Electronic Body Data Collection System

Abstract

Electronic body data acquisition system (1), comprising a garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) and an electronic data acquisition device (3) at least partially permanently integrated into the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) for acquiring biomechanical data of the upper body of a person when the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) is worn close to the skin, wherein the electronic data acquisition device (3) comprises at least one electronic device (15), an accumulator (15.2) and a sensor (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) operatively connected to the electronic device (15), characterized in that the electronic device (15) and the accumulator (15.2) are arranged in a base unit (13) which is suitable for being detachably attached to the garment (100).

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic body data acquisition system, comprising a garment and an electronic data acquisition device at least partially integrated into the garment for acquiring biomechanical data of the upper body of a person when the garment is worn close to the skin, wherein the electronic data acquisition device comprises at least an electronic device, a power source and a sensor operatively connected to the electronic device. Such body data acquisition systems are generally known from the state of the art. US patents 11,253,200 B2 and 11,589,813 B2 each disclose such a body data acquisition system in which the electronic device is permanently integrated into a garment. Only the battery is designed to be removable from the garment. An electronic body data acquisition system integrated into a garment serves to precisely capture biomechanical data, usually from the upper body, and provide real-time feedback for improving posture. For this purpose, the electronic body data acquisition system typically includes sensors attached to, for example, a shirt, blouse, or similar garment. These sensors capture biomechanical data from the upper body and transmit it via a transmitter to an external device. Since a garment is inherently washable and must be washed for hygienic reasons, the electronic components of the body data acquisition system must also be washable. With the exception of the battery, which serves as the power source for the garment, all electronic components of the prior art are permanently attached to the garment.The battery can be removed before washing and of course also when it needs to be charged or replaced. The acquisition of biomechanical data via a body data acquisition system is highly complex and requires very sensitive electronic components. Integrating these electronic components into a garment in a way that allows them to be washed is very difficult. There is a risk that such electronic components could be damaged during washing and, due to their permanent integration into the garment, cannot be replaced once damaged. In such a case, the entire garment is so damaged that it can no longer be used for body data acquisition. The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop an electronic body data acquisition system of the type mentioned above in such a way that it can be washed with the garment without the risk of damaging particularly sensitive electronic components during washing. The problem is solved according to the invention by arranging the electronic device and the energy source in a base unit that is suitable for being detachably attached to the garment. By integrating the sensitive electronic equipment and the power source, for example the battery or rechargeable battery, into the base unit and by detachably attaching the base unit to the garment, this module can be removed from the garment before a washing process, so that it is not exposed to the risk of being damaged by water. After washing and before using the garment, the base unit can then be conveniently reattached to the garment. A further advantage of the present invention is that the electronic data acquisition device comprises at least one flexible conductor strip that connects the at least one sensor to the electronic device in the base unit. Such a flexible conductor strip can be integrated almost perfectly into the textile material of a garment. Preferably, the flexible conductor strip comprises two PU films between which at least two electrical cables, e.g., four or six electrical cables, are arranged. In the case of multiple sensors, the at least one flexible conductor strip connects the sensors to each other and / or to the electronic device in the base unit, so that the biomechanical data of the upper body acquired by the respective sensors can be transmitted to the electronic device via the flexible conductor strip. It is also an advantage of the present invention that a base plate is permanently integrated into the garment, to which the base unit is detachably attached. The base plate thus forms a docking point for the base unit. This precisely defines the location where the base unit must be reattached after it has been removed from the garment. The base plate therefore also serves as a positioning aid for the user when reattaching the base unit to the garment. A further advantage of the present invention is that the garment is at least partially constructed with two layers, with an inner layer positioned close to the skin and an outer layer