GOLF FREE SWING MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM

• US 20130059672A1
• Filed: 11/06/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golf Impact, LLC
• Original Assignee: Golf Impact, LLC
• Inventors: Davenport, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• 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: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

The presented invention relates to a method for determining the effectiveness of a golfer'"'"'s swing without the requirement of the club head making contact with a golf ball. More specifically, the present invention relates to a measurement and analysis system comprising a first module that attaches to the club head and captures measurement receiver signal strength data during the entire swing time line and may capture motional data on same time line, further first module wirelessly communicates bi-directionally with a second module that is further connected to a user interface device and computational engine where feedback results are derived and conveyed to the golfer. The system provides comprehensive feedback for a swing characterization time line referenced to the spatial domain using receiver signal strength measurements that may be in combination with motional and dynamics orientation measurements.

Claims

1. ) A golf club head module that is attachable to and detachable from a golf club head and comprises at least:

a) A circuit capable a measuring receiver signal strength of a received radio wave signal

2. ) The golf club head module as recited in claim one further comprising;

a) other electronics and circuits providing at least the functions of;

i) capturing receiver signal strength measurements, sampling and digitally storing receiver strength measurements and transmitting and receiving radio wave signals

ii) an energy storage device to supply energy to electronics

3. ) A golf measurement and analysis system comprising at least

a) A golf club comprising a golf club shaft and a golf club head attached to said shaft and golf club head further comprises a club head face.

b) A golf club head module or first module attached to said club head comprising at least;

i) a transceiver capable of

(1) receiving radio wave signals and measuring receiver signal strength of said signals defining a receiver signal strength measurement time line

(2) transmitting radio wave signals defining a first module transmitted signal carrying signal strength measurement

c) a second module that is placed at individual predetermined spatial location near to anticipated golf swing and comprises at least;

i) a transceiver capable of

(1) transmitting radio wave signals from at least one or more antennas to said first module and at least one or first antenna is located within second module and optional additional remote antennas are;

(a) electrically connected to said second module with wires or coaxial cable and

(b) are placed at predetermined spatial location near to anticipated golf swing

(2) receiving said first module transmitted signal carrying signal strength measurement at an antenna within said second module

4. ) The golf measurement and analysis system of claim three further comprising at least

a) A means of further transporting said first module transmitted signal carrying signal strength measurement received by said second module to a user interface device

b) A means of defining a relationship between said receiver signal strength measurement time line and said predetermined spatial location(s).

5. ) A golf club head module that is attachable to and detachable from a golf club head and comprises at least:

a) A circuit capable a measuring receiver signal strength of a received radio frequency signal

b) One or more sensor(s) for measuring motional characters wherein said sensor(s) is/are further defined as any single device or combination of devices from the following sensor device categories;

accelerometer(s), gyroscope(s) and magneto resistive device(s).

6. ) The golf club head module as recited in claim five further comprising;

a) electronics that provide functions for;

i) capturing and processing and storing receiver signal strength measurements and sensor measurements in a synchronized fashion defining synchronized measurements

ii) wireless transmission of said synchronized measurements and reception of wireless signals

b) an energy storage device such as a battery, for supplying power to said electronics