Athletic Performance Monitoring Systems and Methods in a Team Sports Environment

• US 20150375085A1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Molyneux, James, Weast, Aaron B., Burroughs, Brandon S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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 2220/58 : Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 : Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 : Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 : Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 : American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 : Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 : Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/081 : fluid-filled, e.g. air-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 : for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 : using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 : wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/82 : wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/65 : Entertainment or amusement; Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 20/10 : relating to the environment, e.g. temperature; relating to location
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 40/10 : Detection; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

Systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like, are described. These systems and methods can provide useful metrics for players and coaches relating to athletic performances in various sports, including various team sports.

Claims

1. A method for activating a fluidic material within a piece of athletic equipment, the method comprising:

sensing, by a sensor system, a magnetic field strength generated by an article of footwear equipped with at least one of a magnet and a magnetic force generating system;

determining, by the sensor system, that the article of footwear is within a threshold proximity to the athletic equipment; and

activating at least a first magnetic coil within the athletic equipment, wherein the activation of the first magnetic coil causes the fluidic material within the piece of athletic equipment to transition between a first state of matter and a second state of matter.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the piece of athletic equipment is worn by a first play, and wherein the article of footwear is worn by a second player.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system is mounted to the piece of athletic equipment.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein transitioning between the first state of matter and the second state of matter causes the fluidic material to harden.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the piece of athletic equipment comprises one or more fluid pockets, and wherein the fluidic material is contained within the one or more fluid pockets.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the first magnetic coil is positioned underneath a first fluid pocket.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the first magnetic coil is positioned on top of a first fluid pocket.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the sensor system, that the article of footwear is outside of the threshold proximity to the athletic equipment; and

deactivating the first magnetic coil within the athletic equipment, wherein the deactivation of the first magnetic coil causes the fluidic material to transition from the second state of matter to the first state of matter.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein activation of the first magnetic coil causes the fluidic material to transition from a fluidic state to a solid state.

10. A piece of athletic equipment, comprising:

a plurality of fluid pockets, wherein the plurality of fluid pockets contain a fluidic material;

a plurality of magnetic coils;

a sensor system for monitoring an athletic performance of a first player; and

a processor system; and

a memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor system to perform at least generating a plurality of athletic performance metrics based on data collected by the sensor system.

11. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of magnetic coils is positioned underneath the plurality of fluid pockets.

12. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of magnetic coils is positioned on top of the plurality of fluid pockets.

13. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 10, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

determine that that the piece of athletic equipment is within a threshold proximity to a gameball.

14. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 13, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

in response to determining that that the piece of athletic equipment is within the threshold proximity, activate the plurality of magnetic coils to cause the fluidic material to transition between a first state of matter and a second state of matter.

15. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 14, wherein transitioning between the first state of matter and the second state of matter causes the fluidic material to harden.

16. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 14, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

determine that the piece of athletic equipment is outside the threshold proximity; and

in response to determining that the piece of athletic equipment is outside the threshold proximity, deactivating the plurality of magnetic coils to cause the fluidic material to return to the first state of matter.

17. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 10, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

determine that that the piece of athletic equipment is within a threshold proximity to an article of footwear worn by a second player.

18. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises computer readable instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

in response to determining that the piece of athletic equipment is within the threshold proximity, activate the plurality of magnetic coils to cause the fluidic material to transition between a first state of matter and a second state of matter.

19. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 18, wherein the first state of matter comprises a fluidic state.

20. A piece of leg borne equipment according to claim 18, wherein the first state of matter comprises a hardened state.