further away during operation. The two-layer construction of the garment, at least in some parts of it, offers design potential. For example, the flexible ladder tape can advantageously be arranged between the inner and outer layers. The flexible ladder tape is thus covered by a textile layer of the garment both close to and farther from the skin and is not visible from the outside. A further advantage of the present invention is that a contact board is arranged below the base plate and between the inner and outer layers, and this contact board is connected to the at least one flexible conductor strip. The two-layer design of the casing in the area of ​​the base plate allows a space to be formed between the inner and outer layers in which the contact board is accommodated. The arrangement of the contact board below the base plate and between the two layers of the casing, in turn, enables contact to be established between the contact board, via the base plate, and the electronic device in the base unit. Furthermore, the contact board can be well protected between the two layers, for example, with a polyurethane filler. For this purpose, it is advantageous that the electronic device in the base unit comprises a baseboard, a battery, and a USB port, wherein the contact board has at least one contact pad and the baseboard has at least one contact pin, which are connected during operation. In this way, signals corresponding to biomechanical data sets of the upper body can be transmitted from the sensors to the contact board via the at least one flexible conductor track and from there, via the contact pad and the contact pin, to the baseboard, stored, and read out via the USB port. It is also an advantage of the present invention that the contact plate has at least one threaded bushing, the base plate being designed such that it can be screwed through the outer layer to the threaded bushing, thereby being firmly attached to the outer layer. A secure screw connection firmly attaches the base plate to the garment, allowing it to withstand washing, but it could also be loosened and replaced with a tool if necessary. A screw connection represents a secure connection that can nevertheless be loosened with a suitable tool if required. In the context of the invention, a secure connection means that it does not need to be loosened before washing for normal use. An advantage of the electronic body data acquisition system according to the invention is that the at least one sensor is an inertial sensor suitable for measuring acceleration, inclination, and / or angular velocity. These measurements are important for deriving information about the posture of a user of the present invention. Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the additional features of the dependent claims. One embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic top view of a pattern for a garment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 a schematic top view of a back part of the garment, without an outer layer; Fig. 3 a schematic top view of the back part in Fig. 2 with the outer layer but without the base unit; Fig. 4 a schematic top view of the back part in Fig. 3 with the base unit; Fig. 5a a schematic longitudinal section view of the base unit mounted on the outer layer; Fig. 5b a schematic top view of a sealed contact board below the base unit in Fig. 5a; Fig. 6a a schematic longitudinal section view of a sensor; and Fig. 6b a schematic top view of a sensor board of the sensor in Fig. 6a. Figure 1 schematically shows a pattern for a garment 100. The pattern includes a front piece 101, a back piece 102, two side back pieces 103, two sleeve pieces 104, and two neck pieces 105. The electronic body data acquisition system 1 according to the invention is described below in conjunction with the garment 100 composed of the aforementioned individual parts. In other embodiments, the garment 100 can also be cut in a completely different way. The pattern shown in Fig. 1 is intended only as an example of an embodiment to better understand the principle of the electronic body data acquisition system 1 according to the invention. The electronic body data acquisition system 1 according to the invention is described in more detail below in conjunction with the back piece 102.In other embodiments, it may be advantageous for the electronic body data acquisition system 1 according to the invention to be used not only in conjunction with the back piece 102, but also with another garment 100, the entire garment 100, or with other parts, such as the front piece 101 and / or the side pieces 103 and / or the arm and / or neck pieces 104, 105. The description of the present embodiment in conjunction with the back piece 102 is therefore given as a representative example of the garment 100 as a whole or in relation to other parts of the garment 100, depending on how it is cut. Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the back section 102. The back section 102 has an inner layer 102.1 close to the skin and an outer layer 102.2 further away from the skin (see also Figures 5 and 6). In other embodiments, the entire garment 100 can also be made of two layers. Alternatively, only parts of a back section 102 can be made of two layers. Shown is a top view of an inner side 102.1a of the skin-close inner layer 102.1 of the back part 102. The back section 102 of the garment 100 comprises a neck opening N, two armholes A1, A2, and two torso openings R1, R2. The cut of the back section 102 is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis L. Furthermore, the back section 102 includes an electronic data acquisition device 3 for recording digital data sets from biomechanical data of a person's upper body when the garment is worn close to the skin. This situation occurs when the garment 100 is worn by a person and the side facing away from the viewer in Fig. 2, i.e., an outer surface 102.1b (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) of the inner layer 102.1, is facing the skin on the person's back. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic data acquisition device 3 comprises eight sensors 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, and 5.8, which are integrated into the back section 102. The first and third sensors 5.1 and 5.3 are each arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis L in the shoulder area of ​​the back section 102 on a virtual straight shoulder line between the first armhole A1 and the second armhole A2. The second sensor 5.2 is located slightly above this virtual shoulder line in the direction of the neck opening N on the longitudinal axis L. The eighth sensor 5.8 is located on the longitudinal axis L below the second sensor 5.2. Its position corresponds approximately to the geometric center of the back section 102. The eighth sensor 5.8 is located on a contact board 9, which is described in more detail below. The contact board 9 is connected to the first sensor 5.1 via a first flexible conductor 7.1, to the second sensor 5.2 via a second flexible conductor 7.2, and to the third sensor 5.3 via a third flexible conductor 7.3. The first flexible conductor 7.1 and the second flexible conductor 7.2, together with a dashed, virtual connecting line, form a triangle whose vertices are the first, second, and contact board 9 with the eighth sensor 5.8. The second sensor 5.2 has an enclosed angle α of approximately 80° and the contact board 9 with the eighth sensor 5.8 has an enclosed angle β of approximately 65°.Due to the symmetry, essentially the same angles can also be found on the other side, with the third sensor 5.3 as the corner point. On the side of the contact board 9 opposite the first, second, and third sensors 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, a fourth sensor 5.4, a fifth sensor 5.5, a sixth sensor 5.6, and a seventh sensor 5.7 are located along the longitudinal axis LL. The fourth sensor 5.4 and the fifth sensor 5.5 are connected to the contact board 9 via a fourth conductor 7.4. The sixth sensor 5.6 and the seventh sensor 5.7 are connected to the contact board 9 via a fifth conductor 7.5. The fourth and fifth sensors 5.4 and 5.5 are arranged offset from the sixth and seventh sensors 5.6 and 5.7 along the longitudinal axis L, so that the contact board 9 provides a sensor sequence consisting of the sixth sensor 5.6, fourth sensor 5.4, seventh sensor 5.7, and fifth sensor 5.5. In this embodiment of the electronic data acquisition device 3, the fourth and fifth sensors 5.4, 5.5 are arranged in parallel to the sixth and seventh sensors 5.6, 5.7. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth sensors 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 are each arranged at a distance from each other. The distance between the first sensor 5.1 and the eighth sensor 5.8, and between the second sensor 5.2 and the eighth sensor 5.8, is approximately 240 mm; the distance between the second sensor 5.2 and the eighth sensor 5.8 is approximately 185 mm; the distance between the eighth sensor 5.8 and the sixth sensor 5.6 is approximately 90 mm; the distance between the sixth sensor 5.6 and the fourth sensor 5.4 is approximately 90 mm; the distance between the fourth sensor 5.4 and the seventh sensor 5.7 is approximately 100 mm; and the distance between the seventh sensor 5.7 and the sixth sensor 5.6 is approximately 110 mm. In other embodiments, the distances may differ. The arrangement and number of sensors may also vary in other embodiments.The number of sensors and their arrangement on the garment 100 depends on the data to be recorded, in particular biomechanical data, and on the size of the person on whom the data recording is to be carried out. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact board 9 is round. In other embodiments, the contact board 9 can have any basic geometric shape, for example, non-circular, semicircular, and especially angular. In addition to the eighth sensor 5.8, the contact board 9 carries further components, which are described in conjunction with Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b. Figure 3 schematically shows a top view of the back section in Figure 2 with the outer layer 102.2 furthest from the skin, and depicts a second embodiment of the electronic data acquisition device 3. The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sensors 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7 are arranged in series. The outer layer 102.2 is shown transparently so that the flexible conductor strips 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 are more easily visible. A base plate 11 is fixedly attached above the contact plate 9. The base plate 11 is screwed to the contact plate 9 and can be loosened if necessary. However, loosening the base plate 11 is not required during operation, for example, before