Golf swing sensing device

• US 3,895,366 A
• Filed: 03/18/1974
• Issued: 07/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francis E. Morris
• Original Assignee: Francis E. Morris
• Inventors: Morris, Francis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Habecker, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Groody, James
• Application Number:
  US05/452,335
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 273/35B,35R,183D,183R,185R,186R,186A,194B,35A,183E,183A,208 343/1CS,1AD,824,757,763,844,880,882,893,894 340/27R
• US Class Current: 340/870.26
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

First and second pairs of receivers are utilized to detect and process signals from a club head mounted transmitter. The first pair of receivers are located equidistant from an inclined plane corresponding to the proper swing plane for the golfer. A phase comparator produces a voltage output whenever the transmitter deviates from the desired swing plane. The comparator voltage output may be utilized to drive visual and an aural indicator, also a recorder, producing a tone which is indicative of the magnitude and direction of deviation of the club head from the swing plane. The second set of receivers is located along a line corresponding to the nominal horizontal flight path for the golf ball so that the golf club head has a maximum relative velocity to the two receivers at the point of ball impact. The difference in apparent frequencies detected at the two spaced antennas is converted into a voltage analog of velocity. A resetable maximum indicating meter may be utilized to indicate the club head velocity at impact.

Claims

1. A device for sensing the swinging path and striking velocity of the head of a golf club comprising:

a golf club, a battery-powered radio frequency transmitter secured to the head of said golf club, a golfer supporting platform having a ball tee positioned along the nominal horizontal flight path and a golfer supporting position spaced from said ball tee, a first pair of antennas mounted in association with said platform substantially equidistant from said ball tee, a vertical plane passing through said first antennas is substantially transverse to said nominal horizontal flight path, a plane defined by all points equidistant from said first antennas is inclined from the vertical toward said golfer supporting position, a second pair of spaced antennas positioned along a substantially horizontal line parallel to said nominal horizontal flight path, swing path indicating means for comparing the phase of the detected signals from said first antennas, converting the phase difference into a voltage analogue of phase, and indicating the magnitude of said voltage analOgue, and swing velocity indicating means for comparing the detected apparant frequencies at said second pair of antennas, converting the difference frequency into a voltage analogue of said difference frequency, and indicating the maximum value of said voltage analogue.

2. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first pair of antennas are mounted on a pivoting cradle, said pivoting cradle having an axis of rotation substantially parallel with and substantially directly below said nominal horizontal flight path, whereby the inclination of said plane defined by point equidistant from said first antennas may be adjusted to individual golfers using the device.

3. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 2, wherein:

said second antennas are mounted on said pivoting cradle and on said plane defined by points equidistant from said first antennas.

4. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 1, wherein:

a line between said second set of antennas passes through the position of a ball supported on said ball tee, whereby the maximum relative doppler effect is produced by a club head during that portion of the swing that the club head is striking a ball.

5. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first antennas are spaced, one from the other, by approximately 5 feet.

6. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said swing path indicating means comprises a phase comparator having a voltage output that is negative for sensed deviation on one side of said plane defined by points equidistant from said first antennas and positive for sensed deviation on the opposite sides of said plane.

7. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said swing path indicating means comprises a common local oscillator, signals from said local oscillator are mixed with RF signals from said antennas to produce an IF frequency corresponding to that of separate IF amplifiers.

8. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said swing velocity indicating means comprises a mixer for developing a difference signal between the RF detected at individual ones of said second pair of antennas, and a low pass filter having an upper cut off frequency above the range of doppler frequencies developed in the difference signals from said mixer, but below the primary frequency of the transmitter.

