Device for measuring sexual movements

Abstract

The invention relates to a sex toy that makes it possible to objectively measure the characteristics of the back-and-forth movements of an object or a part of the body directly involved in a sexual act along the preferred axis of penetration, thanks to an adaptive filtering system capable of eliminating the role of gravity in these movements. This device comprises an embedded module carrying out the temporal acquisition of the acceleration of the object or the part of the body in motion, the processing of this data as well as their storage or exchange, the module being directly carried by the object or the part of the body in motion. The device can control, directly or a posteriori, locally or remotely, integrated or connected peripherals in order to generate feedback on the wearer of the device or on his or her partner(s) or on their environment. The device can be associated with a software-type application.

Description

Title of the invention: Apparatus for measuring sexual movements

[0001] The present invention relates to a sex toy for objectively measuring the characteristics of the back-and-forth movements directly involved in a sexual act.

[0002] Currently, some devices or applications on the market attempt to estimate sexual activity:

[0003] Some software or applications offer to manually and retrospectively enter information on sexual practices (duration, date, menstruation, temperature, estimation of the quality of the relationship, location, partner, practices, etc.). This type of device does not measure sexual activity in situ during the sexual act.

[0004] Some applications use the acceleration sensor and microphone contained in smartphones. The acceleration sensor and microphone are activated via the application before the sexual act and the smartphone is placed near the sexual partners. Under these conditions, the accelerometer can only capture very approximate data related to movements during the sexual act. Indeed, the data collected by this sensor are linked to the movements of the smartphone themselves induced by the movements of the mattress themselves induced by the movements of the partners. By this process, only a very vague estimate of the actual movements related to sexual activity during the sexual act can be obtained. This type of device is therefore not capable of providing an objective measurement of the movements directly related to the sexual act. The microphone, for its part, measures the sound intensity of the noises emitted by the partners during the sexual act.This measurement of sound intensity can only be a subjective interpretation and cannot be considered an objective measurement of sexual activity during intercourse.

[0005] Other applications use the sensors of smartwatches and offer to measure the duration of the act, its intensity, calories and fat burned. In no case do they measure the characteristics of the movements made during the sexual act itself.

[0006] Thus, none of these applications or existing devices measure the characteristics of the movements made during the sexual act itself.

[0007] On the other hand, some patents attempt to meet this objective. These patents may have medical or recreational aims. However, none provide a concrete answer to the many problematic technical aspects inherent in the design of this type of device.

[0008] The first technical challenge linked to the concrete realization of the device concerns the implementation of appropriate sensors as well as the exploitation of the data they provide. A first solution proposed in certain patents is the use of an inertial unit. However, its implementation is difficult and the drift problems linked to the successive integrations involved in data processing are an obstacle to real technical development on this type of device and scenario. Moreover, in the patents, it is often only suggested formally. The second solution proposed is the use of an accelerometer only. But here again, the choice of this sensor raises non-obvious technical problems that are never mentioned in the patents concerned. The first difficulty encountered is the elimination, in the measurement of acceleration, of the part due to gravity. Indeed, the accelerometers currently available are all subject to this and this gravitational acceleration distorts any measurement.The problem is all the more pressing since, during a sexual act, the partners constantly change their orientation relative to the vertical and as a result, the component due to gravity which is superimposed on the acceleration of the movements that we are trying to measure, takes on unpredictable values. It is therefore not at all easy to subtract it from the acceleration measured by the sensor. The second difficulty arises, as for the inertial unit mentioned previously, from drift problems due to successive integrations based on the measurement of the acceleration. These integrations allow in particular to access the various characteristics of the movements (speed, position, etc.). The technical solutions to overcome these difficulties are far from obvious and they are never mentioned in the patents concerned.However, the technical challenge is significant, especially since the rhythm of movements, their sequence and their duration during a sexual act are random. Without this type of in-depth reflection on the subject, the use of an acceleration sensor to access the precise characteristics of a movement remains purely theoretical.

[0009] A second technical issue concerns the processing of data as the sexual act takes place. It would be very interesting to be able to receive the processed data concerning the sexual act at the time it takes place in order to be able to use it live. Existing patents only provide the data after the fact.