washing. The base plate 11 includes an iron piece 11.1, which is part of a magnetic connection described in conjunction with Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 schematically shows a top view of the back section in Figure 3 with the outer layer 102.2 furthest from the skin and with a base unit 13. The base unit 13 has a two-part housing and is detachably attached to the base plate 11 by a magnet. Figure 5a shows a schematic longitudinal section of the base unit 13. The base unit 13 is attached to the base plate 11 on the outer layer 102.2, which is magnetically connected. The base unit 13 comprises an upper shell 13.1 and a lower shell 13.2, which are connected to each other by a detachable snap-fit ​​connection. An electronic unit 15 is arranged in the base unit 13. The electronic unit 15 comprises a base board 15.1, a rechargeable battery 15.2, a data storage device 15.3, and a USB connector 15.3. The base plate 15.1 comprises at least one contact pin 15.4. Figure 5b shows that, in the illustrated embodiment, five contact pins 15.2 are arranged in a row perpendicular to the longitudinal section. The lower shell 13.2 is at least partially magnetic and forms a magnetic connection with the iron piece 11.1 that can be released by hand. The contact pins 15.2 extend through a base of the lower shell 13.2 and can also extend through precisely fitting openings in the base plate 11 to an outer surface 102.2b of the outer layer 102.2. Below the base plate 11 is the outer layer 102.2. A space is formed between an inner surface 102.2a of the outer layer 102.2 and the inner surface 102.1b of the inner layer 102.1, in which the contact board 9 is arranged. The contact board 9 carries the eighth sensor 5.8 and at least one contact pad 9.1. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact board 9 carries five contact pads 9.1, which are arranged and oriented such that, in the installed state of the base unit 13, they can make contact with the contact pins 15.2 of the base board 15.1. The contact board 9 also carries at least one threaded bushing 15.3. Figure 5b shows that the illustrated embodiment carries three threaded bushings 15.3. The base plate 11 is screwed to the threaded bushings 15.3 by means of threaded screws (not shown). The second flexible conductor strip 7.2 and the fifth flexible conductor strip 7.5 are shown in the Fig.5a is connected to the contact board 9 on the left and right. The space between the inner layer 102.1 and the outer layer 102.2, in which the contact board 9 is arranged, is filled with a sealing material 17, which is, for example, polyurethane, silicone or the like. In Fig. 5b, the sealed contact board 9 below the base unit 13 in Fig. 5a is shown schematically in a top view. The illustration shows a variant that differs slightly from Fig. 1, with only four conductor strips. In this variant, the fourth conductor strip 7.4 and the fifth conductor strip 7.5 are combined, without, however, changing the arrangement of the sensors. The contact board 9 carries the eighth sensor 5.8 as well as the five contact pins 15.2 and the three threaded bushings 15.3. Figures 6a and 6b each show a schematic longitudinal section through the first sensor 5.1, representing one of the sensors 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7. The first sensor 5.1 comprises a sensor board 19.1, for example, with an accelerometer, which is arranged between the outer layer 102.1 and the inner layer 102.2. The sensor board is connected to it by a flexible conductor strip. Furthermore, the sensor board is embedded in the same sealing material 17 as the contact board 9 with the eighth sensor 5.8. The flexible conductor strip 7.1 is connected to the sensor board 19.1 on the right in Figures 6a and 6b. In Figures 5b and 6b, the flexible conductor strip 7.1 is clearly visible. As a representative example of all the described flexible conductor strips 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5, the first flexible conductor strip 7.1 is described in more detail. In the illustrated embodiment, the first flexible conductor strip 7.1 comprises four cables 7.6, which are sandwiched between two polyurethane films. Figure 6b, in particular, clearly shows how the free ends 7.7 of the four cables 7.6 are connected, for example, by soldering, to four separate contact points 19.2 on the sensor board. The respective cable ends of the other flexible conductor strips 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 are connected to their respective sensors and boards in the same manner. Reference symbol list 1 Body Data Acquisition System 3 Data Acquisition Device 5.1 First Sensor 5.2 Second Sensor 5.3 Third Sensor 5.4 Fourth Sensor 5.5 Fifth Sensor 5.6 Sixth Sensor 5.7 Seventh Sensor 5.8 Eighth Sensor 7.1 First Flexible Conductor Strip 7.2 Second Flexible Conductor Strip 7.3 Third Flexible Conductor Strip 7.4 Fourth Flexible Conductor Strip 7.5 Fifth Flexible Conductor Strip 7.6 Cable 7.7 Free Cable Ends 9 Contact Board 9.1 Contact Pads 11 Base Plate 11.1 Iron Piece 13 Base Unit 13.1 Top Shell 13.2 Bottom Shell 15 Electronic Unit 15.1 Base Board 15.2 Rechargeable Battery 15.3 Data Storage 15.4 Contact Pins 15.5 USB Connector 15.6 Threaded Socket 17 Sealing Material 19.1 Sensor Board 19.2 Contact points 100 Garment 101 Front part 102 Back part 102.1 Inner layer close to the skin 102.1a Inside of the inner layer 102.1b Outside of the inner layer 102.2 Outer layer further from the skin 102.2a Inside of the outer layer 102.2b Outer side of the outer layer 103 side back pieces 104 arm pieces 105 neck pieces N Neck opening A1 Arm opening A2 Arm opening R1 Body opening R2 Body opening L Longitudinal axis. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature US 11,253,200 B2

