Kinesthetic training system with composite feedback

• US 7,365,647 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avinoam Nativ
• Inventors: Nativ, Avinoam
• Primary Examiner(s): BUGG, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/315,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20070148624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

An apparatus for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity is based on the presence of two or more kinesthetic body sensors, whether mounted on the body or separately from the body, that deliver signals to a processing system that, in turn, delivers a single output signal. This signal drives a display that delivers feedback to the subject. Multiple body sensor output signals may be combined in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to produce a single composite signal. This combining may be as simple as direct addition, or may include the combination of weighted values of the individual comparison signals. An operator may adjust the weighting values to be applied to the respective comparison signals, and may do so while the apparatus is in use. Alternately while the apparatus is in use, a proportional signal from one body sensor may drive the display, subject to suppression of such signal if the output from any number of other body sensors does not achieve preselected threshold values.

Claims

1. An apparatus for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity, the apparatus comprising:

a) two or more body sensors for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements arising from different, non-symmetrical muscular origins, said sensors each respectively producing sensor output signals indicative of the kinesthetic performance of the subject;

b) signal processing means connected to receive sensor output signals from the body sensors, said signal processing means comprising means to generate a single composite signal with a value as an additive function of the individual sensor output signals,

i) wherein the signal processing means assigns weighting factors to each of said individual sensor output signals to produce individual weighted sensor output signals, and

ii) generates the single composite signal with a value as a function of the individual weighted sensor output signals, and

c) display means connected to said signal processing means to receive said composite signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a display that is generated in response to the single composite signal,

whereby a subject may receive feedback as to their physical activity.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the signal processing means:

a) establishes a range of acceptable sensor values for each of the individual sensor output signals, which acceptable sensor values are above or below respective pre-established lower or upper threshold values, and

b) detects whether one or more of the individual sensor output signals falls within the range of acceptable sensor values,

the signal processing means operating to provide that the feedback to the user is suppressed if any of the individual sensor output signal values falls outside the range of acceptable values.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the signal processing means:

a) establishes a range of acceptable sensor values for each of the individual sensor output signals, which acceptable sensor values are above or below respective pre-established lower or upper threshold values, and

b) detects whether one or more of the individual sensor output signals falls within the range of acceptable sensor values,

the signal processing means operating to provide that the feedback to the user is suppressed if any of the individual sensor output signal values falls outside the range of acceptable values.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the display that is generated in response to the single composite signal is a display that is proportional to the value of the composite signal.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the display that is generated in response to the single composite signal is a display that is proportional to the value of the composite signal.

6. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the display that is generated in response to the single composite signal is a display that is proportional to the value of the composite signal.

7. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the display that is generated in response to the single composite signal is a display that is proportional to the value of the composite signal.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sensors are body contacting sensors.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise at least one EMG sensor.

16. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the display means comprises a video screen.

17. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the display means comprises a cursor moveable on the display means in response to the composite signal.

8. A method for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity comprising:

a) providing a first body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said first body sensor producing first output signals in response to the performance of the subject;

b) providing signal processing means connected to receive the first output signals and generate a first display control signal with a value as a function of the first output signals;

c) establishing a range of acceptable values for the first output signals produced by the first body sensor;

d) providing display means connected to said signal processing means to receive the first display control signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a first display that is generated in response to the first display control signal until the subject is able to generate first output signals that fall within the pre-established range of acceptable first output signal values, then discontinuing said first display and,

e) providing a second body sensor for monitoring the subject'"'"'s movements, said second sensor producing second output signals in response to the performance of the subject;

f) delivering the second output signals to the signal processing means and generating a second display control signal as a proportional function of the second output signals;

g) providing the second display control signal to the display means to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a second display that is proportional to and generated in response to the second display control signal, but only while the first sensor display signal value falls inside the pre-established range of acceptable first output sensor signal values.

9. An apparatus for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity, the apparatus comprising:

a) a first body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said first sensor producing a first sensor signal in response to the kinesthetic performance of the subject;

b) a second body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said second sensor producing a second sensor signal indicative of the performance of the subject;

c) signal processing means connected to receive sensor output signals from the body sensors, said signal processing means comprising means to;

i) compare the first sensor signal to a range of pre-established acceptable first sensor signal values,

ii) generate a single display control signal with a value as a proportional function of the second sensor signal, and

iii) suppress the single display control signal if the value of the first sensor signal falls outside the pre-established range of acceptable first sensor signal values,

d) display means connected to said signal processing means to receive the single display control signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a display that is generated in response to the single display control signal,

whereby the user may receive feedback in the form of a proportional display arising from the single display control signal, but only when the first sensor signal value falls inside the preprogrammed range of acceptable on/off sensor signal values.

