Swim Stroke Counter Using Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking swimming strokes, such as using accelerometers or pressure sensors, require additional sensors and data collection, making them cumbersome and inefficient for accurately counting and analyzing strokes during swimming or diving.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a pressure sensor and a processor that analyze pressure changes near a swimmer's extremities to determine individual strokes, with the option of separate or integrated housing, wireless communication, and a display for stroke information and estimated distance, allowing for calibration of stroke distance values based on swimming style or technique.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If accelerometers are used to determine swim strokes, then stroke detection capability is provided, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and data gathering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical accelerometer-based stroke detection system with a pressure sensor-based system. The pressure sensor detects pressure changes in the water caused by swimmer strokes, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sensors and their associated data processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water pressure as an intermediary medium to detect stroke movements. Instead of directly measuring mechanical acceleration, the system uses pressure changes in the water as a mediator to infer stroke occurrence and characteristics, simplifying the detection mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to gather additional data for stroke determination, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: detecting stroke occurrence, determining stroke rate, calculating distance traveled, and monitoring swimming depth. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensors for each measurement, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses changes in pressure parameters to derive multiple stroke-related metrics. By analyzing different aspects of pressure variation (magnitude, frequency, pattern), the system obtains accurate stroke information without requiring additional sensors for each parameter.
3Device complexity
If pressure sensors are used to determine swim strokes, then device complexity is reduced compared to accelerometers, but additional data gathering is still required
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor continuously monitors water pressure while the swimmer moves, capturing stroke data in real-time without interruption. This continuous measurement eliminates the need for separate data gathering phases, reducing time loss while maintaining simplicity of the device.
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
Provides an accurate and efficient method for counting and analyzing swimming strokes, enabling precise tracking of distance and stroke rate, even during diving, by filtering pressure oscillations to identify individual strokes and calculating distance traveled based on predetermined values.
Implementation Method 1
sense changes in pressure proximate one or more extremities of a swimmer to determine individual strokes performed by the swimmer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A stroke counter and a method of analyzing strokes of swimmer are provided. The stroke counter and method use changes in pressure proximate the arms and legs of the swimmer to determine when the swimmer performs a swimming stroke using either the arms or legs.