training an individual with respect to a physical activity that involves at least one body joint, comprising:

while engaged in the physical activity;

continuously monitoring a biomechanical angle that corresponds to the at least one body joint;

providing a substantially contemporaneous audio signal to the individual, which audio signal has at least one user-discernable parameter that changes as a continuous function of changes to the biomechanical angle such that the audio signal tracks the biomechanical angle and thereby augments kinematic feedback to the individual regarding the physical activity.

36. The method of claim 35 and further comprising providing a metronome audio signal to the individual contemporaneous with the audio signal.

37. The method of claim 35 and further comprising responding to input from the individual to change the audio signal at a given biomechanical angle with respect to pitch.

38. The method of claim 35 and further comprising responding to input from the individual to adjust sensitivity with respect to how the audio signal changes as a continuous function of changes to the biomechanical angle.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the physical activity comprises a sport.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the physical activity comprises physical therapy.