Posture Sensing System Utilizing Two-Axis Accelerometer

Abstract

A sensor system has a sensor ( 16 ) worn by a participant. The sensor is a two-axis accelerometer evaluation board which sends an X pulse width modulated signal and a Y pulse width modulated signal to a microcontroller ( 20 ). An actual physical posture of the participant is determined by computing X-axis and Y-axis normalized pulse width modulated (PWM) percentage values and comparing the values to known values associated with a particular posture position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensing system for determining an actual physical posture of a participant, said sensing system comprising:
 a sensor adapted to be worn by the participant;   a controller for calculating an actual physical posture of the participant, said controller receiving signals from said sensor; and   wherein said sensor is positioned at a singular physical location on the participant, said sensor being a two-axis accelerometer evaluation board, with the actual physical posture of the participant being calculated with respect to gravity from X and Y data signals, only.   
     
     
         2 . A sensing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an encoder/transmitter, said encoder/transmitter receiving an output signal from said controller and converting said output signal from said controller into a serial stream of encoded data.   
     
     
         3 . A sensing system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a receiver/decoder for receiving said serial stream of encoded data and decoding said serial stream of encoded data, said encoder/transmitter transmitting said serial stream of encoded data to said receiver/decoder.   
     
     
         4 . A sensing system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a keyboard encoder; and   a computer, said keyboard/encoder receiving said decoded data signal from said receiver/decoder; and wherein said keyboard encoder is connected to a keyboard port of said computer.   
     
     
         5 . A sensing system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a transmitter for transmitting an AV signal from said computer to an AV receiver, and   a viewing screen, said viewing screen being connected to the AV receiver.   
     
     
         6 . A sensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said viewing screen is a head mounted viewer display, said head mounted viewer display receiving audio visual signals from said computer.   
     
     
         7 . A sensing system according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a sensor housing for accommodating said sensor therein, said sensor housing being adapted for attachment to a leg of the participant.   
     
     
         8 . A sensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said two-axis accelerometer evaluation board sends an X pulse width modulated signal and a Y pulse width modulated signal to said controller.   
     
     
         9 . A sensing system according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said controller processes said X and Y pulse width modulated signals to produce binary signals indicating the actual physical posture of the participant.   
     
     
         10 . A sensing system according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said binary signals having values associated with the actual physical posture of the participant.   
     
     
         11 . A sensing system for determining an actual physical posture of a participant, said sensing system comprising:
 a sensor adapted for wear by the participant, said sensor generating X pulse width modulated signals and Y pulse width modulated signals, said sensor consisting of an X-axis accelerometer and a Y-axis accelerometer; and   a microcontroller, said microcontroller receiving said X pulse width modulated signals and said Y pulse width modulated signals from said sensor, said microcontroller using said X pulse width and said Y pulse width modulated signals to calculate and output a processed signal corresponding to the actual physical posture of the participant.   
     
     
         12 . A sensing system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an encoder/transmitter, said encoder/transmitter receiving an output signal from said controller and converting said output signal from said controller into an encoded data signal.   
     
     
         13 . A sensing system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a receiver/decoder for receiving said encoded data signal and decoding said encoded data signal and outputting a decoded data signal, said encoder/transmitter transmitting said encoded data signal to said receiver/decoder.   
     
     
         14 . A sensing system according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a keyboard encoder; and   a computer, said keyboard encoder receiving said decoded data signal from said receiver/decoder; and wherein said keyboard encoder is connected to a keyboard port of said computer.   
     
     
         15 . A sensing system according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a transmitter for transmitting an AV signal from said computer to an AV receiver, and   a viewing screen, said viewing screen being connected to the AV receiver.   
     
     
         16 . A sensing system according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said viewing screen is a head mounted viewer display, said head mounted viewer display receiving audio visual signals from the computer.   
     
     
         17 . A sensing system according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a sensor housing for accommodating said motion sensor therein, said sensor housing being adapted for attachment to a leg of the participant.   
     
     
         18 . A sensing system according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the actual physical posture of the participant is determined by computing X-axis and Y-axis normalized pulse width modulated (PWM) percentage values and comparing the values to known values associated with a particular posture position.   
     
     
         19 . A sensing system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the actual physical posture of the participant is determined by computing X-axis and Y-axis normalized pulse width modulated (PWM) percentage values and comparing the values to known values associated with a particular posture position.   
     
     
         20 . A sensing system according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said viewing screen displaying a video environment from a perspective corresponding to the actual physical posture of the participant.