Wearable sensor system with gesture recognition for measuring physical performance

• US 9,008,973 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: French Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Mary Ellen French
• Inventors: French, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US12/927,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19, 702/75, 702/141, 702/142, 482/8, 600/595
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• 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 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/08 Jumping, vaulting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/09 Weight-lifting
• 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 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings

Abstract

A wearable sensor system with gesture recognition for measuring physical performance 98 includes a sensor ring 100 for providing signals corresponding to finger movement to an information processor 101. The sensor ring 100 internally includes an accelerometer 106 for measuring motion of a predetermined finger, the measured motion corresponding to an exercise routine performed by a user of the system 98, a processor 109 for conditioning the signals from the accelerometer 106, and a transceiver 108 for transmitting the conditioned signals to the information processor 101 for display and feedback to the user for accessing the quality of the exercise. The system 98 further includes means for allowing the user to start and stop the processing of the measured finger motion by moving the finger with sensor ring 100 thereon a predetermined distance and speed.

Claims

1. A system for quantifying physical performance and for using gesture recognition to control system operation comprising:

means for measuring three axes of linear motion, said measuring means being secured to a user'"'"'s finger;

means for inputting said measured three axes of linear motion into processing means;

means for starting said measuring of said three axes of linear motion via hand positioning and/or hand movement;

means for minimizing spurious measurements of said three axes of linear motion;

means for providing an acceleration magnitude corresponding to said measured three axes of linear motion;

means for stopping said measuring of said three axes of linear motion via hand positioning and/or hand movement; and

means for calculating and indicating predetermined parameters of physical exercise, whereby said measuring means provide parameters pertaining to acceleration magnitude and high-frequency, low amplitude finger movements and/or gestures, said acceleration magnitude and said finger movements providing continuous information from a finger start gesture to a finger stop gesture to said processing means for quantifying and displaying physical performance data for a time period determined by said finger start gesture and said finger stop gesture.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said measuring means includes an accelerometer encased in an annulus disposed about the user'"'"'s finger.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said inputting means includes a transmitter encased in an annulus disposed about the user'"'"'s finger.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said inputting means includes a base-station having receiving, computer, display and download capabilities.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said base-station is secured to the user.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said base-station is distally disposed relative to the user.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said starting means includes a predetermined high frequency, low amplitude movement of the user'"'"'s finger with the annulus thereupon, said finger movement being recognized by said base-station via signals generated by said accelerometer that correspond to said finger movement.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said stopping means includes a predetermined high frequency, low amplitude movement of the user'"'"'s finger with the annulus thereupon, said finger movement being recognized by said base-station via signals generated by said accelerometer that correspond to said finger movement.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for selecting an operating mode of the system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for selecting an operating mode includes means for initializing an exercise routine.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for selecting an operating mode includes means for selecting between 1) a device-directed operating mode that allows said system to deliver pre-established training protocols that the user ultimately follows;

and

     2) a user-directed mode that allows the user to control his or her training program without any input from said system.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for minimizing spurious measurements includes means for notifying said processing means of the time and position in space of the user'"'"'s finger that corresponds to beginning an exercise set;

and means for notifying said processing means of the time and position in space of the user'"'"'s finger that corresponds to finishing the exercise set.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for calculating and indicating predetermined parameters of physical performance includes power, strength, work, total calories expended, visual feedback, audio feedback, set quantification, rep quantification and/or tactile feedback.

14. A physical exercise method, said method comprising:

mounting a sensor on a hand, a wrist, or a finger of a user, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer;

communicating movement of the sensor, detected by the accelerometer, to an information processor;

after the mounting the sensor, recognizing at least one start gesture that involves movement of the accelerometer, communicated to the information processor; and

after the recognizing the at least one start gesture, tracking movement of the sensor while the user performs physical exercise with exercise equipment, and calculating motion parameters of the physical exercise from tracked movement of the sensor.

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein the mounting includes mounting the sensor on the finger of the user;

and

wherein the recognizing the at least one start gesture includes recognizing a movement of the finger.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the recognizing the movement of the finger includes recognizing a tapping or an extending of the finger.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the recognizing the movement of the finger includes recognizing movement of the finger while the finger is in contact with the exercise equipment.

18. The method of claim 15,

wherein the sensor is a finger ring;

and

wherein the mounting the sensor includes putting the finger ring on the finger.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the communicating includes wirelessly communicating the movement to a base station, using a transmitter or transceiver of the sensor.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising, after the recognizing the at least one start gesture, recognizing at least one stop gesture that involves movement of the sensor, and stopping the calculating the motion parameters after the recognizing the at least one stop gesture.

21. The method of claim 14,

wherein the exercise equipment includes a free weight;

and

wherein the calculating includes counting one or more of repetitions and/or sets involved in moving the free weight.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the calculating includes calculating one or more of power, strength/power, work, and/or total calories expended.

23. A device for providing exercise information to a user while the user is exercising comprisinq:

an accelerometer disposed about a user'"'"'s finger for measuring motion of the user'"'"'s finger;

an information processor that receives information from said accelerometer via a wireless system, said information processor being programmed to calculate motion parameters via said received information;

means for starting and stopping the calculation of said motion parameters by said information processor; and

means for indicating predetermined quantities of physical performance of the user to the user while the user is exercising, whereby the user is capable of providing exercise motion information to the information processor and to start and stop the operation of the information processor via an accelerator disposed about one finger;

wherein said means for indicating predetermined quantities of physical performance includes means for reading acceleration magnitude and finger movement information by said information processor, for quantifying and displaying physical performance data for a time period determined by at least one finger start gesture and at least one finger stop gesture.

24. The device of claim 23

wherein said at least one finger start gesture and said at least one finger stop gesture include high-frequency, low amplitude finger movements and/or gestures;

and

wherein said means for starting and stopping includes means for recognition of said at least one finger start gesture and said at least one finger stop gesture.

25. The device of claim 24

wherein said at least one start gesture includes substantially about a one inch movement of an end portion of the finger that said accelerometer is disposed upon, said one inch movement occurring in substantially about a 100 millisecond time period;

and

wherein said means for recognition of said at least one finger start gesture and said at least one finger stop gesture includes means for recognition of said movement of said end portion.

26. The device of claim 25

wherein said at least one stop gesture includes substantially about a one inch movement of said end portion of the finger that said accelerometer is disposed upon, said one inch movement occurring in substantially about a 100 millisecond time period;

and

wherein said means for recognition of said at least one finger start gesture and said at least one finger stop gesture includes means for recognition of said at least one stop gesture that includes said movement of said end portion.