10. An apparatus for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity, the apparatus comprising

a) a first body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said first sensor producing a first sensor signal in response to the kinesthetic performance of the subject;

b) a second body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said second sensor producing second sensor signals indicative of the performance of the subject;

c) signal processing means connected to receive sensor output signals from the body sensors, said signal processing means comprising means to;

i) compare the first sensor signal to a range of pre-established acceptable first sensor signal values,

ii) generate a composite signal with a value as a function of the first and second sensor output signals, and

iii) suppress the composite signal if the value of the first sensor signal falls outside the pre-established range of acceptable first sensor signal values, and

d) display means connected to said signal processing means to receive said composite signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a display that is generated in response to the single composite signal,

whereby the user may receive feedback in the form of a display arising from the composite signal, but only when the first sensor signal value falls inside the preprogrammed range of acceptable on/off sensor signal values.

11. A method for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity comprising:

a) providing a first body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said first body sensor producing first output signals in response to the kinesthetic performance of the subject;

b) providing a signal processing means connected to receive the first output signals and generate a first display control signal with a value as a function of the first output signals;

c) establishing a range of acceptable values for the first output signals produced by the first body sensor;

d) providing display means connected to said signal processing means to receive the first display control signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a first display that is generated in response to the first display control signal until the subject is able to generate first output signals that fall within the pre-established range of acceptable first output signal values, then discontinuing said first display and,

e) providing a second body sensor for monitoring the subject'"'"'s movements, said second sensor producing second output signals in response to the performance of the subject;

f) delivering the second output signals to the signal processing means and generating a composite signal with a value as a function of the values of the first and second output signals;

g) providing the composite signal to the display means to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a second display that is proportional to and generated in response to the composite signal, but only while the first sensor display signal value falls inside the pre-established range of acceptable first output sensor signal values.

whereby the user may receive feedback in the form of a display arising from the composite signal, but only when the first sensor signal value falls inside the preprogrammed range of acceptable on/off sensor signal values.

12. An apparatus for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity, the apparatus comprising

a) a first body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said first sensor producing a first sensor signal in response to the kinesthetic performance of the subject;

b) second and third body sensors for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said second and third sensors producing second and third sensor signals indicative of the performance of the subject;

c) signal processing means connected to receive sensor output signals from the body sensors, said signal processing means comprising means to;

i) compare the first sensor signal to a range of pre-established acceptable first sensor signal values,

ii) generate a composite signal with a value as an additive function of the second and third sensor output signals, and

iii) suppress the composite signal if the value of the first sensor signal falls outside the pre-established range of acceptable first sensor signal values, and

d) display means connected to said signal processing means to receive said composite signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a display that is generated in response to the composite signal,

whereby the user may receive feedback in the form of a display arising from the composite signal, but only when the first sensor signal value falls inside the range of pre-established acceptable first sensor signal values.

13. A method for training a subject to perform a specified physical activity comprising:

a) providing a first body sensor for monitoring a subject'"'"'s movements, said first body sensor producing first output signals in response to the kinesthetic performance of the subject;

b) providing signal processing means connected to receive the first output signals and generate a first display control signal with a value as a function of the first output signals;

c) establishing a range of acceptable values for the first output signals produced by the first body sensor;

d) providing display means connected to said signal processing means to receive the first display control signal to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a first display that is generated in response to the first display control signal until the subject is able to generate first output signals that fall within the pre-established range of acceptable first output signal values;

then discontinuing said first display and,

e) providing second and third body sensors for monitoring the subject'"'"'s movements, said second and third sensors producing second and third output signals in response to the performance of the subject;

f) delivering the second and third output signals to the signal processing means and generating a composite signal with a value as a function of the values of the first and second output signals;

g) providing the composite signal to the display means to provide feedback to the subject in the form of a display that is generated in response to the composite signal, but only while the first sensor display signal value falls inside the pre-established range of acceptable first output sensor signal values;

whereby the user may receive feedback in the form of a display arising from the composite signal, but only when the first sensor signal value falls inside the pre-established range of acceptable first sensor signal values.