[0010] One of the goals of live data processing is to enable the device to discern, in all the movements that occur during the sexual act, those that are of interest. When does the sexual act actually begin? When does it end? When are there pauses during which any measurement is of no interest, or will even distort the interpretation of the results? This recognition of the "active" phases where measurements must be taken is essential. Moreover, it should be able to be carried out autonomously, without the partners paying attention to it. No patent presents a technical solution to this problem.

[0011] Another aim of the live processing of data is to allow the device to interact autonomously or in a programmed manner with other devices during the act itself depending on the values or the evolution of the data processed autonomously during the act (start or end of active phase, frequency of movements, speed, distance traveled, probable positions of the partners, etc.). Existing patents do not envisage this possibility.

[0012] A third technical challenge is to be able to offer a device that is as non-invasive as possible. The relevant patents propose devices that can be more or less so. Some devices can be very bulky, others more discreet, but none offer a device that does not directly affect the sexual organs. All of them provide at least a penis ring. However, this can become a hindrance for wearers of the device, especially if the device is used for medical purposes.

[0013] Finally, existing applications associated with this type of device always present two kinds of profiles: either a medical profile or a performative profile. In a context of questioning sexual practices and relationships, an open, participatory, non-performative application, capable of evolving with the expectations of its users remains to be considered.

[0014] The sex toy concerning the invention proposes to remedy these problems.

[0015] According to a first characteristic, the sex toy concerning the invention consists of a module (1), containing the electronics. It constitutes an on-board system which may include, among other things, an acceleration sensor, a calculation unit, an energy reserve system, a system for exchanging and / or storing the collected data. Thus, the sex toy concerning the invention can collect the measured and / or processed data and / or transmit them a posteriori and / or during the sexual act.

[0016] [Fig. 1] In a particular embodiment, a possible architecture of this electronic part is proposed which may comprise, among other things, an acceleration sensor, a computing unit, an energy reserve system, a system for exchanging and / or storing the collected data. The electronic part may be associated, for example, with a charging cable and / or a smartphone. Other charging systems and / or other peripherals associated with the invention are possible. Other architectures of the electronic part are possible in accordance with the spirit of the invention.

[0017] According to a second characteristic, the sex toy concerning the invention can eliminate from the measurements from the accelerometer contained in the module (1), the part due to gravity. During a sexual act, the sensor worn by one of the partners measures an acceleration which has two components: one is due to the back and forth movements created by the wearer of the sensor; the other is due to the fact that this same wearer does not always maintain the same posture in space and therefore the same inclination by relative to the vertical. The part due to gravity varies less quickly over time than the part due to back-and-forth movements. This difference in variation frequency can make it possible to separate the two phenomena. However, depending on the phases of the sexual act, the back-and-forth movements can slow down or accelerate. In this case, the two variation frequencies change. A fixed cutoff frequency filter is therefore not appropriate. To optimize the measurement, it is desirable to use a filtration system that adapts autonomously to the variations in the frequency of the movements of the sensor wearer.

[0018] [Fig.2a] In a particular embodiment, a possible positioning of the sensor relative to the wearer of the electronic module (1) is proposed in order to favor one of the x, y or z axes of the sensor by aligning it along the axis of the back-and-forth movements. For example, the z axis can be chosen arbitrarily. In the example proposed, the module (1) can be associated with a penis ring itself worn by a penis or any other object involved in back-and-forth movements during the sexual act. But the module (1) containing the electronics can also be directly positioned on the object or body performing the back-and-forth movements. An intermediate support, such as a penis ring, for the module (1) is not necessarily necessary as mentioned ([Fig.3c]). However, the module (1) must be correctly positioned in order to orient one of the axes of the acceleration sensor along the direction of the back-and-forth movements.

