Motion tracking and analysis apparatus and method and system implementations thereof

Abstract

An orientation and position tracking system and method in three-dimensional space and over a period of time utilizing multiple inertial and other sensors for determining motion parameters to measure orientation and position of a moveable object. The sensors, for example vibrational and angular velocity sensors, generate signals characterizing the motion of the moveable object. The information is received by a data acquisition system and processed by a microcontroller. The data is then transmitted to an external data reception system (locally based or a global network), preferably via wireless communication. The information can then be displayed and presented to the user through a variety of means including audio, visual, and tactile. According to various embodiments, the present invention provides for a motion tracking apparatus and method for implementation in motion systems including systems to teach motion to a group and for body motion capture and analysis systems.

1 . A system for motion tracking and analysis of a plurality of moveable objects, comprising: 
 at least one sensor disposed in or on each of said plurality of moveable objects, wherein said at least one sensor generates orientation and position signals of each of said plurality of moveable objects;    at least one microcontroller disposed in or on each of said plurality of moveable objects, wherein said at least one microcontroller processes the orientation and position signals to generate motion data;    at least one transmission unit disposed in or on each of said plurality of moveable objects, wherein said at least one transmission unit transmits said motion data from each of said plurality of moveable objects;    at least one receiving unit that receives said transmitted motion data.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one transmission unit is a wireless transmitter that wireless transmits said motion data to said at least one receiving unit.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one host device that receives as an input said transmitted motion data from said at least one receiving unit, wherein said at least one host device further processes and displays said motion data.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source to provide power to said at least one sensor, said at least microcontroller, and said at least one transmitter on each of said plurality of moveable objects.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is a golf club.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is a game controller.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is a controller in a virtual reality simulation.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is an article of clothing.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said article of clothing is a vest.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is an absolute or relative position magnetic sensor which tracks motion in at least one degree of freedom.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is an RF emitter or receiver that uses triangulation to track absolute or relative motion of each of the plurality of moveable objects.  
   
   
       12 . A method for motion tracking and analysis of a plurality of moveable objects, comprising: 
 generating orientation and position signals to measure orientation and position of a plurality of moveable objects with at least one sensor for determining motion parameters disposed in each of said plurality of moveable objects;    processing said and orientation and position signals to generate motion data;    transmitting said motion data in real-time from each of said plurality of moveable objects to a receiving device;    processing and displaying said motion data from said plurality of moveable objects.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said motion data is transmitted wirelessly.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is a golf club.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is a game controller.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is a controller in a virtual reality simulation.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of moveable objects is an article of clothing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said article of clothing is a vest.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for capturing and analyzing body motion of a user, comprising: 
 at least one sensor node that generates orientation and position signals;    a motion coupling means that couples said at least one sensor node to body motion of the user;    at least one analysis device coupled to said at least one sensor node that receives said orientation and position signals from said at least sensor node and outputs motion data;    at least one transmission unit coupled to said at least one analysis device that receives said motion data from at least one analysis device and transmits said motion data;    at least one data reception device that receives said motion data transmitted from said at least one transmission unit;    at least one display device that receives an output of said at least one data reception device and graphically displays the body motion of said user.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one data reception device further processes said motion data received from said at least one transmission unit.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said motion coupling means is an article of clothing worn by the user and wherein said at least one sensor node is embedded in said article of clothing.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said article of clothing is a vest.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one sensor node is an absolute or relative position magnetic sensor which tracks motion in at least one degree of freedom.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one sensor node is an RF emitter or receiver that uses triangulation to track absolute or relative motion of the user.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 at least one additional sensor node, wherein the at least one sensor node interacts with an output of said at least one other sensor node.    
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein an output of said at least one sensor node is adjusted based on an output of said at least one other sensor node.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said output of said at least one sensor node is adjusted by an application of different filters on the orientation and position data coming from the at least one sensor node.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said output of said at least one sensor node is adjusted by modifying the motion being tracked by the at least one sensor node based on the motion being tracked by the at least one other sensor node.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 at least one user input system, wherein the user may input information to control the system.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one transmitter is a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits said motion data to said at least on data reception device.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one transmission unit combines all the information from all sensor nodes and transmits it centrally to another device.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one transmission unit is a set of transmission nodes connected with each sensor node.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the transmission nodes associated with each sensor node send independently to at least one of another device located on the apparatus and another device not located on the same apparatus.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 at least one software module that interprets signals received from said at least one data reception unit.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a feedback mechanism that provides tactile, visual, auditory, and chemical feedback to the user in response to the motion data.