Apparatus and method for assessment and biofeedback training of body coordination skills critical and ball-strike power and accuracy during athletic activitites
First Claim
1. A device for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of athletic ball-strike activities, such device comprising:
- a body movement sensor, providing an output indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the moment of ball strike;
a ball-strike sensor;
a display; and
a computer, in communication with the body movement sensor, the ball strike sensor, and the display, to cause the display to show both a trajectory of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity, and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for the assessment and biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of athletic ball-strike activities. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides for assessment and biofeedback training of weight bearing and center of gravity control under conditions requiring the athlete to strike a ball such that the distance and direction of flight trajectory of the ball are accurate relative to a performance goal. One embodiment of the invention includes a body movement sensor, a ball strike sensor, a display, and a computer. The body movement sensor provides an output indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s body over a period of time including the moment of ball strike. The computer causes the display to show both a trajectory of the motion of the subject'"'"'s body and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of athletic ball-strike activities, such device comprising:
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a body movement sensor, providing an output indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the moment of ball strike; a ball-strike sensor; a display; and a computer, in communication with the body movement sensor, the ball strike sensor, and the display, to cause the display to show both a trajectory of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity, and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject in connection with a movement task, such task including the use of a striking object and an object to be struck, the success of which is dependent upon the subject'"'"'s motion at a critical phase of the task, such device comprising:
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a body movement sensor, providing a first output indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the one of the critical phase; a contact-status sensor, providing a second output indicative of the state of contact between the striking object and the object to be struck; signal means for providing a signal at onset of the critical phase; a display; and a computer, in communication with the body movement sensor, the contact-status sensor, the signal means, and the display, to cause the display to show both a trajectory of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity, and the onset of the critical phase in relation to a region of the trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of an athletic ball-strike activity, the method comprising:
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(a) tracking the movement of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity and providing a movement output signal indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the moment of ball strike; (b) waiting for ball-strike and providing, upon ball-strike, an output signal indicative of the ball-strike; and (c) calculating and outputting a display signal, on the basis of the movement output signal and the ball-strike output signal, so as to cause a display to show both a trajectory of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity, and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of an athletic ball-strike activity, the method comprising:
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(a) tracking the movement of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity and providing a movement output signal indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the moment of ball strike; (b) waiting for ball-strike and providing a ball-strike output signal indicative of ball-strike; (c) calculating and outputting a display signal so as to cause a display to show, on the basis of the movement output signal and the ball-strike output signal, both a trajectory of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity, and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory; and
;wherein the step of providing the movement output signal includes providing motion data in at least two dimensions and step (c) includes the step of calculating and outputting a display signal so as to cause the display to show the trajectory in at least two dimensions.
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14. A method for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject in connection with a movement task, such task including the use of a striking object and an object to be struck, the success of which is dependent upon the subject'"'"'s motion at a critical phase of the task, the method comprising:
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(a) tracking the movement of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity and providing a movement output signal indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the onset of the critical phase; (b) determining onset of the critical phase; (c) calculating and outputting a display signal, on the basis of the movement output signal and the results of step (b), so as to cause a display to show both a trajectory of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity and the onset of the critical phase in relation to a region of the trajectory; and (d) determining a state of contact between the striking object and the object to be struck. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for the assessment or biofeedback training of coordination skills of a subject critical to maximizing the power and accuracy of an athletic ball-strike activity, the method comprising:
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(a) tracking the movement of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity and providing a movement output signal indicative of the motion of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity over a period of time including the moment of ball strike; (b) waiting for ball-strike and providing a ball-strike output signal indicative of ball-strike; (c) calculating and outputting a display signal so as to cause a display to show, on the basis of the movement output signal and the ball-strike output signal, both a trajectory of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity, and the moment of ball strike in relation to a region of the trajectory; and
;wherein the step of tracking the movement of the subject'"'"'s center of gravity body includes the step of having the subject stand on a single forceplate which supports the subject'"'"'s entire weight.
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Specification