METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING A MOTION PATTERN OF A PERSON

Abstract

A device and a method for identifying a motion pattern of a person that allow suitable feedback about an identified motion pattern to be produced in real time, to address the disadvantage that there is no provision for direct feedback to the person in the event of abnormal behavior being detected. This is achieved by virtue of a device for identifying a motion pattern of a person having at least one sensor for capturing motion parameters and at least one evaluation unit, which is couplable to the at least one sensor, for evaluating the motion parameters and for producing a motion pattern.

Claims

1. A device for identifying a motion pattern of a person, having at least one sensor (11, 19) for capturing motion parameters, at least one evaluation unit, which is couplable to the at least one sensor (11, 19), for evaluating the motion parameters and for producing a motion pattern, at least one communication apparatus for transmitting the motion parameters and/or the motion pattern to a remote station, and at least one actuator for generating a signal on the basis of the motion pattern produced.

2. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit has an artificial neural network for realtime evaluation of the motion parameters or is couplable to an artificial neural network.

3. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (11, 19) and/or the at least one actuator is integrated in a shoe, in particular a sole (10) or an insole, and/or in a knee support (17) and/or a wrist support and/or in another sleeve.

4. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator can generate a haptic, audible, and/or visual signal in real time when specific motion patterns are identified.

5. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (11, 19) is in the form of an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, an angle sensor, or a position sensor.

6. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sensors (11, 19) are arranged on one and/or on multiple body parts of the person in order to produce a comprehensive motion pattern from a multiplicity of motion parameters.

7. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (11, 19) and/or the at least one actuator and/or the evaluation unit and/or the communication apparatus can be supplied with electrical energy by the kinetic energy of the person.

8. A method for identifying a motion pattern of a person, comprising capturing motion parameters by at least one sensor (11, 19), evaluating the motion parameters by an evaluation unit coupled to the at least one sensor (11, 19), converting the evaluated motion parameters into a motion pattern, and using the motion pattern produced as a basis for at least one actuator to transmit a stimulus signal to the person.

9. The method for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 8, wherein the motion pattern is produced from the captured motion parameters by an artificial neural network in real time.

10. The method for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 8, further comprising using multiple sensors (11, 19) that are arranged on one and/or multiple body parts of the person to produce a comprehensive motion pattern from a multiplicity of motion parameters in real time and using the motion pattern as a basis for the at least one actuator to generate a haptic and/or audible and/or visual signal.

11. The method for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 8, further comprising carrying out an evaluation of the motion pattern by virtue of the motion pattern being transmitted to an analysis apparatus by way of a communication apparatus (13).

12. The method for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 8, further comprising comparing a motion pattern produced with a previously classified motion pattern in real time and in which a divergence or a concordance between the produced and classified motion patterns results in the at least one actuator transmitting a stimulus signal to the person in real time.

13. The method for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 10, wherein the multiple sensors (11, 19) are different from each other.

14. The method for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation is of a change over time.

15. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one actuator is selected from the group consisting of a vibrating means, an audible signal means, and a visual signal means.

16. The device for identifying a motion pattern as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of sensors (11, 19) are different from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a depiction of another exemplary embodiment of the device;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a depiction of another exemplary embodiment of the device;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a depiction of another exemplary embodiment of the device; and

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a depiction of another exemplary embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] To identify a motion pattern of a person, a device according to the invention has at least one sensor for capturing motion parameters, at least one evaluation unit, which is couplable to the at least one sensor, for evaluating the motion parameters and for producing a motion pattern, and at least one communication apparatus for transmitting the motion parameters and/or the motion pattern to a remote station. Additionally, the device has at least one actuator for generating a signal on the basis of the motion pattern produced. Multiple exemplary embodiments of such a device are depicted below. However, it will be expressly pointed out that these embodiments are only examples and the device according to the invention is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, there is provision for the device according to the invention to be realizable by a multiplicity of further embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 1 depicts a sole 10 for a shoe. This sole 10 can also be an insole. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the device has seven sensors 11 distributed over the whole surface of the sole 10. The sensors 11 are distributed over the sole 10 in such a way that they produce as complete a representation of the movement of the person as possible. These sensors 11 can be pressure sensors, acceleration or motion sensors, angle sensors, inertial sensors, position sensors or else temperature sensors.

