Method and apparatus for a self-powered RFID-readable pedometer

• US 20080082025A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Care Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dishongh, Terry, Hughes, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A device, system and method for analyzing a user'"'"'s motion using a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations, an EEPROM to record data associated with the plurality of deformation signals, and a transceiver to receive at least a portion of the recorded data from the EEPROM and to transmit data, wherein the analysis may determine an abnormality in the user'"'"'s gait.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations;

an EEPROM to record data associated with the plurality of deformation signals; and

a transceiver to receive at least a portion of the recorded data from the EEPROM and to transmit data.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the EEPROM further comprises an internal clock to generate timing data.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the RFID reader receives the timing data from the internal clock.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of deformation signals are used to determine a number of steps taken by an individual.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric film is used to power the EEPROM.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer to generate acceleration data to be transmitted to the EEPROM.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric film is used to power the accelerometer.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is removably attached to a shoe.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric film is configured to be deformed by a heel and a toe of a user wearing the shoe.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is an RFID tag.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is a NFC device.

13. An apparatus comprising the device of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a footwear or a piece of clothing.

14. A device, comprising:

a piezoelectric film to generate a deformation signal; and

an RFID tag to receive data from the piezoelectric film and to transmit the data to an external device,

wherein the device is a pedometer.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising an accelerometer.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the piezoelectric film is used to power the accelerometer.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is removably attached to a shoe.

18. A device, comprising:

a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations;

a real time clock to generate timing data;

an EEPROM to record data associated with the plurality of compression signals and the timing data; and

a transceiver to receive at least a portion of the recorded data from the EEPROM and to transmit at least a portion of the received data.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the transceiver is an RFID tag.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the transceiver is a NFC device.

21. An apparatus comprising the device of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is a footwear or a piece of clothing.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising a processor to analyze the deformation signals to determine abnormalities in a user'"'"'s step.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the deformation signals are analyzed in relation to the timing data.

24. A system for diagnosing a user'"'"'s gait, the system comprising:

a plurality of the devices according to claim 18, the plurality of the devices comprising a first device and a second device;

a reader to receive data from the transceivers of the first and second devices; and

a processor to receive the data from the reader;

wherein the processor is configured to analyze the deformation signals generated by the first and second devices.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first device and the second device are removably attached to a footwear.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the deformation signals generated by the plurality of the devices to determine if there is an abnormality in a user'"'"'s gait.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein a duration of the deformation signals is analyzed.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein an amplitude of the deformation signals is analyzed.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein an amplitude of the deformation signals is analyzed with respect to the duration of the deformation signals.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the reader is an RFID reader.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein a deformation signal generated by the first device and a deformation signal generated by the second device are compare to diagnose the user'"'"'s gait.

32. A method of diagnosing a user'"'"'s gait, the method comprising:

obtaining or manufacturing the system of claim 24;

transmitting data from the first and second devices to a processor; and

analyzing the deformation signals generated by the first and second devices.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising producing data related to a user'"'"'s gait based on the analyzing of the deformation signals.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the analyzing the deformation signals comprises analyzing a duration of the deformation signals.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the analyzing the deformation signals comprises analyzing an amplitude of the deformation signals.