SMART SHIN GUARD

The present invention relates to so-called “intelligent” shin guards for measuring and transmitting data.

In the sporting world, both in the professional world (very rich) and in the amateur world, the a posteriori analysis of games makes it possible to quantify subjective feelings which will ultimately improve the performance of the team.

Several players offer complex analysis devices requiring heavy infrastructure or additional player equipment, which are often quite expensive, which means that these devices are only used by very large clubs. These devices include smartwatches, belts (at the waist or around the chest), armbands that carry a smartphone, etc. However, these player-worn analysis devices cause discomfort, which hinders their use and adoption, and most of these devices are not permitted during official matches.

In some types of sports, for example football, baseball, martial arts, hockey, cross, rugby, etc. (and depending on the federation, the level, the age of the players . . . ) each player can wear or must wear a shin guard. Shin guards are protections for the lower leg that are often compulsory in the context of a game and/or training and nowadays generally made of fiberglass, composite materials (of carbon type) plastic or polyurethane.

In addition to its wearing, which is sometimes compulsory, it is ideally located to analyze the performance of the wearer because it is linked to the gestures carried out during the session (game or training), that is to say the control of the ball (in the case of a ball sport), the received blows (in the case of martial arts), etc. By equipping a shin guard with measurement capabilities, it is then possible to offer an analysis device for each player.

Document WO20170178880 describes a shin guard provided with an electronic chip allowing the collection of various data, in particular the traveled distance, the average speed, the power and strike, etc. The chip is shaped as a capsule placed in the inner upper part of the shin guard and protected by a small secure enclave between the hard part and the protective foam of the shin guard and connected to a data processing and display application.

However, the chip can be removed from the enclave, with risk of loss or damage. In addition, the small size of the chip allows the capabilities of battery life, capture and analysis of data, and transfer that data to a processing device.

It would therefore be desirable to achieve these inconveniences.

Embodiments of the invention then relate to an intelligent shin guard comprising the electronic components of a microprocessor, data sensors, a memory, at least one wireless communication interface and a power supply integrated into the body of the shin guard, the wireless communication interface allowing the sending of at least a portion of data captured by the sensors in relation to a sport session.

According to one embodiment, the shin guard further comprises a human-machine interface composed of light-emitting diodes arranged on the upper rim of the shin guard.

According to one embodiment, the shin guard further comprises a connection port for charging the power supply, the port disposed at the bottom of the shin guard and arranged downward.

According to one embodiment, the power supply is of rectangular shape, centrally located between the connection port and the microprocessor.

According to one embodiment, the sensors include motion sensors of the accelerometer, gyrometer, and magnetometer type, and position sensors of the global positioning system type.

According to one embodiment, at least some electronic components are arranged on a flexible printed circuit to match the curved shape of the shin guard.

According to one embodiment, at least some electronic components are arranged on at least two printed circuits to match the curved shape of the shin guard.

According to one embodiment, the shin guard comprises at least two wireless communication interfaces according to different communication protocols, one interface being used for the transfer of some data in real-time during the session, the other interface being used for the transfer of other data after the session.

Embodiments of the invention further relate to a method of capturing and sending data of a sports session, comprising the steps of: wearing by a player, during a sports session, a shin guard according to an embodiment; collecting data concerning the sports session; and sending at least some of the captured data to a data processing and display application.

Embodiments of the invention further relate to a method of receiving and processing data from a sports session, comprising the steps of: receiving, by a data processing and display application, at least some of the captured data relating to a sports session sent by means of a data capture and sending method according to one embodiment; and processing of the received data.

According to one embodiment, the method for receiving and processing further comprises a step of dividing the data into at least two periods for analysis.

Before describing in detail the embodiments of the invention, it is necessary to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the construction details and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and can be practiced and carried out in various ways. Additionally, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposes of description and should not be construed as limiting.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages come within the scope of the present invention.

To achieve the above objectives and associated objects, this invention may be carried out in the form illustrated in the accompanying diagrams, with reference to the fact that the diagrams are illustrative only and that modifications may be made to the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Various other objects, characteristics and advantages associated with the present invention will be understood on reading the accompanying diagrams, in which references designate the same or similar parts in the different views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the electronic components of the shin guard according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded mechanical side view of the shin guard according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the shin guard according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, in particular the profile of the player according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, in particular a selection of the session location according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, in particular the data of a session according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, in particular the data relative to a period of the session, the session having been divided into at least two periods according to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, and

FIG. 9 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, these figures showing in particular the division of data relative to the session into at least two periods according to one embodiment.

It was found that the analysis device must be integrated as much as possible into the existing shin guards, that is to say that it must not lead to external growths on the product, for weight reasons, not to hamper the player, to be integrated into existing products and manufacturing processes, etc.

To this end, electronic components have been integrated into the body of the shin guard, with clever modifications to allow maximum functionality in a small space and subject to mechanical shocks and temperature variances.

The shin guard is susceptible of being hit, either by other players or by an object such as a ball, stick, etc. In addition, it is in contact with the leg, usually under the player's sock, and subject to a humid environment linked to the player's perspiration and a variation in temperature between the outside (between winter and summer) and body temperature. Current shin guards have a typical lifespan of two years.

Ideally, but not necessarily, the intelligent shin guard should be able to record an entire session (hereinafter understood as a training or a match), without having to be recharged. The duration of a match is of the order of two hours, and there must be time between the player's clothing and the end of the session, therefore capable of operating in autonomy of about three hours.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the electronic components of the intelligent shin guard.

The intelligent shin guard 10 includes a microprocessor 11 (CPU), data sensors, specifically motion sensors 12 (CAP) and a position sensor 13 (GPS), a memory 14 (MEM), at least one interface of wireless communication 15 (COM), a man-machine interface 16 (HMI) and a power supply 17 (BAT). In addition, if the power supply 17 is of the recharging type by means of a wire (compared to the inductive load), a connection port 18 (I/O) is linked to the power supply 17, and can also be linked to the microprocessor 11 in order to allow the downloading of data, the installation of functionalities, etc.

The microprocessor 11 allows the acquisition of data by the motion sensors 12 and position 13, their storage in the memory 14, and their communication via the wireless communication interface 15. The microprocessor 11 can perform start-up sequence algorithms or preprocessings. The microprocessor 11 ideally allows multi-interface management, durability, low power operation capacity in standby and in use, the availability of boxes ensuring the required connectivity capacity, support and availability of development tools (download and installation of new features for example).

Motion sensors 12 can include, but are not limited to, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and the three-axis magnetic field.

The position sensor 13 is of the GPS (“Global Positioning System”) type. The use of such sensors is known in the technical field.

Memory 14 has a data storage capacity at least equivalent to battery life. To give an idea only, and without being limited, if the acquisitions of the sensors are made at a frequency of 100 to 200 Hz, and the data is written in blocks of sixteen bytes, i.e. 1600 to 3200 BPS (bytes per second) over a period of four hours, this gives a quantity of data of 46 MB, ie 368 Mb. A memory of 512 Mb is therefore targeted. A dedicated SPI (“Serial Peripheral Interface”) bus can be used to connect the microprocessor 11 to the memory 14.

In order for the smart shin guard 10 to communicate with a data analysis medium (eg, a smart phone or a touch pad), at least one wireless communication interface 15 is provided. Several different wireless communication means are possible depending on the different communication standards or protocols—WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, etc. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, in particular the power consumption, communication distance, and interface size.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication interface 15 is a WiFi module, allowing the transfer of large data packets with an acceptable transfer time.

However, several interfaces can be provided, for example a interface that allows the rapid sending of certain data at all times (the coach wants to follow in real time the distance covered by each player), while another interface such as USB or Bluetooth port allows downloading after the session of other data for more in-depth analysis. Likewise, a communications interface (wireless or wired) may be designated as the primary interface, with the other interface only being activated if the primary interface is no longer functioning.

In one embodiment, the smart shin guard 10 is equipped with a WiFi interface and a Bluetooth interface because connecting a smart phone to a device like the shin guard over WiFi involves switching the phone's network to this interface and then locks the communication capability of the telephone to this single interface. The phone then loses its data connection with the outside world. In addition, the constant power supply of the WiFi interface involves a high consumption. It would then be necessary to reload the shin guard halfway, or swap the shin guard for another. The use of the Bluetooth interface allows a permanent connection and will allow connection to it with a smartphone without the latter losing its own data connection. The Bluetooth interface can therefore be used for an overview of the product status, configuration, and the occasional launch of the WiFi connection.

In the case of the two communication interfaces, an antenna common to the two interfaces is targeted.

The man-machine interface 16 is, in one embodiment, light emitting diodes (also known as LEDs, “Light Emitting Diodes” or LEDs). Preferably, the diodes are arranged at the top of the product, on the upper rim, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the player can easily consult them when looking down. For example, he or she could make sure that the shin guard is always on and picking up data, and see when a call is in progress.

The diodes can then indicate whether the shin guard is on, its charge level, whether it is connected to the network, whether the memory is full, etc.

