Pacing system with feedback based adjustments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550105-B2
Application number	US-201313788479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2013
Priority date	Mar 7, 2013
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A pacing system for pacing an activity receives a desired pace that includes a timing interval and generates a first pace signal based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval. The system receives feedback on an actual pace of the activity and determines if the actual pace is different than the desired pace. When the actual pace is different, the system generates a second pace signal having a timing that is different than the timing interval. When the actual pace is not different, the system generates the second pace signal in accordance with the timing interval.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of pacing a user, the method comprising:
receiving a desired pace comprising a timing interval;
generating a first pace signal based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval;
receiving feedback on an actual pace;
determining if the actual pace is different than the desired pace;
when the actual pace is different, generating a second pace signal having a timing that is different than the timing interval; and
when the actual pace is not different, generating the second pace signal in accordance with the timing interval;
wherein the timing interval comprises generating the first pace signal every t, wherein t is a first measure of time, further comprising:
determining that the actual pace differs from the desired pace by x, wherein x is a second measure of time;
generating a next pace signal at the next t interval after determining that the actual pace differs from the desired pace;
generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t+x interval when the actual pace is slower than the desired pace; and
generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t−x interval when the actual pace is faster than the desired pace.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pace signal and the second pace signal each comprise one or more haptic effects that are vibratory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pace signal and the second pace signal each comprise one or more haptic effects generated by at least one of electrostatic friction, ultrasonic surface friction, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a deformable surface or a shape changing device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback is a measurement of a footfall.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback is a measurement of an attainment of a phase in a repetitive movement.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback is generated by an accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining if the actual pace is different than the desired pace comprises determining if a timing of a footfall is different from the timing interval within a predetermined range.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second pace signal comprises one of a plurality of types of haptic effects with a different haptic effect type to indicate whether the actual pace is slower or faster than the target pace, wherein the different haptic effect type comprises a variation of one or more haptic effect parameters.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the haptic effect parameters comprise at least one of magnitude, frequency or duration.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a sensor signal corresponding to the user's physical condition and wherein the timing of the second pace signal is based in part on the sensor signal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pace signal and the second pace signal each comprise one or more haptic effects generated by an actuator.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to pace an activity, the pacing comprising:
receiving a desired pace comprising a timing interval;
generating a first pace signal based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval;
receiving feedback on an actual pace;
determining if the actual pace is different than the desired pace;
when the actual pace is different, generating a second pace signal having a timing that is different than the timing interval; and
when the actual pace is not different, generating the second pace signal in accordance with the timing interval;
wherein the timing interval comprises generating the first pace signal every t, wherein t is a first measure of time, further comprising:
determining that the actual pace differs from the desired pace by x, wherein x is a second measure of time;
generating a next pace signal at the next t interval after determining that the actual pace differs from the desired pace;
generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t+x interval when the actual pace is slower than the desired pace; and
generating the second pace signal, after generating the next pace signal, at the next t−x interval when the actual pace is faster than the desired pace.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first pace signal and the second pace signal each comprise one or more haptic effects that are vibratory.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first pace signal and the second pace signal each comprise one or more haptic effects generated by at least one of electrostatic friction, ultrasonic surface friction, an ultrasonic haptic transducer, a deformable surface or a shape changing device.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the feedback is a measurement of a footfall.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the feedback is a measurement of an attainment of a phase in a repetitive movement.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the feedback is generated by an accelerometer.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the determining if the actual pace is different than the desired pace comprises determining if a timing of a footfall is different from the timing interval within a predetermined range.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the second pace signal comprises one of a plurality of types of haptic effects with a different haptic effect type to indicate whether the actual pace is slower or faster than the target pace, wherein the different haptic effect type comprises a variation of one or more haptic effect parameters.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the haptic effect parameters comprise at least one of magnitude, frequency or duration.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising receiving a sensor signal corresponding to the user's physical condition and wherein the timing of the second pace signal is based in part on the sensor signal.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first pace signal and the second pace signal each comprise one or more haptic effects generated by an actuator.

23. A pacing system comprising:
a processor;
a pace signal output device coupled to the processor, wherein the pace signal output device comprises an actuator; and
a feedback device coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is adapted to pace a user, the pacing comprising:
receiving a desired pace comprising a timing interval;
generating a first pace signal on the pace signal output device based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval;
receiving feedback on an actual pace from the feedback device;
determining if the actual pace is different than the desired pace;
when the actual pace is different, generating a second pace signal on the pace signal output device having a timing that is different than the timing interval; and
when the actual pace is not different, generating the second pace signal on the pace signal output device in accordance with the timing interval;

wherein the timing interval comprises generating the first pace signal every t, wherein t is a first measure of time, further comprising:
determining that the actual pace differs from the desired pace by x, wherein x is a second me

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Lacroix Robert
• Grant Danny

Classifications

• G16H20/30

  relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising · CPC title

• A61B5/1118

  Determining activity level · CPC title

• A63B24/0062

  Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance · CPC title

• G04G21/025

  for measuring physiological data · CPC title

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title