Inductive Charging Hub Layout for Portable IMU Motion Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing full-body motion capture systems are limited in their ability to function in non-controlled environments without external cameras, often requiring expensive equipment, specialized suits, and high-energy connections, and they can lose calibration when moved to different areas.
Innovation Solution
A wireless inductive charging system with battery-powered sensing devices and a charging hub, along with inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a link device that uses inertial sensors, magnetometers, and gyroscopes to track body movements without external cameras, allowing for portable and untethered motion capture in non-controlled environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless inductive charging is implemented for battery-powered sensing devices, then portability and ease of operation are improved, but energy loss increases due to wireless power transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into multiple independent docking stations, each with its own inductive charging coil. This allows devices to be charged individually at different locations around the room, reducing the distance for wireless power transmission and minimizing energy loss while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station acts as an intermediary between the power source and the sensing device. It provides a localized charging point that reduces the wireless transmission distance compared to a centralized remote charging solution, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple docking stations are distributed throughout the environment, then adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is divided into multiple simple, identical docking station modules distributed throughout the environment. Each module is a simple unit with a coil and basic electronics, reducing individual component complexity while providing system-level adaptability through their distributed arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Each docking station is designed as a universal unit that can charge any battery-powered sensing device with an inductive charging coil. This standardized design simplifies individual station complexity while providing broad adaptability across different device types and locations.
3Productivity
If inductive coils are integrated into docking stations, then charging efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inductive charging coil is integrated into simple, modular docking station units that can be manufactured independently and assembled. This segmentation allows for specialized coil manufacturing processes while keeping the overall docking station design simple and manufacturable through standard assembly techniques.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and continuous full-body motion capture in various settings without the need for external cameras or extensive calibration, reducing costs and equipment complexity while maintaining reliability.
Implementation Method 1
wireless inductive charging system comprising: two or more battery-powered sensing devices, each of the sensing devices including an device inductive coil; and a charging hub including an array of docking stations, each of the docking stations including a station inductive coil, one of the station inductive coils to face one of the device inductive coils
Data Source
AI summary
Prior art systems can achieve full-body motion capture without external cameras; however, these systems are often expensive, limit the user's movements to a specified area, require the user to wear a specialized full-body suit, have a high device count, may be fully wired and/or require an energy-intensive WiFi connection. These systems also often require a thorough calibration procedure before each use and can lose their calibration when moving to different areas. The presently disclosed technology is directed to systems and methods for providing full-body motion capture in non-controlled environments where using multiple known camera perspectives is not possible or practical. Specifically, the presently disclosed technology utilizes a wireless inductive charging system including a charging hub with an array of docking stations for selectively charging an array of battery-powered sensing devices, such as a set of trackers and a link.