Sport chair with game integration

Abstract

To solve problems with the prior art.SOLUTION: A sport chair with ancillary electronic functionality includes a seating surface operative to support a user, and ancillary functionality selected from thermal management functionality, identity sensing functionality, health sensing functionality, apparel integration, and immersive display functionality.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 513,411, filed May 31, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a chair having electronic aspects useful in a sports or e-sports environment.

Background Art

[0003] Conventionally, athletes have utilized seating that performs only the function of supporting a user. In that case, athletes rely on auxiliary function-specific devices / solutions to satisfy other needs. However, often these function-specific devices / solutions work sub-optimally to address the user's needs or inconvenience the user, thus risking not fully utilizing their potential. Therefore, there is a need for a seating solution that can support an athlete while providing auxiliary functionality that can be beneficial depending on the situation.

[0004] For example, during athletic activity, it is well recognized that muscles function better and the risk of injury is lower if they are adequately warmed up before the activity. Warming up muscles before an activity by performing low-intensity exercise (i.e., “active warm-up”) that increases both metabolic activity and heat generation within the muscles is a common practice for athletes. A typical period of active warm-up has been found to be able to raise the muscle temperature by about 2 - 4 °C (i.e., from a resting temperature of about 35 - 36 °C to an active temperature of about 38 - 39 °C).

[0005] In fact, many athletes perform active warm-ups during preparation for athletic competition, but it is also common for athletes to experience some delay between the warm-up and the start of the competition. Similarly, in team sports including substitution of athletes or breaks during play periods, athletes may disengage from the competition after competing for a period of time and, as shown in FIG. 1, may sit in a chair / rest in a chair. These periods of inactivity cause muscle cooling, which can lead to a subsequent decrease in muscle performance and an increased risk of injury.

[0006] Current state-of-the-art techniques for maintaining muscle warmth during these periods of inactivity include athletes wearing insulated clothing as part of an effort to minimize heat loss to the surrounding environment. Standard clothing does not do anything to actively regulate muscle temperature to an optimal level. Moreover, insulating the entire body can have a detrimental effect on the body's ability to regulate core temperature and the athlete's perception of comfort or fatigue, both of which can have a negative impact on long-term endurance.

[0007] In another example, it is common for players in many sports to interact with a personal or team coach when leaving the game. This collaboration can sometimes be done verbally, either in person or via phone or other two-way communication devices, and can use demonstratives such as dry-erase marker boards, photos, or videos displayed on a tablet or other computing device. In each case, the means of communication or demonstration may be insufficient to convey the intended message or information. Similarly, it involves an increased involvement of the player, for example, during periods when rest or recovery is a priority. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of a sport chair with athletic integration includes a seat surface configured to support a user, a plurality of thermo-converters, a biometric sensor, and a processor. The plurality of thermo-converters are disposed on the seat surface, and each thermo-converter is operative to perform at least one of actively transferring thermal energy to the user or actively absorbing thermal energy from the user. The biometric sensor is operative to monitor a physiological parameter of the user, such as at least one of hydration, weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, or galvanic skin response. The processor then communicates with each of the thermo-converters and the biometric sensor, and is configured to control the plurality of thermo-converters to maintain the user's temperature within a predetermined temperature range, sense at least one physiological parameter of the user via the biometric sensor, and output the sensed physiological parameter to a display.

[0009] In one embodiment, the sport chair includes a processor configured to detect the presence of a user on the seat surface, establish communication with clothing on the user's body, and control the clothing to reduce the tension applied through the clothing. The sport chair may further include an inductive charging transmitter, in which case the processor may be operative to charge a battery associated with the clothing by transmitting a magnetic field through the inductive charging transmitter.

[0010] Additionally, in one embodiment, the sport chair may include at least two of thermal management means for regulating the user's temperature, identity sensing means for determining the user's identity, health sensing means for determining at least one biometric parameter of the user, clothing integration means for at least one of charging a battery associated with clothing on the user's body or controlling the tension applied to the user's body through the clothing, and display means for displaying an image within the user's field of view. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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Figure 1

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Figure 2

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Figure 5A

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Figure 5B

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Figure 6

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Figure 7

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Figure 8

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Figure 9

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Figure 10

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Figure 11

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Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Referring to the drawings that use like reference numbers to identify like or identical components in the various figures, FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a smart chair 10 that may include one or more (one or more) integrated electronic aspects 12 that may be useful in a sports or e-sports environment (generally indicated at 12). As shown, chair 10 may include, for example, one or more sensors or sensing capabilities 14, a bi-directional or uni-directional audio communication system 16, a visual display system 18 such as an augmented reality or virtual reality display, one or more conductive and / or convective heat converters 20, and / or clothing integration capabilities 22. Each electronic aspect 12 may be directly controlled or may communicate with a processor 24, which in some embodiments may communicate remotely with a media generation device 32 that interfaces with one or more other smart chairs 10, a remote storage server 26 / database 28, a remote coaching terminal 30, and / or external audio / visual (A / V) equipment 34.

[0026] From a structural perspective, it is desirable to construct the chair 10 to be as ergonomic as possible and to support the user 36 in a natural body posture that minimizes both the average contact pressure and the maximum contact pressure between the user 36 and the chair 10. In some embodiments, an ideal ergonomic chair design may include a mixed material construction that provides the structure and shape to the chair 10 while also serving to rock the user 36 and maximize comfort. For example, in one configuration as shown in FIGS. 3-4, the chair 10 may include a rigid outer structure 40 that surrounds and supports a more compliant (adaptive) inner seat surface 42. In some embodiments, the rigid outer structure 40 may be located beneath the compliant inner seat surface 42, while in other embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3-4, the outer structure 40 and the inner seat surface 42 may cooperate to define a continuous surface 44. The compliant inner seat surface 42 may be specifically configured to conform to the contour of the user's body when the user 36 sits within the chair 10. In this way, the surface area of flat contact between the user 36 and the chair 10 is maximized.

[0027] FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate the difference in contact surface area between a chair as shown in FIG. 1 and the chair 10 as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 5A, it is apparent that a conventional chair only constructs contact with the user 36 across a narrow surface area 46a at the center of the back and the upper legs. In contrast, FIG. 5B illustrates an embodiment in which the entire back surface 46b of the user 36 contacts the chair 10. By supporting more of the user, the chair 10 provides better ergonomics, allowing the user 36 to relax more fully within the chair and, if necessary, rest / recover. FIG. 3 illustrates a somewhat reclined embodiment of the present chair, but the chair may also be more upright or assume other postures that provide improved contact pressure and ergonomic qualities over the standard folding chair of FIG. 1.

[0028] Schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 and, as described above, in some embodiments, chair 10 may include various sensing capabilities 14 useful for determining the identity of the user (i.e., identity sensing 50) and / or the real-time health of user 36 (i.e., health sensing 52). By knowing the identity of the individual within / on chair 10, processor 24 may customize certain performance attributes of chair 10 to suit that user 36 and / or to adjust other sensed data for third-party display and / or aggregation. Health sensing 52 may generally include monitoring of specific biometrics, which may be useful for determining future game strategies (from a coaching perspective), establishing trends, and / or for third-party infographic displays.

[0029] To enable identity sensing 50, chair 10 may include an RFID reader that reads an RFID chip coupled to user 36 or the user's clothing, a camera with face recognition software, a fingerprint scanner, a keypad, or other such sensing means. Each of these identity sensing modalities generally requires chair 10 to sense some identifying attribute of user 36. Once sensed, each sensor communicates information related to the attribute to processor 24, and processor 24 may draw appropriate inferences regarding the identity of the user.

[0030] In some configurations, the health sensing 52 may include real-time monitoring of hydration, weight, heart rate, respiration, galvanic skin response, or other such biometric measurements. For example, in one configuration, the chair 10 may include one or more load cells to determine the real-time weight of the user 36. Given that rapid weight fluctuations are primarily due to changes in hydration, if the processor 24 determines via the load cell that the user's weight has decreased by more than a predetermined amount or percentage over the course of an event, the processor 24 may conclude that the user 36 is dehydrated and warn the user 36 to drink fluids. Such an indication of dehydration may be provided, for example, by illuminating a light visible to the user 36 or a light visible to a person in the vicinity of the chair 10 (e.g., a team member or training staff). As a different proxy for hydration, the processor 24 may be further configured to monitor (track) changes in the weight of one or more water bottles via one or more strain gauges or load cells associated with a cup holder. In this way, the processor 24 may track the total water intake of the user 36.

[0031] Similarly, in some configurations, the chair 10 may include one or more integrated sensors that can determine the user's heart rate, respiratory rate, and / or galvanic skin response. These sensors may include one or more electrodes, load cells, strain gauges, light-emitting diodes, light sensors, or other such sensors that are known to monitor such parameters. Further, these sensors may be integrated within the surface of the chair, under a moisture barrier layer, and / or under a cushion layer. In other embodiments, as further described below, one or more of the sensors may be embedded within the user's clothing and / or within a wearable device or strap that communicates directly with the user's skin.

[0032] Once adjusted to the user's identity, player-specific health data 54 may then be logged or recorded by server 26 and / or by an associated database 28, for example, for the purposes of trend analysis and real-time detection of trend deviations. Further, real-time health data 54 and / or trend data 56 may be streamed to a remote coaching terminal 30 and / or a media production device 32 (as generally shown in FIG. 7), where it may be displayed for informational purposes. For example, in some embodiments, coaching / training staff may use player-specific health data 54 to make an assessment as to whether user 36 is sufficiently rested / recovered to resume competition. Similarly, media production staff may incorporate player-specific health data 54 and / or trend data 56 into a live or audio / visual broadcast (e.g., via A / V equipment 34) that is being screened. In yet other embodiments, health data 54 and trend data 56 may be presented directly to the user via a display.

[0033] In yet another embodiment, player-specific health data 54 and / or trend data 56 may be further used in the context of esports as part of gameplay. For example, a user's perceived real-time physiological response during a game may be used as input for controlling visual focus and / or controller sensitivity or jitter. In such embodiments, intense or stressful encounters (as evaluated, for example, by heart rate or respiratory rate) may result in a less focused display, some loss of peripheral vision, and an increase in jitter within the control device. Thus, a gamer who can control their physiological response may have an advantage.

[0034] As schematically illustrated in FIG. 7 and as described above, in some embodiments, the chair 10 may include various audio communication systems 16 that serve to facilitate audible communication between two or more (two or more) users 36 and / or between one or more (one or more) users 36 and local or remote coaching staff 60 (i.e., via data connection 62). In such embodiments, the audio communication system 16 may include at least one speaker 64 provided for each respective chair 10. Similarly, the audio communication system 16 may further include at least one microphone or other audio input device associated with the remote coaching terminal 30 and / or one or more of the chairs 10 provided. In this way, the audio communication system 16 may facilitate communication between players and / or between users and coaching staff and / or communication. Communication between players may be particularly beneficial in noisy stadium / arena environments or in sports where players are constrained to sit in a linear arrangement. Similarly, communication between coaches and players may better enable in-game adjustments by facilitating player-specific advice or team strategy advice for any one or more users 36 or groups 36 of users 36.

[0035] In some embodiments, the speaker 64 and / or the audio communication system 16 may operate to provide a noise cancellation function to each respective user 36. Such a noise cancellation function is useful for providing both a quiet and relaxing feeling to the user 36 in a noisy arena or stadium, and for better facilitating communication between players and between players and the coaching staff. In such embodiments, the chair 10 may include a microphone that receives audible background / stadium noise. The processor 24 may receive a signal from the microphone and direct the speaker 64 to broadcast an out-of-phase audio wave that destructively interferes with and / or reduces the magnitude of the ambient noise to the user 36. In some embodiments, it is more preferred that this includes a chair 10 having a wraparound head support.

[0036] In addition to purely audio communication / advice, many athletes rely on visual information and / or demonstratives to better understand the strategies and trends during a game of the opposing team. Thus, in some embodiments, the smart chair 10 may include a visual display system 18 that incorporates an augmented reality (AR) view (similar to, for example, virtual reality (VR)) and / or one or more immersive or partially immersive displays. These display systems 18 may be used by the coaching staff to replay previous game sequences, to illustrate future game sequences, to provide overhead and / or perspective views of live and / or recorded plays, and to enhance the real-time view of the user's live play. Further, in some embodiments, the visual display system 18 may be used to relax the user 36 following a period of intense activity and / or to activate the player prior to entering a game / competitive event.

[0037] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the visual display system 18 may include a graphical display 70 that may be worn on or over a portion of the user's head 72, particularly in front of the user's eyes. In some embodiments, the display 70 may be embodied in a helmet, visor, or other head covering element associated with the chair 10. Alternatively, the display 70 may be embodied in a separate lens, such as glasses or goggles, that may be separated from the chair 10. In any embodiment, the graphical display 70 may include a separate visual display for each of the user's eyes (or the ability to project stereoscopic vision separately for each eye) to provide a stereoscopic display to the user 36.

[0038] In an AR configuration, the graphical display 70 may include a substantially transparent lens that operates to provide one or more visual elements within the user's 36 field of view. The display 70 may include, for example, a transparent lens that receives a projected image from an adjacent projector, a selectively emissive display (e.g., an OLED display), and / or a display that can selectively change light transmission (e.g., an LCD). Further, the graphical display 70 may include a view tracking system that can detect and / or understand the user's real-time field of view, for example, by looking outside, looking inside to track the movement of the user's eyes, and / or understanding the real-time position and orientation of the display 70. Examples of graphical display technologies that may be used with the present system for augmented reality representations are detailed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0160001, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] In a VR configuration, the graphical display 70 may generally be opaque such that the display blocks the user's perception around the user outside the display. In such embodiments, the display 70 may include, for example, a projection display on an opaque or translucent surface, a light-emitting display with an opaque back, or a backlit, selectively transmissive display such as an LCD or LED display. In some embodiments, VR and AR may be achieved using the same device and / or by selectively covering separate portions of the device using, for example, a selectively dimmable electrochromic layer disposed behind a light-emitting display such as an OLED display. An example of such a combined VR / AR display is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0055822, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a mixed reality view 80 as might be seen through the graphical display 70 shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, a schematic view 82 of the court is overlaid within the user's real-time field of view 84 to more accurately illustrate the movement of the players resulting in the current live action. More specifically, in some embodiments, this top view of the court may illustrate the positions of all players using either live imagery or schematic symbols 86, and may further include player history lines 88 to represent the movement of the players over a predetermined amount of previous time. In some embodiments, the view 80 may be dynamically reconfigurable, and a portion of the view 80 may be allocated for a playback video (i.e., playback window 90) selectively provided to the display 70 via the coaching terminal 30. Additionally, in some embodiments, the display 70 may overlay a position indicator 92 simultaneously with or slightly above the floor 94 to emphasize the real-time player positions. Similar to the illustrative view 82, the player history lines 88 may track the position indicator 92 to illustrate the movement of the players. During timeouts, for example, the relative sizes of the schematic display 82 and / or the playback window 0 may be adjusted / enlarged to provide enhanced coaching and strategic illustration.

[0041] Figures 7-8 illustrate the use of audio and video capabilities 16, 18 related to the sport of basketball, but they may also be readily applicable to other sports and e-sports. For example, the current state of the art for in-game coaching in the sport of American football involves a small group of players collectively reviewing printed images and / or playback videos provided on a tablet display. Current chair technology provides significant benefits for coaching and team integration while allowing players to relax in a seated position while concentrating on coaching advice. Further, as described above, the chair 10 may include a plurality of thermoelectric converters 20 for maintaining the athlete's body in a ready state (which would typically be impossible if players were required to gather around a single display). In the context of e-sports, the audio and video capabilities 16, 18 may be used to provide an immersive and / or semi-immersive environment for a game competitor while allowing the competitor to communicate outwardly and / or for the competitor's personal annotations to be broadcast to a larger audience.

[0042] In the context of traditional sports, FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a smart chair 10 comprising a plurality of thermoelectric converters 20 configured to actively maintain the temperature of various muscle groups within the user's body in a "warm-up" state, and one or more systems configured to assist in reducing / regulating the user's core body temperature and / or reducing the feeling of fatigue / exhaustion.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 9-10, in some embodiments, the seat surface 42 inside the chair 10 includes a plurality of discrete heat zones 114, each heat zone configured to actively apply heat and / or cooling to the user 36 via conductive heat transfer. As used herein, "applying heat" or "heating" includes controlling each heat zone 114 to generate a heat flux and transmit the heat flow rate outwardly to the user 36 (i.e., a heat source), whereas "applying cooling" or "cooling" includes controlling each heat zone 114 to absorb a heat flux from the user 36 and receive the heat flow rate inwardly (i.e., a heat sink).

[0044] Each heat zone 114 includes one or more working elements 116 configured to actively generate and / or absorb thermal energy, and a user-facing contact surface 118 that facilitates heat transfer between the working element 116 and the user 36. In one configuration, as better shown in FIG. 10, the working element 116 may be a thermoelectric cooler, such as a Peltier device 120, and the contact surface 118 may include the outer surface of the Peltier device 120 facing the user. As is well known in the art, a Peltier device is a solid-state device that can controllably vary the temperature gradient across the thickness of the Peltier device 120 in response to an applied current 122 (schematically shown in FIG. 9). Advantageously, these devices 120 can be used to heat or cool a desired surface. For example, if a current is applied to the Peltier device 120, the contact surface 118 becomes thermally hot while the opposite side becomes thermally cold. Conversely, if an opposite current is applied to the Peltier device 120, the contact surface becomes thermally cold while the opposite side becomes thermally hot.

