Aiming feedback system with inertial sensors
First Claim
1. An aiming feedback system with inertial sensors, comprising:
- an inertial sensor configured to be attached to a location on or embedded within an object that is aimed at a target,wherein said object comprises a forward direction vector that defines a current aim direction in which said object is currently aimed, wherein said forward direction vector depends on a geometry of said object;
wherein said object is a piece of sporting equipment with a shaft; and
,wherein said object further comprises a targeting axis parallel to said shaft,wherein said targeting axis is used to orient said object at said target;
a feedback element configured toreceive an aim alignment signal; and
,provide a feedback signal based on said aim alignment signal to a user who uses said object while said object is aimed at said target and while said targeting axis is pointed at said target,such that when said user changes said current aim of said object, said feedback element changes said feedback signal as said user changes said current aim of the object to reflect an updated aim; and
,a processor configured toreceive an initial inertial sensor data from said inertial sensor, wherein said initial inertial sensor data is captured when said object is oriented such that said targeting axis is oriented at said target;
calculate a target direction vector from said initial inertial sensor data when said targeting axis is oriented at said target, wherein said target direction vector indicates a desired aim direction to said target;
receive additional inertial sensor data from said inertial sensor when said object is placed in its normal use orientation and aimed by said user;
calculate said forward direction vector that defines said current aim direction from said additional inertial sensor data, wherein said current aim direction indicates an actual aim direction in which said object is currently aimed to said target;
calculate a rotation between said forward direction vector of said object and said target direction vector based on said additional inertial sensor data;
calculate said aim alignment signal based on said rotation, wherein said aim alignment signal comprises information on how to align said forward direction vector with said target direction vector; and
,send said aim alignment signal to said feedback element to assist said user in modifying or correcting said current aim direction of said object to said target while said object is aimed at said target.
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Abstract
An aiming system that provides feedback on how closely the aim of an object is aligned with a direction to a target. An inertial sensor on the object provides data on the object'"'"'s position and orientation; this data is combined with target direction information to determine how to correct the aim. An illustrative application is a golf club aiming system that measures whether the clubface normal is aligned horizontally with the direction to the hole. The system sends feedback signals to the user to help the user adjust the aim. These signals may include for example audible tones or haptic vibrations that vary in frequency and amplitude to instruct the user to adjust the aim. For example, haptic signals may be sent to a smart watch worn by the user; the user may therefore obtain aiming feedback without having to look at a screen.
371 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An aiming feedback system with inertial sensors, comprising:
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an inertial sensor configured to be attached to a location on or embedded within an object that is aimed at a target, wherein said object comprises a forward direction vector that defines a current aim direction in which said object is currently aimed, wherein said forward direction vector depends on a geometry of said object; wherein said object is a piece of sporting equipment with a shaft; and
,wherein said object further comprises a targeting axis parallel to said shaft, wherein said targeting axis is used to orient said object at said target; a feedback element configured to receive an aim alignment signal; and
,provide a feedback signal based on said aim alignment signal to a user who uses said object while said object is aimed at said target and while said targeting axis is pointed at said target, such that when said user changes said current aim of said object, said feedback element changes said feedback signal as said user changes said current aim of the object to reflect an updated aim; and
,a processor configured to receive an initial inertial sensor data from said inertial sensor, wherein said initial inertial sensor data is captured when said object is oriented such that said targeting axis is oriented at said target; calculate a target direction vector from said initial inertial sensor data when said targeting axis is oriented at said target, wherein said target direction vector indicates a desired aim direction to said target; receive additional inertial sensor data from said inertial sensor when said object is placed in its normal use orientation and aimed by said user; calculate said forward direction vector that defines said current aim direction from said additional inertial sensor data, wherein said current aim direction indicates an actual aim direction in which said object is currently aimed to said target; calculate a rotation between said forward direction vector of said object and said target direction vector based on said additional inertial sensor data; calculate said aim alignment signal based on said rotation, wherein said aim alignment signal comprises information on how to align said forward direction vector with said target direction vector; and
,send said aim alignment signal to said feedback element to assist said user in modifying or correcting said current aim direction of said object to said target while said object is aimed at said target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification