System for determining individual user anthropometric characteristics related to mattress preference

Abstract

A measuring device to aid mattress selection has an upstanding frame with a plurality of vertically space-apart horizontal illuminated strips. A camera mounted in front of the frame takes front view and side view images of a person standing in front of the illuminated strips. These images are delivered to an associated computer having means to determine the body mass distribution and the spine curvature of the person based on the images of the strips taken by the camera and in particular based on those portions of the image of the illuminated strips blocked by the person standing in front of the illuminated strips. This information can then be used to aid in appropriate mattress selection for the person.

1 . A measuring device to aid mattress selection, including:
 a support frame,   a plurality of illumination strips mounted spaced-apart on the support frame,   a camera mounted in front of the frame having a lens directed at the illumination strips,   a computer connected to the camera to receive images therefrom,   said computer having means to determine one or more anthropometric characteristics of a person standing between the camera and the illumination strips based on images of the strips taken by the camera.   
   
   
       2 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the computer is operable to determine said one or more anthropometric characteristics based on those portions of an image of the illuminated strips blocked by the person standing between the camera and the illuminated strips. 
   
   
       3 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said anthropometric characteristics include body mass distribution and spine curvature of the person. 
   
   
       4 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the illuminated strips are operable to generate light of a particular colour and the camera is adapted to be preferentially sensitive to said colour. 
   
   
       5 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the illuminated strips are adapted to blink at a specified frequency and the computer is operable to compare an image received from the camera when the strips are illuminated with an image received from the camera when the strips are not illuminated in order to eliminate extraneous detail from the image resulting from ambient light. 
   
   
       6 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the illuminated strips are adapted to blink at a specified frequency and the computer is operable to compare an image received from the camera when the strips are illuminated with an image received from the camera when the strips are not illuminated in order to eliminate extraneous detail from the image resulting from ambient light. 
   
   
       7 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support frame is an upstanding frame and a plurality of horizontal illuminated strips are mounted vertically spaced-apart on the support frame. 
   
   
       8 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the camera is a personal computer web cam connected to a computer via USB. 
   
   
       9 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the illuminated strips comprise electroluminescent wires. 
   
   
       10 . The measuring device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the illuminated strips comprise fluorescent strip lights. 
   
   
       11 . A method for determining individual user anthropometric characteristics, including:
 positioning said user between a set of spaced-apart illumination strips and a camera,   illuminating said strips,   taking an image of the illuminated strips and said user by means of the camera,   delivering said image from the camera to an associated computer, and   determining by means of said computer one or more preselected anthropometric characteristics of the user based on said image.