[0045] To maximize the flexibility and usefulness of the chair 10, each thermal zone 114 may preferably be capable of both adding heat and adding cooling to the user, as may be provided by a Peltier device 120. Given this versatility, the chair 10 may be used to actively warm up the user 36 prior to an event, maintain the user 36 in a ready state during breaks in the event, and / or cool the user 36 after the event, simply by changing the heating / cooling profile across the various thermal zones 114.

[0046] In other embodiments, a selected zone may be configured strictly to add heat (such as, for example, a zone dedicated solely to warming muscles), while other zones may be configured strictly to add cooling (such as, for example, a zone for cooling / a zone to assist in regulating the user's core temperature). A dedicated heating zone may utilize an actuating element 116, such as, for example, a resistive heating element or a bladder filled with a heated liquid. Similarly, a dedicated cooling zone may utilize an actuating element 116, such as, for example, an air-cooled heat sink, a refrigeration system, or a cryogenic fluid, a bladder filled with a cooled liquid. In a further embodiment, a dedicated cooling zone may incorporate the use of a large mass having a high heat capacity that is maintained at a temperature lower than the user's skin (such as, for example, a large block of a container of steel, aluminum, or water).

[0047] To maintain the user 36 in an optimal state of readiness for a sports competition, the chair 10 operates to independently and selectively control the temperature output of each of the plurality of thermal zones 114. By doing so, the chair 10 may attempt to regulate different local regions of the user's body at their respective optimal temperatures. To achieve this independent and selective control, the processor 24 may communicate with each of the plurality of thermal zones 114. The processor 24 is configured to execute one or more software / firmware algorithms stored, or is configured to be able to easily access them to understand and independently control the temperature of each respective thermal zone 114.

[0048] In one configuration, the processor 24 may control the temperature of each respective thermal zone 114 in an open-loop manner. For example, the processor 24 may receive an indication of a desired amount of heat flux for each zone 114 and may correspondingly actuate each actuating element 116 to respond. In a system where the actuating element 116 is a Peltier device 120, the processor 24 may directly supply a current 122 to each Peltier device 120 in response to the received indication of the desired heat flux. The received indication of the desired heat flux may be a qualitative measure of the desired amount of heat / cooling to be applied via the zone 114 and may be input by the user 36 via one or more digital or analog input devices. Alternatively, the desired amount of heat flux may be pre-programmed into the processor 24 based on the desired use of the chair 10 (e.g., according to sports, intensity of athletic competition, sports environment, and / or expected remaining duration).

[0049] Open-loop temperature control presents a solution that is easily implemented, but a more preferred strategy involves the use of closed-loop temperature control. In a closed-loop temperature control strategy, each thermal zone 114 may include one or more temperature sensors 132 that operate to output a signal 134 indicative of the temperature of the contact surface 118 and / or the temperature of the user 36 in close proximity to the contact surface 118. Using this feedback, the processor 24 may modulate the output of the actuating element 116 (e.g., by varying the current 122 provided to the actuating element 116) in an attempt to minimize the difference between the sensed temperature and a specific setpoint temperature. In one configuration, the user 36 may directly input their desired temperature setpoints for each respective thermal zone 114. In another configuration, the setpoint temperature may be automatically selected by the processor 24 or may be pre-programmed into the processor 24 according to the nature of the sport and the environment in which the sport is being played.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the processor 24 may automatically attempt to provide optimal thermal relief to the user while attempting to maintain the user's various muscle temperatures at respective optimal levels for the activity in which the user 36 is participating. To achieve this, it is desirable for the thermal zones 114 to be arranged to align with and directly contact the user 36 at or near the muscle groups and / or body regions where they are also intended to apply heat or cooling. For example, if the chair 10 is used in connection with the sport of basketball (e.g., for use before the start of a game or after a player substitution), the thermal zones 114 may desirably be arranged to contact and be in direct thermal communication with the user's gluteal muscles, hamstring muscles (i.e., the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and / or biceps femoris), and / or calf muscles (i.e., the gastrocnemius). It may also be beneficial to arrange the thermal zones 114 for direct contact with the back muscles (i.e., the trapezius, rhomboids, erector spinae, serratus, obliques, and / or latissimus dorsi), shoulders (i.e., the deltoids), and / or arms (e.g., the triceps).

[0051] For the purpose of maintaining muscle temperatures at optimal levels, FIGS. 9-10 schematically illustrate a first plurality of thermal zones 140 positioned to contact the upper back (e.g., the rhomboids) directly, a second plurality of thermal zones 142 positioned to contact the gluteal muscles and / or hamstring muscles directly, and a third plurality of thermal zones 144 positioned to contact the calf muscles directly. In each case, it is desirable for the processor 24 to maintain the respective adjacent muscles at a temperature about 2° C. to about 4° C. higher than their natural resting temperature, which may be achieved by controlling the temperature of the contact surface 118 to the desired muscle temperature or a setpoint temperature slightly higher than that.

[0052] Maintaining muscle at a high temperature is useful for keeping the muscle in a prepared state, which reduces the potential for future injury and improves muscle performance / power. However, heating can be harmful to an athlete's long-term endurance and the psychological perception of heat relief after an exercise session. Therefore, in order to reduce fatigue, enhance user comfort, and decrease the thermoregulatory stress within the user's body, the chair 10 can apply cooling to the user 36 in one or more of various forms.

[0053] First, the chair 10 may include a thermal zone 146 aligned with the user's spine and / or neck that is configured to actively sink heat energy from the user 36. The neck and spine regions carry a significant amount of blood flow but have a minimal amount of muscle mass that, if cooled, is at risk of cramping or negatively affecting athletic performance. Thus, by cooling the spine and / or neck, the chair 10 may help the user's body manage its core temperature (i.e., reduce the thermoregulatory strain on the body) while also providing psychological benefits such as feelings of rest, recovery, and / or heat relief. In one configuration, applying cooling to the spine and / or neck may be performed in a controlled manner that avoids any adverse effects on muscle temperature despite the application of external heating.

[0054] The chair 10 may further provide cooling to the user 36 via a convective cooling system 150 that directs an air flow 152 towards and across the user's head and / or face, as schematically shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. It is unclear whether convective cooling of the head and / or face has a significant impact on core body temperature, but it has been shown to provide beneficial effects such as extending the average time to fatigue and reducing the level of total exertion perceived by the user. Additionally, in some situations, face cooling has been found to have clear performance advantages during aerobic activities.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 9 and more clearly shown by FIG. 11, in some embodiments, the convective cooling system 150 may include an air plenum 154 configured to direct an air stream 152 towards the head and / or face of the user 36. In one configuration, the air plenum 154 includes one or more orifices, slots, or other such vents 156 (vents) that allow pressurized air to exit the plenum 154 and be directed towards the head / face of the user 36. In one configuration, it may be preferable for the air to be delivered in a laminar flow, which may allow the exiting air stream 152 to closely follow the contours of the user's head and face. One or more orifices, slots, or other such vents 156 are preferably disposed sufficiently forward (e.g., in front of the forehead) relative to the user's head so that the air stream 152 is directed across the user's face, although in some embodiments, even if the vents 156 are disposed further rearward, the nature of the flow (e.g., following laminar / boundary) may allow for face cooling.

[0056] As schematically shown in FIG. 9, the convective cooling system 150 may further include one or more fans 158 or other blower devices configured to move air within the system 150. For the purpose of cooling the air stream 152 before directing it towards the user, the convective cooling system 150 may further include one or more refrigeration devices 160 disposed within the path of the air before it exits the vents 156. In one configuration, the refrigeration device 160 may cool the flowing air, for example, using a refrigerant or an evaporative cooler. In another configuration, the refrigeration device 160 may utilize and / or include the reverse side of one or more of the Peltier devices 120 used to warm the user's muscles. Finally, as shown in FIG. 11, the convective cooling system 150 may further include any required duct structure 162 needed to carry the air stream from the fan 158 to the plenum 154.

[0057] In some embodiments, the chair 10 may further include a convective humidity management system operative to manage the humidity within the microclimate directly surrounding the user 36. For example, after a period of intensive activity, the user's body may be covered in sweat. The humidity management system may direct an airflow around the body of the user 36 in a manner that causes evaporation of the sweat and / or helps reduce any increase in local humidity resulting from the evaporated sweat. The humidity management system may utilize microchannels extending through the plenum 154 and / or the inner seating surface 42 of the chair 10 to direct an airflow over the user's body. In one configuration, the airflow directed towards the body may be heated (e.g., via a heating element) to avoid having a significant cooling effect on the user's skin / muscles. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the airflow directed towards the body may be at ambient temperature or cooled below ambient temperature in an attempt to provide the psychological benefit of cooling and / or refreshing the user 36 (if desired).

[0058] In configurations where a particular seating surface 42 is likely to receive a plurality of different users through a sports event, it is particularly important for the chair to have sufficient compliance to comfortably and ergonomically receive users having different body types. Similarly, the plurality of thermal zones 114 must be arranged so that they contact the desired muscle groups / body locations for a range of body types / sizes.

[0059] In one configuration, to provide optimal temperature regulation effects across multiple different user / body sizes, the plurality of thermal zones 114 may be dynamically assigned and / or constructed based on an understanding of the user's specific anatomical structure. For example, a plurality of discrete actuating elements 116 may be disposed across the entire inner seating surface 42 of the chair 10 (or across a substantial portion thereof). After receiving the user 36 into / onto the chair 10, the processor 24 may intelligently define the plurality of thermal zones 114 by grouping adjacent sets of actuating elements 116 according to the user's specific anatomical structure.

[0060] In one configuration, the processor 24 may determine the user's anatomical makeup by monitoring the contact pressure between the user 36 and the chair 10, for example, using a plurality of strain gauges or load cells integrated into the seating surface 42 and / or the actuating elements 116. In another configuration, the processor 24 may receive an indication of the user's identity (e.g., via an identity sensing 50 capability) and then determine the user's anatomical profile by retrieving that user's anatomical ratios from an electronic database.

[0061] In yet another configuration, instead of a fully dynamic structure for the thermal zones 114, if the user's anatomical structure dictates such a modification, a given thermal zone 114 may be selectively modified. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the different thermal zones 114 may be sized / arranged to accommodate the user at both ends of the size spectrum of expected user sizes (e.g., 95th percentile and 5th percentile anatomical structures). If the specific user's anatomical structure does not require the entire array, individual actuating elements 116 may be selectively deactivated after the processor has learned the user's identity.

[0062] Referring again to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the chair 10 may include one or more electronic aspects (i.e., clothing integration 22) that integrate with the user's footwear or clothing. For example, if the user 36 is wearing shoes or clothing with an automatic tensioning mechanism, the chair 10 may relax the user's shoes / clothing when the user 36 first sits down and re-tension them when the user 36 attempts to enter / enter the competition again. Examples of automatic tensioning footwear and clothing are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,046,937 and 9,365,387, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such devices may generally operate by electronically spooling or constricting one or more tension fibers provided within the article. When the fibers are drawn in, they may cause the article to generally apply a constricting force to a part of the user's body. This force may be beneficial during competition, but may be perceived as uncomfortable when the user 36 is trying to relax.

[0063] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a clothing integration scheme. As shown, the chair 10 is in close contact with the clothing and / or footwear 170 (generally "clothing 170") worn by the user 36. The clothing 170 includes a motor 172 (or other electrically actuated constricting element such as a shape memory alloy, electroactive polymer, or the like) that operates to selectively apply tension to at least one fiber 174 provided within the clothing 170. Applying tension to the fiber 174 or relaxing the fiber 175 causes the clothing 170 to constrict or relax around the user 36. Examples of clothing 170 that may utilize such selective constriction include compression shirts, compression arm or leg sleeves, compression pants, knee braces, wrist braces, ankle braces, foot braces, gloves, abdominal binders / armors, shoes, and the like. In some embodiments, the motor 172 may be powered by a battery 176 or other charge storage device supported by the clothing 170. In other embodiments, the motor 172 may be powered by an external source such as the chair 10 and / or the processor 24.

