Patents by Inventor Virgílio Antonio Ferro Bento

Virgílio Antonio Ferro Bento has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11960791
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motion tracking system, including the steps of: digitally processing sound waves detected by a plurality of microphones so as to detect a voice of a user and estimate a first direction of the user; digitally processing electromagnetic waves captured by antennas so as to detect data packets transmitted to a computing apparatus by sensors and estimate second directions of each sensor; digitally averaging the second directions so as to provide an average direction for the sensors; digitally computing a difference between the first direction and the average direction; and starting to digitally track motion of the user based on measurements of each sensor when the computed difference does not exceed a predetermined difference threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas, José Carlos Coelho Alves, Luís António Correia de Oliveira, Luís Ungaro Pinto Coelho, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Publication number: 20240065579
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method. The method comprises processing, by at least one computing device, exercise measurements taken by a pressure sensor positioned adjacent to a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) of a person at least during performance of a physical exercise, wherein the exercise measurements are indicative of a pressure exerted on the pressure sensor and an orientation of the sensor. The method also comprises calibrating, by the at least one computing device, the pressure of the processed exercise measurements at least based on the orientation of the processed exercise measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Ivo Emanuel MARQUES GABRIEL, Ivo Jorge RAMOS DE MAGALHÃES, José Carlos COELHO ALVES, Márcio Filipe MOUTINHO COLUNAS, Cristina Ferreira FLORES MARTINS, Pedro Henrique OLIVEIRA SANTOS, João Paulo DIAS ANDRADE, Marta Maria CARDEANO PEDROSA E MILHEIRO MAIA, Virgilio António FERRO BENTO
  • Patent number: 11917567
    Abstract: Method for synchronizing data packets is disclosed, which includes: receiving an initial data packet having a timestamp from a first sensor; storing the timestamp of the initial data packet from the first sensor, herewith defined as reference timestamp; for each received data packet having a timestamp from said sensors, received subsequently to said initial data packet, for the first sensor, storing the timestamp of the most recent data packet from said first sensor, herewith defined as reference timestamp; for the sensors other than the first sensor, calculating the difference between the timestamp of a received data packet and the reference timestamp; calculating an average of said differences for the received data packets for each said sensor; correcting the timestamp of the received data packet with the calculated average of said differences of the respective sensor; using the corrected timestamps to synchronize the data packets from the embedded wireless data sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: André Branquinho Gomes, Ana Clara Ferreira Matos, Luis Ungaro Pinto Coelho, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Patent number: 11908145
    Abstract: A method for assessing whether one or more trackers are positioned on a person according to a predetermined configuration of tracker positions, comprising: transmitting, from a computing device to at least one tracker of the one or more trackers, an instruction to change an operation of the light emitter of the tracker to which the instruction is transmitted; taking one or more images by the optical sensing device; digitally processing the one or more images to digitally determine both first positions of a plurality of joints of the person on each image, and second positions of the one or more trackers positioned on the person on each image based on both a light of the light emitter of each of the one or more trackers and the transmitted instructions; digitally determining on which body member each of the one or more trackers is positioned on the person based on the first and second positions; and digitally comparing the position of each of the one or more trackers on the body members with the predetermined c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: José Carlos Coelho Alves, Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas, Pedro Henrique Oliveira Santos, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Publication number: 20240041353
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method. The method comprises processing, by at least one computing device, first measurements taken at least while a person performs a predetermined physical exercise, wherein the first measurements are taken by at least one motion tracking device, at least one optical sensor, or both. The method also comprises processing, by the at least one computing device, second measurements taken at least while the person performs the predetermined physical exercise, wherein the second measurements are taken by a pelvic sensor. The method also comprises determining, by at least one computing device, whether the person has performed the predetermined physical exercise based on the first measurements and the second measurements according to criteria associated with the predetermined physical exercise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Ivo Jorge Ramos de Magalhães, Ivo Emanuel Marques Gabriel, José Carlos Coelho Alves, Cristina Ferreira Flores Martins, Mark Kaius Helenurm, Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas, Pedro Henrique Oliveira Santos, João Paulo Dias Andrade, Marta Maria Cardeano Pedrosa e Milheiro Maia, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Publication number: 20230392955
    Abstract: A method including: wirelessly transmitting and receiving data packets between first and second apparatuses; determining first and second angles of arrival at each apparatus for electromagnetic waves of the received data packets; providing first and second directions of arrival corresponding to the angles of arrival; converting the first and second directions into a global frame; projecting the first and second converted directions onto a horizontal plane; and computing a first drift estimate for a gyroscope or IMU of the first apparatus relative to the second apparatus, and/or computing a second drift estimate for a gyroscope or IMU of the second apparatus relative to the first apparatus, the first drift estimate being based on a difference between the projected second direction and a mirrored projected first direction, and the second drift estimate being based on a difference between the projected first direction and a mirrored projected second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Pedro Henrique Oliveira Santos, José Carlos Coelho Alves, Pedro Miguel Simões Bastos Martins, Pedro Miguel Moreira de Sousa, Pedro Filipe Xavier Rodrigues, Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Patent number: 11774246
    Abstract: A method comprising: digitally processing orientation measurements provided by each of first and second inertial measurement units, the first and second units being arranged on first and second body members of a person, respectively, according to a predetermined unit arrangement, and the first and second body members being connected by a joint; the measurements are digitally processed such that the computing device at least: computes a length vector of a segment of the first body member based on a first orientation measurement of the first unit; defines a joint axis plane of the joint based on a second orientation measurement of the second unit; and computes a heading rotation value for making the first orientation measurement to be contained within the joint axis plane defined; and the method further comprising digitally modifying the first orientation measurement or the second orientation measurement by applying a rotation at least based on the heading rotation value computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Henrique Oliveira Santos, Luís Ungaro Pinto Coelho, Marta Maria Ramalho Ferreira, Ana Clara Ferreira Matos, Pablo Peñas, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Publication number: 20230281831
    Abstract: A method for assessing whether one or more trackers are positioned on a person according to a predetermined configuration of tracker positions, comprising: transmitting, from a computing device to at least one tracker of the one or more trackers, an instruction to change an operation of the light emitter of the tracker to which the instruction is transmitted; taking one or more images by the optical sensing device; digitally processing the one or more images to digitally determine both first positions of a plurality of joints of the person on each image, and second positions of the one or more trackers positioned on the person on each image based on both a light of the light emitter of each of the one or more trackers and the transmitted instructions; digitally determining on which body member each of the one or more trackers is positioned on the person based on the first and second positions; and digitally comparing the position of each of the one or more trackers on the body members with the predetermined c
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: José Carlos COELHO ALVES, Márcio Filipe MOUTINHO COLUNAS, Pedro Henrique OLIVEIRA SANTOS, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO
  • Patent number: 11726165
    Abstract: A method comprising: wirelessly receiving, at a first device, at least one data packet from each second device of a plurality of second devices arranged at predetermined locations of a target; detecting an angle of arrival of each at least one data packet wirelessly received of at least a pair of second devices; calculating at least one angle difference between the angles of arrival associated with the pair of second devices, or between the angles of arrival associated with each of the pair of second devices and a predetermined direction; and determining whether the target is at a predetermined distance range from the first device by estimating the distance based on the at least one angle difference, and a predetermined distance between the predetermined locations; or checking whether each of the at least one angle difference is within a predetermined angle range for the predetermined locations of the pair of second devices. Also, a method for making such determination based on angles of departure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Henrique Oliveira Santos, José Carlos Coelho Alves, Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas, João Paulo Dias Andrade, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Patent number: 11720185
    Abstract: Method for determining a correct reproduction of a movement of a target based on a plurality of orientations thereof at different time instants at least including first and second time instants, the second time instant being posterior to the first time instant, the movement being defined by at least a first predetermined constraint, the first predetermined constraint being defined for first and second orientations of the plurality of orientations and defined by a start angle, an end angle and a first plane definition, comprising: providing a first plane and a second plane, each defined by the first plane definition, corresponding to the first and second time instants, respectively; providing a first pair of vectors by projecting the first orientation and the second orientation, corresponding to the first time instant, onto the first plane; providing a second pair of vectors by projecting the first orientation and the second orientation, corresponding to the second time instant, onto the second plane; computin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: André Branquinho Gomes, Ana Clara Ferreira Matos, Filipe Tavares Dos Santos, Luis Ungaro Pinto Coelho, Virgilio António Ferro Bento
  • Publication number: 20230241454
    Abstract: Methods for automatically monitoring operation of a motion tracking system and actuating based on the operation, the motion tracking system comprising both a computing device, and a plurality of inertial measurement units adapted to be arranged on a body of a user. The computing device processes measurements of the units and sound captured by at least one microphone to provide flags related to the motion tracking procedure with regards to the motion input and the sound input, and actuates when motion-related flags and sound-related flags have been provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: José Carlos COELHO ALVES, Diego Ricardo CASTRO GONÇALVES, Márcio Filipe MOUTINHO COLUNAS, Ana Clara FERREIRA MATOS, Luís Ungaro PINTO COELHO, Pedro Henrique OLIVEIRA SANTOS, Luís António CORREIA DE OLIVEIRA, Pedro Filipe Xavier RODRIGUEAS, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO
  • Publication number: 20230166155
    Abstract: A method: includes the following steps: processing, by a computing device, at least a stretch value per strap of straps of a motion tracking system; comparing, by the computing device, the stretch value of each strap or a length value derived therefrom with a stored baseline value of the respective strap, the stored value being associated with the same person, and the length value being representative of a length of a respective strap at least based on the respective stretch value. The method further includes executing, by the computing device, a corrective action at least when one of the comparisons made exceeds a predetermined threshold. Also, a motion tracking system, a data processing device, a computer program, and a computer-readable medium are related.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: José Carlos COELHO ALVES, João Paulo DIAS ANDRADE, Márcio Filipe MOUTINHO COLUNAS, Pedro Miguel MOREIRA DE SOUSA, Pedro Miguel Simões BASTOS MARTINS, Pedro Filipe XAVIER RODRIGUES, Ivo Emanuel MARQUES GABRIEL, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO
  • Publication number: 20230108601
    Abstract: A method for establishing wireless communications connections between sensors and a computing apparatus of a motion tracking system include the steps: processing radiofrequency signals received by the computing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor, each radiofrequency signal including an advertisement package of the respective sensor; providing a number of RSSI per sensor based on the processed radiofrequency signals; computing and storing mean RSSI values based on the number of RSSI so that a number of RSSImean values is computed per sensor; computing velocities of change of RSSImean, vRSSI, based on the number of RSSImean values so that a number of vRSSI values is computed per sensor; establishing the wireless communications for which at least the following is fulfilled: the computing apparatus determines that at least some vRSSI values within a first period of the number of vRSSI values of each sensor has a modulus greater than a predetermined minimum velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: José Carlos COELHO ALVES, Pedro Filipe Xavier RODRIGUES, Márcio Filipe MOUTINHO COLUNAS, Luís António CORREIA DE OLIVEIRA, André Moura RODRIGUES NOGUEIRA, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO
  • Patent number: 11609102
    Abstract: A method including: wirelessly transmitting and receiving data packets between first and second apparatuses; determining first and second angles of arrival at each apparatus for electromagnetic waves of the received data packets; providing first and second directions of arrival corresponding to the angles of arrival; converting the first and second directions into a global frame; projecting the first and second converted directions onto a horizontal plane; and computing a first drift estimate for a gyroscope or IMU of the first apparatus relative to the second apparatus, and/or computing a second drift estimate for a gyroscope or IMU of the second apparatus relative to the first apparatus, the first drift estimate being based on a difference between the projected second direction and a mirrored projected first direction, and the second drift estimate being based on a difference between the projected first direction and a mirrored projected second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Henrique Oliveira Santos, José Carlos Coelho Alves, Pedro Miguel Simões Bastos Martins, Pedro Miguel Moreira de Sousa, Pedro Filipe Xavier Rodrigues, Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas, Virgílio António Ferro Bento
  • Publication number: 20230043643
    Abstract: A method for allowing or disallowing control of a motion tracking system by means of voice, comprising: digitally processing sound detected by each microphone of the at least one microphone; digitally computing SNR by computing both first energy of a voice signal in the detected sound and second energy of noise in the detected sound; digitally processing electromagnetic waves captured by each antenna of the at least one antenna so as to detect data packets transmitted to the computing apparatus by each sensor of the plurality of sensors, each data packet including RSSI of a respective sensor; digitally computing distance between each sensor and the computing apparatus based on the RSSI of the data packets received from the respective sensor; digitally computing a percentage of sensors of the plurality of sensors having at least one of: a distance exceeding a predetermined maximum distance threshold, and a change in distance exceeding a predetermined maximum changing distance threshold; and digitally setting a
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Márcio Filipe MOUTINHO COLUNAS, Luís António CORREIA DE OLIVEIRA, José Carlos COELHO ALVES, Rui Xavier FIALHO COSTA, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO
  • Publication number: 20230003863
    Abstract: Motion tracking systems and methods for determining how trackers are positioned on body members of a person, the methods including: wirelessly receiving, by a computing device, one or more first data packets of each tracker; digitally determining a first direction in which the computing device is relative to the respective tracker by computing an angle of departure of the one or more first data packets; digitally determining based on the first directions, a second direction in which each tracker is relative to one or more other trackers; and digitally determining on which body member is each tracker positioned on the person at least based on both the second directions and the body members requiring to have a tracker positioned thereon. Also, systems and methods in which angles of arrival are computed for determining the first directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: José Carlos Coelho ALVES, Márcio Filipe Moutinho COLUNAS, Luís António Correia de OLIVEIRA, Pedro Filipe Xavier RODRIGUES, Pedro Miguel Simões Bastos MARTINS, Pedro Miguel Moreira de SOUSA, Virgílio António Ferro BENTO
  • Publication number: 20230004236
    Abstract: Method for determining a correct reproduction of a movement of a target based on a plurality of orientations thereof at different time instants at least including first and second time instants, the second time instant being posterior to the first time instant, the movement being defined by at least a first predetermined constraint, the first predetermined constraint being defined for first and second orientations of the plurality of orientations and defined by a start angle, an end angle and a first plane definition, comprising: providing a first plane and a second plane, each defined by the first plane definition, corresponding to the first and second time instants, respectively; providing a first pair of vectors by projecting the first orientation and the second orientation, corresponding to the first time instant, onto the first plane; providing a second pair of vectors by projecting the first orientation and the second orientation, corresponding to the second time instant, onto the second plane; computin
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: André BRANQUINHO GOMES, Ana Clara FERREIRA MATOS, Filipe TAVARES DOS SANTOS, Luís Ungaro PINTO COELHO, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO
  • Publication number: 20230003528
    Abstract: A method comprising: digitally processing orientation measurements provided by each of first and second inertial measurement units, the first and second units being arranged on first and second body members of a person, respectively, according to a predetermined unit arrangement, and the first and second body members being connected by a joint; the measurements are digitally processed such that the computing device at least: computes a length vector of a segment of the first body member based on a first orientation measurement of the first unit; defines a joint axis plane of the joint based on a second orientation measurement of the second unit; and computes a heading rotation value for making the first orientation measurement to be contained within the joint axis plane defined; and the method further comprising digitally modifying the first orientation measurement or the second orientation measurement by applying a rotation at least based on the heading rotation value computed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Pedro Henrique Oliveira SANTOS, Luís Ungaro Pinto COELHO, Marta Maria Ramalho FERREIRA, Ana Clara Ferreira MATOS, Pablo PEÑAS, Virgílio António Ferro BENTO
  • Publication number: 20220308829
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motion tracking system, including the steps of: digitally processing sound waves detected by a plurality of microphones so as to detect a voice of a user and estimate a first direction of the user; digitally processing electromagnetic waves captured by antennas so as to detect data packets transmitted to a computing apparatus by sensors and estimate second directions of each sensor; digitally averaging the second directions so as to provide an average direction for the sensors; digitally computing a difference between the first direction and the average direction; and starting to digitally track motion of the user based on measurements of each sensor when the computed difference does not exceed a predetermined difference threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Márcio Filipe Moutinho COLUNAS, José Carlos Coelho ALVES, Luís António Correia de OLIVEIRA, Luís Ungaro Pinto COELHO, Virgílio António Ferro BENTO
  • Publication number: 20220299542
    Abstract: A method for physical exercise using a motion tracking system having a computing device and inertial measurement units adapted to be arranged on body members of a person. The method includes: digitally processing first sets of measurements provided by the units to determine whether and adjust the operation of the motion tracking system when: any of the units is arranged on a body member with an orientation outside of a predetermined orientation range for a unit on that body member; and/or two or more units arranged on interchanged body members according to the predetermined unit arrangement; adjusting the operation of the motion tracking system when the computing device determines, based on at least the first sets of measurements, that: at least one unit has an orientation outside of the predetermined orientation range, and/or two or more units are arranged on interchanged body members; and digitally processing second sets of measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Marta Maria RAMALHO FERREIRA, Ivo Jorge RAMOS DE MAGALHÃES, Luís Ungaro PINTO COELHO, Pedro Henrique OLIVEIRA SANTOS, Ivo Emanuel MARQUES GABRIEL, Ana Clara FERREIRA MATOS, Virgílio António FERRO BENTO