Training systems with wearable sensors for providing users with feedback

Abstract

A training system based on mobile technology and kinematics of human motion characterizes, analyzes, and supplies feedback to a user based on the user's movements. The training system includes a garment having a sensor control module connected to multiple sensor nodes via electrically-conductive fabric running along parts portions of the garment. The sensor module/nodes can communicate through the conductive fabric. The sensor nodes acquire motion and/or physiologic readings that are wirelessly transmitted to a mobile computing device that runs an application that analyzes the data and provides visual (e.g., graphs, 3D avatar) and audio feedback (e.g., voice prompts). Vibration motors and LEDs/electroluminescent fabric in the garment also provide notifications and alerts. The triple layer of garment, conductive fabric, and sensor module/sensor node are sealed against contaminants, allowing the garment to be washable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrically conductive fabric, the fabric comprising:
 a) a substrate having a conductive material integrated therein,   b) a sensor control module connected to multiple sensor nodes via electrically-conductive fabric running, wherein the module is operatively connected to the conductive material,   c) one or more pins that hold the sensor nodes to the substrate, and   d) sensor voids on the surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has an elastomer that regulates stretch of the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor modules is attached directly to the electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is a conductive yarn. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a thickness from 0.45 mm to 4 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A garment system including:
 a) a garment having a sensor module secured thereto;   b) at least one motion sensor in at least one sensor node that:
 1) is secured to the garment; 
 2) interfaces with the sensor module; and 
 3) acquires motion data; and 
   c) a wireless transmitter configured to send motion data acquired by the at least one motion sensor to another computing device   wherein the sensor module is connected to the sensor node via electrically-conductive fabric running along a portion of the garment.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the sensor module includes a module case membrane; and   b) the system further includes a module conducting pin extending through a portion of the module case membrane to contact the electrically-conductive fabric so as to allow signals and power to travel from the sensor module via the electrically-conductive fabric.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein
 a) further including a first pair of sensor nodes connected to each other in series, and a second pair of sensor nodes connected to each other in series;   b) wherein the first pair of sensor nodes and the second pair of sensor nodes are connected to the sensor module in parallel.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the real-time feedback includes a 3D avatar representative of a user:
 a) wearing the garment; and   b) making movements captured as motion data by the at least one motion sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the garment includes an LED; and   b) the system is configured to provide feedback to a user wearing the garment by turning on the LED, the feedback being based on the motion data.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the system further includes at least one of:
 1) a 3-axis accelerometer; 
 2) a 3-axis gyroscope; and 
 3) a 3-axis magnetometers; and 
   b) the accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or magnetometer are packaged into one or more sensor nodes positioned on one or more limbs of the garment to acquire data related to orientation.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , further including at least one physiological sensor for acquiring biometric data from a user wearing the garment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , further including an image capture device having a camera secured to the garment, the image capture device being configured to capture images as a user wearing the garment moves. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the garment is a shirt; and   b) the system includes one or more motion sensors secured to the garment on at least one of:
 1) both a left wrist segment and a right wrist segment; 
 2) both a left upper arm segment and a right upper arm segment; and 
 3) a torso segment. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the garment is a pair of pants; and   b) the system includes one or more motion sensors secured to the garment on at least one of:
 1) a hip segment; 
 2) both a left thigh portion and a right thigh segment; 
 3) both a left shin portion and a right shin portion. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the garment is a glove; and   b) the system includes one or more motion sensors secured to the glove on:
 1) each of five finger segments; 
 2) a palm segment; and 
 3) a back of the hand segment. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , further including one or more motion sensors configured to be secured to a head of a user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 6 , further including one or more motion sensors configured to be secured to a foot of a user. 
     
     
         19 . A physical training system for fitness or medical applications, the training system including a set of sensor bands configured to be secured to a user, each sensor band having:
 a) at least one motion sensor; and   b) a transmitter configured to send motion data to another computing device which is configured to provide, based on the motion data, visual feedback including at least one of:
 1) a chart or graph depicting a quantity or quality of motions; and 
 2) an avatar that simulates movements representing actual or idealized movements of a user. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further including a garment having a sensor node secured thereto, the sensor node:
 a) having at least one motion sensor for acquiring motion data; and   b) being configured to send motion data:
 1) to a module secured to the garment via a physical connection; or 
 2) to another computing device not secured to the garment via a wireless connection.