WO2010031886A2

WO2010031886A2 - System for measuring the temporal parameters of walking, running and jumping by means of photodetectors

Info

Publication number: WO2010031886A2
Application number: PCT/ES2009/000469
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Luis GONZÁLEZ MONTESINOS; Alberto PALMA LÓPEZ; Jesús MORA VICENTE; Antonio MARTÍNEZ OLMOS; Pablo Gallardo Ruiz; Miguel Ángel CARVAJAL RODRÍGUEZ
Original assignee: Universidad De Granada; Universidad De Cádiz
Priority date: 2008-09-19
Filing date: 2009-09-18
Publication date: 2010-03-25
Also published as: WO2010031886A3; ES2335176A1; ES2335176B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for measuring the temporal parameters of walking, running and jumping by means of photodetectors. Said system comprises instrumentation components (hardware), logical programming components (software) and a set of detection elements formed by a number of photodetectors placed on the sole of the sports shoe. Operation is based on recording the changes in the signals from the photodetectors on the basis of a temporal reference common to all of the latter.

Description

SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT OF THE TEMPORARY PARAMETERS OF THE MARCH, THE RACE AND THE JUMP BY PHOTODETECTORS.

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE

This invention relates to an instrument for measuring and detecting supports during walking, jumps and races, based on the use of photodetector elements to discriminate the supports. In addition, it uses radio signals, which avoids the use of cables that connect the subject object of the study, with the computer that performs the measurement of the signals, being applicable in different fields.

To cite some examples of application of the system of measurement of the temporal parameters of the march, the race and the jump by means of photodetectors we can mention:

- In the sports field, to know the duration of the support of the subjects when marching, running or performing vertical or horizontal jumps.

- In the field of medicine, to know contact times and non-contact of a person during the locomotion and thus be able to differentiate a normal gait from a pathological one.

- In all fields, and even in others not mentioned, it allows knowing the frequency of passage of the subject under study.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Some of the methods used to date for studies that require the measurement and detection of supports during walking, jumps and races, require high technology and complex instrumentation, while others use simple methods and with little instrumental material.

The following are some of the most commonly used methods:

Filming the subject under study in Super-VHS video, while performing physical activity (walking, running or jumping), to later analyze its movement with the help of a computer. This method is economically expensive, uncomfortable for the researcher and not very accurate, since video filming allows only an accuracy of 2 hundredths of a second. To this we must add that the results are not obtained immediately, but a laborious work is necessary later.

Filming with high speed cameras: These cameras are very precise, but totally inaccessible to the average coach or to a researcher with a low budget. They allow filming at very high speeds, which gives us an accuracy of milliseconds, which avoids the inconvenience of the lack of precision presented by the previous method, but continues to present another great inconvenience, which consists in the need to carry out the study after the recording, so that by this method it is still impossible to obtain immediately.

Contact platforms: They consist of platforms of variable length, which contain multiple sheets, that come into contact when the subject under study steps on them. These platforms usually extend over the running track or inside laboratories, and must be connected to a computer, which detects the signal generated by the contact of the plates of the track, thus determining the flight and ground times performed by the Athlete during the race. Its main drawback lies in its low accuracy and the rapid deterioration suffered by the aforementioned sheets.

Infrared platforms or with lasen system The principle of operation is similar to the previous system, but instrumentally they consist of the use of two infrared or laser sensor barriers, separated at a certain distance, between which the subject of the study runs. This method allows quantifying the duration of the subject's support by interfering or not interfering with the infrared / laser lines created by the barrier. Its main problem continues to be precision, which will depend on the number of sensors used, and their location that forces the subject to run through a given space.

Support detectors through conductive corridors: It consists of a pair of shoes instrumented with metallic components that when contacting a conductive corridor quantifies the contact times and non-contact of the subject when walking, running or jumping on that metallic surface. Its main problem is that the displacement of the subject is limited to that platform or metallic tapestry so that it is not applicable in real sporting situations or in the displacement on non-metallic surfaces. Support detectors using accelerometers: They consist of instrumented shoes with accelerometers that allow quantifying distances, speeds and jump heights. The accelerometers are located in the sole of one of the athlete's shoes and through a radiofrequency transmitter the data is sent to a receiver located on the wrist to perform the relevant calculations. Its main limitation is that it does not discriminate the duration of the supports of various parts of the foot, such as the duration of the heel or forefoot supports. In addition, being only located in one of the shoes, only the data obtained by it is received, assuming, erroneously, that the supports made with the other sports shoe will be the same.

Therefore, it is clear the need to devise an alternative method, which uses a technology that eliminates the deficiencies presented by the methods used today and that allows to know in real time the duration of the supports and flight times of both feet, of The march, the run and the jump, in any type of surface, which constitutes the object of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

Currently, there are innumerable studies on the human movement from the perspective of medicine, veterinary medicine, biomechanics, physiology and training, but there are still many aspects to study, including the duration of the support provided, which may allow that further improve your treatment, rehabilitation, or even your performance.

The fields of application of the system of measurement of the temporal parameters of the march, the race and the jump by means of photodetectors go from the medical / traumatological, sports, veterinary perspective, etc.

From the medical point of view, especially in the field of traumatology and rehabilitation, human gait is very studied, using multiple measuring instruments.

From the first years of his childhood, the human being learns to walk naturally, experimenting with his body until he reaches his own style. Despite the individual nature of this process, the similarities between different subjects are such that one can speak of a characteristic pattern of normal human gait, as well as the modifications that said pattern undergoes due to the influence of various factors, intrinsic or extrinsic to the subject, and, above all, under certain pathological conditions.

The gait cycle includes phases of bipodal support and right and left monopodal support whose temporal quantification would allow the realization of studies that would allow the creation of temporal parameters that based on certain coefficients allow to discover a characteristic pattern of human gait. Said temporal pattern would allow to study the evolution of the gait pattern in subjects with traumatic problems or after a repair surgery.

Some research centers have developed instrumented corridors and contact and infrared platforms, which have allowed quantifying such parameters. Our invention does not need any special surface for the detection of the supports, only adequate lighting. In the case of photodetector elements sensitive to visible light, ambient light is sufficient. In addition, it incorporates a system via radio that allows to dispense with cables that join them to the computer. By means of the present system of measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors it is possible to carry out multiple studies related to the human march, via radio and in real time.

It is therefore possible to study the cadence of steps executed in a time interval, support dobie times, flight and ground times of each of the feet and multiple parameters related to human locomotion.

It is also possible to study the progress of the elderly, conditioned, on the one hand, to changes due to age and, on the other, to the effects of various pathologies, such as degenerative osteoarthritis and parkinsonism, which are more frequent advanced ages

There are multiple possibilities to classify the alterations of the gait due to pathologies, according to its etiology, according to the affected anatomical area, according to the phase of the gait that is altered, etc. However, all pathological processes end up causing certain alterations that are objectifiable through the present system of analysis and study of human gait. Thus, from the medical field, studies of parameters related to human locomotion and its possible alterations in patients with locomotor problems could be performed.

From the point of view of sport, the system for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the race and the jump using photodetectors allows the knowledge of the duration and frequency of the supports and will allow a new level of assessment and study of The physical condition of the subject. Knowing the support times and flight times of the feet on the ground it is possible to determine such important indexes in training as they are:

The duration of the support impulse phase during the run or the jump.

The height of the jumps: By knowing the flight time of a vertical jump it is possible to know the height reached.

The stride frequency and step in a race.

In addition, by not requiring a driver's aisle or carrying out the movement in a limited area, studies can be carried out in a real competition situation, such as assessing the jumping capacity in basketball or volleyball players or quantifying the duration of support in A running race.

The knowledge of these data will allow the elaboration of more effective training programs and adjusted to the real situation of the subject. It will therefore be possible to increase the athlete's performance more quickly and accurately, by providing everything moment and in real time of information that will allow an immediate and decisive knowledge with the subject.

The measurement system of the temporary parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors will allow the creation of new tests of physical condition, more adjusted to the real needs of assessment and that measure with total precision the parameters under study.

Among the advantages of the system, it is worth highlighting the fact that when carrying out the transfer of data via radio, the subject to be studied does not have to carry cables that connect to the computer and that can interfere with the way they walk or jump. In addition, by obtaining the data in real time, the examiner can observe the evolution of the subject throughout the test.

The system for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors includes instrumentation components (hardware), logical programming components (software), and a set of detection elements formed by photodetectors placed in the sole of the sneaker.

1.- Software component.

The software module consists of a computer program, which has a graphic interface and accesses a database in which the data of the individuals are stored and through which the tests to be performed are programmed, sensors that are going to be use, measurements, etc.

Through this module, the user can define the type of test - run, run, jump - and the protocol he wishes to perform, depending on parameters such as start sensor and end sensor by means of photocell, use of a metronome that sets a rhythm predetermined in a walking test, number of jumps to be performed, duration of the test, sounds to mark start and end of test, electric noise filter, test distance, cancel certain events, etc.

Once the test has started, it is possible to visualize statistics in real time, as well as graphs of the active and inactive times of all the sensors that have been configured at the beginning of the test. 2.- Hardware components

The system for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors has the main hardware module located on the body of the subject under study, which is described below.

Said module is a physical unit that admits as input the signal coming from the photodetector elements located in the sole and that has as output connection to the computer both by physical field buses (such as RS232, USB, etc.) and wireless via radio. Its main components are: i. Power module that allows both autonomous energy supply by batteries or solar panels and the power grid through conventional voltage adapters. ii. Modules for communication with buses and wireless, iii. Module for conditioning signals from photodetectors for further processing by digital systems. iv. Fast and high capacity data memory to serve as intermediate storage until the communication with the computer (for example, RAM). v. One or more secondary or slave process units that manage the acquisition of the events that mark the support times of each sensor, vi. Central unit of main or master process with capacity for the supervision of the modules of feeding, communications, the main bus of data and the memory; and the control buses and the other secondary or slave process units.

The operation is based on the recording of changes in the signals from the photodetectors, based on a common time reference for all of them. The conditioning module avoids false signals due to bounces or interference and converts the information to digital. Each secondary processing unit is responsible for receiving and preprocessing said signals grouped by foot or foot area by interruption or edge capture of the signal change. The main central unit is in charge of supervising this task, preventing simultaneous events from being lost and indicating the order of writing in the data memory. It is also responsible for marking a common temporary reference and managing the data packets and communication protocols with the computer. A possible design is based on the modular characteristic that has the fact of being able to add more or less secondary process units according to the number of photodetectors included in the soles.

The main hardware module has a series of buttons on the front panel, whose mission is to provide the start, end and test marks. It also has LEDs that provide information on the status of the power supply, the communication with the computer and the radio connection with the computer. This module has. the necessary elements for its fixation to the subject under study.

3.-Detection element: Photodetectors located in the sole of the footwear

It consists of photodetector elements (for example, photodiodes, phototransistors) that can operate in both the visible and infrared range (in this case infrared emitters are included) located in the sole of the shoe. When supporting and lifting the sole, the level of light from reflection with the ground or by direct incidence varies in the photodetector, modifying its output. This modification constitutes the change that is processed to indicate the dynamics of the foot. With photodetectors working in the visible ambient light is responsible for your changes in output current. If you work in the infrared, the ambient light is no longer necessary and in this case, the photodetector is accompanied by an infrared emitter that when raising the sole and by reflection with the ground or direct incidence active. This infrared emitter can be placed next to the photodetector or be an external source.

These sensors located in the sole are connected to the main hardware module by means of fine conductive cables, welded inside the sole of the shoe, in such a way that they are protected from friction with the ground or place of movement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- Block diagram of the main hardware module where the most relevant elements of a possible embodiment of the invention are indicated. Communication to the computer via cable or wireless has been marked with dashed lines indicating complementary and / or alternative communication. WAY THAT THE INVENTION IS SUSCEPTIBLE OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive so that any expert in the field understands the scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements will be susceptible to variation, provided that this does not imply an alteration to the essentiality of the invention.

The terms in which this report has been described must always be taken broadly and not limitatively.

Claims

1.- System for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, which includes:

• a logical module (software), which must be installed on the computer used to download the data of the test performed, from the hardware module, which consists of a computer program, which has a graphical interface and accesses a database in which the data of the individuals are stored, and by means of which the tests to be performed, the sensors to be used and the measurements to be performed are programmed.

• A physical module (hardware), composed of a series of elements that receive, by physical bus or radio, and store the data collected by the sensors located in the footwear.

• A plurality of detection elements consisting of a series of photodetection sensors placed in the sole of a shoe.

2.- System for measuring the temporal parameters of the gear, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claim 1, characterized in that the logic module allows! user define, among other parameters, the type of test - run, run, jump - and the protocol you want to perform, depending on parameters such as start sensor and end sensor by means of photocells, use of a metronome that sets a predetermined rhythm in a walking test, the duration of the test, the sounds to mark the start and end of the test, application of an electric noise filter, the test distance and cancel certain events.

3.- Measurement system of the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that once the test has been initiated, by means of the logic module, it is possible to visualize statistics in real time, thus as graphs of the active and inactive times of all the sensors that have been configured at the beginning of the test.

REPLACEMENT SHEET (Rule 2ϋ)

4. System for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claim 1, characterized in that the main hardware module consists of a physical unit that admits as input the signal from the photodetector elements located in The sole of the footwear, and which has as its output connection to the computer both by physical field buses (such as RS232, USB, etc.) and wireless via radio.

5.- Measurement system of the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the hardware module comprises the following components i. Power module that allows both autonomous energy supply by batteries or solar panels and the power grid through conventional voltage adapters. ii. Modules for communication with buses and wireless, iii. Module for conditioning signals from photodetectors for further processing by digital systems, iv. Fast and high capacity data memory to serve as intermediate storage until the communication with the computer (for example, memory

RAM). v. Central unit of main or master process, which by itself, or through one or several slave process units, manages the acquisition of the events that mark the support times of each sensor. In addition, it will have the capacity for the supervision of the power modules, communications, the main data bus and the memory; and the control buses and the other secondary or slave process units.

6.- Measurement system for the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the design of the main hardware module is based on the modular characteristic that gives it the power capacity add more or less secondary process units, depending on the number of photodetectors included in the soles.

7.- System for measuring the temporal parameters of the gear, the stroke and the jump using photodetectors, according to claims 1, 5 and 6, characterized in that the main hardware module has a series of push-buttons, whose mission is to provide the signals Start, end and test marks.

REPLACEMENT SHEET (Rule 26)

8.- System for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1, 5, 6 and 7, characterized in that the main hardware module has LED diodes that provide information on the status of the power supply , of the communication with the computer and of the radio connection with the computer.

9.- System for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8, characterized in that the main hardware module has the necessary elements for its fixation to the subject under study.

10.- Measurement system of the temporary parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claim 1, characterized in that the photodetector elements are located in strategic places of the sole of the footwear, which allow to determine the place and the duration of the support by means of the detection of the change in the light intensity under the sole, both in the visible and outside it, during the foot support process.

11.- Measurement system of the temporary parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 and 10, characterized in that the photodetectors located in the sole are connected to the main hardware module by means of fine conductor cables, welded inside of the sole of the shoe, so that they are protected from friction with the ground or place of movement.

12.- Use of the measurement system of the temporary parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 to 11, to know the duration of the support of people when marching, running or performing vertical or horizontal jumps.

13.- Use of the measurement system of the temporary parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 to 11, to know support times and non-support of a person during the locomotion and thus be able to differentiate a march normal of a pathological.

14.- Use of the measurement system of the temporal parameters of the march, the run and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to claims 1 to 11, to know the frequency of passage of a person under study.

REPLACEMENT SHEET (Rule 26)

15.- A method of using the system for measuring the temporal parameters of the march, the stroke and the jump by means of photodetectors, according to previous claims, which consists in establishing through a computer that has a program installed, which we call a logical module , the type of test to be performed, the sensors to be used and the measurements to be performed, and to provide the subject under study with a pair of footwear, whose soles contain a series of photodetection elements that obtain the data of the footrests of the subject when they move on the ground, and transmit them to the hardware module, which stores them until they are transferred to the computer program that ordered the start of the test, so that through a graphical interface, real-time statistics are displayed , as well as graphs of the active and inactive times of all the sensors that have been configured at the beginning of the test.

REPLACEMENT SHEET (Rule 28)