9. A device for sensing the swing path of the head of a golf club comprising:

a golfer supporting platform having a ball tee positioned along the nominal horizontal flight path of a golf ball, and a golfer supporting position spaced from said ball tee, a golf club, a battery-powered radio frequency transmitter secured to the head of said golf club, a first pair of antennas mounted in association with said platform substantially equidistant from said ball tee, a vertical plane passing through said first antennas being substantially transverse to said nominal horizontal flight path, the plane defined by all points equadistant from said first antennas being inclined from the vertical toward said golfer supporting position, a second pair of spaced antennas positioned along a substantially horizontal line parallel to said nominal horizontal flight path, swing path indicating means for comparing the relative phase of the detected signal from said first antennas, converting the phase difference into a voltage analogue of phase and indicating the magnitude of said voltage analogue, swing velocity indicating means for comparing the detected apparent frequencies at said second pair of antennas, converting the difference frequency into a voltage analogue of said difference frequency, and indicating the maximum value of said voltage analogue.

10. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 9, wherein:

said first pair of antennas are mounted on a pivoting frame, saiD pivoting frame having an axis of rotation substantially parallel with and substantially directly below said nominal horizontal flight path, whereby the inclination of said plane defined by point equidistant from said first antennas may be adjusted to individual golfers using the device.

11. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 9, wherein:

said first antennas are spaced from one another by approximately five feet.

12. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 9, wherein:

said swing path indicating means comprises a phase comparator having a voltage output that is negative for sensed deviations on one side of said plane defined by points equidistant from said first antennas and positive for sensed deiviations on the opposite sides of said plane.

13. A device for sending the swing path of the head of a golf club, comprising:

a golfer supporting platform having a ball tee positioned along the nominal horizontal flight path for a golf ball, and a golfer supporting position spaced from said ball tee, a golf club, a battery-powered radio frequency transmitter secured to the head of said club, a first pair of antennas mounted in association with said platforms substantially equidistant from said ball tee, a vertical plane passing through said first antennas being substantially transverse to said nominal horizontal flight path, the plane defined by all points equadistant from said first antennas being inclined from the vertical toward said golfer supporting position, a second pair of spaced antennas positioned along a substantially horizontal line parallel to said nominal horizontal flight path, swing path indicating means for comparing the relative phase of the detected signal from said first antennas, converting the phase difference into a voltage analogue of phase, and indicating the magnitude of said voltage analogue, swing velocity indicating means for comparing the detected apparent frequencies at said second pair of antennas, converting the difference frequency into a voltage analogue of said difference frequency, and indicating the maximum value of said voltage analogue, said swing path indicating means comprising a common local oscillator, signals from said local oscillator being mixed with RF signals from each of said first pair of antennas to produce an IF frequency corresponding to that of separate IF amplifiers.

14. A device for sensing the striking velocity of the head of a golf club comprising:

a golfer supporting platform having a ball tee positioned along the normal horizontal flight path for a golf ball and a golfer supporting position spaced from said ball tee, a golf club, a battery-powered radio frequency transmitter secured to the head of said club, a first pair of antennas mounted in association with said platform substantially equidistant from said ball tee, a second pair of antennas positioned along a substantially horizontal line parallel to said nominal horizontal flight path, a vertical plane passing through said first antennas being substantially tranverse to said nominal horizontal flight path, the plane defined by all points equadistant from said first antennas being inclined from the vertical towards said golfer supporting position, swing velocity indicating means for comparing the detected apparent frequencies at said second pair of antennas, converting the difference frequency into a voltage analogue of said difference frequency, and indicating the maximum value of said voltage analogue.

15. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 14, wherein:

said second antennas are mounted on said pivoting cradle and on said plane defined by points equidistant from said first antennas.

16. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 14, wherein:

a line between said second set of antennas passes through the position of a ball supported on said ball tee, whereby the maximum relative Doppler effect is produced by a club head during that portion of the swing that the club head is striking a ball.

17. The golf swing sensing device according to claim 14, wherein:

said swing velocity indicating means comprises a mixer for developing a difference signal between the RF detected at individual ones of said second pair of antennas, and a low pass filter having an upper cut off frequency above the range of doppler frequencies developed in the difference signals from said mixer, but below the primary frequency of the transmitter.