Training method and a device for carrying out said method

• US 9,033,712 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maxim Alexeevich Vasin
• Original Assignee: Maxim Alexeevich Vasin
• Inventors: Vasin, Maxim Alexeevich
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US12/664,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 434/258
• US Class Current: 434/258
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/22 Dancing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

The invention relates to training and can be used for learning and/or developing movement skills, fixing dynamic stereotypes and for training movement coordination. The aim of the invention is to provide a trainee with on-line correcting tactile feedback during training and to improve techniques and rate of a movement by bringing it as close as possible to a reference movement. The inventive training method consists, when learning a movement, in digitizing said movement, in comparing it with the digitized pattern of a reference movement and, if the trainee deviates from the reference movement, in receiving by said trainee a tactile feedback (tactile action) for on-line correcting said movement. The inventive device comprises sensors for on-line movement digitizing, a computer for comparing the thus obtained digitized movement with the reference movement (specified by an expert or simulated on the computer) for controlling the tactile feedback elements and said tactile feedback elements for performing the correction action.

Claims

1. A method for providing a trainee with tactile feedback during training, comprising

digitizing a movement by the trainee when the trainee is learning said movement;

comparing the digitized movement of the trainee with a digitized reference movement;

providing a deviation corridor for said digitized reference movement,

said deviation corridor comprising a deviation operation threshold specified for said digitized reference movement;

if a spatial movement of the trainee deviates from the deviation corridor such that the deviation operation threshold for the reference movement is exceeded, providing a tactile signal to one or more body parts of the trainee;

wherein said tactile signal, through a combination of vibration elements that are simultaneously switched on with different levels of force and applied to a single body part, specifies the direction that the one or more body parts of the trainee must move to return to within deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digitized pattern of the reference movement is obtained by digitizing an expert'"'"'s movements.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digitized reference movement is obtained by computer simulation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digitized reference movement is obtained by digitizing said trainee'"'"'s movements.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the deviation operation threshold diminishes as the movement is mastered.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the tactile signal increases as the deviation of the trainee'"'"'s movement from the deviation corridor of the digitized reference movement enlarges.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tactile signal is fed to the surface of a body lying opposite a right trajectory.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tactile signal is fed to the surface of a body which is closest to a right trajectory.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein as the frequency of exceeding the deviation operation threshold diminishes, the pace of the reference movement increases.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movements to be learned by the trainee repeat periodically in blocks, and as the frequency of exceeding the deviation operation threshold diminishes, the number of movements repeated per block increases.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pace of the reference movement is specified by a sound signal.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pace of the reference movement is specified by an optical signal.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference movement is specified by a trainer.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference movement is specified by a video sequence.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference movement is specified on a computer screen.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference movement is specified in a printed form.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein if a trainee'"'"'s movement deviates from the reference movement, the trainee is given a pause to find a correct position at a particular stage of the reference movement, after which the reference movement goes on.

33. The method according to claim 1, wherein said combination of vibration elements provide force on a side of the part of the trainee'"'"'s body where the deviation threshold was exceeded so as to pull the part of the trainee'"'"'s body to return within the deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

34. The method according to claim 1, wherein said combination of vibration elements provide force on an opposite side of the part of the trainee'"'"'s body where the deviation threshold was exceeded so as to push the part of the trainee'"'"'s body to return within the deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

18. A device for implementing a training method, said device comprising:

sensors for digitizing a movement of a trainee to obtain a digitized movement; and

a computer for comparing the obtained digitized movement with a digitized pattern of a reference movement;

wherein thermal elements are used for simultaneously applying different levels of heat to a single body part of the trainee for specifying the direction that the single body part must move to return to within a deviation corridor specified for the digitized pattern of the reference movement.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein optical sensors are used for movement digitizing.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein mechanical sensors are used for movement digitizing.

21. The device according to claim 18, wherein magnetic sensors are used for movement digitizing.

22. The device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of micromechanical accelerometers and micromechanical gyroscopes-based sensors are used for movement digitizing.

23. The device according to claim 18, wherein optical fiber-based sensors are used for movement digitizing.

24. The device according to claim 18, wherein Doppler effect-using sensors are used for movement digitizing.

25. The device according to claim 18, wherein sensors using a time of wave travel from a point with known coordinates to the sensor to set the coordinates of body parts are used for movement digitizing.

26. The device according to claim 18, wherein a combination of optical, mechanical, magnetic sensors, micromechanical accelerometers, micromechanical gyroscopes-based sensors, optical fiber-based sensors, sensors using Doppler effect for setting coordinates, or time of signal travel from a source with known coordinates to the sensor is used for movement digitizing.