[0064] After user 36 sits within chair 10, processor 24 may detect the presence and / or identity of the user via detection capabilities 14 integrated within chair 10. Following this detection, processor 24 may instruct motor 172 to unspool fiber 174 and / or relieve the tension on fiber 174 to reduce any constriction of garment 170 around user 36. Processor 24 may provide this instruction via data connection 178 between chair 10 and garment 170. In some embodiments, this data connection may be a wired data connection made between electrical terminals on chair 10 and mating electrical terminals integrated within garment 170. Such terminals may include, for example, magnetic contact elements that help ensure contact. In other embodiments, data connection 178 may include a low power Bluetooth® radio, near field communication capabilities, or other short range wireless digital communication means.

[0065] When user 36 resumes the competition and / or is ready to rise from chair 10, processor 24 may instruct motor 172 to re - tension (one or more) fibers 174 to re - constrict garment 170 around user 36. In one embodiment, processor 24 may understand the intention of the user exiting chair 10 after receiving an exit command from user 36 (e.g., after user 36 re - tensions or presses a button indicating exit). In another embodiment, processor 24 may understand the intention of the user exiting chair 10 by monitoring the user's body posture and / or the contact pressure between the user and chair 10 to infer an inherent attempt to rise. In yet another embodiment, garment 170 may automatically activate to re - tension following disconnection of communication or contact with chair 10 (i.e., when the user fully rises from chair 10).

[0066] As further illustrated in FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the processor 24 may receive from the motor 172 a tension feedback signal 180 indicative of real-time tension through the fiber 174 and / or the garment 170. The processor 24 may use this signal 180 to ensure that the garment 170 is properly relaxed after seating and may adaptively re-tension the garment 170 when the user 36 is ready to resume the competition. In some embodiments, adaptively re-tensioning may be useful to account for swelling, fluid retention, and / or changes in the user's body proportions that may occur during the competition. Put another way, for example, if tensioning is based on the garment pressure applied to the user, the absolute size of the garment 170 may differ between the start and end of the competition due to changes in body size.

[0067] Continuing to refer to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the garment integration 22 configuration of the chair 10 may include a charging capability 182 for adaptive articles of the garment and / or footwear 170. In some embodiments, these capabilities may include inductive charging means including an inductive charging transmitter 184 provided in the chair 10 and an inductive charging receiver 186 associated with and / or integrated into the garment 170. Examples of suitable charging capabilities are further described in U.S. Patent No. 8,058,837 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0345654, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The chair 10 may utilize the time the user 36 is sitting in the chair 10 to ensure that the battery 176 is in a sufficient state of charge. If charging is required, the chair 10 may transmit a magnetic field from the inductive charging transmitter 184, which may be received by the inductive charging receiver 186 and used to replenish the charge stored in the battery 176.

[0068] In some embodiments, the sensing capabilities 14 described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6 may be integrated with the clothing integration 22 functionality. More specifically, the user's clothing may include one or more sensors that are held in close proximity to or in contact with the skin of the user 36. These sensors may include, for example, a heart rate sensor, a respiration sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, an RFID identity indicator, and the like. The sensors (generally referred to as "clothing sensors") may be integrated into / knitted into straps that are worn around one or more compression-fitted garments, protective padding, footwear, torso or other appendages, or may be adhesively attached to the user 36. In some configurations, the clothing sensors may include a memory device such as a flash memory or EEPROM memory that can record periodic user data while the user 36 is engaged in a sports competition. When the user 36 sits on the chair 10, the chair 10 may communicate with these clothing sensors in a one-way or two-way manner (e.g., low-power Bluetooth, NFC, etc.) to receive real-time user biometric information and / or biometric information stored in the memory of the clothing sensors. This downloadable content may be used in the same manner as the biometric data directly obtained by the chair 10 as described above.

[0069] In some embodiments, the clothing-based sensing capabilities may include one or more accelerometers embedded within the user's protective padding and / or woven or otherwise integrated with the user's compression-based undergarments. Such sensing capabilities may be useful for recording the magnitude and location of any impacts or collisions that may occur during competition. After the user exits the competition field and sits on the chair 10, the recorded sensory data may be downloaded by the processor 24 and / or capabilities within the chair 10. In such embodiments, the need for close contact between the sensing electronics and the receiver may provide a lower weight and lower power addition to the clothing, which may be more acceptable to more athletes and may lead to more adoption.

[0070] The above chair 10 provides benefits for individual athletes, but in some configurations, a sports team may find particular utility in providing similar benefits to more than one athlete at a given time. Thus, in one configuration, a plurality of smart chairs 10 may be connected adjacent to each other to form a smart bench that includes a plurality of inner seat surfaces 42, each seat surface being configured to ergonomically receive and support a different user / athlete. In one configuration, the smart bench may be a single integral product that includes a plurality of adjacent seat surfaces 42. In another configuration, adjacent individual chairs 10 may be locally attached to form a larger structure.

[0071] If used in connection with the sport of basketball, the smart bench may be configured to receive and support, for example, up to 5 or more users / athletes at any given time. The 5 users may include players currently registered in the game (e.g., during a timeout or break between quarters), players recovering after alternating out of the game, and / or players waiting for an imminent substitute into the game. In other examples, the smart bench for basketball may be configured to receive and support up to 2 or 3 users / athletes (i.e., if most teams compete in a 7 or 8 person rotation, 2 or 3 players waiting to enter / enter again into the game may be kept in a warm-up state).

[0072] Although the present disclosure has been primarily illustrated in connection with the sport of basketball, the technology is equally applicable and useful to other sports such as American football, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, rugby, baseball, softball, hockey, gymnastics, stock car racing, open wheel racing, skiing, snowboarding, sprinting or other track and field events, swimming, field hockey, wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing, cricket, or any event with intermittent periods of competition and rest, events conducted while seated, or events involving substitution of players during a game, but is not limited thereto. Similarly, although the chair is primarily applicable to athletes, one or more of the described aspects of the smart chair are equally applicable to spectators of any of the sports identified above.

