IR system for kinematic analysis

• US 20070207873A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rose, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/207
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0015 for cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0017 for badminton
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• 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 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A infrared method and apparatus for the kinematic analysis of a golfer is disclosed. The method includes selectively positioning a plurality of infrared markers on a golfer, and optionally on a golf club. Images of the golfer may be acquired before, during, and after he/she swings the golf club. The images may be analyzed to determine the kinematic characteristics of the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts. A kinematic analysis of the golfer'"'"'s body parts may then be correlated with a kinematic analysis of the golf club. The method and apparatus disclosed herein provide the advantage of allowing a golfer'"'"'s movement to be correlated with a kinematic analysis of their golf swing while minimizing the physical restrictions on the golfer'"'"'s movement.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a golfer'"'"'s body movement, comprising:

selectively positioning a plurality of markers on a golfer;

acquiring a first set of one or more images of the golfer, wherein the images are acquired when the golfer is substantially motionless;

removing some of the plurality of markers from the golfer;

acquiring a second set of one or more images of a golfer, wherein the golfer is in motion at least part of the time during the second set of image acquisition; and

comparing the movement of two or more body parts of the golfer using the second set of one or more images.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selectively positioning comprises at least one of:

selectively positioning a plurality of infrared markers at the joints and the rigid body parts of the golfer; and

selectively positioning one or more infrared markers on at least one of a golf club and a golf ball.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the removing comprises removing the infrared markers positioned at golfer'"'"'s joints.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring the first set of one or more images comprises:

acquiring one or more images of the golfer in a plurality of predetermined, fixed positions; and

using the one or more acquired images to determine the relationship between the golfer'"'"'s joints and the rigid body parts of the golfer.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring the second set of one or more images comprises:

the golfer performing one or more golf club swings; and

acquiring images of at least one of the golfer and the golf club before, during, and after the one or more golf club swings.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the comparing comprises:

analyzing the second set of acquired images to determine the movement of two or more of the golfer'"'"'s body parts; and

determining a correlation between the movement of the two or more body parts and the golfer'"'"'s one or more club swings.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining the correlation comprises determining at least one of:

the timing of the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts;

the translation of the golfer'"'"'s body parts;

the rotational velocity of the golfer'"'"'s body parts; and

the speed of the golfer'"'"'s body parts.

8. A method for performing a kinematic analysis of a golfer'"'"'s body, comprising:

selectively positioning a plurality of infrared markers on a golfer;

acquiring images of the golfer, wherein at least some of the images are acquired when the golfer is substantially motionless and at least some of the images are acquired when the golfer is in motion;

analyzing the kinematics of one or more body parts of the golfer using the acquired images; and

correlating the kinematics of the golfer'"'"'s one or more body parts with the kinematics of at least one of a golf club and a golf ball.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising selectively positioning one or more infrared markers on at least one of the golf club and the golf ball.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the selectively positioning comprises positioning one or more markers on the back of the golfer.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the acquiring images comprises acquiring images of the golfer before, during, and after two or more golf club swings.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the analyzing comprises determining the motion of the golfer'"'"'s one or more body parts relative to one another.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the correlating comprises:

correlating the motion of the golfer'"'"'s one or more body parts and the resulting motion of the golf club for each of the two or more golf club swings; and

comparing the correlation for each of the two or more golf club swings.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the comparing comprises determining at least one of:

the effect of the timing of the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing;

the effect of the translation of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing;

the effect of the rotational velocity of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing; and

the effect of the speed of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing.

15. An apparatus for correlating a golfer'"'"'s body movement with a golf club swing, comprising:

a plurality of infrared markers selectively positioned on the golfer and the golf club;

a light generator capable of projecting infrared light onto the plurality of infrared markers;

an image acquisition device capable of imaging light reflected by the infrared markers; and

a processor for correlating the movement of different parts of the golfer'"'"'s body with a kinematic analysis of the golf club based on the infrared markers.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image acquisition device comprises a digital camera including a charge-coupled device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image acquisition device is capable of acquiring at least about 500 frames/second or greater.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image acquisition device is capable of acquiring at least about 1000 frames/second or greater.

19. The apparatus according claim 15, further comprising at least two force plates.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising between about 4 and about 12 image acquisition devices.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of infrared markers comprises about 45 infrared markers or greater.

22. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a protective shield.

23. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising at least one of a display device and an input device.

24. A method for performing a kinematic analysis of a golfer'"'"'s body, comprising:

selectively positioning a plurality of markers on a golfer and a golf club;

acquiring images of the plurality of markers before and after the golfer swings the golf club, wherein the golfer swings the golf club two or more times; and

using the acquired images of the plurality of markers to determine the correlation between the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts and the golfer'"'"'s club swings.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of markers comprise infrared markers.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the acquiring comprises:

acquiring images of the golfer, wherein the golfer is substantially motionless;

determining the relationship between the golfer'"'"'s body parts using the acquired images;

removing some of the infrared markers; and

acquiring a second set of images of the golfer, wherein the images are acquired before, during, and after the golfer swings the golf club.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the using comprises:

correlating the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts with the movement of the golf club; and

comparing the correlation for each of the two or more golf club swings.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the comparing comprises determining at least one of:

the effect of the timing of the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing;

the effect of the translation of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing;

the effect of the rotational velocity of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing; and

the effect of the speed of the golfer'"'"'s body parts on the golf club swing.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the using comprises:

correlating the movement of the golfer'"'"'s body parts with the movement of the golf club to yield golfer data; and

comparing the golfer'"'"'s data with an ideal golfer'"'"'s data.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein the acquiring comprises using the acquired images to generate a workout plan.