Patent Grant
7379842
The present invention relates to the determining of time-of-flight of an object, and more particularly, to mechanisms for detecting and calculating the “hang-time” associated with a moving and jumping object.
Accelerometers have found real-time applications in controlling and monitoring military and aerospace systems. For example, the basis of many modern inertial guidance systems is an arrangement that comprises three mutually perpendicular accelerometers, which can measure forces in any direction in space, coupled with three gyroscopes, also with mutually perpendicular axes, which constitute an independent frame of reference. An accelerometer measures acceleration or, more particularly, the rate at which the velocity of an object is changing. Because acceleration cannot be measured directly, an accelerometer measures the force exerted by restraints that are placed on a reference mass to hold its position fixed in an accelerating body (such as, for example, a suspended mass secured by springs within a housing). As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, acceleration is generally computed using the relationship between restraint force and acceleration given by Newton's second law: force=mass×acceleration.
The output of an accelerometer is generally in the form of a varying electrical voltage. As an object (attached to an accelerometer) accelerates, inertia causes the reference to lag behind as its housing moves ahead (accelerates with the object). The displacement of the suspended mass within its housing is proportional to the acceleration of the object. This displacement may be converted to an electrical output signal by a pointer (fixed to the mass), for example, moving over the surface of a potentiometer. Because the current supplied to the potentiometer remains constant, the movement of the pointer causes the output voltage to vary directly with the acceleration.
Specially designed accelerometers have been used in applications as varied as control of industrial vibration test equipment, detection of earthquakes (seismographs), and input to navigational an inertial guidance systems. The design differences are, primarily concerned with the method used to convert an accelerometer's output signal to an appropriate acceleration reading. In this regard an accelerometer's output may have two components: an output signal that is proportional to the force exerted by Earth's gravity at or near the surface of the earth (i.e., static acceleration), and another output signal that is proportional to the force exerted by shocks or vibrations (i.e., dynamic acceleration). Depending on the application, a signal-conditioning circuit may be required. With the advent of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies, the size and costs of accelerometers have been greatly reduced.
Recently, accelerometers have been used to detect the amount of time spent off the ground by a person during a sporting movement such as, for example, skiing, snowboarding, and biking. Exemplary in this regard are the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,636,146, 5,960,380, 6,496,787, 6,499,000, and 6,516,284. All of these closely related patent documents disclose, among other things, accelerometer-based apparatuses that are configured to sense vibrations (i.e., dynamic acceleration), particularly the vibrations experienced by a ski, snowboard, and/or bike that moves along a surface (e.g., a ski slope or mountain bike trial). In these systems, the voltage output signal from the accelerometer(s) provides a vibrational spectrum over time, and the amount of hang-time is ascertained by performing calculations on that spectrum. In particular, the vibrational spectrum sensed by these prior art devices are generally highly erratic and random, corresponding to the randomness of the surface underneath the ski, snowboard, and/or bike (as the case may be). During the period of time when the ski, snowboard, or bike is off the surface (i.e., during a “hang-time” event), however, the vibrational spectrum becomes relatively smooth because there are no longer any underlying vibrations impacting on the accelerometer(s). A microprocessor subsystem is then used to evaluate the vibrational spectrum and determine the approximate hang-tune from the duration of the relatively smooth portion sandwiched between two highly erratic and random vibrational spectrum portions. Because the condition of standing still (i.e., little or no movement) also results in a relatively smooth vibrational spectrum, these prior art devices require complicated timing methods to ensure that accurate results are displayed. In other words, the prior art devices have difficulty in accurately distinguishing between the conditions of standing still and experiencing hang-time.
Accordingly, there is still a need in the art for new and improved mechanisms for determining the time-of-flight or hang-time of a moving and jumping object such as, for example, a skier, snowboarder, skater, biker, or jumper. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides for further related advantages.
