Search

US-20260124092-A1 - WIRELESS WEARABLE SENSOR SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ROBOTIC EXOSKELETONS AND DYNAMIC MOTION APPLICATIONS

US20260124092A1US 20260124092 A1US20260124092 A1US 20260124092A1US-20260124092-A1

Abstract

Presented are wearable sensor systems for monitoring user movement, methods for making/using such systems, exoskeletons employing such systems, and wireless-enabled wearable sensor devices for performing biometric measurements. A sensor system for monitoring movement of a user includes a wearable sensor device that is communicatively connectable to a sensor linking node. The sensor linking node wirelessly receives sensor data from the wearable sensor device and wirelessly communicates the received sensor data to a remote computing node. The wearable sensor device includes an expandable device body, such as an elastic compression sleeve or an adjustable strap, that is worn on an appendage of the user. The device body includes a mounting interface, such as mating hook-and-loop fastener pads, that removably mounts thereon a biometric sensor core (BSC) unit. The BSC unit contains a microcontroller assembly that is integral with a microcontroller device, a biometric sensor array, and a wireless communication device.

Inventors

  • Cameron Brandon Pinnock
  • Haroun Algahmi

Assignees

  • Motion Augmented LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20260105

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A sensor system for monitoring movement of a user, the sensor system comprising: a wearable sensor device including: an expandable device body configured to be worn on an appendage of the user; a mounting interface attached to the expandable device body; and a biometric sensor core (BSC) unit attached to the mounting interface, the BSC unit including: a microcontroller assembly with a microcontroller device, a biometric sensor array, and a wireless communication device; a BSC unit housing defining therein a housing compartment with an opening, the microcontroller assembly disposed inside the housing compartment; and a BSC unit lid detachably mounted onto the BSC unit housing to thereby cover the opening and secure the microcontroller assembly inside the housing compartment; and a sensor linking node communicatively connectable to the wireless communication device to wirelessly receive sensor data from the BSC unit, the sensor linking node configured to wirelessly communicate the received sensor data with a remote computing node.
  2. 2 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable device body includes a compression sleeve and/or an adjustable strap.
  3. 3 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable device body consists essentially of a compression sleeve configured to friction fit therein the appendage of the user.
  4. 4 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting interface includes an attachment pad fixed to the expandable device body and removably mounting thereon the BSC unit without any one of a threaded fastener, a bracket, a latch, an adhesive, and a snap fastener.
  5. 5 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting interface includes a first fastener pad with one of multiple hooks or multiple loops, and the BSC unit includes a second fastener pad with the other of the multiple hooks or the multiple loops, the multiple hooks mating with the multiple loops to releasably attach the first fastener pad to the second fastener pad.
  6. 6 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller assembly includes a single integrated circuit (IC) chip with the microcontroller device, the biometric sensor array, and the wireless communication device all mounted onto the single IC chip.
  7. 7 . The sensor system of claim 6 , wherein the biometric sensor array includes a multi-axis motion sensor connected to the wireless communication device and operable to measure motion of the appendage of the user.
  8. 8 . The sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the multi-axis motion sensor is an embedded nine degrees-of-freedom (DoF) motion sensor array with a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a 3-axis magnetometer.
  9. 9 . The sensor system of claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication device includes an embedded Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module.
  10. 10 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the BSC unit further includes a rechargeable battery module disposed inside the housing compartment and operable to power the microcontroller assembly.
  11. 11 . The sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the BSC unit further includes a pair of foam pads disposed inside the housing compartment on opposing sides of the microcontroller assembly.
  12. 12 . The sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the BSC unit consists essentially of the BSC unit housing, the BSC unit lid, the microcontroller assembly, the rechargeable battery module, and the foam pads.
  13. 13 . A wearable sensor device for a sensor system, the wearable sensor device comprising: an expandable device body structurally configured to friction fit onto an appendage of a user; a mounting interface fixed to the expandable device body; and a biometric sensor core (BSC) unit removably mounted onto the mounting interface, the BSC unit including: a microcontroller assembly integral with a microcontroller device, a biometric sensor array, and a wireless communication device; a rechargeable battery module operable to power the microcontroller assembly; a BSC unit housing defining therein a housing compartment with an opening, the microcontroller assembly and the rechargeable battery module disposed inside the housing compartment; and a BSC unit lid detachably mounted onto the BSC unit housing to thereby cover the opening and secure the microcontroller assembly and the rechargeable battery module inside the housing compartment.
  14. 14 . A method of assembling a wearable sensor device for a sensor system with a wireless-enabled linking node, the method comprising: receiving an expandable device body configured to be worn on an appendage of a user; attaching a mounting interface to the expandable device body; and attaching a biometric sensor core (BSC) unit to the mounting interface, the BSC unit including: a microcontroller assembly integral with a microcontroller device, a biometric sensor array, and a wireless communication device communicatively connectable to the wireless-enabled linking node; a BSC unit housing defining therein a housing compartment with an opening, the microcontroller assembly disposed inside the housing compartment; and a BSC unit lid detachably mounted onto the BSC unit housing to thereby cover the opening and secure the microcontroller assembly inside the housing compartment.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the expandable device body includes a compression sleeve and/or an adjustable strap.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mounting interface includes an attachment pad fixed to the expandable device body and removably mounting thereon the BSC unit without any one of a threaded fastener, a bracket, a latch, an adhesive, and a snap fastener.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mounting interface includes a first fastener pad with one of multiple hooks or multiple loops, and the BSC unit includes a second fastener pad with the other of the multiple hooks or the multiple loops, the multiple hooks mating with the multiple loops to releasably attach the first fastener pad to the second fastener pad.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the microcontroller assembly includes a single integrated circuit (IC) chip with the microcontroller device, the biometric sensor array, and the wireless communication device all mounted onto the single IC chip.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the biometric sensor array includes a multi-axis motion sensor connected to the wireless communication device and operable to measure motion of the appendage of the user.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the wireless communication device includes an embedded Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/298,687, which was filed on Apr. 11, 2023, is now allowed, and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/418,135, which was filed on Oct. 21, 2022, and is now expired, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/403,425, which was filed on Sep. 2, 2022, and is now expired. All of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties and for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to wearable devices and systems for examining dynamic motion. More specifically, aspects of this disclosure relate to wireless sensor systems for measuring forces and monitoring athletic performance for users engaged in sporting activities. BACKGROUND Monitoring of athletic performance is used for many sporting activities, whether it is a professional athlete training for a competition or a recreational athlete exercising to maintain fitness. Specialized athlete management and monitoring systems, for example, enable coaches and staff to better gauge where players are in their individual training progression and injury recovery. These systems also help players and individuals participating in athletic activities to track their own performance, health, and related biometric data. Wearable body-motion-sensing technology has enhanced athlete management and monitoring as well as individualized fitness. Wireless motion sensors packaged inside an athlete's equipment, integrated into a dedicated wearable device, or placed on the athlete's skin are used in both professional and recreational applications. Professional motion sensor systems, for example, may employ light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are placed on an athlete's body and tracked using one or more high-precession cameras. For recreational use, motion sensors may use geopositional tracking and incorporate accelerometers to measure the number of steps and the distance traveled for leisure or exercise activities. Using accelerometers placed on the body to measure kinematic limb force generation adds another dimension to biometric monitoring. In the area of combat sports, an interactive system using impact force sensors embedded in frame-mounted striking pads to measure impact forces is presented in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2012/0108394 A1, to Terry G. Jones, et al. For the '394 Publication, the sensors communicate with an electronic control unit to detect and measure strikes to the pads, such as punching, kicking, elbowing, kneeing, etc. of the pads. This system design only allows for measurement of reaction forces, is not wearable by the user, limits use to a confined location, and does not capture kinematic forces of the strike itself while in transit. An example of a wearable sensor system used for monitoring athletic performance in combat sports is presented in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2014/0248594 A1, to Victor Xavier Navas et al. In the '594 Publication, accelerometers are embedded in boxing gloves or mixed martial arts (MMA) gloves to measure the impact force of a user's strikes. Each wearable device uses an accelerometer that is wired to a microcontroller, which in return is wired to a wireless connectivity module. While this system is robust, wireless, wearable, and is able to measure in-transit forces, the wearable components are not integrated into the microcontroller and, thus, are bulky and not user friendly. A similar system using martial arts gloves with embedded electronics for athlete monitoring and evaluation is presented in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2014/0372440 A1, to Steven Cains et al. In the '440 Publication, a mixed martial arts glove is equipped with an impact-sensing circuit board that contains a microcontroller, a wireless chip, and 3-axis accelerometers connected to an impact sensing circuit. This device is less bulky via the use of a circuit board that holds the sensing and wireless communications components. However, the device does not use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as a short-range wireless protocol. Also, the circuit board is stitched to the MMA glove as a method of attachment; in so doing, there is a significant risk of damaging the electronics when the gloves need to be cleaned. In the sport of American Football, U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2015/0182810 A1, to Robert Thurman et al., discloses use of an accelerometer that is embedded inside a football. This device, when caught by a receiver, will sense and wirelessly relay back the impact force and catch quality of the ball via software. Presented in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2009/0325739 A1, to Robert S. Gold et al., is a similar system that is applied to the sport of basketball, in which an accelerometer is embedded inside a ball. In this example, the embedded sensor measures the position of the ball while in transit, e.g., when the ball is passed or shot