Movement monitoring systems and associated methods

• US 20060031039A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Flentov, Peter, Darcy, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/185 for ski-jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/08 Jumping, vaulting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/19 Skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/00 Accessories for skiing or snowboarding fittings on vehicles for carrying skis B60R9/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/366 : by using diffraction of light for measuring speed of fluids G01P5/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/62 : Devices characterised by the determination or the variation of atmospheric pressure with height to measure the vertical components of speed measuring pressure in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/08 : by measuring variation of an electric variable directly affected by the flow, e.g. by using dynamo-electric effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 : Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 : using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/60 : wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 : Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 : Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 : Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor movement of a person, or of a vehicle ridden by the person, to determine speed, distance traveled and/or airtime of the person or vehicle. Accelerometer-based sensors, pressure sensors or Doppler sensors may be employed in these systems and methods. A liquid crystal display may attach to the person to display speed, distance traveled and/or airtime.

Claims

1. An accelerometer based movement monitoring system, comprising:

a sensor for attachment to a person in motion and including at least one accelerometer; and

a processor for processing data from the sensor to determine when the person is in contact with the ground while in motion.

2. System of claim 1, the sensor comprising at least one accelerometer, the processor being configured to determine when the person is not in contact with the ground while in motion.

3. System of claim 1, the processor processing the data to determine speed of the person.

4. System of claim 3, further comprising a display, in communication with the processor, for displaying the speed to the person.

5. System of claim 1, the processor processing the data to determine distance traveled of the person.

6. System of claim 3, further comprising a display, in communication with the processor, for displaying the distance traveled to the person.

7. System of claim 5, the display comprising a liquid crystal display for attachment to the person.

9. System of claim 7, the processor processing the information and an angle of descent of the person to determine the speed as velocity along a sloped surface.

10. System of claim 7, the speed comprising vertical velocity.

11. System of claim 9, the pressure sensor comprising an altimeter.

12. System of claim 10, the altimeter configured to determine an altitude of the person, the processor configured to process altitude information from the altimeter to determine the vertical speed.

13. System of claim 10, the processor configured to process information from the sensor to determine change of altitude of the person.

14. System of claim 7, further comprising a liquid crystal display for attachment to the person, and in communication with the processor, to display the speed to the person.

16. System of claim 14, further comprising a display, in communication with the processor, for displaying the speed to the person.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining airtime of the person while in motion, by comparing acceleration signals when the person is in contact with the ground and when the person is not in contact with the ground.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising utilizing a plurality of accelerometers as inertial sensors to sense the accelerations in at least two different axes, and integrating the accelerations over time to calculate one or both of the speed and distance traveled.

20. The method of claim 18, the step of processing comprising compensating for one or more of gravity and centripetal acceleration in order to determine the speed and distance traveled.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying one or both of the speed and distance traveled to the person via a liquid crystal display attached to the person.

8. An pressure-based movement monitoring system, comprising:

a pressure sensor for attachment to a person in motion; and

a processor for processing information from the sensor to determine speed of the person.

15. A Doppler-based movement monitoring system, comprising:

a Doppler sensor for mounting to a human-powered vehicle and generating a beam of electromagnetic energy through a beam-splitter to strike ground adjacent to the vehicle, the sensor configured to determine Doppler shift of electromagnetic energy reflected from the ground and received through the beam-splitter; and

a processor for processing information from the Doppler sensor to determine speed of the vehicle.

17. A method of determining one or both of speed and distance traveled of a moving person, comprising:

sensing one or more accelerations of the person while moving over a surface;

determining, from the accelerations, when the person is in contact with the surface and when the person is not in contact with the surface, to determine one or both of speed and distance traveled of the person.