Wearable Athletic Sensor Module Using Magnetic Field Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fitness monitoring devices for athletic activities are often non-portable, heavy, lack battery and processing power, and provide inaccurate or limited performance feedback, making them unsuitable for real-world competitive or training sessions.

Innovation Solution

A wearable athletic activity monitoring system using a sensor module that detects movement, determines activation states, and records data to provide activity metrics such as jump characteristics, reaction time, and force analysis by sensing magnetic field and acceleration data, allowing for improved performance assessment and feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing fitness monitoring devices are made portable, then ease of operation is improved, but weight and battery power are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical sensors with magnetic field sensors to detect movement and athletic activities. This substitution allows for a more compact, lighter device design while maintaining monitoring capabilities, as magnetic sensors require less mechanical structure and can be integrated into smaller form factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring device is designed to perform multiple functions using a single integrated system: detecting movement, identifying athletic activities, measuring performance metrics, and providing feedback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby reducing overall weight while improving portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If existing fitness monitoring devices are made portable, then ease of operation is improved, but battery power and processing power are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidbattery power

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device processes magnetic field data selectively by focusing on detecting specific athletic activity patterns rather than continuously analyzing all movement data. This partial processing approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining accurate athletic activity monitoring, allowing the device to remain portable with limited battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-loads magnetic field signature data for various athletic activities into the device's memory before use. This preliminary preparation allows the device to quickly compare real-time sensor data against stored signatures without requiring complex real-time computation, thereby reducing processing power and battery requirements while maintaining portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If existing fitness monitoring devices provide simple performance determinations, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and accuracy are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of feedbackVSAvoidperformance measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device provides real-time feedback by comparing detected magnetic field patterns against stored athletic activity signatures. This feedback mechanism enables the system to deliver simple, actionable performance information while maintaining high measurement precision through continuous comparison and validation of detected activities against known patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies of magnetic field signatures for various athletic activities and stores them in the device. By comparing real-time sensor data against these pre-recorded signatures, the device achieves high measurement accuracy while keeping the user interface simple, as users receive pre-formatted performance feedback without needing to interpret raw data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

The system enables individuals to obtain accurate and insightful performance data, enabling better assessment and strategy development for athletic activities, enhancing training and competitive performance.

Implementation Method 1

sensing magnetic field and acceleration data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

sensing magnetic field and acceleration data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration sensing: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS11931624B2Wearable athletic activity monitoring methods and systems

Publication Date: 2024.03.19 ADIDAS AG

AI summary

A method for monitoring an individual engaged in an athletic activity includes detecting movement of the individual at a first time, using a sensor module coupled to the individual, determining that the movement of the individual corresponds to a predetermined activation movement, entering an active state of the sensor module in response to the determination that the movement of the individual corresponds to the predetermined activation movement, and detecting movement of the individual at a second time, using the sensor module in the active state.