Method and apparatus for activity analysis

• US 20070111767A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inpractis Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inpractis Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Marc, Van Scoy, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/561,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 2225/70 Coin-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0054 Bowling, i.e. ten-pin bowling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 : for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 : Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 : for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for recording an individual performing an activity such as a golf swing includes a kiosk structure with an easy to use intelligent user interface to allow the individual to use the recording to analyze his or her own performance. The system accommodates input from multiple cameras to allow the playback of different views of the activity without the need to reposition the capture portion of the system in a different location, and can correct or partially correct the images that contain conventional distortion from fish-eye or other lenses that are used to provide close-up images, thereby allowing the use of the system in the spaces of existing facilities. The system may include an array microphone in the kiosk to detect the hit of the target ball while rejecting hits from adjacent stalls, which enables the system to identify and synchronize, at the point of impact, multiple video images of the same swing or of different swings. The system can employ any of a variety of conventional payment systems to allow it to integrate into the operations of the facility in which it will be used. The system can advertise and integrate with other facility operations to allow it to direct business to a professional or other operation of the facility.

Claims

1. A video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills, said video system apparatus comprising:

a kiosk portion including a display head with a video display and touch panel interface;

a first video camera connected to said kiosk portion;

a second video camera connected to said kiosk portion; and

means for processing signals from said first and second video camera and displaying a image on said display.

2. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a payment receptacle to process payment.

3. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said kiosk portion includes a finned extrusion for removing heat from heat-generating components in said kiosk.

4. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes an array microphone to detect the hit of a target ball.

5. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes means for providing advertisements on said video display.

6. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said means for processing signals includes means to correct distortion from lenses.

7. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said kiosk portion includes forced-air cooling of said display head.

8. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said kiosk portion includes a port for insertion of a portable memory device.

9. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said touch panel interface includes a graphical user interface.

10. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 8 wherein said graphical user interface includes geometric sensing techniques.

11. The video system apparatus for analyzing sports skills of claim 1 wherein said touch panel interface includes network connectivity.

12. A method for video recording of an individual performing an activity, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a kiosk portion including a display head with a video display and touch panel interface;

providing a first video camera connected to said kiosk portion; and

providing a second video camera connected to said kiosk portion; and

processing signals from said first and second video camera and displaying a image on said display.

13. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of providing a payment receptacle to process payment.

14. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of removing heat from the heat-generating components in said kiosk with a finned extrusion on the kiosk.

15. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of providing an array microphone in said kiosk to detect the hit of a target ball.

16. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of processing the video signals to correct distortion from fish-eye or other lenses.

17. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of providing a port for a portable memory device.

18. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of providing said touch panel interface with a graphical user interface.

19. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of providing said graphical user interface with geometric sensing techniques.

20. The method for video recording of an individual performing an activity of claim 12 further including the step of providing said touch panel interface with network connectivity.