[0073] As used above, "processor 24" is intended to include one or more distinct data processing devices, each data processing device having one or more microcontrollers or central processing units (CPUs), read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a high speed clock, input / output (I / O) circuitry, and / or any other circuit configuration that may be required to perform the functions described herein. Processor 24 may be local to chair 10 and / or may include one or more remote processors or servers. In some embodiments, "processor 24" may include and / or communicate with one or more Internet-based / cloud-based services that may provide real-time data to / from chair 10 and / or control one or more performance or visual aspects of chair 10.

[0074] Figure 13 schematically illustrates one embodiment of an operating method 200 of the chair 10 from the perspective of the processor 24. The method 200 generally begins with detecting the presence of the user / athlete at 210. As described above, the presence may be detected, for example, by monitoring one or more load cells, strain gauges, capacitance sensors, thermal sensors, or RF sensors for the presence of the user on the seat surface 42.

[0075] Once the user is detected at 210, using the connected hardware, the processor 24 may perform one or more temperature management functions (generally at 202), one or more biometric sensing functions (generally at 204), one or more display functions or communication functions (generally at 206), and / or one or more clothing / footwear integration functions (generally at 208).

[0076] As described above, to provide the thermal management functionality 202, the processor 24 may begin by monitoring the temperature of the user and / or the user's muscles at 212. This monitoring may be achieved, for example, by polling one or more thermal sensors distributed across the seat surface 42. Once the user's temperature (or the user's thermal profile across major muscle groups) is understood, the processor 24 may operate one or more thermal converters at 214 to adjust and / or maintain the muscle temperature (or thermal profile) at a desired set point or within a desired temperature range. This heating / cooling is preferably achieved via direct conduction between the thermal converter and the user 36. More specifically, the heating / cooling may include actively supplying thermal energy to the user via, for example, a Peltier heating element or a resistive heating element, and / or it may include actively sinking thermal energy from the user via a Peltier cooling element or other fluid-based refrigeration techniques.

[0077] In one embodiment, the (plural) target temperature(s) may be received directly from the user. For example, the user may specify the target temperature in degrees, or may specify it via a qualitative value from 1 to 10. In certain embodiments, the processor 24 may apply hysteresis to this set point to establish a controlled temperature range. In another embodiment, the (plural) target temperature(s) may be received from a related database, for example, based on the identity of the user (which may be detected at 220 via the identity sensing capabilities described in FIG. 6). The user's ideal target temperature or thermal profile may be a predetermined temperature / profile that accounts for the nature of the sports activity, the user's physiological makeup and conditioning, and the user's thermal preferences. To further provide a sense of relaxation or cooling after a period of exercise (i.e., when the temperature monitored at 212 is above the desired set point), the processor 24 may direct convective cooling at the user's face, head, and neck (at 216).

[0078] The biometric measurement function may operate using or based on the aforementioned health sensing ability 52 (generally at 204). More specifically, following the identification of the user at 220, the processor 24 may monitor one or more biometric sensors, a load cell (at 222), or other health sensing ability 52 to understand the user's real-time state. These sensed parameters may be compared to historical user data (at 224) to evaluate the user's real-time state as a function of a normal or peak state. The processor 24 may further correlate the user's state level to historical performance data such that the real-time state may indicate that the user is ready to perform a sports competition (i.e., when a greater degree of fatigue causes a decline in sports competition ability). Such analysis may be performed, for example, via a multiple regression model. Next, these health statistics are output (at 226) to the coaching staff and / or media as shown in FIG. 6, enabling the improvement of player substitution strategies and / or a deeper understanding of the player / team's state. In one configuration, the processor 24 may determine a composite health metric representing the level of fatigue, the ratio of the current state to the peak state, or the ratio of the current health-modeled performance level to the optimal health-modeled performance level.

[0079] In one embodiment, the health / biometric sensing ability may be integrated into the user's clothing and may log data throughout the competition. In that case, the processor 24 may establish communication with the clothing at 230, at which time the processor 24 may retrieve biometric data directly from the wearable sensor (at 222).

[0080] As further discussed above, in the case of auto-tensioning footwear / garments (collectively "garments"), once communication with the garment is established (at 230), the processor 24 may instruct the garment (at 232) to relax and / or release any applied compression. Such an ability may allow the user to relax more fully during rest periods. This ability may include instructing the garment to relieve tension applied through / across the upper of the shoe, compression sleeves, leggings, knee braces, ankle braces, or wrist braces, and / or headgear.

[0081] Following relaxation of the garment at 232, if the processor 24 detects (at 234) that the user intends to rise from and / or exit the seating surface, the processor may communicate (at 236) with the garment to instruct it to apply tension again. However, in some embodiments, applying tension again may occur via simply an interruption of communication between the garment and the processor 24 (rather than via an explicit command). In such embodiments, the initial set state of the garment may be a "tense state" while the processor 24 simply "holds" the garment in a more relaxed configuration while the user is seated.

[0082] As further illustrated in FIG. 13, the processor 24 may adjust various display / communication functions at 206. As shown, the processor 24 may receive (and / or transmit outwardly) one or more audio and / or video streams at 240. An audio stream such as advice from a coach or communication between athletes may be presented to the user via the speaker / microphone at 242, and a visual stream may be presented to the user via the connected display system 18 at 244. In some embodiments such as in the case of e-sports described above, biometric sensing may be able to control the aspect of the video stream (at 246), for example, by narrowing the field of view or focus of the video stream.

[0083] In some embodiments, the video stream output via the display system 18 (at 244) may include, for example, play diagrams (competitive diagrams), advanced statistics regarding trends during a game of an opposing team, the positioning of an opponent representing the highest likelihood of success, trends, or a probabilistic heat map representing areas of the field, and / or real-time player health or fitness summaries.

