Baseball pitch simulation and swing analysis system

• US 10,315,085 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TrinityVR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TrinityVR, Inc.
• Inventors: Danis, Jeffrey, Lynn, Zachary, Volyn, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mosser, Robert E
• Application Number:
  US15/964,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20180311555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 : Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball

Abstract

A virtual reality baseball system uses a virtual reality device to present a simulated pitch to a batter. The system may include a bat mount configured to be removably secured to a bat. The bat and/or bat mount may include a sensor. The bat mount is configured to be attached to a knob of the bat such that it is not intrusive to a swing of the bat. A sensing device is configured to track movement of the sensor in the bat mount when the bat mount is secured to the bat.

Claims

1. A mounting device for removably securing a tracking device to a bat, the mounting device comprising:

a first portion with a first recess that is sized and shaped to fit over a portion of a knob of the bat;

a second portion with a second recess that is sized and shaped to fit over a portion of a knob of the bat, as well as a connecting member to secure the first portion to the second portion when the first recess and second recess are each placed over the knob of the bat; and

an attachment member configured to secure the tracking device to the mounting device, wherein the attachment member comprises a threaded member that is positioned to extend away from the knob of the bat in a direction that is parallel to a barrel of the bat.

2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the attachment member further comprises a housing formed by the first portion and the second portion when connected together by the connecting member.

3. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the mounting device further comprises one or more sensors that comprise an accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or inertial measurement unit.

4. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the mounting device further comprises one or more sensors that comprise a photosensor that is configured to detect light emitted by a base station.

5. A virtual reality baseball system comprising:

a tracking device comprising one more sensors that are configured to sense motion and/or position of a bat; and

a mounting device for removably securing a tracking device to a bat, the mounting device comprising;

a first portion with a first recess that is sized and shaped to fit over a portion of a knob of the bat,

a second portion with a second recess that is sized and shaped to fit over a portion of a knob of the bat, as well as a connecting member to secure the first portion to the second portion when the first recess and second recess are each placed over the knob of the bat, and

an attachment member configured to secure the tracking device to the mounting device, wherein the attachment member comprises a threaded member that is positioned to extend away from the knob of the bat in a direction that is parallel to a barrel of the bat.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a wearable electronic device comprising a virtual reality display.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a server containing a processor a receiver, and programming instructions that are configured to:

generate a simulated pitch;

transmit a signal to the wearable electronic device that will cause the virtual reality display to display the simulated pitch;

receive, from the tracking device, swing data that includes measurements of motion and position of the bat; and

save the swing data to a database in a profile of a user of the bat and the wearable electronic device.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment member further comprises a housing formed by the first portion and the second portion when connected together by the connecting member.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or inertial measurement unit.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the one or more sensors comprise a photosensor;

the system also comprises a base station having a laser emitter;

and

the tracking device is configured to determine a position of the tracking device'"'"'s photosensor with respect to the base station based on detection by the photosensor of a laser emitted by the base station.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the one or more sensors comprise one or more passive retroflective IR markers or active IR markers; and

the base station comprises an infrared (IR) camera.

12. A virtual reality baseball system comprising:

a tracking device comprising one or more sensors that are configured to sense motion and/or position of a bat; and

a mounting device for removably securing a tracking device to the bat;

an attachment member configured to secure the tracking device to the mounting device, wherein the attachment member comprises a threaded member that is positioned to extend away from a knob of the bat in a direction that is parallel to a barrel of the bat; and

a wearable electronic device comprising a virtual reality display.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a server containing a processor a receiver, and programming instructions that are configured to:

generate a simulated pitch;

transmit a signal to the wearable electronic device that will cause the virtual reality display to display the simulated pitch;

receive, from the tracking device, swing data that includes measurements of motion and position of the bat; and

save the swing data to a database in a profile of a user of the bat and the wearable electronic device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the attachment member further comprises a housing that contains the tracking device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or inertial measurement unit.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the one or more sensors comprise a photosensor;

the system also comprises a base station having a laser emitter;

and

the tracking device is configured to determine a position of the tracking device'"'"'s photosensor with respect to the base station based on detection by the photosensor of a laser emitted by the base station.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the one or more sensors comprise one or more passive retroflective IR markers or active IR markers; and

the system also comprises a base station having an infrared (IR) camera.