Abstract:
A smart trampoline jumping mat system is designed that has a jumping mat, a sensor or a set of sensors, a processor with wireless communication unit, and a handheld device with an application program running from the smart handheld device. The sensor or set of sensors can be used for sensing activity of a person or an object on the bounce members. The processor is used to acquire deflection data from the sensor or sensor group. Deflection data is then manipulated by the processor prior to being sent to the handheld device. The handheld device may include a processor, graphical user interfaces (GUI) to show the move meat of the juniper, and a speaker to generate audible feedback. A method to compute the height of a bounce is also presented. The deflection value is combined with data based on jumper&#39;s weight, jump period, and size of trampoline mat to determine the height of a bounce.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62,257,744, filed on Nov. 20, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to techniques for measuring activity on a flexible mat of a trampoline with a wireless enabled electronic processor that includes at least one sensor to measure the deflection of the jumping mat relative to the plane formed by the undeformed mat, and a smart handheld device which connects to the processor for data communication. The wireless communication enabled electronic processor manipulates the data and determines the height of the bounce based on user&#39;s profile, while ignoring any sensor noise and false bounces. The processor transfers bounce data to the smart handheld device for purposes including but not limited to entertainment and exercise. Furthermore, the bounce data can be displayed through a graphical user interface (GUI) on handhold device to illustrate user&#39;s activities and provide user interaction. This interface can be used to play games on the handheld device which use input from both the processor and the user to determine outcomes. The program running on handheld devices being able to exchange data with a cloud service through internet, thus turning a local trampoline bounce sequence into to an internet trampoline game with social features. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Canadian patent publication CA 2,772,801 to Yjip Inc. and U.S. patent publication US2015/0321039 to John Robert Howe have described different methods to measure activities on the trampolines. They invented a trampoline including a frame and a jumping mat assembly that is supported by the frame to allow at least one user to bounce on the jumping mat. The trampoline also includes a sensor system that includes a plurality of sensors supported by the frame and/or the jumping mat assembly. The sensors are used to determine the status of a user or users on the trampoline. The main purpose of these inventions is to ensure the safety of the bouncers. 
         [0004]    The previous inventions did not adequately solve the issue of differentiating between the two situations when a person is walking on the mat versus when the user is jumping on the mat. This lack of differentiation can result in false bounce detection by the sensor arrangement. Deflection of the jumping mat caused by walking on the trampoline should not be registered as a valid jump. This walking activity can be defined as a bounce of insufficient height. The insufficient bounce is a noise signal and should be filtered and ignored by the sensing unit. In another scenario, these patents failed to identify deflection of the jumping mat resulting from jumpers with different profiles, including user weight and trampoline size. For example, the deflection registered on the jumping mat from jumper weighing 100 lbs is quite different from that of a jumper weighing 200 lbs. 
         [0005]    Personal communication, productivity, and entertainment devices such as tablets, smart phones, c-books, handheld game player or game controllers, portable media/email device, iPads, Netbooks, etc. (all referred to hereafter as “smart devices”) are known to include features such as graphical user interfaces (GUI), touch screens, wireless connectivity, etc. These devices also are known to provide support for ancillary applications (referred to as “APP” thereafter), such as calendars, email, maps, navigation, or other user defined functions. Ancillary applications may be pre-installed in a smart device or may be made available for download by a user. After initial installation and configuration of such a smart device APP, a GUI may be provided by means of which a user may be enabled to issue operational commands to a user configured hardware. Disclosed herein are user-friendly and convenient GUI methods for facilitating command input/output for a smart trampoline mat. 
         [0006]    From technology point of view, the previous inventions did not include smart handheld device and APP program to interactively work with the bouncers. None of the former inventions have combined a trampoline bounce event effectively with bounce height calculations and energy consumption calculations coupled with entertainment gaming. Most importantly, none of the prior art has included an internet-enabled cloud service technology which can turn a local trampoline game to an internet game with social features. None of the former inventions discuss the ability to upload or download user&#39;s historical data to a cloud service for global distribution of game data, or for an individual&#39;s personal activity tracking. This invention breaks the limitation of physical localization of trampoline and brings fan to users all over the world. 
         [0007]    It is an object of preferred embodiments of the present invention to address some of the aforementioned disadvantages. An additional or alternative object is to at least provide the public with a useful choice, and make the previous invention useful. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A smart trampoline jumping mat system is provided which has a jumping mat, a sensor or set of bounce sensors, an electronic processor with communication unit, a handheld device with communication unit and an APP program running on the handheld device. The sensor or set of bounce sensors can be used for sensing activity of a person or an object on the bounce mat through deflection measurement. Sensor data is collected and sent to the local processor unit for calculation. The local process filters the data, removing sensor noise and calculating sufficient and insufficient jumps using jump height as a selection criteria. The local processor then sends data to the handheld device. The handheld device may then display the data, update and potential game scenario with the data, and/or upload the data to a cloud service for further processing and storage. 
         [0009]    Using the data acquired, the local processor calculates user bounce data, such as bounce count, bounce frequency, bounce period, bounce time, and bounce height. The processor communication unit is the link between the local processor and the handheld device. An APP program running on the smart devices displays user calorie dissipation by using bounce data received and displays user profile, bounce data, game guidance, activities, etc., on the visual display of the smart device. The APP is also capable of registering single or multiple user&#39;s profile, storing all users&#39; profile and personal history of bounce data locally in the memory of the smart device. Furthermore, the APP upload and download personal profile and bouncing activities to and from a cloud service. In the APP, a user can compare a pair of chosen user&#39;s bouncing action to start a competition. The APP applies cloud calculation to compare user&#39;s bouncing activity among other users so long as the users registered themselves through the APP or this APP&#39;s website. This invention turns a local trampoline to an open game over the interne and one of a social tool. This effectively brings more fun and exercise to any user from a local trampoline. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings described in this section are for illustrative purposes only and are to clarify and improve understanding of the embodiment of this invention. The drawings and figure listed are not all possible implementations of the current invention and thus not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a outline view of prior art of trampoline which is applied for this embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is one design of the bouncing sensor unit diagram. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is the APP block function illustration which runs in a smart device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is the program flowchart of the bouncing sensor unit which measures deflection of the jumping mat and exchange data with smart handheld device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is illustration of deflection aroused by jumper when standing still on the trampoline vs jumping on the trampoline. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a typical embodiment of deflection measured from trampoline mat while jumping. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a simplified deflection segment of one jump in time domain. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a sketch of identifying valid jump from invalid jump by threshold value. 
       
