Wireless motion sensor system and method

• US 9,900,669 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pierre A. Touma
• Original Assignee: Pierre Touma
• Inventors: Touma, Pierre A., Murr, Hadi, Bachaalani, Elias, Maalouf, Imad
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US15/070,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20170272842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• 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 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A wireless motion sensor system comprising a wearable inertial measurement unit, a wireless signal relay unit, and a data analysis server can be used in low power sensing and control applications, such as continuous monitoring and recording of motion and other parameters before, during, and after the occurrence of an unpredictable event. Data from the inertial measurement unit could be analyzed and presented on a graphical presentation unit.

Claims

1. A motion analysis system comprising a wearable measurement unit, a signal relay unit, and a data analysis server, wherein:

the system is configured for displaying and controlling a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional display;

the wearable measurement unit comprises;

a user wearable glove;

a first orientation sensor located on the glove comprising an accelerometer that generates a tilt signal relative to a gravitational vector wherein;

the title signal is measured as a response to the projection of static gravity on the tilted accelerometer; and

the tilt signal comprises a pitch signal and a roll signal where pitch and roll are rotations about two perpendicular axes orthogonal to the gravitational vector;

a linear input device responsive to an input from the user wherein the linear input element generates a linear input signal having a magnitude proportional to the user input;

a processor responsive to the accelerometer pitch and roll signals from the first orientation sensor and the linear input signal; and

a measurement unit communication module configured for transmitting a wireless signal responsive to the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal using a technology selected from the group of Bluetooth and WiFi;

the signal relay unit comprises;

a relay unit communication module configured for receiving the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal from the measurement unit communication module; and

the data analysis server comprises;

a data analysis module configured for receiving the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal from the relay unit;

a data storage module responsive to the relay unit signal;

and

a graphical data presentation module responsive to the data analysis module wherein;

the graphical data presentation module is configured for displaying a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional display in response to the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal; and

the graphical data presentation module presents the 3-dimensional object on the 2-dimensional display using a mathematical representation of the 3-dimensional space using spherical coordinates, the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system further comprises a remote device selected from the group of an unmanned vehicle, a robotic arm, a toy, a camera, and a scalpel; and

the remote device is responsive to the first orientation sensor in the glove.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the linear input device comprises a device selected from the group of the glove, a button, a trigger, a sliding element, a switch, a touch pad, and a scroll wheel;

the signal relay unit comprises an electronic circuit that converts computed data into communication protocols; and

the data analysis unit comprises a computer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the 3-dimensional object on the 2-dimensional display is a vectorial cursor comprising;

a vector length responsive to the linear input signal;

a first spherical coordinate angle responsive to the pitch signal; and

a second spherical coordinate angle responsive to the roll signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the glove further comprises a haptic feedback element responsive to a signal selected from the group of the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein:

the glove with haptic feedback is used to control and interact with 3D game objects in a virtual 3D game environment on the display.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system is used in a sports application.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the sports environment is a sports electronic gaming environment.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the sports environment is a virtual reality sports environment.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the 2-dimensional display is configured for presenting a virtual reality 3-dimensional environment.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system further comprises a second 2-dimensional display to provide a stereoscopic view of the 3-dimensional object.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the system is configured for generating a yaw dimension signal without the use of a gyroscope and without the use of a magnetometer by performing a field of view rotation through a manipulation of the graphical perspective on the display in response to a pair of control elements.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the glove is used in a military simulation application.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the glove is used in an industrial simulation application.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the glove is used in an application selected from the group of computer-aided design, molecular chemistry, and bio-informatics.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the glove is used to control a virtual scalpel on the display;

the wireless signal is a Wi-Fi signal; and

the glove is powered by a solar cell.

3. A wireless motion sensor system comprising a measurement unit, a signal relay unit, and a data analysis unit, wherein:

the system is configured for displaying and controlling a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional display;

the measurement unit comprises;

a user wearable glove;

a first orientation sensor comprising an accelerometer that generates a tilt signal relative to a gravitational vector wherein;

the title signal is measured as a response to the projection of static gravity on the tilted accelerometer; and

the tilt signal comprises a pitch signal and a roll signal where pitch and roll are rotations about two perpendicular axes orthogonal to the gravitational vector;

a linear input device responsive to an input from the user wherein the linear input element generates a signal having a magnitude proportional to the user input;

a measurement unit processor responsive to the accelerometer pitch and roll signals from the first orientation sensor and the linear input signal; and

a measurement unit communication module configured for transmitting a wireless signal responsive to the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal;

the signal relay unit comprises;

a communication unit configured for receiving the wireless signal responsive to the the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal from the measurement unit;

and

the data analysis server comprises;

a data analysis module configured for receiving the signal from the signal relay unit;

a data storage module;

and

a graphical data presentation module responsive to the data analysis module wherein;

the graphical data presentation module is configured for displaying a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional display in response to the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal;

the graphical data presentation module presents the 3-dimensional object on the 2-dimensional display using a mathematical representation of the 3-dimensional space using spherical coordinates, the pitch signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal.

19. The system of claim 3 wherein:

the linear input device comprises a device selected from the group of the glove, a button, a trigger, a sliding element, a switch, a touch pad, and a scroll wheel;

the signal relay unit comprises an electronic circuit that converts computed data into communication protocols; and

the data analysis unit comprises a computer.

4. A method for wireless communication of sensed motion information for the display and control of a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional display comprising the steps of:

establishing an inertial measurement unit comprising;

a glove that comprises an orientation sensor comprising an accelerometer;

a linear input device responsive to a user input;

a processor responsive to the orientation sensor and the linear input device; and

a transmitter configured for transmitting a wireless signal responsive to the orientation sensor and the linear input device;

establishing a wireless signal relay unit comprising;

a receiver configured for receiving the wireless signal from the transmitter of the inertial measurement unit;

establishing a data analysis server comprising;

a data storage module;

a data analysis module; and

a graphical data presentation module;

generating a tilt signal on the orientation sensor accelerometer wherein;

the tilt signal is measured as a response to the projection of static gravity on the tilted accelerometer; and

the tilt signal comprises a pitch signal and a roll signal where pitch and roll are rotations about two perpedicular axes orthogonal to the gravitational vector;

generating a linear input signal wherein the magnitude of the linear input signal is proportional to input from a user;

transmitting the wireless signal from the the wearable inertial measurement unit to the data analysis server wherein the wireless signal is responsive to the tilt signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal;

presenting a 3-dimensional object on a 2-dimensional display wherein;

the three-dimensional object is responsive to the wireless signal that has been transmitted to the data analysis server; and

presenting the 3-dimensional object further comprises a mathematical representation of the 3-dimensional object using spherical coordinates, the tilt signal, the roll signal, and the linear input signal.

20. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the linear input device comprises a device selected from the group of the glove, a button, a trigger, a sliding element, a switch, a touch pad, and a scroll wheel;

the signal relay unit comprises an electronic circuit that converts computed data into communication protocols; and

the data analysis unit comprises a computer.