[0003] US 11,589,813 B2

[0003]

Claims

Electronic body data acquisition system (1), comprising a garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) and an electronic data acquisition device (3) at least partially permanently integrated into the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) for acquiring biomechanical data of the upper body of a person when the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) is worn close to the skin, wherein the electronic data acquisition device (3) comprises at least one electronic device (15), an accumulator (15.2) and a sensor (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) operatively connected to the electronic device (15), characterized in that the electronic device (15) and the accumulator (15.2) are arranged in a base unit (13) which is suitable for being detachably attached to the garment (100). Electronic body data acquisition system according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic data acquisition device (3) comprises at least one flexible conductor strip (7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.4; 7.5) which connects the at least one sensor (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8)) to the electronic device (15) in the base unit (13). Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a base plate (11) is permanently integrated into the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105), to which the base unit (13) is detachably attached. Electronic data acquisition system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) is at least partially two-layered, wherein in operation an inner layer (102.1) is oriented close to the skin and an outer layer (102.2) is oriented away from the skin. Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one flexible conductor strip (7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.4; 7.5) is arranged between the inner layer (102.1) and the outer layer (102.2). Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the base plate (11) is fixedly attached to the outer layer (102.2). Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 6, characterized in that a contact board (9) is arranged below the base plate (11) and between the inner layer (102.1) and the outer layer (102.2), which is connected to the at least one flexible conductor strip (7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.4; 7.5). Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 7, characterized in that the electronic device (15) in the base unit (13) comprises a base board (15.1), the battery (15.2) and a USB connector (15.5), wherein the contact board (9) has at least one contact pad (9.1) and the base board (15.1) has at least one contact pin (15.4) which are in contact with each other during operation. Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the contact board (15.4) has at least one threaded bushing (15.6), wherein the base plate (11) is designed such that it can be screwed through the outer layer (102.2) to the at least one threaded bushing (15.6) in order to be firmly attached to the outer layer (102.2). Electronic data acquisition system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one sensor (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) is an inertial sensor suitable for measuring acceleration, inclination and angular velocity. Electronic data acquisition system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one sensor (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) belongs to a group of sensors, wherein the sensors (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) are attached to the garment (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105) in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 11, characterized in that a first part of the sensors (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) is mounted in the longitudinal direction along a back part (102) and a second part of the sensors (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) is mounted in the transverse direction in the shoulder area of ​​the back part (102). Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 12, characterized in that each sensor (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8) is operatively connected to the electronic device (15) in the base unit (13) via the at least one flexible conductor strip (7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.4; 7.5). Electronic data acquisition system according to claim 13, characterized in that the flexible conductor tape (7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7.4; 7.5) comprises two PU films, between which at least two electrical cables (7.6), preferably four electrical cables (7.6), are arranged. Electronic data acquisition system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic device (15) comprises a vibration actuator designed to generate a haptic indication signal when at least one data set of the acquired biomechanical data deviates from a predetermined data set of biomechanical data.

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