    
    
     LEGAL WORDING DEFINITIONS 
       [0020]    As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is,” “are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to prior art  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated one embodiment of a conventional trampoline  22 , which includes a trampoline frame  34 , to support the basic structure thereof. There is mounted to the frame  34 , a jumping bed  31 , a plurality of coil springs  32 , and a plurality of upright legs  36 . The legs  36  are adapted to be disposed uprightly on a ground surface and vertically coupled to the frame  34  in a spaced relationship to each other. The frame  34  shape, circular in this embodiment, defines a bed mounting space  37  or opening. The jumping bed  31 , is mounted in the space  37 , and includes a trampoline mat member  39  with a peripheral spring attachment portion  33 . There is a plurality of coupling members  35 , like grommets, peripherally mounted to the attachment portion  33 , and designed to releasably couple to one end of the coil springs  32  respectively. A second opposite end of each spring  32  is designed to be releasably coupled to a plurality of frame mounting members  30 , like a hook, ring or eye design, which are peripherally mounted in a spaced apart manner to the inner circumference of the frame  34 . Thus, the jumping bed is resiliently suspended off the ground and held in the mounting space  37  by the frame  34  and the springs  32  to allow users to jump thereon without hitting the ground. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the trampoline mat  39 , the bounce sensor  50 , the local electronic processor (bounce sensor unit)  11 , the handheld device  51 , the cloud service  52 , the wireless/internet port  53 , the Bluetooth port  54 , and the Application program  55  comprised the smart trampoline system and provide a variety of functionality and entertainment to the game of trampoline. 
         [0023]    A trampoline mat has at least one bounce sensor unit  50  that are mounted on the mat or under the mat, illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The bounce sensor unit measure deflection of the flexible mat relative to the plane formed by the undeformed mat, thus to measure activity of the bouncer on the jumping mat. A bounce sensor unit  50  includes sensor module  60 , power switch  62 , power module  63 , microprocessor  66 , wireless communication module  65 , LED indicators  61 , and audio module  64 . The MCU process communication and measurement procedures. The bouncing sensor unit measurement program flowchart is displayed in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    The bouncing sensor unit or units  50  are configured to measure value corresponding to deflection of the jumping mat as a person moves on the mat. The term deflection as used in this claim is related to a mat deflection signal or value measured relative to the plane of the undeformed mat. 
         [0025]    There are several suitable techniques for fixed or removable mounting the sensors in association with the trampoline. These preferred methods of mounting will be further described below. 
         [0026]    As sketched in  FIG. 6 , when a person is standing on the jumping mat, the initial deflection value is defined as A, while a person jumps on the mat, the deflection value will be registered as a bigger value, called B in this scenario. The difference deflection between B and A, i.e., equation B-A, is possibly a valid deflection caused by the bouncing activity. 
         [0027]    For any jump to be considered a valid bounce, the deflection registered by this jump minus the initial deflection must be bigger than a threshold value B 0 , that is: 
         [0000]      ( B−A )&gt;B 0 , 
         [0000]    where the threshold B 0 , is not only related to jumping mat and springs&#39; elasticity, but also related to jumper&#39;s weight m and trampoline size D. For a predefined trampoline, the weight becomes the only parameter to affect the threshold value. 
         [0028]    A typical dynamic deflection curve  80  measured from bouncing sensor unit is printed in  FIG. 7 . For simplicity, a typical jump can be represented by  FIG. 8 , where a n  can be acceleration, force or impact amplitude of the nth jump and t n  the period of this jump. The deflection of the jumping mat is related to jump impact/force/acceleration a, weight of the jumper m, and period of the jump t, as described by the equation: 
         [0000]        B=μ mat 
         [0000]    where, a is value measured by the bouncing sensor unit, m is a fixed value for each jumper and t can be measured by analyzing the output curve shape of each jump measured by sensor. μ is a constant can be normalized using least square method and statistics method by a vast variety of experiment from different jumper at a wide range of weight μ is also related to size of trampoline. 
         [0029]    Deflection on jumping mat can be categorized to different levels (B k ), starting from minimum measurable deflection B 0 , notation k is grade of deflection. If a is the acceleration measured on the jumping spot, then deflection of mat is simplified to: 
         [0000]        D =μft
 
