Wearable Device System and Method for Detection of Unintended Movement

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic wearable device designed to detect unintended movement that occurs immediately prior to a firing event of a gun. The wearable device encompasses at least one sensor, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope and Electromyography (EMG), to detect a flinch movement that can occur prior to the event of a gun being fired. The user or firer can then be provided with real-time feedback on whether a flinch occurred or not during a firing practice. Feedback can be given to the user, in one embodiment, in the form of an audible tone or a vibrating motor in the wearable device.

1 . A wearable device for user firearm training comprising:
 at least one sensor for detecting movement in the users hand or arm;   a module for detecting a firing event;   a module for processing data from the at least one sensor such that movement by the user can be analyzed; and   a module for producing feedback to the user based on said analysis wherein the feedback is at least one of an audio or tactile feedback to the user in real-time to indicate a movement of the users hand or arm has occurred before the detected firing event.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor comprises an IMU sensor, said sensor having at least one accelerometer and/or at least one gyroscope. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one sensor comprises an EMG sensor, said sensor capable of detecting movement forward of the users wrist. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the module to detect a firing event comprises a microphone. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the module to detect a firing event comprises a signature measurement of an accelerometer and/or gyroscope. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the tactile feedback is provided by a vibrating sensor/motor device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the audio feedback is provided to the user via a speaker or headphone. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the feedback module comprises a visual feedback indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the visual feedback indicator comprises a light source, such as a LED light. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the wearable device can be configured to auto-calibrate based on the at least one sensor XYZ axis and a measurement that represents the firearm is being held steady for aiming. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the wearable device may be configured to recognise an accelerometer and/or gyroscope signature that represents the un-holstering of the firearm from a holster. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is configured to adjust threshold levels of the at least one sensor for different firing environments or acceptable threshold levels of firer movement. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the wearable device comprises a glove. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the wearable device comprises a ring shaped device configured to be worn on a finger, or hand or arm of the user. 
     
     
         15 . A method for user firearm training using a wearable device comprising the steps of:
 detecting movement in the users hand or arm using at least one sensor;   detecting a firing event from a firearm; processing data from the at least one sensor such that movement by the user can be analysed; and   producing a feedback to the user based on said analysis wherein the feedback can be an audio or tactile feedback to the user in real-time to indicate a movement of the users hand or arm has occurred before the detected firing event.   
     
     
         16 . A computer program comprising program instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of  claim 15 .