Motion analysis method and motion analysis device

• US 10,016,670 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sato, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhat, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US14/666,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/02 by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic massesG01P15/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements

Abstract

A motion analysis device includes a calculation unit which specifies a first imaginary plane, that is, a shaft plane formed by a first line segment representing a direction in which a shaft part of a sporting gear in a static posture extends and a second line segment representing a ball hitting direction, with the use of an output from an inertial sensor.

Claims

1. A motion analysis device, comprising:

a calculation unit that uses an output of an inertial sensor that measures a swing of a sporting gear to;

(i) specify a first plane including (a) a first line that extends in an extending direction of a shaft portion of the sporting gear in a static state of the sporting gear; and

(b) a second line showing a ball-hitting direction; and

(ii) calculate a trajectory of the swing of the sporting gear; and

(iii) calculate an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of the shaft portion of the sporting gear using the output from the inertial sensor in the static state; and

an output device that outputs an image of;

(i) the first plane calculated by the calculation unit; and

(ii) the swing trajectory of the sporting gear, so that a user of the sporting gear can view the image of the swing of the sporting gear, the swing trajectory of the sporting gear being different between a back swing and a down swing of the sporting gear, wherein;

the calculation unit uses the output of the inertial sensor to specify a second plane including;

(a) a third line connecting a neck or a shoulder of a user of the sporting gear in a static posture of the user to a ball-hitting position; and

(b) the second line showing the ball-hitting direction,

the first plane is displayed separately from the second plane, and

the image is used as an indication of good or bad ball hitting.

2. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the output of the inertial sensor includes an output of an acceleration sensor, and

the calculation unit further calculates the first line using the inclination and information on a length of the shaft portion.

3. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the second line extends in a direction crossing a ball-hitting surface of the sporting gear.

4. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the second line extends in a direction orthogonal to the ball-hitting surface of the sporting gear.

5. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a second plane is calculated by rotating the first plane about the second line as a rotation axis.

6. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the second plane is further calculated, and the first and second planes cross each other at the second line and form a specified angle.

7. A motion analysis device, comprising:

a calculation unit that uses an output of an inertial sensor that measures a swing of a sporting gear to;

(i) specify a first plane including (a) a first line connecting a neck or a shoulder of a user of the sporting gear in a static posture of the user in a ball-hitting position;

(ii) a second line showing a ball-hitting direction; and

(iii) calculate an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of a shaft portion of the sporting gear using the output from the inertial sensor in the static state; and

an output device that outputs an image of;

(i) the first plane calculated by the calculation unit and (ii) the swing trajectory of the sporting gear, so that the user of the sporting gear can view the image of the swing of the sporting gear, the swing trajectory of the sporting gear being different between a back swing and a down swing of the sporting gear, wherein;

the calculation unit uses the output of the inertial sensor to specify a second plane including;

(a) a first line that extends in an extending direction of a shaft portion of the sporting gear in a static state of the sporting gear; and

(b) a second line showing a ball-hitting direction,

the first plane is displayed separately from the second plane, and

the image is used as an indication of good or bad ball hitting.

8. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the output of the inertial sensor includes an output of an acceleration sensor, and

the calculation unit further calculates an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of a direction in which an arm of the user extends, using the output from the acceleration sensor in the static posture;

estimates a position of the neck or the shoulder of the user using the inclination and information of a length of the arm of the user; and

calculates the first line, based on the estimate.

9. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the second line extends in a direction crossing a ball-hitting surface of the sporting gear.

10. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the second line extends in a direction orthogonal to a ball-hitting surface of the sporting gear.

11. A motion analysis device, comprising:

a first calculation unit that uses an output of an inertial sensor that measures a swing of a sporting gear to;

(i) specify a first plane including (a) a first line that extends in an extending direction of a shaft portion of the sporting gear in a static state of the sporting gear; and

(b) a second line showing a ball-hitting direction;

(ii) calculate a trajectory of the swing of the sporting gear, the swing trajectory of the sporting gear being different between a back swing and a down swing of the sporting gear; and

(iii) calculate an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of the shaft portion of the sporting gear using the output from the inertial sensor in the static state; and

a second calculation unit that uses the output of the inertial sensor to specify a second plane including;

(a) a third line connecting a neck or a shoulder of a user of the sporting gear in a static posture of the user to a ball-hitting position; and

(b) the second line showing the ball-hitting direction; and

an output device that outputs an image of the first plane and the second plane calculated by the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit, so that a user of the sporting gear can view the image of the swing of the sporting gear, wherein;

the calculation unit uses the output of the inertial sensor to specify a second plane including;

(a) a third line connecting a neck or a shoulder of a user of the sporting gear in a static posture of the user to a ball-hitting position; and

(b) the second line showing the ball-hitting direction,

the first plane is displayed separately from the second plane, and

the image is used as an indication of good or bad ball hitting.

12. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the output of the inertial sensor includes an output of an acceleration sensor, and

the first calculation unit further calculates an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of the shaft portion of the sporting gear using the output from the acceleration sensor in the static state, and obtains the first line using the inclination and information on a length of the shaft portion.

13. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the output of the inertial sensor includes an output of an acceleration sensor, and

the second calculation unit calculates an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of an arm of the user using the output of the acceleration sensor in the static posture;

estimates a position of the neck or the shoulder of the user using the inclination and information of a length of the arm of the user; and

calculates the third line, based on the estimate.

14. The calculation processing circuit as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the second line extends in a direction crossing a ball-hitting surface of the sporting gear.

15. A motion analysis device, comprising:

a first calculation unit that uses an output of an inertial sensor that measures a swing of a sporting gear to;

(i) specify a first plane including (a) a first line that extends in an extending direction of a shaft portion of the sporting gear in a static state of the sporting gear; and

(b) a second line showing a ball-hitting direction; and

(ii) calculate an inclination, with respect to a direction of gravity, of a shaft portion of the sporting gear using the output from the inertial sensor in the static state;

a second calculation unit that uses the output of the inertial sensor to specify a second plane including;

(a) a third line connecting a neck or a shoulder of a user of the sporting gear in a static posture of the user to a ball-hitting position; and

(b) the second line showing the ball-hitting direction; and

an output device that outputs an image of the first plane and the second plane calculated by the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit, so that a user of the sporting gear can view the image of the swing of the sporting gear, wherein;

the calculation unit uses the output of the inertial sensor to specify a second plane including;

(a) a third line connecting a neck or a shoulder of a user of the sporting gear in a static posture of the user to a ball-hitting position; and

(b) the second line showing the ball-hitting direction,

the first plane is displayed separately from the second plane, and

the image is used as an indication of good or bad ball hitting.

16. The motion analysis device as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

the inertial sensor is mounted to the shaft portion of the sporting gear.

17. The motion analysis device as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

image data of at least one of the first and second planes is generated.

18. The motion analysis device as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

a swing trajectory of the sporting gear is calculated, and (i) at least one of the first and second planes and (ii) the swing trajectory are displayed, the swing trajectory of the sporting gear being different between a back swing and a down swing of the sporting gear.