Pressure Surface Running Reactivity Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for analyzing and providing feedback on running reactivity are inaccurate due to the vulnerability of accelerometers to incorrect mounting and vibrations, and they fail to effectively measure static phases of movement, necessitating a more objective and straightforward technique for assessing running efficiency and injury risk.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a pressure sensitive surface with sensors, a clock, memory, readout device, and feedback device that measures the time-dependent center of pressure to calculate the loading time, providing feedback on running reactivity through visual, audio, or haptic signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If accelerometers are used to measure running movement patterns, then dynamic elements can be measured, but the measurements become less accurate due to incorrect mounting and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidreliability of accelerometer measurements

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces accelerometers with a pressure sensitive surface that measures the center of pressure movement. This substitution eliminates the vulnerability to mounting errors and vibrations inherent in accelerometers, providing more reliable and accurate measurements of running movement patterns and static phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the center of pressure as an intermediary parameter to indirectly measure running dynamics. Instead of directly measuring acceleration with vulnerable sensors, the system measures the pressure distribution and its movement across the foot, which provides stable and accurate data about both dynamic and static phases of running.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If accelerometers are used to measure movement patterns, then dynamic elements can be detected, but static phases of movement cannot be measured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidability to measure all movement phases

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensitive surface serves multiple functions: it measures both dynamic elements (through center of pressure movement during flight and transition phases) and static phases (through pressure distribution during ground contact). This universal measurement approach eliminates the limitation of accelerometers that can only detect dynamic movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If a trained observer evaluates running style, then subjective assessment is possible, but objective quantification is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assessmentVSAvoidobjectivity of running style evaluation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective human observation with an automated pressure measurement system. The pressure sensitive surface objectively quantifies running style by measuring center of pressure movement, loading time, and energy reuse parameters, providing precise, repeatable data that eliminates the variability and subjectivity of human assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This system objectively quantifies running reactivity by measuring the time it takes for the center of pressure to stop moving backward during a step, correlating with the energy reuse in the BK method, offering a practical and user-friendly method for runners to adjust their technique for improved efficiency and reduced injury risk.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensitive surface, a clock, a memory, a read out device, a processor and a feedback device. The pressure sensitive surface comprises a plurality of pressure sensors for generating an electronic signal as a function of a pressure exerted on said pressure sensitive surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensitivity:

Data Source

PatentUS9687712B2Method and system for feedback on running style field and background of the invention

Publication Date: 2017.06.27 NEDERLANDSE ORG VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO

AI summary

The invention relates to a system and method for providing feedback to a user on his or her running style or running technique. The system employs a pressure sensitive surface to record a gait line of the center of pressure exerted by the user's foot on an underlying surface during a footstep period. In case of a fore or mid-foot landing the gait line may be observed to move backwards with respect to the sagittal plane. From a backwards-going gait line two time stamps are determined. The first timestamp T1 is the time that the foot strikes the ground. The second timestamp T2 is the time that the gait line reaches the most backward position. From the time difference between these two timestamps a loading time dT is determined. The reactivity of the running style describes the viscoelastic behavior of the muscle-tendon unit and may be calculated as a function of this loading time and/or the distance moved by the center of pressure backwards towards the heel. Correspondingly, a feedback signal may be provided to the user about his running reactivity.