More preferably, the shin guard does not include a screen-type interface, which could be broken and in any case difficult to consult during a session, and no press buttons either, which can be a source of malfunction. Tap type buttons can be used to turn the shin guard on and off, to trigger data transmission, and any other action.

Instead of “tap” type buttons used to turn the power on and off the shin guard, a procedure can involve the motion 12 and position sensors 13 to define conditions on a position of the intelligent shin guard 10 and on a gesture to be performed to start and stop data recording at the smart shin guard 10. This procedure also includes communicating information from the shin guard to the player to enable him/her to verify the correct stopping and starting of data recording at the intelligent shin guard 10.

In one embodiment, with the smart shin guard 10 in an upright position, with the rim including the diodes facing upward, the effect of a tap on the smart shin guard 10 in said position is detected by the smart shin guard 10 and triggers the continuous lighting of green diodes for 3 seconds followed by flashing for 5 seconds during which the effect of two consecutive taps on the smart shin guard 10 starts data recording.

A tap is the action performed by a hand movement that hits the shin guard with sufficient force to be detected by the motion sensors 12 without damaging the intelligent shin guard 10.

Two consecutive taps are two taps spaced in time within 2 seconds of each other.

In order to stop data recording, with the shin guard in an upright position, the rim including the diodes facing downwards, the effect of two consecutive taps on the intelligent shin guard 10 makes it possible to stop data recording.

During data recording, the loss of the GPS signal causes the green LEDs to flash until the GPS signal is received again.

The blinking of a blue diode indicates the correct functioning of the data recording.

The power supply 17 (battery) is preferably rechargeable, of low weight and small bulk. A Lithium-Polymer type battery can be used and associated with a 17A power management circuit (GES) (PMIC or “Power Management Integrated Circuit”) grouping the functions of charge, charge management, control of LED interfaces if present, gauge, and battery protection. In the case of a rechargeable power supply, a USB C type connector can be included to charge the battery. Preferably, the USB port, in the described embodiment, is the only opening on the outside of the shin guard housing. Preferably, the USB port is arranged downwards, in order to prevent it from being filled by rainwater or sweat. It then involves the implementation of a circuit of identification/recognition linked to the interface.

However, as mentioned above, an inductive charging battery can be used as well, taking into account the battery size, run time, recharge time, etc.

The electrical components described, the mechanical constraints of the shin guard, including total available area, thickness, and curvature of the leg must be taken into account.

Standard shin guards are generally narrower at the bottom and wider at the top, with a length that may vary depending on the size of the player.

The first constraint is therefore the total surface area available for placing the electrical components. The tallest and most bulky components are communication interfaces 15, power supply 17, and port 18. Electromechanical integration studies show that the required surface leads to a need for an incompatible surface (due to the curvature of the leg) with the use of a single PCB (“Printed Circuit Board”) plane, that is, the plane surface is insufficient to receive all the components. The printed circuit could therefore be a “flex” or flexible PCB composed of three portions conforming to the curved shape of the shin guard, or three linked printed circuits. The printed circuit (s) are placed in the upper part of the shin guard to have the largest possible surface and to allow the diodes to illuminate the holes of the indicator lights.

The height and bulk constraint also has an impact on the size of the power supply 17. Electromechanical integration studies show that, at least under current constraints, an elongated rectangular battery placed centrally in the lower part of the shin guard is the best solution.

As indicated above, port 18 is placed at the bottom of the shin guard so as to avoid its “filling” in the rain or the player's perspiration.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the microprocessor 11, the motion sensors 12 and the human-machine interface 16 are arranged on a printed circuit 19-1 in the center, which is the widest thanks to its central position on the player's leg. More specifically, the man-machine interface is arranged at the top center, in order to allow quick consultation by the player, as indicated above. Likewise, the antenna (not shown) of the wireless communication interface 15 is also preferably arranged at the top to facilitate its connection to communication networks.

The position sensor 13 and the wireless communication interface 15 are arranged on a printed circuit 19-2 on one side, narrower, and the memory 14 and the power supply management module 17A are arranged on a circuit board 19-3 on the other side, also narrow. Port 18 is separate from the other components, and located at the bottom center of the shin guard. The power supply 17 is arranged between the port 18 and the microprocessor 11 on the central printed circuit 19-1.

In the event that the wireless communication interface 15 (or one of the at least one wireless communication interfaces 15) is of the WiFi type, it is arranged on the central printed circuit 19-1, because at present, due to the size of this interface, the central part is the only one capable of accepting it. Preferably, the microprocessor 11 is also arranged centrally to reduce the complexity of the links between the components.

