SWING MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

• US 3,788,647 A
• Filed: 12/06/1971
• Issued: 01/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James W. Evans
• Original Assignee: James W. Evans
• Inventors: Evans, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Application Number:
  US05/205,067
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 343/5R,720,6.5R,6.5LC,6.5SS,6.8R,6.8LL 273/186R,186A
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A swing measurement system for measuring characteristics of the swing of an athlete'"'"''"'"'s arm, bat, club or for orthopedic and medical measurements of the movement of an individual'"'"''"'"'s limbs. A transmitter is utilized for transmitting predetermined frequency to a passive repeater circuit where the received frequency is modulated with signals generated by sensors such as an accelerometer or strain gauge and the modulated frequency retransmitted by the passive repeater to a receiver where it can be displayed for comparison and analysis.

Claims

1. A measuring system comprising in combination:

a. transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined frequency;

b. an athletic swing member;

c. passive repeater means attached to said athletic swing member for receiving said transmitted frequency and retransmission thereof;

d. a plurality of sensors attached to said athletic swing member and coupled to said passive repeater means for generating electrical signals analagous to conditions of said athletic swing member, said sensors being adapted to modulate said passive repeater means frequency being received from said transmitter means prior to retransmission thereof;

e. receiver means for receiving modulated frequency being retransmitted from said passive receiver and converting and displaying said data whereby predetermined conditions of an athletic swing can be measured; and

f. an antenna utilizing said athletic swing member having a center metallic member surrounded by a second metallic member for creating a coaxial antenna.

2. The measuring system in accordance with claim 1 in which said passive repeater means includes a single oscillator circuit and said plurality of sensors are connected to a multiplexor circuit which is in turn coupled to said oscillator circuit for transmitting a plurality of sensed measurements over a single frequency.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said passive repeater circuit includes three oscillators coupled to three sensors for transmitting said measured data over slightly different frequencies back to the receiver.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which each said oscillator is a crystal controlled oscillator.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said receiver means includes three receivers for receiving the data from three separate sensors.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said sensors include at least one accelerometer and one strain gauge.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the center metallic member is a golf club handle having insulation wrapped therearound and then surrounded with an aluminum covering.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a remotely located display unit having a transmitting means and receiving means therein, along with a display means for displaying the data received on a display panel.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the display panel is a cathode ray tube.