Speed ​​control device for projecting light targets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a speed control device intended to be physically fixed to a person (for example via a belt or harness) or to any other mobile body (for example a bicycle, a horse or a remote controlled automobile), comprising: 1. means for periodically checking the speed of the device, 2. means for periodically checking a set speed, 3. means for projecting a light target onto an element of the device's environment, 4. means for directing this projection, and 5. means for controlling this orientation, characterized in that one of the functions of said means is to give the impression that a light target is moving over the surface of the element of the environment at the set speed.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Technical Field The present invention falls within the field of sports assistance solutions, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for enabling participants in competitive sports to control their pace. [Background technology]

[0002] Background technology In competitive sports, maximum performance often depends on maintaining a given pace during training or competition.

[0003] However, maintaining pace is difficult, therefore athletes commonly use support solutions which can be divided into two categories: Category 1: Methods with targets moving at a desired pace that are sufficient to be tracked. Targets are for example professional athletes (colloquially called "hares"), vehicles or even light targets projected from a vehicle onto the ground. Targets may be represented by light tracks placed along the path. Category 2: Personal electronic devices equipped with a GPS receiver such as a sports watch or smartphone with a sports performance tracking application that calculates the athlete's speed and alerts the athlete via a display screen or an audible message if he or she is not keeping pace.

[0004] Category 1 methods are instinctive to use but difficult to implement. Category 2 devices are easy to implement but difficult to use effectively when trying to command all of one's attention. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a pace control solution that is easy to implement since it can be integrated into a mobile device, and that is instinctive to use since it is based on the principle of tracking a target.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a pace-controlling device intended to be physically fixed to a person (e.g. via a belt or harness) or to any other mobile object (e.g. a bicycle, a horse or a remote-controlled car).

[0007] The device is 1. A means for periodically checking the pace of the device; 2. A means to periodically check your target pace; 3. A means for projecting light targets onto elements in the device's environment; 4. A means of directing this projection; and 5. Means for controlling this orientation, characterized in that one of the functions of which is to give the impression that the light target is moving on the surface of these elements in the environment at the pace of this target; Includes.

[0008] Depending on the action being performed, light targets are projected onto the ground, the road, the track, the bottom of a swimming pool, the walls of a bobsleigh track, or any other element in the device's environment.

[0009] The projected light targets may be, for example, spots, lines, symbols, text, images, or any other figures, possibly superimposed or formed from separate sub-figures.

[0010] The present invention is applicable to all competitive sports (e.g. running, swimming, skiing, cycling, horse riding), including competitive sports using an intervening object (e.g. remote controlled automobiles), and more generally to all actions that involve progress under time constraints (e.g. foot locomotion of military or rescue personnel).

[0011] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic representation of a runner equipped with the device that is the subject of the present invention, according to one particular embodiment and mode of use of the invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device that is the subject of the present invention, according to one particular embodiment and mode of use of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Detailed Description In the following description, paragraphs that do not begin with the term "in one variant" relate to the particular embodiment and use shown in Figures 1 and 2. On the other hand, paragraphs that begin with "in one variant" relate to other uses or embodiments of the invention.

[0014] The device 1 that is the subject of the present invention is attached to a runner 2 via a belt.

[0015] In one variation, the device is fastened to another moving object (eg, a bicycle, a horse, or a remote-controlled car).

[0016] The device comprises a line-generating laser module 10 for projecting a light target 3 in the form of a straight line segment, this laser module constituting one example of a means for projecting a light target.

[0017] The light target 3 is projected onto a ground 4, the elements of which constitute one example of elements in the device's environment.

[0018] The laser module 10 is fastened to the axle 11 of a brushless motor 12, which allows the laser module 10 to be oriented at an angle a to the plane of the drawing, the motor and the motor axle forming one example of a means for orienting the projection.

[0019] In one variation, the means for directing the projection includes a gimbal / motor pair linkage, such as an electronic gimbal stabilizer for a camera, capable of directing the projection according to three degrees of freedom (roll, pitch, yaw).

[0020] In one variant, the means for directing the projection include a mirror attached to a galvanometer that reflects the beam of a stationary laser, thus making it possible to: 1. Orienting the projection according to 3 degrees of freedom (roll, pitch, yaw), and 2. Using persistence of vision to generate light targets with complex shapes

[0021] The angle a of the brushless motor 12 is controlled by a microcontroller 13, the program of which is capable of projecting a target at a desired distance d; this microcontroller and the program of the microcontroller constitute one example of a means of controlling the orientation.

[0022] The Bluetooth interface 14 can connect the device to a sports watch or smartphone having a sports action tracking application that can provide the device's pace and target pace (the target pace may be variable over time, e.g. depending on the terrain), and this interface constitutes one example of a means for periodically checking the device's pace and target pace.

