GOLF IMPACT ANALYSIS SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20120322569A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Cottam, Roger
• Application Number:
  US13/218,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20120322569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/31 Relative speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

Embodiments of golf impact analysis systems are described herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A system to analyze impact data at a portable electronic device, the impact data corresponding to one or more golf ball impacts at an impact sensor over a strike face of a golf club head, the system comprising:

an impact analysis module configured to run on one or more processors, and further configured to;

receive the impact data from the impact sensor, the impact data comprising;

impact pressure data for the one or more golf ball impacts; and

at least one of;

impact location data for the one or more golf ball impacts;

or

impact duration data for the one or more golf ball impacts;

transform the impact pressure data into at least one of;

impact force data;

or

impact speed data;

generate impact information derived at least in part from the impact data; and

generate a report configured to present the impact information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of the portable electronic device or the impact sensor;

wherein the report is configured to be displayed via a graphical user interface at the portable electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the impact sensor;

wherein the impact sensor is external to the golf club head when coupled to the strike face.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the impact sensor comprises;

a sensor array; and

a substrate layer coupled to the sensor array and configured to conform to a shape of the strike face of the golf club head when coupled thereto.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the sensor array comprises at least one of;

a plurality of capacitive sensors;

a plurality of resistive sensors;

or

a plurality of piezoelectric sensors; and

the substrate layer comprises at least one of;

a conductive cloth material;

or

a stretchable fabric.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the impact sensor is attachable to and removable from the strike face of the golf club head.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to communicate with a communications module; and

the communications module is configured to receive the impact data from the impact sensor for the impact analysis module via an audio jack of the portable electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the portable electronic device;

wherein;

the portable electronic device comprises at least one of;

a cellular phone, a portable media player, a handheld game console, or a portable digital assistant; and

the portable electronic device is configured to operate while located away from the golf club head during the one or more golf ball impacts and comprises;

the impact analysis module; and

at least a portion of the one or more processors.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

generate a swing advice based on the impact data; and

present the swing advice in the report.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

access comparative swing information from a database module, the comparative swing information comprising at least one of;

individual swing information from one or more individuals;

historical swing information for a user of the system based on previous impact data;

or

target swing information for at least one of;

a type of player;

a type of golf club;

or

a type of swing; and

present at least a portion of the comparative swing information in the report.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

analyze the impact data to provide an advice regarding a suggested type of golf club for a user of the system;

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

analyze the impact data to provide an advice regarding at least one of;

a suggested type of golf ball for the user;

a suggested type of training aid for the user;

or

a suggested type of training plan for the user.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to generate at least one of;

an location consistency rating derived from the impact location data for multiple ones of the one or more golf ball impacts;

or

an force consistency rating derived from the impact pressure data for multiple ones of the one or more golf ball impacts.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

generate a strike face image representative of the strike face of the golf club head;

generate one or more impact location markers for the one or more golf ball impacts based on the impact location data;

generate one or more impact pressure descriptors for the one or more golf ball impacts based on the impact pressure data; and

present the strike face image, the one or more impact location markers, and the one or more impact pressure descriptors in the report.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to analyze the impact pressure data and the impact location data to generate at least one of;

a shot distance prediction;

or

a shot deviation prediction.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

generate shot simulation data from the impact data; and

transmit the shot simulation data to a digital display module for rendering as a motion image.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

the digital display module;

wherein the digital display module is external to the portable electronic device.

18. A system comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

an impact sensor configured to be coupled to the portable electronic device;

wherein;

the impact sensor is configured to be positioned over a strike face of a golf club head to sense impact data for one or more golf ball impacts over the strike face, the impact data comprising;

impact pressure data for the one or more golf ball impacts; and

at least one of;

impact location data for the one or more golf ball impacts;

or

impact duration data for the one or more golf ball impacts; and

the portable electronic device comprises an impact analysis module configured to;

calculate from the impact pressure data at least one of;

impact force data;

or

impact speed data;

generate impact information derived from the impact data; and

generate a report configured to present the impact information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the portable electronic device comprises at least one of;

a cellular phone, a portable media player, a handheld game console, or a portable digital assistant;

the portable electronic device comprises;

a digital display configured to display the report; and

the impact sensor comprises;

a sensor array;

a substrate layer comprising the sensor array and configured to conform to a shape of the strike face of the golf club head when coupled thereto; and

an attachment mechanism configured to detachably couple the substrate layer to the strike face.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

access comparative swing information from a database module, the comparative swing information comprising at least one of;

individual swing information from one or more individuals;

historical swing information for a user of the system based on previous impact data;

or

target swing information for at least one of;

a type of player;

a type of golf club;

or

a type of swing;

generate a swing advice based on the impact data;

present the swing advice in the report; and

present at least a portion of the comparative swing information in the report.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the impact analysis module is configured to;

generate a strike face image representative of the strike face of the golf club head;

generate one or more impact location markers for the one or more golf ball impacts based on the impact location data;

generate one or more impact pressure descriptors for the one or more golf ball impacts based on the impact pressure data; and

present the strike face image, the one or more impact location markers, and the one or more impact pressure descriptors in the report.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the impact sensor is configured to wiredly couple to the portable electronic device;

the portable electronic device comprises at least one of;

a cellular phone or a portable digital assistant;

the portable electronic device comprises;

a digital display configured to display the report;

the impact sensor comprises;

a sensor array;

a substrate layer comprising the sensor array and configured to conform to a shape of the strike face of the golf club head when coupled thereto; and

an attachment mechanism configured to detachably couple the substrate layer to the strike face; and

the impact analysis module is configured to;

receive the impact data from the impact sensor via an audio jack of the portable electronic device;

access comparative swing information from a database module, the comparative swing information comprising at least one of;

individual swing information from one or more individuals;

historical swing information for a user of the system based on previous impact data;

or

target swing information for at least one of;

a type of player;

a type of golf club;

or

a type of swing;

generate a swing advice based on the impact data;

present the swing advice in the report;

present at least a portion of the comparative swing information in the report. generate a strike face image representative of the strike face of the golf club head;

generate one or more impact location markers at the strike face image for the one or more golf ball impacts based on the impact location data;

generate one or more impact pressure descriptors at the strike face image for the one or more golf ball impacts based on the impact pressure data; and

present the strike face image, the one or more impact location markers, and the one or more impact pressure descriptors in the report.

23. A method for providing a golf ball impact analysis system, the method comprising:

executing, at one or more processors of a portable electronic device, an impact analysis module with instructions for;

receiving impact data from an impact sensor coupled to a strike face of a golf club head, the impact data comprising;

impact pressure data for one or more golf ball impacts; and

at least one of;

impact location data for the one or more golf ball impacts;

or

impact duration data for the one or more golf ball impacts;

transforming the impact pressure data into at least one of;

impact force data;

or

impact speed data;

generating impact information derived from the impact data; and

generating a report configured to present the impact information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the report is configured to be displayed by a graphical user interface at a digital display of the portable electronic device; and

wherein the impact sensor is external to the golf club head when coupled to the golf club strike face.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the impact sensor to be attachable to and removable from the strike face;

wherein providing the impact sensor comprises;

providing a sensor array; and

providing a substrate layer coupled to the sensor array and configured to conform to a shape of the strike face of the golf club head when coupled thereto.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the portable electronic device;

wherein;

providing the portable electronic device comprises;

providing at least one of a cellular phone or a PDA; and

the portable electronic device is configured to operate while located away from the golf club head during the one or more golf ball impacts and comprises;

the impact analysis module; and

at least a portion of the one or more processors.