Christopher L Noble

US Patent:

7383728, Jun 10, 2008

Filed:

Jul 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/485180

Inventors:

Christopher R. Noble - Winchester MA, US
Kenneth S. Lyons - Middleboro MA, US

Assignee:

Ultimate Balance, Inc. - Winchester MA

International Classification:

A61B 5/22

US Classification:

7337901, 600595

Abstract:

Improved apparatus and methods of sensing or monitoring body orientation and motion and measuring range of motion (ROM) for use in athletic training and physical rehabilitation and evaluation. The apparatus includes a 3-axis sensor, at least one memory, and at least one processor, and is attachable to an object to be monitored. The 3-axis sensor senses a magnitude of tilt along each of a first, second, and third axis, the memory stores data representing the sensed magnitudes of tilt, and the processor processes the data stored in the memory. In one embodiment, the processor determines an angle between each of the first, second, and third axes and a horizontal plane, and selects the two axes corresponding to the two smallest angles between the three axes and the horizontal plane. The processor then generates an indication of the orientation of the object based upon the sensed magnitudes of tilt along the two selected axes.

US Patent:

7634379, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Mar 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/077955

Inventors:

Christopher R. Noble - Winchester MA, US

Assignee:

Ultimate Balance, Inc. - Winchester MA

International Classification:

G01P 15/00

US Classification:

702141

Abstract:

An improved apparatus and methods of posture and physical activity monitoring. The apparatus is physically mountable to or associated with an object or person, includes a multi-axis accelerometer, and derives measurements of posture and of acceleration. Methods are disclosed which provide improved estimations of posture, acceleration, energy expenditure, movement characteristics and physical activity, detect the influence of externally-caused motion, and permit automatic calibration of the apparatus in the field.

US Patent:

20050046576, Mar 3, 2005

Filed:

Aug 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/916010

Inventors:

Marcus Julian - Medford MA, US
Christopher Noble - Winchester MA, US
A. Thomas - Medfield MA, US

International Classification:

G08B023/00

US Classification:

340573100

Abstract:

A system and method of monitoring the position of a body part of a user. The system may be employed in athletic training, physical rehabilitation, or maintenance of proper body balance in daily activities. The system essentially creates a learning environment in which an athlete or physiotherapy patient is taught via immediate verbal feedback the proper body position to maintain for a particular sport or activity. The system includes one or more motion-detecting/signal-emitting units (“student units”) and one or more monitor/control units (“pro units”). Each student unit is mountable on the student user, and a position sensor within the unit senses a direction/magnitude of tilt/rotation relative to a predetermined reference position. The user of the pro unit can remotely monitor the positional information generated by the student unit via a wireless communications interface, as the user engages in the particular sport or activity. The pro user can change selected operational modes of the student unit based on the monitored angular/rotational position information.