FR3095956A1 - Intelligent shin guard - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a smart shin guard (10) comprising the electronics of a microprocessor, data sensors, memory, at least one wireless communication interface and a power supply integrated into the body of the shin guard, the wireless communication interface allowing the sending of at least a portion of data picked up by the sensors with respect to a sports session. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Smart shin guard

The present invention relates to so-called “intelligent” shin guards for measuring and transmitting data.

In the sporting world, both in the professional world (very large means) and in the amateur world, the analysis of matches a posteriori makes it possible to quantify subjective feelings allowing in the long term to improve the performance of the team.

Several players offer complex analysis devices requiring heavy infrastructure or additional player equipment, which are often quite expensive, which means that these devices are only used by very large clubs. These devices include connected watches, belts (at the waist or around the chest), armbands that carry a smart phone (smartphone), etc. However, these analysis devices worn by players bring discomfort or discomfort, hindering their use and adoption and most of these devices are not authorized during official matches.

In certain types of sport, for example football, baseball, martial arts, hockey, cross country, rugby, etc. (and depending on the federation, the level, the age of the players…) each player can wear or must wear a shin guard. Shin guards are protections for the lower leg that are often mandatory in the context of a match and/or training and nowadays generally made of fiberglass, composite materials (carbon type ) plastic or polyurethane.

In addition to its sometimes obligatory wearing, it is ideally placed to analyze the wearer's performance because it is linked to the gestures carried out during the session (match or training), that is to say the control of the ball (in the case of a ball sport), blows received (in the case of martial arts), etc. By equipping a shin guard with measurement capabilities, it is then possible to offer an analysis device for each player.

The document WO20170178880 describes a shin guard provided with an electronic chip allowing the collection of various data, in particular the distance traveled, the average speed, the power and strike, etc. The chip is in the form of a capsule placed in the inner upper part of the shin guard and protected by a small secure enclave between the hard part and the protective foam of the shin guard and connected to a processing and display application Datas.

However, the chip can be removed from the enclave, with the risk of loss or damage. In addition, the small size of the chip means that the capabilities of autonomy, data capture and analysis, and transfer of this data to a processing device.

It would therefore be desirable to achieve these inconveniences.

Embodiments of the invention therefore relate to an intelligent shin guard comprising the electronic components of a microprocessor, data sensors, a memory, at least one wireless communication interface and a power supply integrated into the body of the guard -tibia, the wireless communication interface allowing the sending of at least a portion of data captured by the sensors in relation to a sports session.

According to one embodiment, the shin guard further comprises a man-machine interface composed of light-emitting diodes arranged on the upper edge of the shin guard.

According to one embodiment, the shin guard further comprises a connection port for charging the power supply, the port arranged at the bottom of the shin guard and arranged downwards.

According to one embodiment, the power supply is rectangular in shape, placed in the center between the connection port and the microprocessor.

According to one embodiment, the sensors include motion sensors of the accelerometer, gyrometer, and magnetometer type, and position sensors of the global positioning system type.

According to one embodiment, at least some electronic components are arranged on a flexible printed circuit to match the curved shape of the shin guard.

According to one embodiment, at least some electronic components are arranged on at least two printed circuits to match the curved shape of the shin guard.

According to one embodiment, the shin guard comprises at least two wireless communication interfaces according to different communication protocols, one interface being used for the transfer of certain data in real time during the session, the other interface being used for the transfer of other data after the session.

Embodiments of the invention further relate to a method for capturing and sending sports session data, comprising the steps of: wearing by a player, during a sports session, a shin guard according to a embodiment; capture data concerning the sports session; and sending at least some of the sensed data to a data processing and display application.

Embodiments of the invention further relate to a method of receiving and processing data from a sports session, comprising the steps of: receiving, by a data processing and display application, at least some of the captured data relating to a sports session sent using a data capture and send method according to one embodiment; and processing the data received.

