Physical motion state evaluation apparatus

• US 6,685,480 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Toshiyuki, Nishimoto, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/816,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 434/247, 434/250, 434/307-R-3, 434/365, 463/4, 463/6, 463/7, 463/23, 463/30, 463/31, 463/33, 463/36, 482/4, 482/8, 733/790.4, 345/156, 250/221
• US Class Current: 434/247
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0015 Dancing

Abstract

A physical motion state evaluation apparatus is configured by a foot switch unit for detecting user'"'"'s step motions, physical motion state detectors for detecting motions of prescribed parts (e.g., hands, foot) of a user'"'"'s body, a display and a musical tone generator. Herein, the physical motion state detector is configured by a projector unit for projecting optical beams along optical axes and a receiver unit for receiving the optical beams respectively, so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body shuts off at least one of the optical beams. Physical motion state instructions request a user to move the prescribed parts of the user'"'"'s body to instructed positions at instruction timings respectively, so that the physical motion state detectors provide detection timings at which the prescribed parts of the user'"'"'s body are precisely moved to the instructed positions in conformity with the instruction timings. Based on deviation values between the instruction timings and detection timings, the apparatus produces evaluation results on user'"'"'s physical motion states in comparison with the physical motion state instructions. The evaluation results can be visually presented on a screen of the display as scores being marked for the user'"'"'s physical motion states, or they can be subjected to auditory presentation in which the musical tone generator sequentially generates musical tones corresponding to constituent notes of a melody in response to the detection timings that belong to tone generation ranges of the instruction timings.

Claims

1. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus comprising:

a physical motion state instruction device for successively outputting physical motion state instructions over a lapse of time with respect to at least a prescribed part of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the physical motion state instructions request a user to move the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body to instructed positions at instruction timings respectively;

a physical motion state detector for successively detecting in a non-contact manner that the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body moves to the instructed positions at detection timings;

an evaluation output device for outputting evaluation results through evaluation based on deviation values between the instruction timings and the detection timings with respect to the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

2. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the physical motion state instruction device instructs the user to move the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body to an instructed position designated by a physical motion state instruction at an instruction timing, while the physical motion state detector provides a detection timing upon detection of a temporary stop event in which the user temporarily stops the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body at the instructed position, so that the evaluation output device provides an evaluation result through evaluation based on a deviation value between the instruction timing and the detection timing with respect to the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

3. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a transmission type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the linear propagation of the physical agent is shut off by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

4. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a reflection type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects that the physical agent is reflected by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

5. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the physical motion state detector is of an image pickup type configured by an image pickup unit and an image analysis unit, so that the image analysis unit detects a motion state of the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body contained in images being picked up by the image pickup unit.

6. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a difficulty setting device for allowing the user to set a degree of difficulty so that the physical motion state instruction device outputs the physical motion state instructions to suit to the degree of difficulty.

7. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the evaluation output device generates predetermined effect sound in response to the evaluation results.

8. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus comprising:

a physical motion state instruction device for successively outputting physical motion state instructions over a lapse of time with respect to at least a prescribed part of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the physical motion state instructions request a user to move the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body to instructed positions at instruction timings to which musical tone signals are respectively assigned, each instruction timing accompanied with a corresponding tone generation range;

a physical motion state detector for successively detecting in a non-contact manner whether the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body moves to the instructed positions designated by the physical motion state instructions respectively, wherein the physical motion state detector provides detection timings when the user moves the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body to the instructed positions in conformity with the instruction timings; and

an evaluation output device for discriminating whether each of the detection timings substantially matches with each of the tone generation ranges regarding the instruction timings, so that the evaluation output device proceeds to auditory presentation of evaluation results by generating the musical tone signals assigned to the tone generation ranges within which the detection timings emerge.

9. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a transmission type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the linear propagation of the physical agent is shut off by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

10. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a reflection type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects that the physical agent is reflected by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

11. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the physical motion state detector is of an image pickup type configured by an image pickup unit and an image analysis unit, so that the image analysis unit detects a motion state of the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body contained in images being picked up by the image pickup unit.

12. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a difficulty setting device for allowing the user to set a degree of difficulty so that the physical motion state instruction device outputs the physical motion state instructions to suit to the degree of difficulty.

13. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the evaluation output device generates predetermined effect sound in response to the evaluation results.

14. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the auditory presentation of the evaluation results cause generation of the musical tone signals representing musical tones that progress over a lapse of time.

15. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the auditory presentation of the evaluation results cause generation of the musical tone signals representing constituent notes of a melody.

16. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus comprising:

a physical motion state instruction device for successively outputting physical motion state instructions over a lapse of time with respect to at least user'"'"'s hand and foot, wherein the physical motion state instructions request a user to move the user'"'"'s hand and foot to instructed positions designated by the physical motion state instructions at instruction timings respectively;

a plurality of physical motion state detectors for successively detecting positions of the user'"'"'s hand and foot in comparison with the instructed positions, so that the physical motion state detectors provide detection timings when the user moves the user'"'"'s hand and foot respectively to the instructed positions; and

an evaluation output device for outputting evaluation results through evaluation based on deviation values between the instruction timings and the detection timings with respect to the user'"'"'s hand and foot.

17. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a transmission type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the linear propagation of the physical agent is shut off by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

18. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a reflection type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects that the physical agent is reflected by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

19. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the physical motion state detector is of an image pickup type configured by an image pickup unit and an image analysis unit, so that the image analysis unit detects a motion state of the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body contained in images being picked up by the image pickup unit.

20. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a difficulty setting device for allowing the user to set a degree of difficulty so that the physical motion state instruction device outputs the physical motion state instructions to suit to the degree of difficulty.

21. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the evaluation output device generates predetermined effect sound in response to the evaluation results.

22. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus comprising:

a physical motion state instruction device for successively outputting physical motion state instructions over a lapse of time with respect to a first part and a second part of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the physical motion state instructions instruct a user to move the first part and the second part of the user'"'"'s body to first and second instructed positions designated by the physical motion state instructions at first and second instruction timings respectively;

a first physical motion state detector for performing detection in a contact manner to provide a first detection timing at which the first part of the user'"'"'s body moves to the first instructed position in conformity with the first instruction timing;

a second physical motion state detector for performing detection in a non-contact manner to provide a second detection timing at which the second part of the user'"'"'s body moves to the second instructed position in conformity with the second instruction timing; and

an evaluation output device for outputting evaluation results through evaluation based on a deviation value between the first detection timing and the first instruction timing as well as a deviation value between the second detection timing and the second instruction timing.

23. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a transmission type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the linear propagation of the physical agent is shut off by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

24. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the physical motion state detector is of a reflection type configured by a projector unit and a receiver unit between which linear propagation of physical agent such as light and sound is caused, so that the receiver unit detects that the physical agent is reflected by a prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body.

25. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the physical motion state detector is of an image pickup type configured by an image pickup unit and an image analysis unit, so that the image analysis unit detects a motion state of the prescribed part of the user'"'"'s body contained in images being picked up by the image pickup unit.

26. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising a difficulty setting device for allowing the user to set a degree of difficulty so that the physical motion state instruction device outputs the physical motion state instructions to suit to the degree of difficulty.

27. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the evaluation output device generates predetermined effect sound in response to the evaluation results.

28. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus comprising:

a first sensing unit for sensing a user'"'"'s hand motion state;

a second sensing unit for sensing a user'"'"'s foot motion state;

a storage for storing physical motion state instructions and tune data;

a display for displaying instructed positions for user'"'"'s hand and foot respectively in response to the physical motion state instructions;

a musical tone generator for generating musical tones based on the tune data;

a physical motion state evaluation section for performing evaluation as to whether the user'"'"'s hand and foot are moved to the instructed positions in connection with the musical tones; and

an evaluation result presentation section for controlling at least one of the display to perform visual presentation of evaluation results and the musical tone generator to perform auditory presentation of evaluation results.

29. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the first sensing unit is arranged in connection with the user'"'"'s hand and is configured by a projector unit for projecting optical beams along optical axes and a receiver unit for receiving the optical beams respectively so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the user'"'"'s hand shuts off at least one of the optical beams, and wherein the second sensing unit is arranged in connection with the user'"'"'s foot and is configured by a projector unit for projecting optical beams along optical axes and a receiver unit for receiving the optical beams respectively so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the user'"'"'s foot shuts off at least one of the optical beams.

30. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the first sensing unit is arranged in connection with the user'"'"'s hand and is configured by a projector unit for projecting optical beams along optical axes and a receiver unit for receiving the optical beams respectively so that the receiver unit detects a shutoff event in which the user'"'"'s hand shuts off at least one of the optical beams, and wherein the second sensing unit is arranged horizontally under the user'"'"'s foot to detect a step motion of the user'"'"'s foot.

31. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the physical motion state instructions request a user to move the user'"'"'s hand and foot to first and second instructed positions at first and second instruction timings respectively, and wherein the first sensing unit provides a first detection timing at which the user'"'"'s hand is moved to the first instructed position in conformity with the first instruction timing while the second sensing unit provides a second detection timing at which the user'"'"'s foot is moved to the second instructed position in conformity with the second instruction timing, so that the physical motion state evaluation section provides evaluation results based on a first deviation value between the first instruction timing and the first detection timing as well as a second deviation value between the second instruction timing and the second detection timing.

32. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the evaluation result presentation section controls the display to perform the visual presentation such that a score being marked for the user'"'"'s hand motion and the user'"'"'s foot motion is visually displayed on the basis of the evaluation results.

33. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the evaluation result presentation section controls the musical tone generator to perform the auditory presentation such that the musical tones are generated in response to the evaluation results.

34. A physical motion state evaluation apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the physical motion state instructions allocate tone pitches corresponding to constituent notes of a prescribed melody to instruction timings at which a user is requested to move at least one of the user'"'"'s hand and the user'"'"'s foot to the instructed positions respectively and which have tone generation ranges respectively, so that the evaluation result presentation section controls the musical tone generator to generate musical tones having the tone pitches if at least one of the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit detects that the user'"'"'s hand and the user'"'"'s foot respectively is correctly moved to the instructed position within the tone generation range of the instruction timing.