Devices, systems and methods for detecting and evaluating impact events
Inventors
Borkholder, David A. • Kenyon, Matthew • Ramplin, Ryan • Ostertag, Michael H. • Sherman, Kim • Wellman, Matthew • Harrison, Micah
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9380961-B2
Publication Date
2016-07-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
An impact detection device for detecting impacts to a body part of a user and various supporting systems are discussed. In an example, an impact detect device can include a circuit board, a component having a first section and a second section, a battery, and a molding for housing the circuit boat, the battery and the component. The circuit board can include impact detection circuitry including at least two sensors and a communication circuit. A zone of reduced rigidity can connect the first and second sections of the component, with the circuit board secured to the first section. The battery can be secured to the second section of the component allowing for flex relative to the circuit board. The molding can be shaped and dimensioned for mounting to a body part of the user.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an impact detection device for detecting impact to a body part of a user. The device includes a single circuit board with impact detection circuitry having at least two sensors, comprising a first accelerometer and at least one of a gyroscope and a second accelerometer, along with a processor and memory instructions. During operation, the processor detects that the user is in a period of sustained movement in a known predetermined direction relative to the user based on analysis of a first input signal, and determines a heading corresponding to that direction using acceleration vectors derived from the input signals.
In response to detecting the period of sustained movement, the processor determines an orientation of the impact detection device relative to the body part based on the heading and at least one of the acceleration vectors. The method continues while the period of sustained movement continues, and the heading is determined based at least in part on the acceleration vectors. This orientation determination is used as a basis for analyzing impacts relative to the user’s body part during traumatic impact detection.
The invention also provides a method and instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage device for receiving sensor input signals, detecting the period of sustained movement in a known predetermined direction, determining heading based on acceleration vectors, and determining device orientation based on heading and acceleration vectors. In additional aspects described in the relevant claims, traumatic impacts are detected by analyzing a potential traumatic impact event using the impact detection device orientation with linear and rotational acceleration data against a predefined threshold.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00008, and clm-00017. Across these claims, the inventive focus is on detecting a period of sustained movement in a known predetermined direction, determining a heading from acceleration vectors, and determining the orientation of the impact detection device relative to the user’s body part based on that heading and acceleration vectors, with additional aspects for traumatic impact detection using orientation together with linear and rotational acceleration data and threshold-based evaluation.
Sustained-movement heading and device orientation from acceleration vectors
Detecting that the user is in a period of sustained movement in a known predetermined direction relative to the user based on analysis of a first input signal; determining a heading of the user corresponding to the direction of sustained movement using acceleration vectors derived from the input signals; and determining an orientation of the impact detection device relative to the body part based on the heading and at least one of the acceleration vectors.
Continuous heading determination during sustained movement for orientation
Detecting, based at least in part on analysis of a first input signal, that the user is in a period of sustained movement in a known predetermined direction relative to the user; determining, in response to detecting the period of sustained movement and while the period of sustained movement continues, a heading of the user based at least in part on acceleration vectors derived from the input signals; and determining, using the processor, an orientation of the impact detection device relative to the body part based on the heading and at least one of the acceleration vectors.
Non-transitory instructions for sustained-movement heading and device orientation
Receiving input signals from the at least two sensors; detecting, based at least in part on analysis of a first input signal, that the user is in a period of sustained movement in a known predetermined direction relative to the user; determining, in response to detecting the period of sustained movement and while the detecting of the period of sustained movement continues, a heading of the user based at least in part on acceleration vectors derived from the input signals; and determining an orientation of the impact detection device relative to a body part of a user adjacent to the impact detection device based on the heading and at least one of the acceleration vectors.
The independent claims consistently cover detecting sustained movement in a known predetermined direction, calculating a user heading using acceleration vectors, and determining the device orientation relative to a user’s body part based on that heading and acceleration vectors. Additional aspects in dependent claims extend the invention to traumatic impact/event detection using device orientation with linear and rotational acceleration data and predefined thresholds, and to conditional storage of representative event data.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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