The drawings are intended to be illustrative and symbolic representations of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention and as such they are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In brief, the present invention is directed to mechanisms for detecting, calculating, and displaying the time-of-flight or hang-time of a moving and jumping object such as, for example, a skier or snowboarder by using, in novel ways, one or more accelerometers secured within a small wearable device. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device for determining an approximate time-of-flight of an object that moves, jumps, and lands along a surface of the earth. The object has a static acceleration of (i) about 1 g when the object is contacting or on the surface, and (ii) about 0 g when the object is not contacting or off the surface. In this embodiment, the device comprises: a housing; one or more accelerometers within the housing, the one or more accelerometers being configured to detect the linear or static acceleration of the object over at least first, second, and third periods of time as the object respectively moves, jumps in at least first, second, and third trajectories, and lands at least first, second, and third times along the surface thereby defining at least respective first, second, and third time-of-flight events, the one or more accelerometers being further configured to transmit at least first, second, and third accelerometer output electrical (voltage) signals that corresponds to the static acceleration of the object during the first, second, and third time-of-flight events; a microprocessor in electrical communication with the one or more accelerometers, the microprocessor being configured to calculate the approximate time-of-flight of the object during the first, second and third time-of-flight events from the first, second, and third accelerometer output electrical signals respectively, the microprocessor being further configured to transmit at least first, second, and third microprocessor output electrical signals that correspond to the calculated approximate time-of-flights of the object during the first, second, and third time-of-flight events; and a display screen in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the display screen being configured to display in a readable format the approximate time-of-flights associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events.
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for determining approximate time-of-flights of a skier or snowboarder that moves, jumps, and lands a plurality of times along a surface of a ski slope. The skier or snowboarder has a linear or static acceleration of (i) about 1 g when the skier or snowboarder is contacting or on the surface, and (ii) about 0 g when the skier or snowboarder is not contacting or off the surface. In this embodiment, the method comprises at least the following steps: detecting by use of one or more accelerometers the static acceleration of the skier or snowboarder over a first period of time as the skier or snowboarder moves, jumps in a first trajectory, and then lands for a first time along the surface thereby defining a first time-of-flight event; calculating from the detected static acceleration over the first period of time the approximate time-of-flight of the skier or snowboarder; detecting the static acceleration of the skier or snowboarder over a second period of time as the skier or snowboarder moves, jumps in a second trajectory, and then lands for a second time along the surface thereby defining a second time-of-flight event; calculating from the detected static acceleration over the second period of time the approximate time-of-flight of the skier or snowboarder; comparing the calculated approximate time-of-flights of the skier or snowboarder over the first and second period of times to determine the (i) cumulative time-of-flight, and (ii) the time-of-flight; and displaying on a display screen the (i) cumulative time-of-flight, and (ii) best time-of-flight.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become more evident upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings. It is to be understood, however, that various changes, alterations, and substitutions may be made to the specific embodiments disclosed herein without departing from their essential spirit and scope. In addition, it is to be further understood that the drawings are intended to be illustrative and symbolic representations of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention and as such they are not necessarily drawn to scale. Finally, it is expressly provided that all of the various references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
As noted above, the present invention is directed to mechanisms for detecting, calculating, and displaying the time-of-flight(s) or hang-time(s) of a moving and jumping object such as, for example, a skier or snowboarder by using, in novel ways, one or more accelerometers secured within a small wearable device. As used herein, the terms time-of-flight and hang-time are synonymous and simply refer to the amount or period of time that a selected object is not contacting or off a surface of the earth. Thus, and in one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an accelerometer-based device for determining approximate time-of-flights of hang-times of a skier or snowboarder who moves, jumps, and lands a plurality of times along a surface of a ski slope. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, a skier or snowboarder will experience a static acceleration of (i) about 1 g when the skier or snowboarder is contacting or on the surface, and (ii) about 0 g when the skier or snowboarder is not contacting or off the surface because he or she has projected off a jump.
More specifically, the time-of-flight or hang-time of a skier or snowboarder may be determined in accordance with the present invention by generating a static acceleration profile (one or more accelerometer output signals) over a period of time that includes at least one moving, jumping, and landing event; and then appropriately analyzing the static acceleration profile.
Alternatively, a first and second dual axis accelerometer can be configured to detect a first, second, and third static acceleration component of the object along three mutually perpendicular axes defined as an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis respectively. In such a scenario, a static acceleration of an object over a period of time would be equal to the vector sum of the first, second and third static, acceleration components.