The FIG. 2 is an exploded mechanical side view of the shin guard 10. We can notice a rear face 20, generally backed by foam for more comfort, a front face 21 for player protection. The electronic components are arranged between the two faces 20, 21 on the printed circuits 19-1, 19-2, 19-3. Also shown are power supply 17 and port 18, the port at the bottom of the shin guard, and power supply 17 between port 18 and the circuit boards.

The FIG. 3 is a front view of the shin guard 10. We can see the front face 21 which can be personalized according to the wishes of the player and/or the club (with a flag, the name of the club, a photo, etc.). At the top, the location of the diodes 16 is shown, the diodes being arranged on the upper rim (between the front face 21 and the back face 20). Finally, the location of port 18 is shown for the wired connection.

FIGS. 4 to 8 show examples of the analysis application installed on a smartphone which receives data from an associated smart shin guard 10.

The FIG. 4 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, including the player's profile. The player can enter various parameters, for example his first name, his photo or his avatar, his height, his sex, his weight, his position on the sports team, the name of his club, the identifiers of the associated intelligent shin guard, its age, its level (beginner, amateur, professional . . . ), the number of years of practice, the system of units to apply (miles or kilometers for example), and many other elements. In addition, the leg on which the shin guard is installed is also configurable to give more precision. The player may wish to install it on the leg with which he/she shoots most often to have a better follow-up of the number of shots, or on the contrary prefer to install it on the other leg in order to measure the number of shocks suffered for example.

In addition, nothing prevents the use of two smart shin guards 10 (one for each leg) at the same time. This could be useful for estimating the number of shots per leg, determining the dominant leg, checking data against each other—i.e. finding the margin of difference between the data captured by the shin guard installed on the left leg versus that installed on the right leg, etc. In the case of a collective analysis, it is also necessary to equip the legs of each player in order for example to determine the preferential passing circuits.

The application can be combined with several shin guards, for example one for training and one for matches, or one for each player, in case a coach wishes to consult the data of all his players. Session data can be stored depending on the session (date, time, location), and downloaded or transferred as desired.

In addition, other data, for example heart rate, oxygenation of the blood, and respiration rate can be picked up by other devices (or possibly by the shin guard itself), transferred to the smartphone or tablet application, and integrated/associated in the treatment of session data.

The identification or association of a smart shin guard with the app can be done by scanning a barcode or Q code on the shin guard itself or on its packaging, entering a number identification, connection (at least once for the adjustment) by cable, or simply the nearest shin guard.

It is also possible to enter data concerning the location of the session (training or match), for example the name or contact details of the stadium. Some stadiums have different technical parameters, for example the type of surface (grass, tar, etc.), its surface area and its flatness.

The FIG. 5 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, including a selection of session location (stadium, field, parking, etc.). In one embodiment, the player can use his current position to locate himself on a satellite map or photo, such as Google Earth (R). The information concerning the location of the session (its size, its position) can be defined by tracing outlines on the map or photo.

The FIG. 6 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, including session data. We can notice the session indicated by the date, as well as the statistics in relation to the session, in particular the traveled distance, maximum speed, number of hits on the ball, and kicking power.

The FIG. 7 is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, including data relative to a period of the session, the session having been divided into at least two periods. We can notice the data in relation to the first half of the current session.

The FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are views of the application installed on a smartphone, including the division of data relative to the session into at least two periods.

The FIG. 8 shows all data recorded for the session.

The FIG. 9 shows the division of session data into at least two periods, here a first period corresponding to the first half, and a second period corresponding to the second half. The data corresponding to the time periods before training, during breaks, and after training are therefore excluded. This division allows you to compare the player's physical activity between the two periods. For example, maybe he or she was more tired or had more touches of the ball. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the distance traveled, the number of ball hits, etc. are then specific to the period in question.

Other applications and uses of the data are possible.

With regard to data transfer and processing, raw session data is sent to the analysis application (usually mobile like on a smartphone or tablet, but also on a computer). The application includes a programming interface (API or “Application Programming Interface”), data about the player (s) and shin guards (for example, which version). The programming interface transfers the raw data to processing software which analyzes it and applies algorithms. The decoded data is returned to the application, which formats the displayed session data. However, this method can be implemented differently, in particular a dedicated computer or tablet for processing session data, particularly in a professional setting.

The present invention has been described and illustrated in the present detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented.

In one embodiment, the shin guard does not include motion and position sensors, only one or the other.

In addition, the human-machine interface 16 is not mandatory either. One could simply use the smartphone app to check the charge and condition of the shin guard.

Other variants and embodiments can be deduced and implemented by the person competent in the field of the invention on reading the present description and the appended figures.

SMART SHIN GUARD

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