Exercise Performance Monitoring Glove

Abstract

The exercise performance monitoring glove consists of a pair of flexible gloves that have embedded pressure sensor arrays to measure hand pressure applied to them during physical activities such as exercise. Each glove sends its pressure data in a real-time format using an embedded wireless RF transmitter to the opposite glove. The gloves then compare the pressures and provide feedback through a user selectable choice of either audio, visual or vibratory methods. Audio feedback is provided to earbuds using typical connection means such as Bluetooth connection to a smartphone or remote device having an exercise performance monitoring app. Visual feedback is provided in several possible modes such as text, color, and graphics using an embedded wraparound flexible display screen. Vibratory feedback is provided using embedded vibration devices inside the gloves. Once a specific feedback mode is selected using the performance monitoring app, the user will know whether the gloves are in a balanced or unbalanced state. Using this real-time feedback allows the user to make corrections in the hand grip forces to achieve a balanced state. The gloves can be used in a wide variety of situations such as exercise, sports, and for medical rehabilitation where body balance is important.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pair of exercise performance monitoring gloves for use in exercise performance monitoring, each glove comprising:
 a glove housing; said glove housing to be shaped to provide a means for removable attachment to a hand; said glove housing to provide a means for attachment of other components; said glove housing to be constructed of a lightweight material;   a plurality of pressure sensing elements; said pressure sensing elements being embedded into said glove housing in a plurality of locations; said locations for attachment of said pressure sensing elements to include a plurality of embedded locations;   a plurality of electrically conductive wire segments; said wire segments each being connected to said pressure sensing elements at one distal end; said wire segments being of sufficient length to connect to a main control module;   a main control module; said main control module comprising:
 a housing; said housing being of sufficient size to contain a plurality of other electrical components; 
 a digital processing chip; said chip having the ability to convert electrical voltage signals sent from said pressure sensing elements into digital pressure data; said chip having firmware; said firmware to provide the means of running performance monitoring algorithms to determine a state of overall pressure balance between said left and right glove; 
 a memory chip; said memory chip to provide a means of storage of digital pressure data sent from said digital processing chip; 
 a graphics processing chip; said chip to provide a means for providing pressure monitoring feedback to a flexible display screen; 
 a wireless communications module; said module to provide a means for transmission of wireless pressure monitoring data between said gloves; said module to provide a means for communication with an external device; 
 a vibration control chip; said chip to provide a means for transmission of pressure monitoring feedback to an embedded vibration device on said gloves; 
 a battery; said battery having the capability to be recharged by an external charging device; 
 an audio processing chip; said chip to provide a means for providing pressure performance monitoring feedback in the form of audible signals to be sent to said communications module; 
 an antenna; said antenna to be mounted to said wireless communications module; said antenna to provide a means to send and receive wireless data between said gloves and an external device; 
 a wiring terminal; said terminal to provide a means of electrical connection between said pressure sensing element wire segments and said digital processing chips; said terminal to be embedded into said housing; 
   a flexible display screen; said flexible display screen to be made of a thin material; said flexible display screen to provide a means for displaying performance monitoring feedback in the form of text, graphical or video content; said flexible display screen to include a connection wire between said flexible display screen and said graphics processing chip;   a plurality of vibration devices; said vibration devices to be embedded into said gloves; said vibration devices to provide a means of sending out vibrations to provide pressure monitoring feedback; and   a recharging device; said recharging device to be embedded into said gloves; said recharging device to include a pair of connection wires between said recharging device and said rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein the method of exercise performance monitoring uses an external device having a monitoring application, said application having an algorithm; said algorithm to provide a means of selection from a plurality of performance monitoring feedback options; said performance monitoring feedback options to include audio feedback, graphical feedback, vibration feedback and an external device for monitoring of performance; said algorithm to store user preferences and exercise session data on said memory chip. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein said communications module uses radio frequency (RF) energy as the method of communication. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of enabled earbud devices are used to provide a means of providing audio performance monitoring feedback. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein an enabled speaker device is used to provide a means of providing audio performance monitoring feedback. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 2 , wherein an external device is used to provide a means for providing a performance monitoring feedback. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein the methods of visual feedback modes may include a combination of graphics, videos, or textual information. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein said battery recharging device uses wireless charging as the means for recharging said rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein said battery recharging device uses wired charging as the means for recharging said rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein the process of pressure performance monitoring further comprises:
 a first step where both left and right gloves measure the pressure within a predetermined time interval using output from said pressure sensing elements in both left and right gloves;   a second step where the data captured in the first step is sent and processed by the main control module for both left and right gloves;   a third step where a pressure balance state is determined in said main control module in each glove using an algorithm;   a fourth step where pressure balance feedback is provided to the user using a combination of one or more of said feedback methods; and   a fifth step where said pressure performance data is sent to said external device to provide a means of exercise performance monitoring during an exercise session.   
     
     
         11 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein said gloves are used to assist in patient rehabilitation. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise performance monitoring gloves of  claim 1 , wherein said gloves are used to perform sports performance monitoring, as well as other physical activities.