Sports implement, amusement tool, and training tool

• US 20050192129A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Hideaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,678,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/520
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/00 Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
• 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 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/20 with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/802 Drive or control circuitry or methods for piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 39/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive element covered by groups H10N30/00 – H10N35/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a sports implement whose characteristics a user can adjust freely and minutely. According to the present invention, it is realized that a light-weight high functional circuit is installed in various sports implements by constituting various functional circuits with a TFT formed on a film, without using a printed board. A high functional circuit using a TFT formed over a flexible plastic film is light-weight and strong in bending and impacts. It is possible to provide a sports implement that is favorable in operationality and friendly to many users in a wide range regardless of the muscle strength or physical constitution and the like of a user, since the user can adjust characteristics of a sports implement.

Claims

1. A sports implement comprising:

a piezoelectric element which generates a signal by warping the piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

an amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal to produce an amplified signal and which is operationally connected to the piezoelectric element; and

an instruction unit which determines an application of the amplified signal to the piezoelectric element.

2. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a rectifier unit for rectifying the amplified signal prior to the application thereof to the piezoelectric element.

3. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

4. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a display portion for displaying a result of the voltage application obtained in the instruction unit.

5. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving circuit including an antenna for receiving a signal voltage application to the piezoelectric element.

6. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit.

7. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a memory element.

8. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

9. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the sports implement is one of a hitting sports implement, a winter sports implement, a training wear, an insole, and shoes.

10. A sports implement comprising:

a piezoelectric element which generates a signal by warping the piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

an amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal to produce an amplified signal and which is operationally connected to the piezoelectric element;

an instruction unit which determines an application of the amplified signal to the piezoelectric element;

a power supply circuit operationally connected to the amplifier circuit; and

a charging unit for storing electric power, that operationally connected to the power supply circuit.

11. A sports implement according to claim 10, further comprising a rectifier unit for rectifying the amplified signal prior to the application thereof to the piezoelectric element.

12. A sports implement according to claim 10, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

13. A sports implement according to claim 10, further comprising a display portion for displaying a result of the voltage application obtained in the instruction unit.

14. A sports implement according to claim 10, further comprising a receiving circuit including an antenna for receiving a signal voltage application to the piezoelectric element.

15. A sports implement according to claim 10, further comprising a central processing unit.

16. A sports implement according to claim 10, further comprising a memory element.

17. A sports implement according to claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

18. A sports implement according to claim 10, wherein the sports implement is one of a hitting sports implement, a winter sports implement, a training wear, an insole, and shoes.

19. A sports implement comprising:

a piezoelectric element which generates a signal by warping the piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

an amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal to produce an amplified signal and which is operationally connected to the piezoelectric element;

an instruction unit which determines an application of the amplified signal to the piezoelectric element;

a power supply circuit operationally connected to the amplifier circuit;

a charging unit for storing electric power, that operationally connected to the power supply circuit; and

an electric power generation unit operationally connected to the charging unit.

20. A sports implement according to claim 19, further comprising a rectifier unit for rectifying the amplified signal prior to the application thereof to the piezoelectric element.

21. A sports implement according to claim 19, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

22. A sports implement according to claim 19, further comprising a display portion for displaying a result of the voltage application obtained in the instruction unit.

23. A sports implement according to claim 19, further comprising a receiving circuit including an antenna for receiving a signal voltage application to the piezoelectric element.

24. A sports implement according to claim 19, further comprising a central processing unit.

25. A sports implement according to claim 19, further comprising a memory element.

26. A sports implement according to claim 19, wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

27. A sports implement according to claim 19, wherein the sports implement is one of a hitting sports implement, a winter sports implement, a training wear, an insole, and shoes.

28. A sports implement comprising:

a first piezoelectric element which generates a signal by warping the first piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

a first amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal to produce an amplified signal and which is operationally connected to the first piezoelectric element;

an instruction unit which determines an application of the amplified signal to the first piezoelectric element;

a power supply circuit operationally connected to the first amplifier circuit;

a second piezoelectric element which generates an electric power by warping the second piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto; and

a second amplifier circuit operationally connected to the power supply circuit and the second piezoelectric element wherein the electric power is amplified by the second amplifier circuit to produce an amplified electric power.

29. A sports implement according to claim 28, further comprising a charging unit for storing electric power, that operationally connected to the power supply circuit.

30. A sports implement according to claim 28, further comprising a rectifier unit for rectifying the amplified signal prior to the application thereof to the first piezoelectric element.

31. A sports implement according to claim 28, wherein the first amplifier circuit is includes at least a TFT.

32. A sports implement according to claim 28, further comprising a display portion for displaying a result of the voltage application obtained in the instruction unit.

33. A sports implement according to claim 28, further comprising a receiving circuit including an antenna for receiving a signal voltage application to the first piezoelectric element.

34. A sports implement according to claim 28, further comprising a central processing unit.

35. A sports implement according to claim 28, further comprising a memory element.

36. A sports implement according to claim 28, wherein the first piezoelectric element and the second piezoelectric element are warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

37. A sports implement according to claim 28, wherein the sports implement is one of a hitting sports implement, a winter sports implement, a training wear, an insole, and shoes.

38. An amusement tool comprising:

a piezoelectric element;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element; and

a light emitting element,

wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the light emitting element emits light using the electric power.

39. An amusement tool according to claim 38, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

40. An amusement tool according to claim 38, further comprising a central processing unit.

41. An amusement tool according to claim 38, wherein the amusement tool is one of a ball, a glove, and shoes.

42. A training tool comprising:

a piezoelectric element;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element; and

a receiving circuit including an antenna,

wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the amplifier circuit and the receiving circuit are supplied with the electric power.

43. A training tool according to claim 42, further comprising a central processing unit.

44. A training tool according to claim 42, further comprising a memory element.

45. A training tool according to claim 42, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

46. A training tool according to claim 42, wherein the training tool is one of a training machine, a training wear, a skiwear, a snowboardwear, and shoes.