System and method for measuring power generated during legged locomotion
First Claim
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1. A method for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion comprising:
- providing at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion;
providing at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion by measuring said body'"'"'s foot contact forces during a drive phase of said body'"'"'s walking or running; and
calculating the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor, said calculating step comprises utilizing a power equation comprising P=(F*d)/t, where P represents power as force applied over a distance done in a period of time where the measured plurality of propulsive force impulses are exerted from said body'"'"'s foot contact during said drive phase of said body'"'"'s walking or running, d is distance traveled by said foot as a consequence of at least one of said plurality of said propulsive forces, and t is time calculated between force impulses;
determining a running style of said body based on whether said body is in a walking or running stride based on accessing a plurality of foot force wave forms stored in a database and comparing said measured plurality of propulsive forces with said foot force wave forms stored in said database; and
adjusting a power result generated by said calculating the power generated by the body step based on said running style determination.
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion. The system includes at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion, at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion, and a processor configured to calculate the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor.
33 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion comprising:
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providing at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion; providing at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion by measuring said body'"'"'s foot contact forces during a drive phase of said body'"'"'s walking or running; and calculating the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor, said calculating step comprises utilizing a power equation comprising P=(F*d)/t, where P represents power as force applied over a distance done in a period of time where the measured plurality of propulsive force impulses are exerted from said body'"'"'s foot contact during said drive phase of said body'"'"'s walking or running, d is distance traveled by said foot as a consequence of at least one of said plurality of said propulsive forces, and t is time calculated between force impulses; determining a running style of said body based on whether said body is in a walking or running stride based on accessing a plurality of foot force wave forms stored in a database and comparing said measured plurality of propulsive forces with said foot force wave forms stored in said database; and adjusting a power result generated by said calculating the power generated by the body step based on said running style determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system to calculate power generated by a body during legged locomotion, the system comprising:
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at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion; at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion by measuring said body'"'"'s foot contact forces during a drive phase of said body'"'"'s walking or running; a processor configured to calculate the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor; determining a running style of said body based on whether said body is in a walking or running stride based on accessing a plurality of foot force wave forms stored in a database and comparing said measured plurality of propulsive forces with said foot force wave forms stored in said database; and adjusting a power result generated by said calculating the power generated by the body step based on said running style determination. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion comprising:
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providing at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion; providing a plurality of force sensors each comprising a transducer that adapted to convert a mechanical force applied to the force sensors by a port of said body into a plurality of electrical signals to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion; calibrating the at least one force sensor based upon a weight of the body; calculating the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor by measuring said body'"'"'s foot contact forces during a drive phase of said body'"'"'s walking or running; wherein a plurality of force sensors are located in a spaced apart array and located in a footwear item worn on the body; determining a running style of said body based on whether said body is in a walking or running stride based on accessing a plurality of foot force wave forms stored in a database and comparing said measured plurality of propulsive forces with said foot force wave forms stored in said database; and adjusting a power result generated by said calculating the power generated by the body step based on said running style determination. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification