Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating the orientation in an inertial reference frame of a solid in motion equipped with an accelerometer and a magnetometer which are mounted on said solid. According to this method, an orientation of the solid is measured at a reference instant, said orientation being defined by a rotation matrix for rotating from the mobile reference frame of the solid at the reference instant to the inertial reference frame. A rotation matrix for rotating between the orientation of the solid at a subsequent instant n and said orientation of the solid at the reference instant is thereafter estimated. The orientation of the solid at the instant n is thereafter determined with the aid of the previously estimated rotation matrix and of the known orientation of the solid at the reference instant.

Abstract: A system for inputting graphical elements Includes a substantially pen-shaped peripheral device (PD); means (DIG) for digitizing graphical elements produced by a first end (END1) of the peripheral device (PD); and display means (DISP) suitable for displaying the said graphical elements produced. The system also includes means (MSR) for measuring signals representative of the movement executed by the peripheral device (PD), which includes a gyrometer (G) with at least two measurement axes providing angular speeds according to the said axes, linked in a fixed manner to the said peripheral device (PD). Means (POS) for positioning, on the display means (DISP), a pointing element (PT), based on the said angular speeds, is also provided, together with means (ACT) for activating/deactivating the positioning means (POS).

Abstract: A system for detecting an epileptic seizure in a prone person, comprising: at least one motion sensor with at least one measurement axis having fastening means for securing said motion sensor to said person; first means for determining a first probability of at least a first state transition diagram of the nocturnal activity of a prone person with respect to data representing the measurement signals of the motion sensor, said first diagram comprising predetermined probabilities of oriented transitions between two different or identical states, the probabilities of the states of said first diagram being predetermined; and second means for determining a second probability of at least a second state transition diagram for an epileptic seizure with respect to data representing the measurement signals of the motion sensor, said second diagram comprising predetermined probabilities of oriented transitions between two different or identical states, the probabilities of the states of said second diagram being pred

Abstract: System for determining the activity of a mobile element (EM), includes at least one motion sensor (CM) having at least one measurement axis, which is provided with a fattener (MF) for securely connecting said motion sensor (CM) to the mobile element (EM).

Abstract: A system for determining the posture of a person has a motion sensor (CM) with at least one axis of measurement, which is provided with fixing means (MF) for rigidly connecting said motion sensor (CM) to a user. Analysis means (AN) are also included for determining a posture of the user. The analysis means (AN) utilize: (A) joint densities of probabilities of a low-frequency component and a high-frequency component, these densities of probabilities being defined for each posture; and (B) probabilities of transition between two successive postures.

Abstract: The system for determining the activity of a person lying down has at least one motion sensor (CM) having at least one measurement axis, which is provided with a fastener (MF) for firmly connecting the motion sensor (CM) to a user. The system includes a filter (FILT) for selecting, for at least one measurement axis of the motion sensor (CM), a high-frequency signal (HF) and a low-frequency signal (BF); a first calculation unit (CALC1) for calculating a first variable (x(n)) representing a temporal variation of the low-frequency signal (BF); a second calculation means (CALC2) for calculating a second variable (y(n)) comprising the Euclidean norm, along at least one measurement axis, of the high-frequency signal (HF); and an analysis unit (AN) that determines an activity of prone user as a function of time using a hidden Markov model having N states corresponding to N activities respectively.

Abstract: A system for observing a walking activity of a person comprises a device (DISP) adapted for delivering at output, for a footstep of the person, a first difference of angular speeds of the corresponding tibia between the instant at which the heel of the foot is planted and the instant at which the foot is laid flat, a second difference of angular speeds of the corresponding tibia between the instant at which the heel of the foot is planted and the instant at which the last toe of the foot is lifted, and an angular speed of the corresponding tibia at the instant at which the foot is laid flat. The system comprises analysis means (AN) for analyzing the signals delivered by the device and adapted for determining a type of walking of the user as a function of time by using a hidden Markov model with N states corresponding respectively to N types of walking.

Abstract: A system for observing a swimming activity of a person includes a waterproof housing (BET) having a motion sensor (MS), and is furnished with fixing means (BEL) for securely fastening the housing (BET) to a part of the body of a user. The system has analysis means (AN) for analyzing the signals transmitted by the motion sensor (MS) to at least one measurement axis and which are adapted for determining the type of swimming of the user as a function of time by using a hidden Markov model with N states corresponding respectively to N types of swimming.

Abstract: Musical rendition is provided through the use of microsensors, in particular of accelerometers and magnetometers or rate gyros, and through an appropriate processing of the signals from the microsensors. In particular, the processing uses a merging of the data output from the microsensors to eliminate false alarms in the form of movements of the user unrelated to the music. The velocity of the musical strikes is also measured. Embodiments make it possible to control the running of mp3 or wav type music files to be played back.

Abstract: Controlling playback by strokes entered via a MIDI interface or measured by one or more motion sensors is disclosed. The variations of the playback speed can also be smoothed to ensure a better musical rendition. The velocity of the strokes can also be taken into account to control the volume of the audio output and other gestures or strokes can also act on the tremolo or vibrato.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-aided prerecorded-music-interpretation system. The system comprises at least one musical actuator (A1, A2) actuatable by an interpreting artist user, memory means for storing musical information (MM) relating to the score of a piece of music to be interpreted by the user, and means for transmitting the musical information to an electronic/computerized device (A4) adapted for producing audio signals on the basis of the musical information received. The memory (MM) for the musical information defines the totality of the musical events (EM) constituting the piece of music to be interpreted. The invention is usable in the field of prerecorded-music interpretation.

Abstract: A pointing device includes accelerometers and rotational sensors that are coupled to a processor. The processor samples the accelerometers and rotational sensors to detect gravity and pointing device motion and uses algebraic algorithms to calculate roll compensated cursor control signals. The processor transmits the cursor control signals to a receiver that is coupled to an electronic device that moves the cursor on the visual display.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device and a method for commanding appliances by a gesture. User interfaces of the prior art have the limitation that they require an increasing number of buttons and/or graphical input areas on a display, so that the learning time of the user increases exponentially and his ability to memorise the corresponding codes decreases inversely. The device of the invention, in various embodiments which may be combined, increases the number of functions of one or more appliances which may be controlled without increasing the number of buttons and/or graphical control zones of displays. This is provided by including an orientation sensor in the device, said orientation being one of the parameters to control the operating mode of the device.

Abstract: The invention applies to a pointing device of a mobile element, for example a cursor, on a plane surface. The pointing device comprises a first sensor for measuring the angular rates of the device and a second sensor of the linear accelerations along three dimensions of said device. Preferably, the first sensor is a two-axis or three-axis gyrometer and the second sensor is a three-axis accelerometer. The invention makes it possible to render the movements of the mobile element in the surface of the orientation in which the pointing device is held by its user. This result is achieved by global resolution of the angles of torsion by combining the measurements of the first and second sensors either within an extended Kalman filter or by application of an optimization criterion.

Abstract: A pointing device includes accelerometers and rotational sensors that are coupled to a processor. The processor samples the accelerometers and rotational sensors to detect gravity and pointing device motion and uses algebraic algorithms to calculate roll compensated cursor control signals. The processor transmits the cursor control signals to a receiver that is coupled to an electronic device that moves the cursor on the visual display.

Abstract: The magnetic field measurement system comprises a triaxial main sensor (1) for measuring magnetic field that can move jointly with a carrier element (2) capable of generating at least one additional magnetic field disturbing the measurements of said triaxial main sensor (1), said triaxial sensor (1) being adapted for providing orthonormal measurements for a reference magnetic field in the absence of magnetic disturbances due to said carrier element (2). The system comprises means of adjustment (5, 6, 7, 9, 4a, 4b) of said triaxial main sensor (1) comprising a removable additional sensor for magnetic field measurement, that can move jointly with said carrier element (2), and disposed outside said carrier element (2) away from the additional magnetic field or fields.

Abstract: A pointing device includes accelerometers and rotational sensors that are coupled to a processor. The processor samples the accelerometers and rotational sensors to detect gravity and pointing device motion and uses algebraic algorithms to calculate roll compensated cursor control signals. The processor transmits the cursor control signals to a receiver that is coupled to an electronic device that moves the cursor on the visual display.