Wearable Sensor Ring Gesture Recognition for Exercise Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for quantifying physical performance during strength and power training lack a user-friendly and reliable means to notify the start and stop events of an exercise set, leading to spurious signals and increased complexity, especially when the base station is not conveniently located or when using non-magnetic training equipment.
Innovation Solution
A wearable sensor system featuring a finger-mounted annulus with a tri-axis accelerometer and gesture recognition capabilities allows users to input start and stop commands through distinct finger motions, minimizing spurious signals and enabling remote data transmission for real-time feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional manual counting and recording methods are used for strength training, then device complexity is minimized, but measurement precision and reliability of physical performance data deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical counting and recording with an automated sensor-based system. Accelerometers and gyroscopes detect movement patterns, while machine learning algorithms automatically identify exercise sets and calculate performance metrics, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration and automatic exercise set detection without user intervention. The machine learning model automatically distinguishes between exercise movements and spurious signals, and the system self-adjusts based on detected patterns, reducing the need for manual configuration.
2Ease of operation
If the base station is positioned remotely from the user, then ease of operation during exercise is improved, but reliability of gesture recognition and data transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device serves multiple functions: it acts as both the sensor platform for gesture recognition and the processing unit for exercise set detection. This integration ensures reliable operation regardless of base station position, as the device independently processes sensor data and communicates results wirelessly.
3Ease of operation
If magnetic attachment methods are used for sensors, then ease of operation and quick setup are improved, but adaptability to non-magnetic training equipment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple attachment methods including magnetic, mechanical, and adhesive options, allowing the same sensor platform to be universally applied to both magnetic and non-magnetic equipment. This multi-functional attachment capability ensures versatility across different training equipment types.
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 solution provides accurate and user-friendly measurement of physical performance by reducing spurious signals and allowing intuitive input of exercise data, enhancing the user experience and data reliability without increasing hardware complexity or cost.
Implementation Method 1
a tri-axis accelerometer disposed within the sensor ring
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable sensor system with gesture recognition for measuring physical performance 98 includes a sensor ring 100 for providing signals corresponding to finger movement to an information processor 101. The sensor ring 100 internally includes an accelerometer 106 for measuring motion of a predetermined finger, the measured motion corresponding to an exercise routine performed by a user of the system 98, a processor 109 for conditioning the signals from the accelerometer 106, and a transceiver 108 for transmitting the conditioned signals to the information processor 101 for display and feedback to the user for accessing the quality of the exercise. The system 98 further includes means for allowing the user to start and stop the processing of the measured finger motion by moving the finger with sensor ring 100 thereon a predetermined distance and speed.