Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Dimensional determination
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-21
2003-08-26
Shah, Kamini (Department: 2863)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Dimensional determination
C702S141000, C702S142000, C702S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06611789
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the monitoring of the activity of a user in locomotion on foot.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It is known that useful information may be derived from the measurement of the “foot contact time” (Tc) of a user in locomotion, wherein “foot contact time” refers to the period of time that a foot of a user is in contact with the surface during a stride taken by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot. Once the foot contact time (Tc) of the user is known, other information, such as rate of travel, distance traveled, and ambulatory expended energy may be calculated based upon this measured foot contact time (Tc).
In the past, foot contact time (Tc) has been measured by placing pressure-sensitive sensors or switches, such as resistive sensors, in both the heel and toe portions of the sole of a shoe, and measuring a time difference between a first signal output by the heel sensor (which indicates that the foot has made physical contact with the surface) and a second signal output by the toe sensor (which indicates that the foot has left the surface). These sensors, however, are subjected to a high-impact environment inside of the shoe, and therefore fail frequently. In addition, inaccurate foot contact time (Tc) measurements may result when a user is taking strides during which either the heel sensor or the toe sensor is not activated, for example, when a user is running on his or her toes.
Another device well-known in the art is a pedometer. A pedometer typically is mounted on the waist of a user and is configured to count the footsteps of the user by measuring the number of times the user's body moves up an down during strides taken by the user. A well-known prior art pedometer design uses a weight mounted on a spring to count the number of times that the user's body moves up and down as the user is walking. By properly calibrating the pedometer according to a previously measured stride length of the user, the distance traveled by the user may be measured by this device. These “weight-on-a-spring” pedometers, however, generally cannot measure the distance traveled by a runner because the weight experiences excessive bouncing during running and footsteps are often “double-counted” because of this bouncing, thereby causing the pedometer to produce inaccurate results. These devices therefore cannot be used across different training regimes (e.g., walking, jogging, and running).
Another prior art pedometer device uses an accelerometer to measure the number of times that a user's foot impacts the surface when the user is in locomotion. That is, an accelerometer is mounted on the user's shoe so as to produce a signal having pronounced downward going peaks that are indicative of moments that the user's foot impacts the surface. These devices therefore produce results similar to the prior art weight-on-a-spring pedometer devices in that they merely count the number of footsteps of the user, and must be calibrated according to the stride length of the user in order to calculate the distance traveled by the user. Thus, these accelerometer-based devices are subject to similar limitations as are the weight-on-a-spring devices, and are not capable of measuring the foot contact time (Tc) of a user in locomotion.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a new approach to pedometry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method involves determining at least one calculated parameter based upon at least one determined performance parameter of the user and at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined variable physiological parameter of a user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method involves identifying at least one of an existence of a grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined performance parameter of a user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to identify at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined variable physiological parameter of a user in locomotion on foot on the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor configured to identify at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined performance parameter of the user in locomotion on foot on the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one first sensor that determines at least one performance parameter of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; at least one second sensor that determines at least one variable physiological parameter of the user while the user is in locomotion on foot; and means for determining at least one calculated parameter based upon the at least one determined performance parameter of the user and the at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that determines at least one physiological condition of a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface; and means for identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of the surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon the at least one determined physiological condition of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor that determines at least one performance parameter of a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface; and means for identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of the surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon the at least one determined performance parameter.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining at least one performance parameter of the user; and estimating a value of a variable physiological parameter of the user based upon the determined at least one performance parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface; and (b) with at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, determining at least one performance parameter of the user based upon the identified at least one of an existence of the non-zero grade of the surface and the value of the grade of the surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes steps of: (a) determining at least one altitude of a user; and (b) with at least one device supported by the user while the user is in locomotion on foot, calculating at least one performance parameter of the user based upon the at least one determined altitude of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one sensor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot, that determines at least one performance parameter of the user; and at least one processor that calculates a value of a variable physiological parameter of the user based upon the determined at least one performance parameter of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system includes at least one processor, adapted to be supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot on a surface, that determines at least one performance parameter of the user based upon at least one of an identified existence of a non-zero
Personal Electric Devices, Inc.
Shah Kamini
Vo Hien
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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