System for unencumbered measurement and reporting of body posture

• US 5,570,301 A
• Filed: 07/15/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Barrus, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US08/275,496
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 33/511, 33/512, 73/172, 73/865.4, 297/217.1, 297/217.2, 297/217.3, 364/508, 364/550, 364/558, 364/559
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A system for unencumbered measurement of body posture or attitude utilizeson-encumbering force or proximity sensors to monitor an individual, where the individual need not be aware of the presence or action of the sensors. Outputs from these sensors are analyzed to infer body posture or attitude. In one embodiment, a set of sensors is attached to a chair, or other surroundings such as the floor, at locations where a person may be in contact with or in close proximity to one or more of the sensors or where movement of the chair could be detected. Each sensor has an output which provides a signal indicative of a response of the sensor to forces exerted by or motions of the individual. The outputs of the sensors are processed to estimate the body posture of the individual.

Claims

1. A computer system for non-encumbered measurement of positional attitude of an individual, comprising:

a non-encumbering device adapted to be used by said individual when operating said computer system;

a plurality of sensors associated with said device, each sensor having an output which provides a signal indicative of a response of the sensor to the individual using said device;

means for estimating a positional attitude of the individual relating to said device from the signals output by said plurality of sensors; and

,

means for displaying an animated image of the individual on said computer display in a positional attitude which mimics the estimated positional attitude of the individual.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said device includes a floor and said plurality of sensors are attached to the floor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said estimating means includes means for comparing the outputs of the sensors to pre-determined outputs of said sensors corresponding to a plurality of pre-determined postures.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein estimating means includes a kinematic model of the human body which processes the sensor inputs to identify a posture of the human body in which the body is in equilibrium.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensors are force sensitive resistors.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensors are proximity sensors.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said estimating means includes:

means for selecting a plurality of pre-determined postures;

means for directing the individual to assume each of the selected postures; and

means for storing the status of the outputs of said sensors in response to each of the selected postures assumed by the individual.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said device includes a chair.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein estimating means includes a dynamic model of the human body which processes the sensor inputs to identify a posture of the human body in which the body is in equilibrium.

10. A system for non-encumbered measurement of body posture of an individual, comprising:

means for monitoring forces an individual exerts on an environment in a non-encumbering manner;

means for processing the monitored forces to infer the body posture of the individual; and

,

means for displaying an animated character on a computer display such that the animated character mimics the body posture of the individual.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for monitoring includes an plurality of force sensing resistors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the force sensing resistors are attached to a chair, at locations where a person may be in contact with one or more of the sensors.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the force sensing resistors are attached to a floor, at locations where a person may be in contact with one or more of the sensors.

14. A system for non-encumbered measurement of body posture of an individual, comprising:

means for monitoring motions of an individual in an environment in a non-encumbering manner;

means for processing the monitored motions to infer the body posture of the individual; and

,

means for displaying an animated character on a computer display such that the animated character mimics the body posture of the individual.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for monitoring includes an plurality of proximity sensors.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the proximity sensors are attached to a chair, at locations where a person may be in close proximity to one or more of the sensors.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the proximity sensors are attached to a floor, at locations where a person may be in close proximity to one or more of the sensors.

18. A computer system for non-encumbered measurement of positional attitude of an individual comprising:

a non-encumbered device adapted to be used by said individual in operating said computer system;

a plurality of sensors associated with said device, each sensor having an output which provides a signal indicative of a response of a sensor to the individual using said device; and

,

means for estimating a positional attitude of the individual relating to said device from the signals output by said plurality of sensors, said estimating means including means for comparing the outputs of the sensors to predetermined of said sensors corresponding to a plurality of predetermined postures.

19. A computer system for non-encumbered measurement of positional attitude of an individual comprising:

a non-encumbered device adapted to be used by said individual in operating said computer system;

a plurality of sensors associated with said device, each sensor having an output which provides a signal indicative of a response of a sensor to the individual using said device; and

,

means for estimating a positional attitude of the individual relating to said device from the signals output by said plurality of sensors, said estimating means including means for selecting a plurality of predetermined postures, means for directing the individual to assume each of the selected postures and means for storing the status of the outputs of said sensors in response to each of the select postures assumed by the individual.

20. A computer system for non-encumbered measurement of positional attitude of an individual comprising:

a non-encumbered device adapted to be used by said individual in operating said computer system;

a plurality of sensors associated with said device, each sensor having an output which provides a signal indicative of a response of a sensor to the individual using said device; and

,

means for estimating a positional attitude of the individual relating to said device from the signals output by said plurality of sensors, said estimating means including a dynamic model of human body which processes the sensor inputs to identify a posture of the human body in which the body is in equilibrium.