# US 11,896,115 B2 · Biomechanical sensing system using wirelessly locatable tags

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,896,115 B2
- Document ID: US11896115B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/478,803
- Filed: 2021-09-17
- Published: 2022-01-06
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-17
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Erik G. de Jong; Colin M. Ely; Erik L. Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896115B2

## CPC

- A45F 5/00: Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A45C 13/001: {Accessories}
- A45C 13/18: Devices to prevent theft or loss of {purses,} luggage or {hand carried} bags
- A45C 13/185: {of purses, money-bags or wallets}
- A45C 13/20: Chains or bands {(A45C13/185 takes precedence)}
- A45C 13/24: Devices for sound-producing, piercing, gas-discharging, or the like
- A45C 13/30: Straps; Bands
- A45C 13/42: Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
- A45F 5/004: {with an automatic spring reel}
- A45F 5/021: {to the belt}
- A45F 5/155: {Holders or carriers for thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards}
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/1116: {Determining posture transitions}
- A61B 5/4561: {Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature (A61B5/1116 takes precedence)}
- E05B 73/0005: {using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006)}
- G01S 5/0036: {of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station}
- G01S 5/0226: {Transmitters}
- G04G 21/04: using radio waves (radio-controlled time-pieces G04R)
- G04G 21/08: Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- G06F 1/1694: {the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G06F 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
- G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device}
- G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
- G06F 3/044: by capacitive means
- G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer}
- G06K 7/10396: {the interrogation device being wearable, e.g. as a glove, bracelet, or ring (wearable aerials in general H01Q1/27)}
- G06K 19/0701: {at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management}
- G06K 19/0702: {the arrangement including a battery}
- G06K 19/0708: {the source being electromagnetic or magnetic}
- G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs}
- G06K 19/07711: {the interface being an audio interface}
- G06K 19/07758: {arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag}
- G06K 19/07766: {comprising at least a second communication arrangement in addition to a first non-contact communication arrangement}
- G06K 19/07773: {Antenna details (antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22)}
- G06K 19/07779: {the inductive antenna being a coil}
- G06T 13/40: of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
- H01M 50/109: of button or coin shape
- H01M 50/184: characterised by their shape or structure
- H01Q 1/12: Supports; Mounting means
- H01Q 1/2208: {associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00)}
- H01Q 1/2225: {used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal}
- H01Q 1/2291: {used in Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] (H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W)}
- H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals}
- H01Q 5/25: Ultra-wideband [UWB] systems, e.g. multiple resonance systems; Pulse systems
- H01Q 5/378: Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
- H01Q 7/00: Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
- H01Q 9/42: with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
- H01R 4/28: Clamped connections, spring connections (made by means of terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits H01R12/00)
- H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
- H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer
- H04L 9/0825: {using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates}
- H04L 9/16: the keys or algorithms being changed during operation
- H04L 9/30: Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
- H04M 1/02: Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M 1/21: Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
- H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075})
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F)
- H04R 7/02: characterised by the construction
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 12/02: Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
- H04W 12/03: Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
- H04W 12/33: using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
- H04W 12/63: Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
- A45C 2011/188: {Media card holders, e.g. memory cards, SIM cards}
- A45C 2013/306: {for attaching auxiliary articles to luggage, e.g. piggyback}
- A45F 5/1508: {Holders or carriers for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or digital music players}
- A45F 2005/006: {comprising a suspension strap or lanyard}
- A45F 2005/008: {Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg}
- 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}
- G01S 5/0231: {Emergency, distress or locator beacons}
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- H01Q 21/06: Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
- H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)}
- H04B 1/717: Pulse-related aspects
- H04L 2209/80: Wireless
- H04R 2400/03: Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G04G: ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A posture-monitoring system for monitoring a body posture of a user includes an array of wirelessly locatable tags, including a first tag configured to be positioned along a first shoulder region of the user and having a first battery and a first wireless circuit configured to transmit a first locating signal, a second tag configured to be positioned along a second shoulder region of the user and having a second battery and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit a second locating signal, and a third tag configured to be positioned along a back region of the user and having a third battery and a third wireless circuit configured to transmit a third locating signal. The posture-monitoring system further includes a portable electronic device including a processing unit and a wireless circuit operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the first, second, and third locating signals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A posture-monitoring system for monitoring a body posture of a user, the posture-monitoring system comprising:
an array of wirelessly locatable tags, comprising:
a first wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a first shoulder region of the user and having a first battery and a first wireless circuit configured to transmit a first locating signal;
a second wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a second shoulder region of the user and having a second battery and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit a second locating signal; and
a third wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a back region of the user and having a third battery and a third wireless circuit configured to transmit a third locating signal; and
a portable electronic device comprising:
a processing unit; and
a wireless circuit operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the first, second, and third locating signals, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine:
a first distance between the first wirelessly locatable tag and the portable electronic device based at least in part on the first locating signal;
a second distance between the second wirelessly locatable tag and the portable electronic device based at least in part on the second locating signal;
a third distance between the third wirelessly locatable tag and the portable electronic device based at least in part on the third locating signal; and
a characteristic of the body posture of the user using the first, second, and third distances.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:
the characteristic of a body position includes one or more of: a twist, a bend, or a tilt of the user's back; and
the first wirelessly locatable tag of the array of wirelessly locatable tags further comprises:
an enclosure having an upper housing component defining an upper surface of a respective wirelessly locatable tag and a lower housing component coupled to the upper housing component, the lower housing component is removable to provide access to the respective battery;
an antenna frame positioned below the upper housing component and having an antenna of the first wireless circuit; and
an electromagnetic coil positioned between the upper housing component and the antenna frame, the electromagnetic coil configured to move the upper housing component to produce an audio output.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein: the portable electronic device is a mobile phone;
the first locating signal includes first location data that include the first distance;
the second locating signal includes second location data that include the second distance; and
the third locating signal includes third location data that include the third distance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 3, wherein:
the first location data, the second location data, and the third location data are monitored over a series of time intervals; and
the processing unit of the mobile phone is configured to determine an activity type based on one or more of: the first location data, the second location data, or the third location data monitored over the series of time intervals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 4, wherein:
the processing unit is configured to identify an athletic move; and
the processing unit is further configured to count a number of repetitions of the athletic move.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine one or more of an upper back tilt, a lower back tilt, or a lower back bend using the first location data, the second location data, and the third location data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:
the third wirelessly locatable tag is configured to be positioned along a middle back region of the user; and
the posture-monitoring system further comprises a fourth wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a lumbar region of the user that is below the third wirelessly locatable tag.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine one or more of: an upper back twist, a lower back twist, a hip twist, or a lower back tilt using the first, second, third, and fourth wirelessly locatable tags.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The posture-monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device determines the first distance based at least in part on a time of arrival analysis of the first locating signal.