Thus, and in view of the foregoing and with reference to
In accordance with the present invention, the one or more accelerometers 14 are generally configured to detect the static acceleration over at least first, second, and third periods of time as the skier, snowboarder, skater, biker, or jumper (not shown) respectively moves, jumps in at least first, second and third trajectories, and lands at least first, second, and third times along the surface. In so doing, the skier, snowboarder, skater, biker, or jumper defines at least respective first, second, and third time-of-flight events. The one or more accelerometers 14 are generally further configured to transmit at least first, second, and third accelerometer output electrical signals (not shown) that corresponds to the static acceleration of the skier, snowboarder, skater, biker, or jumper during the first, second, and third time-of-flight events. In addition, the microprocessor 16 is generally configured to calculate the approximate time-of-flight of the skier, snowboarder, skater, biker, or jumper during the first, second, and third time-of-flight events from the first, second, and third accelerometer output electrical signals respectively (which may be pulse width modulated (PWM) signals). The microprocessor 16 is generally further configured to transmit at least first, second, and third microprocessor output electrical (voltage) signals (not shown) that correspond to the calculated approximate time-of-flights of the skier, snowboarder, skater, biker, or jumper during the first, second, and third time-of-flight events.
In this regard, the microprocessor 16 is generally configured (by means of appropriate programming as is appreciated by those skilled in the art) to calculate (i) the cumulative time-of-flight associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events, and (ii) the greatest time-of-flight selected from the first, second, and third time-of-flight events. The microprocessor 16 is also configured to calculate (iii) the average time-of-flight of the first, second, and third time-of-flight events.
The device 10 may further comprise a memory component 20 that is in electrical communication with the microprocessor 16. The memory component 20 is generally configured to store one or more values that correspond to the approximate time-of-flights associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events. Moreover, the-memory component 20 may be configured to store a plurality values that correspond to (i) the approximate time-of-flights associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events (thereby providing a history of different time-of-flights), (ii) the cumulative time-of-flight associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events, and (iii) the greatest time-of-flight selected from the first, second, and third time-of-flight events.
Finally, and as shown, the display screen 18 is in electrical communication with the microprocessor 16. As shown, the display screen 18 is preferably on a face of the housing 12. The display screen 18 is generally configured to display in a readable format the approximate time-of-flights associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events. Exemplary screen shots of several possible output displays of the display screen 18 are provided as
The output displays may be liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), such as monochrome Standard LCD with an electroluminescent backlight. The backlight can be activated when pressing a button and remain active until no buttons are pressed for several seconds. Moreover, as for the layout of the display, as is shown in
Furthermore, the device can not only display these various times, but it can also display other information when it is used in different modes. For example, in hang-timer mode, as mentioned above, a best time, an average time, a total time, a current time, and a history of times can be displayed (additionally, as indicated above, the sensitivity of measuring hang-time can be displayed). In temperature mode, the temperature can be displayed, either in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, with current, low, and high temperatures. In stopwatch mode, the device provides typical features found in a stopwatch, including lap times, set times, counting times, and so on. In clock mode, the device provides typical features found in a clock or watch, including the current time, date, and so on. Finally, in set mode, the device allows the setting of times, months, years, and so on. These five modes discussed above, hang-timer mode, temperature mode, stopwatch mode, clock mode, and set mode, are merely exemplary modes and other equivalent modes are provided by the device which would be apparent to any person skilled in the art.