According to one embodiment, the reception and processing method further comprises a step of dividing the data into at least two periods for analysis.

Before describing in detail the embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and can be practiced and carried out in different ways. Further, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be construed as limiting.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to the reader and such objects and advantages are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

To achieve the above objectives and related objects, the present invention may be implemented in the form illustrated in the accompanying diagrams, with reference that the diagrams are illustrative only and that modifications may be made to them. the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

Various other objects, features and advantages associated with the present invention will be understood upon reading the accompanying drawings, in which references designate the same or similar parts in the different views and in which:

is a schematic view of the electronic components of the shin guard according to one embodiment;

is an exploded side mechanical exploded view of the shin guard according to one embodiment;

is a front view of the shin guard according to one embodiment;

is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, in particular the profile of the player according to one embodiment;

[Fig. 5] is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, in particular a session location selection according to one embodiment;

is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, in particular the data of a session according to one embodiment;

[Fig. 7] is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, in particular the data relative to a period of the session, the session having been divided into at least two periods according to one embodiment;

and [Fig. 8B] are views of the application installed on a smart phone, in particular the division of the data with respect to the session into at least two periods according to one embodiment.

It has been noted that the analysis device must be integrated as much as possible into the existing shin guards, that is to say that it must not cause external growths on the product, for weight reasons, not interfere with the player, to be integrated into existing products and manufacturing processes, etc.

To this end, the electronic components have been integrated into the body of the shin guard, with clever modifications to allow the maximum functionality in a reduced space and subject to mechanical shocks and temperature variances.
The shin guard is liable to receive blows, by other players or by an object such as a ball, a stick, etc. In addition, it is in contact with the leg, generally under the player's sock, and subject to a humid environment linked to the player's perspiration and a temperature variation between the outside (between winter and summer) and the temperature from the body. Current shin guards have a typical lifespan of two years.

Ideally, but not necessarily, the smart shin guard should be able to record an entire session (hereafter understood as training or a match), without having to be recharged. The duration of a match is of the order of two hours, and it is necessary to allow time between the clothing of the player and the end of the session, therefore able to operate independently for about three hours.

There is a schematic view of the electronic components of the smart shin guard.

The smart shin guard 10 comprises a microprocessor 11 (CPU), data sensors, specifically motion sensors 12 (CAP) and a position sensor 13 (GPS), a memory 14 (MEM), at least one wireless communication 15 (COM), a man-machine interface 16 (HMI) and a power supply 17 (BAT). In addition, if the power supply 17 is of the charging type using a wire (compared to the inductive load), a connection port 18 (I/O) is linked to the power supply 17, and can also be linked to the microprocessor 11 in order to allow the downloading of data, the installation of functionalities, etc.

The microprocessor 11 allows the acquisition of data by the movement 12 and position 13 sensors, their storage in the memory 14, and their communication by the wireless communication interface 15. The microprocessor 11 can perform algorithms of sequences of start-up or pre-treatments. The microprocessor 11 ideally allows multi-interface management, durability, the ability to operate in low power consumption in standby and in use, the availability of boxes ensuring the required connectivity capacity, support and availability of development tools (downloading and installation of new features for example).

Motion sensors 12 may include, but are not limited to, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and the three-axis magnetic field.

The position sensor 13 is of the GPS (“Global Positioning System”) type. The use of such sensors is known in the technical field.

The memory 14 has a data storage capacity at least equivalent to the autonomy of the battery. To give an idea only, and without limitation, if the acquisitions of the sensors are made at a frequency of 100 to 200 Hz, and the data are written in blocks of sixteen bytes, that is to say 1600 to 3200 BPS (bytes per second) over a period of four hours, this gives a data quantity of 46 MB, i.e. 368 Mb. A memory of 512 Mb is therefore targeted. A dedicated SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) bus can be used to connect the microprocessor 11 to the memory 14.

So that the smart shin guard 10 can communicate with a data analysis means (for example a smart phone or a touch pad), at least one wireless communication interface 15 is provided. Several different means of wireless communication are possible depending on the different communication standards or protocols – WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, etc. Each medium has its pros and cons, including power consumption, communication distance, and interface size.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication interface 15 is a WiFi module, allowing the transfer of large data packets with an acceptable transfer time.

However, several interfaces can be provided, for example an interface which allows the rapid sending of certain data permanently (the trainer wishes to follow in real time the distance traveled by each of the players), while another interface of the type USB or Bluetooth port allows downloading after the session of other data for further analysis. Similarly, one communication interface (wireless or wired) can be designated as the primary interface, with the other interface only being activated if the primary interface is down.

In one embodiment, the smart shin guard 10 is equipped with a WiFi interface and a Bluetooth interface because connecting a smart phone to a device like the shin guard via WiFi involves switching the phone's network to that interface and then locks the phone's communication capability to that single interface. The phone then loses its data connection with the outside world. In addition, the permanent supply of the WiFi interface involves significant consumption. It would then be necessary to reload the shin guard half-time, or to exchange the shin guard for another one. The use of the Bluetooth interface allows a permanent connection and will allow you to connect to it with a smartphone without the latter losing its own data connection. The Bluetooth interface can therefore be used for an overview of the product status, configuration, and the occasional launch of the WiFi connection.

In the case of the two communication interfaces, an antenna common to the two interfaces is targeted.

The man-machine interface 16 is, in one embodiment, light-emitting diodes (also known as LEDs, “Light Emitting Diodes” or LEDs in English). Preferably, the diodes are arranged at the top of the product, on the upper edge, as shown in , so that the player can easily consult them by looking down. He or she could for example ensure that the shin guard is always on and collecting data, and see when a communication is in progress.

The diodes can then indicate if the shin guard is on, its charge level, if it is connected to the network, if the memory is full, etc.

Preferably again, the shin guard does not include a screen type interface, which could be broken and in any case difficult to consult during a session, and no pressure type buttons either, which can be a source of dysfunction. “Tap” type buttons can be used to turn the shin guard on and off, to initiate data transmission, and any other action.

The power supply 17 (battery) is preferably rechargeable, light weight and compact. A Lithium-Polymer type battery can be used and associated with a 17A power management circuit (GES) (PMIC or “Power Management Integrated Circuit” in English) grouping the functions of charging, charge management, control of LED interfaces if present, gauge, and battery protection. In the case of a rechargeable power supply, a USB C type connector can be included to charge the battery. Preferably, the USB port, in the described embodiment, is the only opening outside the housing of the shin guard. Preferably, the USB port is arranged downwards, in order to avoid its filling by rainwater or sweat. It then involves the implementation of an identification/recognition circuit linked to the interface.

Nevertheless, as indicated above, a battery operated by inductive charging can also be used, taking into account the size of the battery, the autonomy time, the recharge time, etc.

The electrical components described, it is necessary to take into account the mechanical constraints of the shin guard, in particular the total surface available, the thickness, and the curvature of the leg.

Standard shin guards are generally narrower at the bottom and wider at the top, with the length varying depending on the height of the player.

The first constraint is therefore the total area available for arranging the electrical components. The tallest and bulkiest components are the communication interfaces 15, the power supply 17 and the port 18. Electromechanical integration studies show that the required area leads to an incompatible area requirement (due to the curvature of the leg) with the use of a single PCB (“Printed Circuit Board” in English or “printed circuit”) plane, that is to say that the flat surface is insufficient to receive all the components. The printed circuit could therefore be a “flex PCB” or flexible made up of three portions matching the curved shape of the shin guard, or three linked printed circuits. The printed circuit(s) are placed in the upper part of the shin guard to have the largest possible surface and allow the diodes to illuminate the holes of the indicators.

The height and bulk constraint also have an impact on the size of the power supply 17. Electromechanical integration studies show that, at least with the current constraints, an elongated rectangular battery placed centrally in the lower part shin guard is the best solution.