### Claim 10

A computer-implemented method for monitoring a body position of a user, the method comprising:
receiving, at an electronic device, a first wireless signal of a first wirelessly locatable tag that is positioned along a first region of a back of the user, the first wirelessly locatable tag having a first wireless circuit configured to transmit the first wireless signal;
determining a first distance from the electronic device to the first wirelessly locatable tag based at least in part on the first wireless signal;
receiving, at the electronic device, a second wireless signal of a second wirelessly locatable tag that is positioned along a second region of a back of the user, the second wirelessly locatable tag having a second wireless circuit configured to transmit the second wireless signal;
determining a second distance from the electronic device to the second wirelessly locatable tag based at least in part on the second wireless signal;
receiving, at the electronic device, a third wireless signal of a third wirelessly locatable tag that is positioned along a third region of a back of the user, the third wirelessly locatable tag having a third wireless circuit configured to transmit the third wireless signal;
determining a third distance from the electronic device to the third wirelessly locatable tag based at least in part on the third wireless signal; and
determining a characteristic of the body position of the user using the first, second, and third distances.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining if the user is moving or in a static position; and
in accordance with a determination that the user is in a static position, recording the characteristic of the body position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the body position includes one or more of: a twist, a bend, or a tilt of the user's back.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the body position includes one or more of an upper back tilt, a lower back tilt, or a lower back bend.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein:
the first region of the back of the user corresponds to a left shoulder region of the user;
the second region of the back of the user corresponds to a right shoulder region of the user;
the first wirelessly locatable tag further comprises a first magnetometer that produces a first orientation output;
the second wirelessly locatable tag further comprises a second magnetometer that produces a second orientation output; and
the method further comprises determining a shoulder twist based on the first distance, the second distance, the first orientation output, and the second orientation output.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein:
the first, second, and third wireless signals are UWB pulse signals; and
the computer-implemented method further comprises:
determining a set of position measurements over a series of time intervals using the UWB pulse signals; and
determining an activity type based on the set of position measurements.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:
computing an avatar animation based on the set of position measurements; and
causing a display of the avatar animation on a display of an electronic device, the avatar animation having movement that corresponds to a movement of the user.

### Claim 17

A system for monitoring a body position of a user, the system comprising:
a host device having a device wireless circuit;
a set of wirelessly locatable tags configured to be positioned along a body of the user, the set of wirelessly locatable tags comprising:
a first wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a first region of a back of the user and having a first battery and a first tag wireless circuit configured to transmit a first locating signal to the host device;
a second wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a second region of the back of the user and having a second battery and a second tag wireless circuit configured to transmit a second locating signal to the host device; and
a third wirelessly locatable tag configured to be positioned along a third region of the back of the user and having a third battery and a third wireless circuit configured to transmit a third locating signal to the host device each wirelessly locatable tag of the set of wirelessly locatable tags comprising:
a tag wireless circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals to and from the device wireless circuit; and
a battery operably coupled to the tag wireless circuit, wherein the system is configured to:
determine a first distance between the first wirelessly locatable tag of the set of wirelessly locatable tags and the host device by measuring a first transmission duration for the first locating signal transmitted between the host device and the first wirelessly locatable tag;
determine a second distance between the second wirelessly locatable tag of the set of wirelessly locatable tags and the host device by measuring a second transmission duration for the second locating signal transmitted between the host device and the second wirelessly locatable tag;
determine a third distance between the third wirelessly locatable tag of the set of wirelessly locatable tags and the host device by measuring a third transmission duration for the third locating signal transmitted between the host device and the third wirelessly locatable tag;
compute a position of a computer-generated avatar using the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance; and
cause a display the computer-generated avatar in the computed position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein:
the system is configured to determine a relative position of each wirelessly locatable tag;
the system is configured to compare the relative position of each wirelessly locatable tag with a nominal position; and
the system is configured to cause a display of a graphical output on the host device, the graphical output based, at least in part, on the comparison between the relative position and the nominal position of at least one of the wirelessly locatable tags.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein:
the system is further configured to determine a set of distances for each wirelessly locatable tag over a series of time intervals; and
the system is configured to compute an animation of the computer-generated avatar based on the set of distances; and
the system is configured to cause a display of the animation on a display of the host device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the system further comprises a display device that is configured to display the computer-generated avatar in the computed position.