[0084] The displayed play diagrams may incorporate real-time tracking of an opposing team, such as may be obtained using a camera having image recognition capabilities, to analyze routes or responses to a given action on the field. Additionally, they may present one or more plays (i.e., plays that maximize the probability of a successful outcome as defined by a coaching staff or by recognition of the context of the situation) selected by a coach or via predictive calculation techniques. For example, if used as a forward looking strategy during a timeout or a stoppage in play, the play diagrams may be animated within a time frame to better illustrate the pace or sequence of a drawn-up play.

[0085] The advanced statistics presented may include, for example, team formation probability, team route / play probability, player directional trends, player / team shot selection trends, player / team shooting percentages by location, hitting trends, or the like. Such trends may be recognized using (e.g., optical or RF) player tracking capabilities and processed using advanced computational techniques such as cluster analysis, pattern matching, neural networks, support vector machines, probabilistic methods, or other such techniques. Next, a probabilistic heat map is an effective way to visualize these calculated statistics. As may be understood, the heat map may dynamically colorize a portion of the playing area (whether using AR or via a top view overlay across a portion of the user's field of view).

[0086] Finally, a real-time player health or fitness summary may provide readings of different biometric parameters, how those parameters are compared to the user's historical trends, and / or how the user has performed previously under similar physical states / fatigue levels. Using these trends, the processor 24 may calculate a composite health metric that illustrates how far the user is from their optimal physiological state (i.e., the state that has historically provided optimal performance).

[0087] The information mentioned above may be displayed to the user via the display system 18, but it may also be presented to one or more viewers via the media production device 32 and / or the A / V equipment 34. In some embodiments, the display to one or more viewers may be in the form of an AR display (for users live at the sports venue), in the form of a VR display (for users not live at the sports venue), or in the form of infographics that may be displayed via a television or streaming video broadcast.

[0088] The singular forms of the expressions “a,” “an,” and “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items exists. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, multiple such items may exist. All numerical values of parameters in this specification, including the appended claims (e.g., amounts or conditions), should be understood to be modified in all instances by the term “about,” whether or not the term “about” actually appears before the numerical value. “About” indicates that the recited numerical value allows for some slight inaccuracy (including being close to the value, being approximately or reasonably close thereto, including what is substantially close). If the inaccuracy provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art in this ordinary sense, “about” as used herein indicates at least the variations that may arise from the normal methods of measuring and using such parameters. In addition, the disclosure of a range includes the disclosure of all values and sub-ranges further divisible within the entire range. Each value within a range and the endpoints of a range are, in this specification, all disclosed as separate embodiments. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are inclusive and thus specify the presence of the recited items but do not preclude the presence of other items. As used herein, the term “or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the recited items. When terms such as first, second, third, etc. are used to distinguish various items from one another, these designations are for convenience only and do not limit the items.

Claims

1. A sports chair that warns an individual of an occurrence of an impact during a sports competition, a seating surface operative to support a user; a processor, the processor comprising: Detecting a presence of a user on the seating surface; configured to establish communication with a garment on the body of the user; The garment includes a garment sensor, the garment sensor comprising: one or more accelerometers operative to sense the magnitude of impact forces occurring during the sporting event experienced by the user or the clothing before the user is present on the seating surface; a memory device in communication with the one or more accelerometers and operable to record the magnitude of the impact force; The processor, receiving or downloading the recorded magnitude of the impact force from the garment sensor when the presence of the user on the seating surface is detected; providing a warning if the magnitude of the impact force exceeds a predetermined threshold. Sports chair.

2. The sports chair of claim 1 , wherein the warning comprises illuminating a light that is visible to the user or to anyone in close proximity to the sports chair.

3. The sports chair of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to output the magnitude of the impact force to a display.

4. the memory device is further operative to record a location of the impact force experienced by the user before the user is present on the seating surface; the processor is further operative to receive the location and output the location to the display. The sports chair according to claim 3.

5. The sports chair of claim 4 further comprising the display, the display being integral with the sports chair.

6. The sports chair of claim 5 , wherein the display includes a portion that is transparent so that the user can see through the display.

7. the garment sensor further comprises a biometric sensor operative to monitor a physiological parameter of the user before the user sits on the seating surface, the memory device operative to record the monitored physiological parameter of the user; The processor is further operative to receive the recorded physiological parameters and output the physiological parameters to the display. The sports chair according to claim 4.

8. The sports chair of claim 7, wherein the physiological parameters include at least one of hydration, weight, heart rate, respiration rate, or galvanic skin response.

9. The sports chair of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to establish communication with the garment via a low-power Bluetooth or NFC communication protocol.

10. 2. The sports chair of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to establish communication with the garment and receive or download the recorded magnitude of the impact force in response to detecting the presence of the user on the seating surface.

11. A system for monitoring impacts experienced by a user during a sports competition, comprising: Clothing worn by the user; A sports chair, The garment includes a garment sensor, the garment sensor comprising: one or more accelerometers operative to sense the magnitude of impact forces occurring during the sporting event experienced by the user or the clothing before the user is present on a seating surface; a memory device in communication with the one or more accelerometers and operable to record the magnitude of the impact force; The sports chair is the seating surface operative to support a user; a processor, the processor comprising: Detecting the presence of the user on the seating surface; Establishing communication with the garment sensor; receiving or downloading the recorded magnitude of the impact force from the garment sensor when the presence of the user on the seating surface is detected; providing a warning if the magnitude of the impact force exceeds a predetermined threshold. It is configured as follows: system.

12. Further comprising a display device, The processor is further configured to display the magnitude of the impact force on the display device. The system of claim 11.

13. the memory device of the garment sensor is further operative to record a location of the impact force; The processor is further configured to receive or download the location of the impact force from the garment sensor and output the location of the impact force to the display device. The system of claim 12.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the apparel is a compression-fit garment, protective padding, footwear, or a strap worn around a portion of the user.

15. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor of the sports chair is operative to establish communication with the garment sensor and receive or download the recorded magnitude of the impact force in response to detecting the presence of the user on the seating surface.

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