ELASTOMER ENCASED MOTION SENSOR PACKAGE

• US 20160146643A1
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Joshua, Bose, Bhaskar, Bentley, Michael, KAPS, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,746,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 2225/74 : with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 : Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 : Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 : Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 : Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 : Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 : Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 : for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• 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: A63C 11/00 : Accessories for skiing or snowboarding fittings on vehicles for carrying skis B60R9/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/22 : Radio waves emitting or receiving, e.g. remote control, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/24 : Processing or storing data, e.g. with electronic chip
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 : Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 : Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 : Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 : relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 : Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 : Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 : with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A motion sensor package with an elastomer layer that encases the sensor electronics, including the sensors, a processor, an antenna, and a battery. The elastomer layer may provide shock isolation and water resistance to protect the enclosed electronics. Embodiments may also include an outer housing into which the elastomer encased package is installed. The outer housing may for example comprise two cylindrical sections that screw together to close the outer housing. In one or more embodiments part of the outer housing may be integrated into an item of sports equipment. Embodiments for golf may also include a golf club grip adapter that is inserted into the top of a grip, and which attaches to the outer housing containing the elastomer enclosed sensor package.

Claims

1. An elastomer encased motion sensor package comprising

electronic components comprising

one or more motion sensors, each configured to measure one or more of a position, an orientation, a linear velocity, an angular velocity, a linear acceleration, or an angular acceleration;

a processor coupled to said one or more motion sensors;

a wireless antenna coupled to said processor;

a battery coupled to said processor;

a layer of elastomer encasing said electronic components, wherein said layer of elastomer is configured to

provide shock isolation for said electronic components; and

,

provide a water resistant barrier around said electronic components.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said layer of elastomer comprises one or more of silicone, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and polyurethane.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

said elastomer encased motion sensor package has a size and shape that matches a component of an item of sports equipment;

said component of said item of sports equipment can be replaced by said elastomer encased motion sensor package without limiting the functionality of said item of sports equipment.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said component of said piece of sports equipment is a riser pad of a skateboard.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an outer housing that surrounds said layer of elastomer and said electronic components, said outer housing comprising

a receiver portion having a cavity into which said layer of elastomer and electronic components are placed;

a lid portion configured to be detachably coupled to said receiver portion, thereby closing said outer housing;

wherein said outer housing surrounds an entire outer surface of said elastomer layer when said outer housing is closed.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein

said receiver portion is shaped substantially as a right circular cylinder with a closed bottom end and an open top end, having receiver threads along a portion of its inner circular surface or its outer circular surface;

said lid portion is shaped substantially as a right circular cylinder with an open bottom end and a closed top end, having lid threads along a portion of its inner circular surface or its outer circular surface;

wherein said lid threads mate with said receiver threads to close said outer housing.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising

an installation and removal tool that can be detachably coupled to said lid portion, wherein a user turns said installation and removal tool to screw said lid portion onto or off of said receiver portion.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said receiver portion is configured to be installed into a hole that exists in or that can be created in said item of sports equipment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein

said item of sports equipment is a surfboard;

said hole is a cavity in said surfboard;

said lid portion is substantially flush with an upper surface of said surfboard when said outer housing is closed.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein

said item of sports equipment is a baseball bat;

said hole is a cavity in the knob of said baseball bat.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein said receiver portion is integrated into an item of sports equipment.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising

a dummy weight having a mass substantially equal to a mass of said layer of elastomer and said electronic components;

wherein

said dummy weight can be detachably placed into said receiver portion instead of said layer of elastomer and said electronic components;

said lid portion can to be detachably coupled to said receiver portion when said dummy weight is placed in said receiver portion, thereby closing said outer housing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said receiver portion is integrated into a tip of a baseball bat.

14. The system of claim 5, further comprising

a golf club grip adapter comprising

a tube configured to be inserted through the top surface of a grip of a golf club, having a threaded inner surface;

a flange coupled to a top edge of said tube, and configured to rest on said top surface of said grip of said golf club when said tube is inserted through said top surface of said grip of said golf club;

a threaded protrusion coupled to said receiver portion and configured to mate with said threaded inner surface to detachably couple said receiver portion to said golf club grip adapter.