Electronic apparatus for providing player performance feedback
First Claim
1. Electronic apparatus for monitoring player performance comprising:
- a plurality of sensors supported about the periphery of a string bed of a racquet for detecting the relative time-of-arrival of a transverse wave produced by an impact of said string bed with a ball;
circuit means connected to receive signals produced from said sensors to provide a plurality of signals from which the position of impact is calculated;
microprocessor means connected to receive said plurality of signals from said circuit means, said microprocessor being programmed to compute the impact location from said signals; and
a display device on said racquet for visually displaying alphanumeric or graphic information representing the location of said position of impact on said string bed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic system for incorporation in a racquet that monitors a player'"'"'s ability to hit balls within a specific region on the string bed. A plurality of sensors are positioned around the periphery of the racquet string bed for detecting the relative time-of-arrival of transverse waves produced by impacts of balls on the string bed. A circuit incorporated within the racquet receive the signals from the sensors and provide a plurality of signals from which the position of impact on the string bed may be calculated. The system incorporates a low power microprocessor that is programmed to compute the ball impact location from the signals produced by the sensors. A display device on the racquet displays information derived from the calculated impact location to permit players to assess their performance as related to hitting a predetermined region. A sound generator is incorporated that emits audible signals having an amplitude, frequency and duty cycle that indicate relative positions of impact on the string bed. The system provides for statistical reporting of impacts as either percentages within a zone or a total tally of impacts. A user interface is provided permitting selection of various modes of operation. The microprocessor architecture and programming is optimized for lower power consumption while providing adequate resolution of impact locations.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. Electronic apparatus for monitoring player performance comprising:
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a plurality of sensors supported about the periphery of a string bed of a racquet for detecting the relative time-of-arrival of a transverse wave produced by an impact of said string bed with a ball; circuit means connected to receive signals produced from said sensors to provide a plurality of signals from which the position of impact is calculated; microprocessor means connected to receive said plurality of signals from said circuit means, said microprocessor being programmed to compute the impact location from said signals; and a display device on said racquet for visually displaying alphanumeric or graphic information representing the location of said position of impact on said string bed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic apparatus for monitoring a players performance comprising:
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a sensor array disposed about the perimeter of a string bed of a racquet for detecting an impact of said string bed with a ball; circuit means connected to said sensor array for generating a plurality of time-of-arrival signals; a microprocessor connected to receive said plurality of time-of-arrival signals and calculate from said time-of-arrival signals an impact location on said string bed; and means on said racquet connected to the microprocessor for indicating said calculated impact location to a user regarding the position of said impact on said string bed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for determining a location of impact of a ball on a racquet string bed comprising:
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a plurality of impact sensors disposed around the periphery of the string bed of said racquet; circuit means connected to each of said sensors for generating a plurality of signals representing an impact location on said string bed; and microprocessor means having an interrupt for receiving a signal from said circuit means representing the first sensor to detect said impact;
said microprocessor being programmed to;sample each of said plurality of signals at a sampling interval for an indication of an impact; and store a value of each sample of said plurality of signals which represents each sensor signal for a plurality of sequential sampling intervals, wherein an array is created containing a plurality of data representing the location of an impact of said ball on said string bed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Electronic apparatus for monitoring player performance comprising:
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sensor means supported on the periphery of a string bed of a racquet for detecting an impact of said string bed with a ball; circuit means connected to receive signals produced from said sensor means to provide a plurality of signals from which the position of said impact is calculated; microprocessor means connected to receive said signals, said microprocessor being programmed to compute the impact location from said signals; and means on said racquet connected to said microprocessor for providing information indicating said computed impact location. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification