Device and System for Measuring a Dimension of an Object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023255321-A1
Application number	US-202118017517-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2021
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Aug 17, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a device for measuring at least one dimension of an object. The device includes at least one body configured to be arranged along, or around, the object. The, or each, body carries an elongate stretchable waveguide and is configured to allow stretching the waveguide along its length when arranged along, or around, the object. The, or each, waveguide is associated with a sensor. The, or each, sensor includes a light emitter arranged and operable to emit at least one light pulse through the associated waveguide, and a light detector arranged to receive the at least one light pulse conveyed through the waveguide. The device also includes a communication module communicatively coupled with the, or each, sensor, and configured to communicate measurement data from the, or each, sensor to a processor to allow determining the at least one dimension. Systems and methods for measuring at least one dimension of an object are also disclosed.

First claim

1 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . A device for measuring at least one length dimension of an object, the device comprising:
at least one body having at least a portion configured to be extendable and arranged along, or around, the object, the, or each, body carrying an elongate stretchable waveguide configured to elastically stretch along its length, the, or each, body connected to the associated waveguide to allow causing significant stretching of the waveguide along its length when the body and the waveguide are tensioned along, or around, the object; the, or each, waveguide associated with a sensor, the, or each, sensor comprising a light emitter arranged and operable to emit at least one light pulse through the associated waveguide, and a light detector arranged to receive the at least one light pulse conveyed through the waveguide, the, or each, sensor operable to measure a time period between emitting and receiving a light pulse; and a communication module communicatively coupled with the, or each, sensor, and configured to communicate measured time period data from the, or each, sensor to a processor to cause determining the at least one length dimension based on the measured time period data.

21 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein the, or each, waveguide, is configured as an elongate stretchable fiber and arranged to extend at least partway along the associated body.

22 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein the, or each, waveguide is arranged in a loop to extend partway along the associated body in a first direction and partway along the body in a second, opposed direction, such that the loop defines a pair of parallel portions.

23 . The device according to claim 20 , configured to measure at least one length dimension of a limb of a user, and wherein the, or each, body is configured as an elongate strap securable relative to the limb to extend along, or around, the limb.

24 . The device according to claim 23 , comprising a plurality of the straps and respective associated waveguides and sensors, the straps arranged such that securing each strap relative to the limb allows the communication module to communicate the measurement data from each sensor to the processor to cause the processor to determine a plurality of length dimensions of the limb.

25 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein at least one strap comprises an extendable portion and an inextensible portion, and wherein the associated waveguide is arranged to extend at least partway along the extendable portion.

26 . The device according to claim 24 , comprising a spine, and wherein the straps are arranged to be spaced along the spine, and each strap extend away from the spine.

27 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the spine defines a longitudinal axis, and at least one of the straps is arranged to extend transversely to the axis, and at least one of the straps is arranged to extend parallel to the axis.

28 . The device according to claim 24 , configured to receive a foot of a user, and the straps are dimensioned such that fitting the device to the foot causes each strap to be deformed by the foot to stretch each waveguide.

29 . The device according to claim 28 , wherein the straps are arranged to allow operating the sensors to cause the processor to determine at least two of the following dimensions defined by the foot: foot length; ball girth; instep girth; and heel girth.

30 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein the, or each, waveguide is manipulable to allow defining a non-linear path for the at least one light pulse.

31 . A system for determining at least one length dimension defined by an object, the system comprising:
the device according to claim 20 ; and a processor configured such that, responsive to receiving measured time period data from the communication module, the processor determines a length of the, or each, waveguide, and, responsive to determining the length of the, or each, waveguide, the processor determines the at least one length dimension of the object.

32 . The system according to claim 31 , wherein the, or each sensor, is operable to emit a plurality of light pulses and measure a complementary plurality of time periods to cause the measured time periods to be communicated to the processor, and the processor is configured to average a defined plurality of the received measured time periods, and determine the length of the, or each, waveguide based on the averaged measured time period.

33 . The system according to claim 31 , wherein the processor is hosted remotely from the device, and the communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate with the processor.

34 . A system for determining garment size for a user, the system comprising:
the device according to claim 23 ; and a processor configured such that, responsive to receiving the measured time period data from the communication module, the processor determines a length of the, or each, waveguide, and, responsive to determining the length of the, or each, waveguide, the processor determines the at least one length dimension of the limb of the user, the processor further configured such that, responsive to determining the at least one length dimension, the processor determines a garment size corresponding with the at least one length dimension.

35 . A system for determining garment size for a user, the system comprising the device according to claim 28 , and a processor configured such that, responsive to receiving the measured data from the communication module, the processor determines a length of the, or each, waveguide, and, responsive to determining the length of the, or each, waveguide, and, responsive to determining the length of the, or each, waveguide, the processor is configured to determine a plurality of dimensions of the foot of the user, and, responsive to determining the plurality of dimensions, determine a shoe size corresponding with the plurality of dimensions.

36 . A method for measuring at least one length dimension of an object, the method comprising:
arranging an elongate elastically stretchable waveguide along the object such that the waveguide is substantially stretched along its length, the waveguide associated with a sensor including a light emitter arranged and operable to emit at least one light pulse through the waveguide, and a light detector arranged to receive the at least one light pulse conveyed through the waveguide, the sensor operable to measure a time period between emitting and receiving a light pulse; operating the sensor to cause a light pulse to be emitted by the emitter, travel through the waveguide, and be received by the detector, to generate time period measurement data; and communicating the time period measurement data to a processor, causing the processor to determine the at least one length dimension based on the time period measurement data.

Assignees

• Univ Louisville Res Found Inc
• Style Atlas Holdings Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Smit Peter Anthony
• Harnett Cindy

Classifications

• A43D1/025 Primary

  comprising optical means, e.g. mirrors, photo-electric cells, for measuring or inspecting feet · CPC title

• A61B5/1079

  using optical or photographic means · CPC title

• A61B5/1074

  Foot measuring devices · CPC title

• A61B2503/12

  Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey · CPC title

• G01B11/02 Primary

  for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B11/08 takes precedence) · CPC title