SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

• US 20110212799A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Full Flight Technology, Llc
• Original Assignee: Full Flight Technology, Llc
• Inventors: Donahoe, Robert V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1403 Details of bows; camera's on bows F41B5/1492
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/143 Arrow rests or guides
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/148 Accessories and tools for bow shooting not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An apparatus is configured for inclusion in an arrow. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sensor configured to provide data concerning one or more flight characteristics of the arrow in flight and a communication link coupled to the sensor, the communication link configured to communicate the data to a device external to the arrow.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A method of determining at least one flight characteristic of an arrow in flight, the method comprising acts of:

generating data concerning the at least one flight characteristic of the arrow with a sensor included in the arrow; and

communicating the data to a device external to the arrow.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising an act of including the sensor in an arrow tip configured for removable attachment to the arrow.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising acts of receiving the data at the device;

and processing the data to provide quantitative information concerning the at least one flight characteristic.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the at least one flight characteristic is a velocity of the arrow in flight.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising an act of providing the velocity of the arrow for a plurality of points along a flight path of the arrow.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the velocity includes an instantaneous velocity.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising an act of providing the velocity of the arrow at each of a first point located proximate to a location of a bow at a moment when the arrow is released from the bow string and a second point located proximate to a location of a target struck by the arrow.

55. The method of claim 50, further comprising an act of generating a graphical display concerning the at least one flight characteristic.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising an act of displaying a plot of instantaneous values of the at least one flight characteristic.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising an act of displaying the plot as a continuous function.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the at least one flight characteristics includes any of a pitch of the arrow, a roll of the arrow and a yaw of the arrow.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising an act of displaying a flight path of the arrow from a launch point to a target.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the act of displaying the flight path includes an act of displaying any of the pitch of the arrow, an angular rotation of the arrow about a longitudinal axis of the arrow and the yaw of the arrow at one or more locations along the flight path.

61. The method of claim 48, wherein the act of communicating includes an act of communicating using at least one of a wired communication and a wireless communication.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the act of communicating includes an act of wirelessly communicating the data via an ISM radio band.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the act of communicating includes an act of wirelessly communicating the data via an optical signal.

64. The method of claim 48, further comprising an act of employing the data to determine a kinetic energy of the arrow for at least one location along a flight path of the arrow.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising an act of employing the data to determine the kinetic energy of the arrow for a plurality of locations along the flight path of the arrow.

66-130. -130. (canceled)

131. A computer readable medium encoded with a program for execution on a processor, the program when executed on the processor performing improving a performance of an arrow shot from a bow, the method comprising acts of:

collecting data with a sensor included in the arrow, the data concerning flight characteristics of the arrow when shot from the bow; and

generating, based on the collected data, at least one recommended adjustment to improve a subsequent flight of the arrow.

133. The computer readable medium of claim 131, further comprising an act of collecting data with a sensor included in the bow.

132. (canceled)

134-135. -135. (canceled)