Method and apparatus for learning specific body motion

• US 6,778,866 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ted S. Bettwy
• Original Assignee: Ted S. Bettwy
• Inventors: Bettwy, Ted S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/526,887
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 700/56, 700/57, 700/58, 700/59, 700/61, 700/62, 700/63, 700/64, 345/156-158, 345/355, 345/419, 345/420, 345/473, 345/496, 345/331, 345/332, 463/36, 463/131-151, 473/215, 473/209, 473/211-213, 473/409, 434/252, 434/247
• US Class Current: 700/56
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for teaching a person how to perform a specific body motion in a consistent manner is based on electronically measuring one or more parameters of an actual body motion, comparing the one or more measured parameters with corresponding parameters of a target body motion, and providing a sensible feedback to the user based on a degree of correspondence between the one or more measured parameters and the corresponding target parameters. In a particular embodiment, the feedback is audible. More specifically the feedback is a musical tune that has a particular characteristic (such as rhythm) that is particularly suited to a particular body motion (such as a golf swing). The feedback may be in the form of electronically causing the musical tune to go off-key in proportion to a discrepancy between the actual body motion and the target body motion. In another embodiment, the feedback may be in the form of causing the musical signal to vary in perceivable clarity in proportion to a discrepancy between the actual body motion and the target body motion. The use of a stylized musical tune is also helpful because it is easily remembered, thereby aiding a user attempting a certain body motion without using the apparatus of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for teaching a person a body motion to permit consistent repetition of the body motion, comprising:

electronically sensing dynamic parameter(s) of the actual body motion;

comparing the sensed dynamic parameter of the actual body motion with a corresponding parameter associated with a target version of the body motion to obtain values of DP1_n . . . DPk_n, the difference between the target parameter of motion and the actual parameter of motion at time n; and

providing a sensible feedback to the person, the feedback resembling a target signal based on a degree of correspondence between the actual body motion and the target motion.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein electronically sensing at least one dynamic parameter of the actual body motion comprises electronically detecting a parameter of motion associated with at least one point on the person'"'"'s body.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the parameter of motion is local acceleration.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein electronically sensing at least one dynamic parameter of the actual body motion comprises electronically detecting a parameter of motion associated with the shoulders.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein electronically sensing at least one dynamic parameter of the actual body motion further comprises electronically detecting a parameter of motion associated with one or more of:

a wrist, the waist, the head, an elbow, and a knee.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensible feedback indicates one of:

a relatively large discrepancy between the actual body motion and the target body motion, a relatively moderate discrepancy between the actual body motion and the target body motion, and substantially no discrepancy between the actual body motion and the target body motion.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensible feedback is audible.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the audible feedback comprises a range of tones corresponding to a degree of correspondence between the actual body motion and the target body motion.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the audible feedback comprises providing an audible signal that becomes more clear to the person as the actual body motion approaches the target body motion.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the audible signal is a segment of recorded music.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the segment of recorded music has a characteristic parameter related to the target body motion.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic parameter is a rhythm of the recorded music.

13. The method affording to claim 1, further comprising multiplying each value of DPk_n by weighting factors w1_n . . . wk_n at each of the n time intervals so as to obtain values of F1_n . . . Fk_n, where each value of wk_n is at least 1.0.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein providing a sensible feedback comprises providing a feedback proportional to $\sum _{}^{}$

1k

Fkn.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the feedback is audible.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the audible feedback comprises a range of tones corresponding to a degree of correspondence between the actual body motion and the target body motion.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the audible feedback comprises providing an audible signal that becomes more clear to the person as the actual body motion approaches the target body motion.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the audible signal is a segment of recorded music.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the segment of recorded music has a characteristic parameter related to the target body motion.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the characteristic parameter is a rhythm of the recorded music.

21. An apparatus for teaching a body motion to permit consistent repetition of the body motion, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting k dynamic parameter(s) of motion associated with an actual body motion;

a memory for storing information corresponding to a target body motion;

a processor for comparing said information corresponding to the target body motion with said dynamic parameters of motion, and for judging a relative degree of correspondence between the actual body motion and the target body motion to thereby obtain values of DP₁ . . . DPk_n;

the difference between the target parameter of motion and the actual parameter of notion at time n; and

a feedback mechanism for providing a sensible signal, said sensible signal resembling a target signal based on said relative degree of correspondence between the actual body motion and the target body motion.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said at least one sensor is an accelerometer for measuring local acceleration.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said at least one sensor is adapted to be placed on a user'"'"'s body.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said at least one sensor is adapted to be placed on a user'"'"'s body.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said memory and said processor are provided in a single unit.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said single unit is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s person.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a signal from said at least one sensor is provided to said processor using RF transmission.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein a signal from said processor is provided to said feedback mechanism using RF transmission.

29. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a signal from said processor is provided to said feedback mechanism using RF transmission.

30. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said feedback mechanism comprises an earpiece and said sensible signal is audible.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said sensible signal is musical.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said feedback mechanism is constructed and arranged to provide an increasingly clear audible signal in correspondence with a degree of correspondence between the actual body motion and the target body motion.

33. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said sensible signal is visual.

34. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said sensible signal is tactile.