US 6,032,530 A · Biofeedback system for sensing body motion and flexure

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring key components of body movement and flexure during kinetic activities, and providing intuitive, audible, real time biofeedback to the user. The system uses one or more transducers of types that are directionally sensitive to motion, distance, velocity, and the like, or sensitive to flexure of body joints, at frequencies and magnitudes consistent with human physical activities. Universal appliances aid in the ready emplacement of transducers at user selected points on the body, with user selected orientation. Transducers are connected by wires or wireless means to a small, battery powered signal processor and biofeedback module worn by the user. Individual or integrated transducer outputs are processed to obtain the selected parameter, such as speed of rotation or degree of flexure, and measured against a multistep scale of preferably 3 to 5 steps calibrated to the range of interest and separated by perceptible difference in value. Each step triggers a respective audio tone, each successive tone preferably separated by 1/3 to 1/1 octave in pitch, the highest pitched tone triggered being held for preferably 0.1 to 0.3 seconds. Additional outputs in other forms may be provided for accessory presentation or recording devices. Sports training for improved form, such as for golf and tennis, and medical monitoring applications, including injury avoidance and rehabilitation, are among its uses.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring a user selected kinetic activity at user selected points on the body and generating immediate biofeedback information to the user, comprising:

means for emplacing transducers at the user selected points on the body,
a signal processing circuit for processing of inputs from said transducers, said circuit having a signal measurement value step scale of 2 to 10 consecutive steps, preferably 3 to 5 steps, each successive step having a corresponding audio tone, each successive tone being 1/3 to 1/1 octave higher in pitch than the preceding tone,
an audio tone generator circuit for generating said audio tones,
means for calibrating said step scale to the range of kinetic activity value to be recognized,
at least one motion sensing transducer, said motion sensing transducer having a connection to said signal processing circuit, said processing of inputs further comprising comparing the result to said step scale value during a cycle of said kinetic activity, the occurrence of a said result equaling a step value causing the generation of said corresponding audio tone,
means for maintaining the highest pitch of any said audio tone occurring within said cycle of said kinetic activity for at least 0.1 seconds.

3 more elements

A system for monitoring user selected kinetic activity at user selected points on the body and generating immediate biofeedback information to the user, comprising:

means for emplacing transducers at said user selected points on the body, said means for emplacing transducers comprising a series of appliances in a range of sizes, said appliances attachable to body members and joints and having multiple, cooperative means for accepting user selected emplacements of said transducers, location of each said means on an appliance being coded for reference and repeatability,
a signal processing circuit for processing of inputs from said transducers, said circuit having a signal measurement value step scale of 2 to 10 consecutive steps, preferably 3 to 5 steps, each successive step having a corresponding audio tone, each successive tone being 1/3 to 1/1 octave higher in pitch than the preceding tone,
an audio tone generator circuit for generating said audio tones,
means for calibrating said step scale to the range of kinetic activity value to be recognized,
at least one motion sensing transducer, said motion sensing transducer having a connection to said signal processing circuit, said processing of inputs further comprising comparing the result to said step scale value during a cycle of said kinetic activity, the occurrence of a said result equaling a step value causing the generation of said corresponding audio tone,
means for maintaining the highest pitch of any said audio tone occurring within said cycle of said kinetic activity for at least 0.1 seconds.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Biofeedback system for sensing body motion and flexure

Life of this patent

Biofeedback system for sensing body motion and flexure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15