27. The device according to claim 18, wherein mechanisms that apply pressure to the body parts of the trainee are used for applying different levels of pressure for specifying the direction that the body parts of the trainee must move to return to within a deviation corridor specified for the digitized pattern of the reference movement.

28. The device according to claim 18, wherein one or more tactile elements are used for each part of the trainee'"'"'s body.

29. The device according to claim 18, wherein the device elements are connected by a wired data bus line.

30. The device according to claim 18, wherein the device elements are connected by a wireless data bus line.

31. The device according to claim 18, wherein said device is capable of digitizing the movement on one device and promptly transmitting the digitized movement to another similar device as a reference movement.

32. The device according to claim 18, wherein said device comprises a communication with a computer allowing synchronizing of the movements and their rate specified on a computer monitor and a reference movement pattern in the device.

35. The device according to claim 18, wherein said thermal elements provide force on a side of the part of the trainee'"'"'s body where the deviation threshold was exceeded so as to pull the part of the trainee'"'"'s body to return within the deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

36. The device according to claim 18, wherein said thermal elements provide force on an opposite side of the part of the trainee'"'"'s body where the deviation threshold was exceeded so as to push the part of the trainee'"'"'s body to return within the deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

37. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a combination of vibration elements that apply simultaneously different levels of force for specifying the direction that one or more body parts of the trainee must move in to return to within a deviation corridor specified for the digitized pattern of the reference movement, wherein the one or more body parts are different from the single body part that different levels of heat from the thermal elements are applied to.

38. A device for implementing a training method, said device comprising:

sensors for digitizing a movement of a trainee to obtain a digitized movement; and

a computer for comparing the obtained digitized movement with a digitized pattern of a reference movement;

wherein electric current discharges are used for simultaneously applying different levels of electric current to a single body part of the trainee for specifying the direction that the single body part must move to return to within a deviation corridor specified for the digitized pattern of the reference movement.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein optical sensors are used for movement digitizing.

40. The device according to claim 38, wherein mechanical sensors are used for movement digitizing.

41. The device according to claim 38, wherein magnetic sensors are used for movement digitizing.

42. The device according to claim 38, wherein at least one of micromechanical accelerometers and micromechanical gyroscopes-based sensors are used for movement digitizing.

43. The device according to claim 38, wherein optical fiber-based sensors are used for movement digitizing.

44. The device according to claim 38, wherein Doppler effect-using sensors are used for movement digitizing.

45. The device according to claim 38, wherein sensors using a time of wave travel from a point with known coordinates to the sensor to set the coordinates of body parts are used for movement digitizing.

46. The device according to claim 38, wherein a combination of optical, mechanical, magnetic sensors, micromechanical accelerometers, micromechanical gyroscopes-based sensors, optical fiber-based sensors, sensors using Doppler effect for setting coordinates, or time of signal travel from a source with known coordinates to the sensor is used for movement digitizing.

47. The device according to claim 38, wherein mechanisms that apply pressure to the body parts of the trainee are used for applying different levels of pressure for specifying the direction that the body parts of the trainee must move to return to within a deviation corridor specified for the digitized pattern of the reference movement.

48. The device according to claim 38, wherein one or more tactile elements are used for each part of the trainee'"'"'s body.

49. The device according to claim 38, wherein the device elements are connected by a wired data bus line.

50. The device according to claim 38, wherein the device elements are connected by a wireless data bus line.

51. The device according to claim 38, wherein said device is capable of digitizing the movement on one device and promptly transmitting the digitized movement to another similar device as a reference movement.

52. The device according to claim 38, wherein said device comprises a communication with a computer allowing synchronizing of the movements and their rate specified on a computer monitor and a reference movement pattern in the device.

53. The device according to claim 38, wherein said electric current discharges provide force on a side of the part of the trainee'"'"'s body where the deviation threshold was exceeded so as to pull the part of the trainee'"'"'s body to return within the deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

54. The device according to claim 38, wherein said electric current discharges provide force on an opposite side of the part of the trainee'"'"'s body where the deviation threshold was exceeded so as to push the part of the trainee'"'"'s body to return within the deviation operation threshold of the deviation corridor.

55. The device according to claim 38, further comprising a combination of vibration elements that apply simultaneously different levels of force for specifying the direction that one or more body parts of the trainee must move in to return to within a deviation corridor specified for the digitized pattern of the reference movement, wherein the one or more body parts are different from the single body part that different levels of electric current from the electric current discharges are applied to.