         [0000]    therefore, the deflection is a linear function of pseudo-impact of jumper f*t. Here we call this pseudo-impact since the period t is not the time of contact but time of whole jump period. This equation complies with trampoline physics:
       1. The longer time the jumper in the air, the bigger the jump, and vice versa;   2. The higher the deflection, the higher the jump, and vice versa;   3. The bigger the jump, the more moment or acceleration or impact on the trampoline mat, thus generating higher value of deflection;   4. The more impact on the trampoline, the bigger the deflection of the jumping mat;   5. For same height of jump, heavier person generating higher deflection value.       
 
         [0035]    From above, it is safely to conclude that deflection is a function of jumper&#39;s weight, jump period, and force/acceleration measured on trampoline mat, for a predefined stiffness of trampoline mat and springs. 
         [0036]    The lowest grade of deflection (B 0 ) can be decided by experiment of the minimal detectable jump. As shown in the  FIG. 9 , any deflection measured above the dashed line  100  considered a valid jump  101 ; other than that, the jump is not considered valid  102 . 
         [0037]    Preferably the smart device has a processor, a memory unit, a display, and a user input facility. The user input facility includes a touch screen, a keyboard etc. A processor of the smart device  51  is included as control core of the system. The communication device may be in forms of Bluetooth or radio frequency (RF) or infrared radiation (IR)  54  to talk with electronic handheld device and APP program  55  installed on a smart device. The function block of the APP  55  running in the smart device is detail described in  FIG. 4 . The APP program includes functions of pair with Bluetooth/RF/IR of sensor unit  70 , player list management  71 , player registration  72 , setup or change sensor parameter  73 , receive bouncing data from bouncing sensor unit  74 , player current data and history data analysis  75 , Exchange data and information with cloud service  76 , and game center with multiple games  77 , as described in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    The APP program is installed on a smart device with touch screen or sets of keys which could slide or push to interacts with the users. A user can register individual profile in the APP and the APP will upload the user&#39;s profile to cloud service. The user&#39;s profile may include but is not limited to, user&#39;s name, weight, gender, age, height, address, phone, email, etc. 
         [0039]    The sensor and processor installed on the trampoline will apply measured dynamics of the user on the trampoline to calculate bouncing time, bounce frequency, bouncing count, bounce height. Furthermore, by interacting with the APP program, the system is capable of calculating user&#39;s calorie dissipation. 
         [0040]    To add more fun to the game of trampoline, this invention also includes interne competition along with local trampoline completion. As we know, when a group of users jump at one trampoline one by one in sequence, they can start a competition game in sequence to find out the winner. For example, the winner is the one who bounce the most count in a 3 minute, but each bounce has to be over 1 meter&#39;s height to be counted as a valid jump. Or the winner is the one who finishes 100 jumps in shortest time, in condition that each jump being over 1 meter. Of course, the set height can be some other number as agreed by the jumper. In the APP, this function is distributed via cloud service worldwide, i.e., the jumpers are not limited to a physically one location trampoline, they can jump on their own trampoline and upload their jumping data and parameter to the cloud service, thus being involved with the competition. Jumpers can invite their friends or other cloud service members to start a set rules of competition. 
         [0041]    The APP program running on the handheld device is capable of, but not limited to:
       1. Provide a set of game for users to choose;   2. Provide rules for users to choose,   3. Provide interface for user to customize their own game or sequence of actions and upload to their circle.   4. Upload their jumping video and data to Facebook, Twitter, Google Circle, WeChat, or other social platform to show to their friends.   5. Provide interface for any user to initiate a public game or sequence of action which allows other users to joining.       
 
         [0047]    The APP program is capable of recording local user&#39;s jumping data and parameter; and save the data and jumping parameter to local drive and/or uploading to cloud service. The APP program displays local user&#39;s jumping data on the handheld screen, such as count of bouncing, frequency of bouncing, bouncing time, bouncing height, etc. User can choose information to be displayed on the screen by setting. 
         [0048]    The APP is capable of alerting the user of the closest trampoline they can use to participate in cloud games if those trampolines are registered in the cloud service. 
         [0049]    The APP is capable of acting as a local game center which provides users a set of games to choose to play alone or with others from local area or remote cloud service. The followings is an example of a possible game: 
         [0050]    Game 1: In a set time, the winner is who finish the most jumps, all jumps has to be over a set height. 
         [0051]    Games in the game centers of the APP is not limited to the above mentioned. 
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