[0019] [Fig.2b] In a particular embodiment, a possible part of a flowchart corresponding to an adaptive filtration system is proposed, in accordance with the spirit of the invention. It is possible, in a first step, to reinitialize the variables of the flowchart (2) before starting the measurement of the coordinates ax, ay and az at a suitable sampling frequency fe and over a suitable recording duration T (3). Thanks to a high-pass filtering with a standard cut-off frequency to be fixed in a first step, it is possible to recover, as a first approximation, the coordinates of the acceleration axv, ayv and azv due solely to the movement of the wearer of the sensor (4). Then, the component azv, which corresponds to the acceleration along the preferred axis of the back-and-forth movements linked to penetration, is compared to zero. This comparison to zero can possibly be done by a hysteresis comparison system in order to eliminate parasitic zero crossings.We can then calculate the duration between two successive zero crossings (8) and then deduce the average value fmoy of the frequency of the back-and-forth movements over the duration T of the recording (9). This value fmoy can then be used as the new cut-off frequency of the filtration system. Being more suited to the signal being measured, it allows better filtration of the raw coordinate (i.e. still containing the part due to gravity) az of . the acceleration along the preferred axis of the back-and-forth movements at the sensor output (10). We then obtain the coordinate azv2 which corresponds to the better filtered acceleration, i.e. more clearly freed from the component due to gravity, along the preferred axis. With this signal azv2, we can then carry out an integration in order to obtain the speed vz corresponding to the speed of the back-and-forth movements of the sensor wearer only along the penetration axis (11). Adaptive filtration not only eliminates the part due to gravity, but also eliminates the drift problems inherent in integration techniques. Finally, we can also access d, the total distance traveled, during the back-and-forth movements by the sensor wearer by integrating the absolute value of vz over the recording duration T (12). According to a particular embodiment, this part of the flowchart is repeated according to the period T.Other embodiments of the adaptive filter and other flowcharts are possible in accordance with the spirit of the invention.

[0020] According to a third characteristic, the sex toy concerning the invention can make it possible to autonomously identify the beginning and the end of the active phases during the sexual act.

[0021] [Fig.2b] In a particular embodiment, a part of possible flowchart corresponding to the identification of the beginning and end of the active phases during the sexual act, that is to say phases corresponding to targeted movements and mainly carried out along the preferred axis of penetration and not to erratic movements which would have nothing to do with the act itself such as for example movements linked to the installation or removal of the sexual toy or movements due to pauses during the act or to changes of position or others. An example (6) of possible realization of this task, would be to calculate the average value of the total acceleration avmoy (due to the three coordinates axv, ayv and azv) after filtering, with the absolute value of the coordinate of the acceleration after filtering along the preferred axis | azv|. If |azv| corresponds to a significant part of avmoy, it is because the movement along the preferred axis is notable and that we are indeed in an active phase.Otherwise, we are probably dealing with erratic movements. So to know if we are indeed in the presence of an active phase we can compare the ratio ] azv | / avmoy to a threshold value c which is to be fixed (6). Other embodiments and other flowcharts are possible in accordance with the spirit of the invention.

[0022] According to a fourth characteristic, the sex toy concerning the invention can autonomously identify the type of posture and / or position of the wearer of the device during the duration of the sexual act.

[0023] [Fig.2b] In a particular embodiment, a part of possible flowchart corresponding to the identification of the probable posture of the wearer of the sensor. By using the average value of the acceleration provided by the sensor along the preferred axis (that of the back and forth movements) which corresponds to the component of the intensity of gravity projected onto this axis (16), it is possible to deduce information concerning the inclination relative to the vertical (for example) of the object or the part of the body involved in the back and forth movements (17) and it is possible to deduce therefrom the probable position adopted by the wearer of the device (18). Other embodiments are possible for identifying the probable position adopted by the wearer of the device, for example, by adding other sensors (for example, a gyroscope or a magnetometer) or using a classification algorithm by learning or others.

[0024] According to a fifth characteristic, the sex toy concerning the invention can, thanks to the methods described in the preceding paragraphs (the live transmission of data during the sexual act, the detection of active phases, the calculation of the characteristics of the back-and-forth movements, the identification of the probable posture of the wearer of the sensor, etc.), be associated with other connected peripherals. The analysis of the live data can be used to trigger an audio or video signal, act on the light intensity of the room where the sexual act is taking place, put the phones of the partner(s) in airplane mode or, on the contrary, ask them to connect; this can also be used to control or remotely control, directly or a posteriori, feedback on the wearer of the sensor or local or non-local actions on one or more partners. As examples, these feedbacks or actions can be of a mechanical type (vibrations, pressures, suctions or others).These feedbacks or actions can be for recreational purposes, medical purposes or other purposes. In the same vein, the sex toy can be directly associated with a device capable of creating, depending on the different phases of the act (start of a phase, change in frequency or speed of movements, distance traveled objective reached, change in posture or other...), a varied musical, visual or other ambiance. These ambiances could be, according to the user's preferences, programmed or adapted from a self-learning system. Other modes of association with other peripherals are possible in accordance with the spirit of the invention.