Just as an example of one particular feature in one particular mode, the sensitivity function in the hang-timer mode allows for the adjustment of sensitivity when measuring hang-time. Thus, if the sensitivity is set on a first level, any hang-times less than 0.1 seconds are ignored. Conversely, if the sensitivity is set on a fifth level, any hang-times less than 2 seconds are ignored. Of course, there are intervening levels between the first and the fifth level, with corresponding time intervals. Furthermore, the 0.1 seconds and 2 seconds values for the first and fifth levels, respectively, are just exemplary, and may be adjusted and set differently depending on the context in which the device is used. For example, the device may have different levels of sensitivity for snowboarding than for mountain biking.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to methods for determining approximate time-of-flights of a skier or snowboarder (as well as a skater, a biker, or a jumper depending on the scenario) who moves, jumps, and lands a plurality of times along a surface. The method of the present invention generally comprises at least the following steps: detecting by use of one or more accelerometers secured within a housing the static acceleration of a skier or snowboarder over a first period of time as the skier or snowboarder moves, jumps in a first trajectory, and lands for a first time along a surface thereby defining a first time-of-flight event; calculating from the detected static acceleration over the first period of time the approximate time-of-flight of the skier or snowboarder during the first time-of-flight event; detecting the static acceleration of the skier or snowboarder over a second period of time as the skier or snowboarder moves, jumps in a second trajectory, and lands for a second time along the surface thereby defining a second time-of-flight event; calculating from the detected static acceleration over the second period of time the approximate time-of-flight of the skier or snowboarder during the second time-of-flight event; comparing the calculated approximate time-of-flights of the skier or snowboarder over the first and second period of times, and determining one or both of (i) the cumulative time-of-flight over the first and second period of times, and (ii) the greater time-of-flight selected between the first and second time-of-flight events. The cumulative and greater time-of-flights may then be displayed on a display screen situated on a face of the device as (i) a first numeric value representative of the cumulative time-of-flight, and (ii) a second numeric value representative of the greater time-of-flight.
In further embodiments of this inventive method, the calculated approximate time-of-flights of the skier or snowboarder over the first and second period of times may be compared so as to determine (iii) the average time-of-flight over the first and second period of times. The average time-of-flight may then be displayed on the display screen as (iii) a third numeric value representative of the average time-of-flight.
In still further embodiments of this inventive method, the static acceleration of the skier or snowboarder over a third period of time is detected as the skier or snowboarder moves, jumps in a third trajectory, and lands for a third time along the surface thereby defining a third time-of-flight event. In this further embodiment, the additional steps comprise at least: calculating from the detected static acceleration over the third period of time the approximate time-of-flight of the skier or snowboarder during the third time-of-flight event; comparing the calculated approximate time-of-flights of the skier or snowboarder over the first, second, and third period of times, and determining (i) the cumulative time-of-flight over the first, second, and third period of times, and (ii) the greatest time-of-flight selected from the first, second, and third time-of-flight events; and displaying on the display screen (i) a fourth numeric value representative of the cumulative time-of-flight, and (ii) a fifth numeric value representative of the greatest time-of-flight. The calculated approximate time-of-flights of the skier or snowboarder over the first, second, and third period of times may then be compared to determine (iii) the average time-of-flight over the first, second, and third period of times. The average time-of-flight may then be displayed on the display screen as (iii) a sixth numeric value representative of the average time-of-flight over the first, second, and third period of times.
In yet another embodiment, computer readable instructions are used for determining the time-of-flight of an object. The computer readable instructions are implemented in any type of device which might benefit from the measuring of time-of-flight, whether the device is a hang-timer device, a cellular phone, or an MP3 player. For example, a cellular phone might employ the computer readable instructions so that vital hardware is protected (shut-off or locked, as may be the case) before the cellular phone drops to the ground. Having the ability to measure changes in static acceleration may be vital in protecting such a device.
Thus, the computer readable instructions may comprise of measuring a first static acceleration and a second static acceleration using an accelerometer, and then computing a first change in magnitude from the first static acceleration to the second static acceleration, where the first change in magnitude corresponds to a take-off event of an object (for example, when the cellular phone falls out of the hands of an individual) and computing a following second change in magnitude from the second static acceleration back to the first static acceleration, where the second change in magnitude corresponds to a landing event of the object (when the cellular phone hits the ground). The same technology may be used to protect MP3 players and all other kinds of devices, whether CD players, gaming devices, and other equivalent electronic devices which may benefit from knowing beforehand when they will hit the ground.
A high level flow chart that depicts certain steps associated with calculating the time-of-flight or hang-time of an object in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention has been provided as
In another embodiment,
While the present invention has been described in the context of the embodiments illustrated and described herein, the invention may be embodied in other specific ways or in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing descriptions and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/646,742, filed Jan. 25, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5636146 | Flentov et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5779576 | Smith et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5960380 | Flentov et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
| 6073086 | Marinelli | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6496787 | Flentov et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6499000 | Flentov et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
| 6516284 | Flentov et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
| 6856934 | Vock et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060167623 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60646742 | Jan 2005 | US |
