Method And Apparatus for Body Impact Protection

Abstract

A motion analysis system includes: at least one orientation sensor configured to detect three-dimensional torso motion over time, the at least one orientation sensor including: a multiaxial accelerometer configured to detect acceleration in at least three orthogonal directions, and a gyroscope; and a controller configured to receive data from the at least one orientation sensor, the controller programmed to process the data to: determine at least one of a state and a transition of the torso; identify normal parameters for the determined at least one of the state and transition; and determine whether motion of the torso is outside the normal parameters. The controller is configured to identify, in real-time, the occurrence of a fall in progress of an individual from at least one of a standing state, a standing-to-seated transition, and a seated-to-standing transition.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A motion analysis system comprising:
 at least one first orientation sensor configured to detect three-dimensional torso motion over time, the at least one orientation sensor comprising:
 a multiaxial accelerometer configured to detect acceleration in at least three orthogonal directions, and 
 a gyroscope; 
   at least one second orientation sensor configured to detect three-dimensional motion of a vehicle frame or an animal torso; and   a controller configured to receive data from the at least one first orientation sensor and the at least one second orientation sensor, the controller being programmed to process the data to:
 compare the three-dimensional torso motion detected by the at least one first orientation sensor to the three-dimensional motion detected by the at least one second orientation sensor over a period of time, 
 identify the degree of variation over time between the three-dimensional torso motion detected by the at least one first orientation sensor and the three-dimensional motion detected by the at least one second orientation sensor, and 
 determine whether the degree of variation over time between the three-dimensional torso motion detected by the at least one first orientation sensor and the three-dimensional motion detected by the at least one second orientation sensor is within an allowable degree of variation. 
   
     
     
         33 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the controller is further configured to process the data to:
 identify parameters for the motion of the vehicle frame or animal torso, and   determine the allowable degree of variation based on the parameters for the motion of the vehicle frame or animal torso.   
     
     
         34 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor is further configured to detect pitch, roll, and yaw of the torso. 
     
     
         35 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor is further configured to detect an acceleration of each of pitch, roll, and yaw of the torso. 
     
     
         36 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor is further configured to detect a velocity of each of pitch, roll, and yaw of the torso. 
     
     
         37 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor is further configured to detect a total acceleration of the torso. 
     
     
         38 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor is further configured to detect a trajectory of the torso referenced to gravity. 
     
     
         39 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit. 
     
     
         40 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first orientation sensor further comprises a magnetic field sensor. 
     
     
         41 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor comprises a multiaxial accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetic field sensor. 
     
     
         42 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor is further configured to detect an acceleration of each of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle frame or animal torso. 
     
     
         43 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor is further configured to detect a velocity of each of pitch, roll, and yaw of the vehicle frame or animal torso. 
     
     
         44 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor is further configured to detect a total acceleration of the vehicle frame or animal torso. 
     
     
         45 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor is further configured to detect a trajectory of the vehicle frame or animal torso. 
     
     
         46 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit. 
     
     
         47 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one second orientation sensor comprises at least one of a triaxial accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetic field sensor. 
     
     
         48 . The motion analysis system of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the first orientation sensor and the second orientation sensor is configured for wireless communication with the controller.