[0025] According to a sixth characteristic, the sex toy concerning the invention can be worn in multiple ways by at least one of the sexual partners. It can be associated in an irremovable or removable manner with a support that can be worn by the part of the body or the object directly involved in the back-and-forth movements, or associated in an irremovable or removable manner with a support directly involved in the back-and-forth movements or even directly fixed, for example by an adhesive system, on the part of the body or the object directly involved in the back-and-forth movements. Thus, the wearer of the device can choose from a range of possibilities extended, a way of carrying the module (1) more or less invasive according to one's desires or designs.

[0026] [Fig.3a] A possible embodiment of the sex toy is proposed as an example, consisting, according to a particular embodiment, of the module (1) irremovably associated with, for example, a penis ring (19). Other embodiments, in accordance with the spirit of the invention, are possible.

[0027] [Fig.3b] A possible embodiment of the sex toy is proposed as an example, consisting, according to a particular embodiment, of the module (1) associated, in a removable manner, with a support such as, for example, a penis ring (21) having a housing capable of receiving the module (1) or a dildo (22) or a plug (23) having a housing capable of receiving the module (1) or even, a buckle / belt assembly, the buckle (24) having a fixing system or a housing (25) capable of receiving the module (1) or others. Other embodiments, in accordance with the spirit of the invention, are possible.

[0028] [Fig.3c] A possible embodiment of the device is proposed as an example, consisting, according to a particular embodiment, of the module (1) directly fixed by a patch or adhesive tape or adhesives or others on a part of the body directly involved in the back and forth movements.

[0029] According to a seventh characteristic, the data collected and / or processed by the sex toy may be the subject of software exploitation integrated into the device or transferred to one or more peripherals such as a computer, smartphone, tablet or specific hardware device, these peripherals being able to exploit, directly or a posteriori, the data captured and / or processed by the device via a local or open network such as the Internet. This software exploitation may have, by way of example, recreational, statistical, informative, medical or other aims.

Claims

Claims

1. Sex toy containing, among other things, an acceleration sensor, a calculation unit, an energy reserve system, a system for exchanging and / or storing the collected data, characterized in that it measures the characteristics of the back-and-forth movements during a sexual act along the preferred axis of penetration thanks to an adaptive filtering system capable of eliminating the part of gravity during sexual movements.

2. Sex toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the module containing an acceleration sensor, a calculation unit, an energy reserve system, a system for exchanging and / or storing the collected data can be associated in an irremovable or removable manner with a support that can be worn by the part of the body or the object directly involved in the back-and-forth movements, or associated in an irremovable or removable manner with a support directly involved in the back-and-forth movements or even directly fixed for example by an adhesive system on the part of the body or the object directly involved in the back-and-forth movements.

3. Sex toy according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it can autonomously recognize the beginning and end of active sequences during the sexual act, that is to say recognize back and forth movements during a sexual act along the preferred axis of penetration.

4. Sex toy, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can autonomously detect the type of posture and / or position of the wearer of the device during the sexual act.

5. Sex toy, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data collected and / or processed by the device, can control or remotely control, directly or a posteriori, peripherals integrated or connected to the device in order to generate feedback on the wearer of the device or local or remote actions on one or more partners or local or remote actions on the environment of the wearer of the device or his or her partner(s). These feedbacks or actions may have, by way of example, recreational, medical or other aims.

6. Sex toy according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the captured and / or processed data can be the subject of software exploitation integrated into the device or transferred to one or more peripherals such as computers, smartphones, tablets or specific hardware devices, these peripherals being able to exploit the data captured and / or processed by the device via a local or open network such as the Internet. This software exploitation may have, for example, recreational, statistical, informative, medical or other purposes.

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