As indicated above, port 18 is placed at the bottom of the shin guard so as to avoid its "filling" in the rain or the perspiration of the player.

In the example shown in , the microprocessor 11, the motion sensors 12 and the man-machine interface 16 are arranged on a printed circuit 19-1 in the center, which is the widest thanks to its central position on the player's leg. More particularly, the man-machine interface is arranged at the top in the center, in order to allow rapid consultation by the player, as indicated above. Likewise, the antenna (not shown) of the wireless communication interface 15 is also preferably arranged at the top to facilitate its connection to the communication networks.

The position sensor 13 and the wireless communication interface 15 are arranged on a printed circuit 19-2 on one side, which is narrower, and the memory 14 and the power management module 17A are arranged on a 19-3 circuit board on the other side, also narrow. Port 18 is separated from the other components, and located at the bottom center of the shin guard. Power supply 17 is disposed between port 18 and microprocessor 11 on central printed circuit 19-1.

In the case where the wireless communication interface 15 (or one of at least one wireless communication interface 15) is of the WiFi type, it is arranged on the central printed circuit 19-1, because at present, due to the size of this interface, the central part is the only one capable of accepting it. Preferably, the microprocessor 11 is also arranged centrally to reduce the complexity of the links between the components.

There is an exploded mechanical side view of the shin guard 10. One can notice a rear face 20, generally backed by a foam for more comfort, a front face 21 for protection of the player. The electronic components are arranged between the two faces 20, 21 on the printed circuits 19-1, 19-2, 19-3. Also shown are power supply 17 and port 18, the port at the bottom of the shin guard, and power supply 17 between port 18 and the circuit boards.

There is a front view of the shin guard 10. We can see the front face 21 which can be personalized according to the wishes of the player and/or the club (with a flag, the name of the club, a photo, etc.). At the top, the location of the diodes 16 is shown, the diodes being arranged on the upper edge (between the front face 21 and the back face 20). Finally, the location of the port 18 is shown for the wired connection.

Figures 4 through 8 show examples of the analytics application installed on a smart phone that receives data from an associated smart shin guard 10.

There is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, including the player's profile. The player can enter various parameters, for example his first name, his photo or his avatar, his height, his gender, his weight, his position on the sports team, the name of his club, the identifiers of the associated smart shin guard, his age, his level (beginner, amateur, professional…), the number of years of practice, the system of units to be applied (miles or kilometers for example), and many other elements. In addition, the leg on which the shin guard is installed is also configurable to give more precision. The player may wish to install it on the leg with which he/she shoots most often to have a better follow-up of the number of shots, or on the contrary prefer to install it on the other leg in order to measure the number of shocks suffered For example.

In addition, nothing prevents the use of two smart shin guards 10 (one for each leg) at the same time. This could be useful to evaluate the number of shots by each leg, to determine the dominant leg, to check the data of one against the other - i.e. to find the margin of difference between the data captured by the shin guard installed on the left leg compared to that installed on the right leg, etc. In the case of a collective analysis, it is also necessary to equip the legs of each player in order, for example, to determine the preferential passing circuits.

The application can be associated with several shin guards, for example one for training and one for matches, or one for each player, in the event that a coach wishes to consult the data of all his players. Session data can be stored by session (date, time, location), and downloaded or transferred as desired.

Additionally, other data, e.g. heart rate, blood oxygenation, and respiration rate may be picked up by other devices (or possibly by the shin guard itself), transferred to the smartphone or tablet application, and integrated/associated in the processing of session data.

The identification or association of a smart shin guard with the application can be done by scanning a bar code or Q code on the shin guard itself or on its packaging, entering a number identification, connection (at least a first time for adjustment) by cable, or simply the nearest shin guard.

It is also possible to enter data concerning the place of the session (training or match), for example the name or the coordinates of the stadium. Some stadiums have different technical parameters, for example the type of surface (grass, tar, etc.), its surface area and its flatness.

The [Fig. 5] is a view of the application installed on a smartphone, including a selection of session location (stadium, field, parking lot, etc.). In one embodiment, the player can use his current position to locate himself on a map or satellite photo, of the Google Earth (R) type. Information about the session location (its size, position) can be defined by tracing contours on the map or photo.

There is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, including session data. We can notice the session indicated by the date, as well as the statistics in relation to the session, in particular the distance covered, the maximum speed, the number of touches of the ball, and the striking power.

The [Fig. 7] is a view of the application installed on a smart phone, including data relative to a period of the session, the session having been divided into at least two periods. We can notice the data in relation to the first half of the current session.

Figures 8A, 8B are views of the application installed on a smart phone, including the division of data with respect to the session into at least two periods.

There shows the total recorded data for the session, while [Fig. 8B] shows the division of session data into at least two periods, here a first period corresponding to the first half, and a second period corresponding to the second half. The data corresponding to the periods of time before the training, during the breaks, and after the training are therefore discarded. This division makes it possible to compare the physical activity of the player between the two periods. For example, maybe he or she was more tired or had more touches on the ball. As can be seen in [Fig. 7], distance traveled, number of hits, etc. are then specific to the period in question.

Other applications and uses of the data are possible.

In terms of data transfer and processing, raw session data is sent to the analytics application (usually mobile like on a smart phone or tablet, but also on a computer). The application includes an API or "Application Programming Interface" in English, data concerning the player(s) and the shin guards (for example, which version). The programming interface transfers the raw data to processing software which analyzes it and applies algorithms. The decoded data is sent back to the application, which formats the displayed session data. Nevertheless, this process can be implemented differently, in particular a dedicated computer or tablet for processing session data, particularly in a professional setting.

The present invention has been described and illustrated in this detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented.

In one embodiment, the shin guard does not include motion and position sensors, only one or the other.

Furthermore, the man-machine interface 16 is not mandatory either. One could simply use the smart phone app to check the charging status and condition of the shin guard.

Other variants and embodiments can be deduced and implemented by the person skilled in the field of the invention on reading this description and the appended figures.

Claims (11)

A smart shin guard (10) comprising the electronic components of a microprocessor (11), data sensors (12, 13), a memory (14), at least one wireless communication interface (15) and a power supply electric (17) integrated into the body of the shin guard, the wireless communication interface allowing the sending of at least a portion of data captured by the sensors with respect to a sports session. The shin guard according to claim 1, further comprising a man-machine interface (16) composed of light-emitting diodes disposed on the upper edge of the shin guard. The shin guard according to one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a connection port (18) for charging the power supply, the port disposed at the bottom of the shin guard and arranged downward. The shin guard according to claim 3, wherein the power supply (17) is rectangular in shape, disposed centrally between the connection port (18) and the microprocessor (11). The shin guard according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the sensors comprise motion sensors (12) of the accelerometer, gyrometer, and magnetometer type, and position sensors (13) of the global positioning system type. The shin guard according to one of Claims 1 to 4, in which at least certain electronic components are arranged on a flexible printed circuit to match the curved shape of the shin guard. The shin guard according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which at least certain electronic components are arranged on at least two printed circuits (19-1, 19-2, 19-3) to match the curved shape of the tibia. The shin guard according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising at least two wireless communication interfaces, according to different communication protocols, one interface being used for the transfer of certain data in real time during the session, the another interface being used for the transfer of other data after the session. A method for capturing and sending data from a sports session, comprising the steps of: wearing by a player, during a sports session, a shin guard according to one of claims 1 to 8; capture data concerning the sports session; and sending at least some of the sensed data to a data processing and display application. A method of receiving and processing sports session data, comprising the steps of: receiving, by a data processing and display application, at least some of the sensed data relating to a sports session sent to the means of a method of capturing and sending data according to claim 9; and processing the data received. The receiving and processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of dividing the data into at least two periods for analysis.