[0029] Additionally or instead of at least one sensor 11 from FIG. 1, it is also conceivable for said sensor to be in the form of an actuator for generating a signal. This signal can be an audible, visual or haptic signal. A haptic, that is to say vibratory, signal being preferred in particular when the actuator is positioned on or in the sole 10. As an example of an actuator, FIGS. 1 to 3 depict an actuator 20, which can in particular be a vibrating actuator. Preferably, the actuator 20 is placed where the person is particularly sensitive to sensory stimuli. In general, however, the actuator 20 can be placed at any position (FIGS. 1 and 2), for example even at a different location than the sole, e.g., on the instep (not depicted, see FIG. 3). The actuator 20 can be connected to a control unit 13 and obtain its electrical energy from the battery 14.

[0030] The sensors 11 depicted in FIG. 1 are each connected to a unit 13 via electrical lines 12. This unit 13 can comprise both an evaluation unit and a communication apparatus. In particular for evaluating the captured measured values, the evaluation unit has an artificial neural network that can analyze the data in real time and can generate a signal if necessary. The communication apparatus can then be used to transmit the recorded data or the identified or evaluated motion patterns to a remote station. This remote station can be either a smartphone or else a server, which is for example located in a doctor's practice and stores all of the motion patterns of the person for the further analysis.

[0031] In addition, the device depicted in FIG. 1 has an energy store or a battery 14. This battery 14 can also be a storage battery. Exemplary embodiments are conceivable in which the storage battery is recharged with electrical energy by the kinetic motion of the person or of the foot. This energy harvesting means that the device or the sensors 11, the actuators and the unit 13 can be operated in an at least almost energy-independent manner.

[0032] The sensors 11, possibly actuators 20, and the unit 13 and the battery 14 depicted in FIG. 1 can be arranged on the sole 10 or integrated in the sole. It is additionally possible for said components to be arranged at a different position in a shoe (FIG. 3). As such, it is conceivable for some sensors 11 or actuators 20 also to be arranged on the instep or in the heel region of the foot.

[0033] FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the unit 13 together with the battery 14 in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 are not integrated in the sole 10 but rather situated at a different location. It is also conceivable for the unit 13 to be located in a handheld device or a smartphone or to be associated with an external device that the person can strap to their belt, for example. The connection between the sensors 11, the actuator 20 and the unit 13 can be made by means of a cable 15 or wirelessly, e.g., by way of Bluetooth or WLAN.

[0034] Instead of what is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the sole 10 can also have an associated sensor matrix 16 (FIG. 4). This sensor matrix 16 is distributed over the whole surface of the sole 10 and therefore has a maximum sensitivity. This sensor matrix 16 allows a pressure distribution of the foot on the sole 10 to be ascertained very accurately, for example. Otherwise, the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 has the same features as the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3. The sensor matrix 16 can also be used to ascertain other physical properties, such as speed, acceleration or location of the person.

[0035] Even though FIGS. 1 to 4 depict only one sole 10, it is conceivable for the device along with said components to be integrated in both soles of the persons. By capturing the motion parameters of both feet, it is possible to produce a very complete motion pattern of the person. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the same sensor arrangement and actuator arrangement as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 also to be assembled in appropriate devices for other body parts, such as for example hands, hips, shoulders and the like.

[0036] For example, FIG. 5 depicts a knee support 17 that can be pulled over a leg 18 of the person. This knee support 17 has at least one sensor means 19 at the side. This knee support 17 can equally have a unit 13 and an actuator, as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is therefore also possible for the data captured by the sensor means 19 to be processed and, if necessary, conveyed to a remote station. It is also conceivable for a similar sleeve to be associated with the elbow or the ankle, specifically also comprising an inertial sensor system and/or a sensor matrix. An appropriate device can also convert the kinetic energy of the person at the knee into electrical energy for supplying power to the individual components.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0037] 10 sole [0038] 11 sensor [0039] 12 line [0040] 13 unit [0041] 14 battery [0042] 15 cable [0043] 16 sensor matrix [0044] 17 knee support [0045] 18 leg [0046] 19 sensor means [0047] 20 vibrating actuator