Training and instructing support device

• US 7,980,998 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CardiacSense Ltd
• Original Assignee: Eldad Shemesh, Liat Shemesh-Granot
• Inventors: Shemesh, Eldad, Shemesh-Granot, Liat
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/382,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 434/254, 702/182, 702/183, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

A personal device is provided for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during this training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity. The device comprises a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during the training activity, parameters associated with the movement of the body part, and wherein the sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and, optimally, gyroscope means. The device further comprises means for attaching the sensing unit to the body part and a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit the parameters and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of the training activity. In addition, there are provided a system for use by an instructor in instructing of a plurality of participants engaged in an activity, a communication system for communicating with one or more swimmers, the system comprising a transmitting module adapted to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication protocol with at least one receiving module associated with at least one swimmer, and a method for automated training one or more swimmers accordingly.

Claims

1. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves and changes its location and orientation, during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part and characterizing the location and orientation of said body part relative to its initial location and orientation, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means, said accelerometer means being adapted to measure linear acceleration of said body part along three axes, said gyroscope means being adapted to measure angular acceleration of said body part around said three axes, and said parameters being at least linear and angular acceleration values;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part; and

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity, said data including at least the location and orientation of said body part for ach of the measurements.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said activity is a swimming session and said data further includes statistics and summary results for said session.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said results include one or more of the following:

total training time, number of laps, average lap time, average lap velocity, average strokes per lap, fastest and slowest lap, highest and lowest number of hand strokes per lap, instantaneous speed during the laps, hand or leg lifting height for each stroke, distance traveled for each stroke, comparative results to other trainees using similar devices.

4. A device according to claim 1, further adapted for infrared measurement of the pulse and wherein said data includes the pulse of the trainee.

5. A training advisor comprising a device according to claim 1, and further comprising a presentation unit adapted to present to the trainee at least said data or training instructions based on said data.

6. A training advisor according to claim 5, wherein said presentation unit comprises a screen connected to said processor and adapted for displaying to the trainee readings including at least said data or training instructions to the trainee based on said data.

7. A training advisor according to claim 5, wherein the processor of said device is further adapted to provide said training instructions according to predetermined rules.

8. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part;

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity; and

(d) at least one additional sensing unit and means for its attaching to an additional body part of said trainee, the sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said activity, parameters characterizing at least the location and orientation of said additional body part relative to its initial position and orientation; and

said processor being further adapted to receive from said at least one additional sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate, based thereon, at least the location and orientation of said additional body part for each of the measurements, for use thereof in providing said data.

9. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part comprising a flexible platform adapted to amplify at least one of the measurements performed by the sensing unit; and

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity.

10. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part;

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity; and

(d) a presentation unit adapted to present to the trainee at least said data or training instructions based on said data, said presentation unit comprising vibrating element adapted to generate vibratory pulses according to a predetermined rule, and to direct said pulses to the skin of said trainee.

11. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part;

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity; and

(d) a presentation unit adapted to present to the trainee at least said data or training instructions based on said data, said presentation unit comprising at least one earphone with a receiving module adapted for wirelessly receiving readings including at least the data from said device or training instructions to the trainee based on said data, and converting said readings into audio signal to be transmitted to the trainee via said at least one earphone.

12. A personal device for measuring a training activity of a trainee having a body part which moves during said training activity, this movement at least partially defining said training activity, said device comprising:

(a) a sensing unit adapted to repeatedly measure, during said training activity, parameters associated with the movement of said body part, and wherein said sensing unit comprising at least accelerometer means, a compass and optionally gyroscope means;

(b) means for attaching the sensing unit to said body part

(c) a processor adapted to receive from the sensing unit said parameters, and to calculate based thereon, data indicative of said training activity;

(d) a presentation unit adapted to present to the trainee at least said data or training instructions based on said data; and

(e) a computer adapted for being located at a location spaced from said processor and for wirelessly receiving the data from said device, and having a monitor for displaying to a user of said computer said data or information derived therefrom.

13. A training advisor according to claim 12, wherein said computer further comprises an input unit to receive said training instructions from its user, the computer being adapted to wirelessly transfer said instructions directly or indirectly to said presentation unit.

14. A training advisor according to claim 12, constituting a part of a training system comprising a plurality of such training advisors for a corresponding plurality of trainees, and wherein said monitor is adapted to display to said user said data or information derived therefrom, relating to said plurality of trainees.

15. A training advisor according to claim 14, wherein said monitor is adapted to display to said user said data or information derived therefrom, in a real-time activity of said plurality of trainees.

16. A training advisor according to claim 14, wherein said computer further comprises an input unit to receive from its user the training instructions, the computer being adapted to simultaneously and wirelessly transfer said instructions directly or indirectly to each of said plurality of trainees.