[0023] In one variation that is independent of any external device, the device includes: 1. A GPS receiver capable of calculating the pace of the device by obtaining its position as a function of time, which constitutes another example of a means for periodically checking the pace of the device. 2. A user interface formed, for example, of a digital screen and buttons that allows the user to input one or more target paces, which constitutes another example of a means for periodically checking the target pace.

[0024] The program of the microcontroller 13 dynamically changes the angle a to give the impression of a moving light target on the surface of an element in the environment at a target pace Ac, and therefore independently of the pace Ad of the device. The algorithm of the program is based on the following logic: 1. The linear velocity relative to the device to be imparted to the optical target is given by the following [Equation 1]. [Formula 1]

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[0025] Four buttons 16 allow the user to set the minimum and maximum distance from the light target to the device. 1. Buttons MIN and MAX are selectors for choosing the distance to be set. Pressing one of these buttons transmits a command to the microcontroller 13 to change to the forced mode and project a target at the corresponding distance. 2. The buttons + and - may be used to increase or decrease the minimum or maximum distance thus selected. These buttons constitute one example of a means by which a user can set at least one of the operating parameters. This forced mode constitutes an additional function of the means for controlling orientation in addition to the functions described in paragraph

[0024] .

[0026] In one variant in which the means for directing the projection are capable of directing the projection according to three degrees of freedom (roll, pitch, yaw), several buttons can also set the initial position of the light target, which can be positioned laterally, for example on the side of the bicycle or on the wall of a bobsleigh track.

[0027] In one variant, the settings button is replaced with a Bluetooth interface that connects to a smartphone having an application for parameterizing the device, this interface constituting another example of a means by which the user can set at least one of the operating parameters.

[0028] The inertial unit 15 transmits the acceleration of the device according to six degrees of freedom to the program of the microcontroller 13, this inertial unit constituting one example of a means for ascertaining the movement of the device.

[0029] Two accelerations caused by the vibration of the device and the movement of the runner's body cause parasitic displacements of the light target that are desirable to suppress: 1. Possible acceleration of the runner (4m / s 2 ) is greater than the translational acceleration g1 in the direction of travel 2. Rotational acceleration g2 in the plane of the drawing The program of the microcontroller 13 acts on the angle a to offset the ground displacement of the optical target due to these two parasitic accelerations, thereby constituting one example of at least partially compensating for the effect of the device movement on the location of the optical target. Thus, the new equation for the desired angular velocity is: [Formula 4]

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[0030] The Bluetooth interface 14 can connect the device to a sports watch or a smartphone having a sports action tracking application capable of providing periodic information regarding the slope of the ground 4; this interface constitutes one example of a means for periodically checking the geometric characteristics of elements in the environment onto which the light target is projected.

[0031] The inclination of the ground introduces imprecision into the program of the microcontroller 13 that is favored for correction, and this correction constitutes one example of the use of these geometrical characteristics to enhance the impression that the light target is moving at a target pace. Generalizing the calculation of [Equation 2], it can be seen that the angle a to be applied to the motor 12 is now as follows [Equation 5]: [Formula 5]

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[0029] , this gives the following [Equation 7]. [Formula 7]

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[0032] In one variant, the device includes a GPS receiver capable of calculating the slope of the ground by obtaining the altitude, which constitutes another example of a means for periodically checking the geometric characteristics of elements in the environment onto which the light target is projected.

Claims

1. A pace control device (1) intended to be physically fixed to a person (2) or any other moving body, comprising: a. means (14) for periodically checking the pace of said device; b. Means (14) for periodically checking the target pace; c. A means (10) for projecting a light target (3) onto an element in the environment (4) of said device; d. Means (11, 12) for directing said projection at an angle (a) relative to the vertical; e. Means (13) for controlling said orientation, one of the functions of which is to dynamically change said angle (a) so as to give the impression that said light target (3) is moving on the surface of said element in said environment (4) at said target pace; A device (1) comprising:

2. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means (15) for checking a movement of the device, and wherein the control means (13) acts on the angle (a) based on the movement of the device to offset the displacement of the light target (3) over the element in the environment (4) caused by the movement of the device, thus at least partially compensating for the effect of the movement on the position of the light target (3).

3. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means (14) for periodically checking geometrical characteristics of the elements in the environment (4) of the device, and wherein the control means (13) acts on the angle (a) based on the geometrical characteristics in order to correct the influence of the geometrical characteristics on the projection of the light target (3) onto these elements in the environment (4) and thus to reinforce the impression that the light target (3) is moving over the surface of the elements in the environment (4) at the target pace.

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