Speed, spin rate, and curve measuring device using magnetic field sensors

• US 6,151,563 A
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Under Armour Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon PIE Incorporated
• Inventors: Marinelli, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US09/396,928
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702/142, 702/149, 702/150, 473/569, 368/250, 368/255
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/52 modulated by measured values
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/185 for gravity
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/756 using a signal generator for modifying the reflectivity of the reflector G01S13/758 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games

Abstract

A device for measuring a movable object, such as a baseball, football, hockey puck, soccer ball, tennis ball, bowling ball, or a golf ball. Part of the device, called the object unit, is embedded, secured, or attached to the movable object of interest, and has a spin detection circuit, electronic processor circuit, magnetic field sensor circuit, and a radio transmitter. The other part of the device, called the monitor unit, is held or worn by the user and serves as the user interface for the device. The monitor unit has a radio receiver, a processor, an input keypad, and an output display that shows the various measured motion characteristics of the movable object, such as the time of flight, speed, trajectory height, spin rate, or curve of the movable object, and allows the user to input data to the device.

Claims

1. A measuring device secured to a movable object, said measuring device comprising:

a first magnetic field sensor for providing an output indicative of a change of alignment between said movable object and the earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

an electronic processor circuit connected to said output of said first magnetic field sensor, wherein said electronic processor circuit determines motion characteristics of said movable object from said output of said first magnetic field sensor; and

an output display connected to said electronic processor circuit, for displaying said motion characteristics determined by said electronic processor circuit.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a spin detection sensor network comprising

a first mechanical g-force switch, and

a second mechanical g-force switch mounted substantially diametrically opposed, about a center of rotation of said movable object, to said first mechanical g-force switch,

wherein said spin detection sensor network provides a spin indication to said electronic processor circuit when said first mechanical g-force switch and said second mechanical g-force switch are simultaneously activated.

3. The measuring device according to claim 2 further comprising a circuit for supplying power to said first magnetic field sensor in response to said spin indication of said spin detection sensor network.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1 further comprising a second magnetic field sensor having an axis of sensitivity oriented at an angle greater than zero to an axis of sensitivity of said first magnetic field sensor, wherein said second magnetic field sensor senses changes of alignment with the earth'"'"'s magnetic field for rotations of said object unit about an axis for which said first magnetic field sensor fails to sense changes in said first magnetic field sensor'"'"'s degree of alignment with the earth'"'"'s magnetic field.

5. The measuring device according to claim 1 wherein said motion characteristics displayed comprises a spin rate.

6. The measuring device according to claim 1 wherein said motion characteristics displayed comprises a count of rotations.

7. The measuring device according to claim 1 wherein said movable object is a sporting device.

8. The measuring device according to claim 1 further comprising an inertial switch that transitions from an open position to a closed position when subjected to linear accelerations of said movable device and that returns to said open position when said linear acceleration ends.

9. The measuring device according to claim 8 further comprising a circuit for supplying power to said first magnetic field sensor in response to said inertial switch having attained said closed position.

10. A system for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object, said system comprising:

an object unit secured to said movable object, said object unit comprising

a first magnetic field sensor for providing an output indicative of a change of alignment between said movable object and the earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

an electronic processor circuit connected to said first magnetic field sensor, wherein said electronic processor circuit receives an output of said first magnetic field sensor and further wherein said electronic processor circuit determines motion data of the movable object from said output of said first magnetic field sensor;

a transmitter connected to said electronic processor circuit for transmitting at least one signal representing said motion data; and

a monitor unit comprising

a receiver for receiving said at least one signal from said transmitter;

a monitor processor connected to said receiver;

wherein said monitor processor determines at least one motion characteristic of said movable object; and

an output display for displaying said at least one motion characteristic.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said object unit further comprises:

a spin detection sensor network comprising

a first mechanical g-force switch, and

a second mechanical g-force switch mounted substantially diametrically opposed, about a center of rotation of the movable object, to said first mechanical g-force switch,

wherein said spin detection sensor network provides a spin indication to said electronic processor circuit when said first mechanical g-force switch and said second mechanical g-force switch are simultaneously activated.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein said object unit further comprises a circuit for supplying power to said first magnetic field sensor in response to said spin indication of said spin detection sensor network.

13. The system according to claim 10 wherein said object unit further comprises a second magnetic field sensor having an axis of sensitivity oriented at an angle greater than zero to an axis of sensitivity of said first magnetic field sensor, wherein said second magnetic field sensor senses changes of alignment with the earth'"'"'s magnetic field for rotations of said movable object about an axis for which said first magnetic field sensor fails to sense changes in said first magnetic field sensor'"'"'s degree of alignment with the earth'"'"'s magnetic field.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein said motion characteristics displayed comprises a spin rate.

15. The system according to claim 10 wherein said motion characteristics displayed comprises a count of rotations.

16. The system according to claim 10 wherein said movable object is a sporting device.

17. The system according to claim 10 further comprising an inertial switch that transitions from an open position to a closed position when subjected to linear accelerations of said movable device and that returns to said open position when said linear acceleration ends.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein said object unit further comprises a circuit for supplying power to said first magnetic field sensor in response to said inertial switch having attained said closed position.

19. A method for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object, said method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a start of a spin event of said movable object with a spin detection sensor;

b) monitoring at least one magnetic field sensor output for indications of magnetic field fluctuations resulting from rotations of said movable object through the earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

c) determining spin rate data of said movable object from said magnetic field fluctuations; and

d) displaying said spin rate data.

20. The method for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object according to claim 19 wherein step b further comprises the following step (b0) performed before step (b) and the following step (b1) performed after step (b):

b0) turning power on to said at least one magnetic field sensor within said movable object; and

b1) turning power off to said at least one magnetic field sensor within said movable object.

21. The method for measuring a movable object according to claim 19 further comprising the step:

e) repeating steps a) through d) for each next spin event of said movable object.

22. The method for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object according to claim 19, wherein step d) comprises the steps:

d1) transmitting a signal indicating said spin rate data from said object unit to an external monitor unit;

d2) receiving said signal indicating said spin rate data in a receiver located in said monitor unit, and

d3) displaying the spin rate of said movable object on an output display connected to a monitor processor within said monitor unit.

23. A method for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a launch of a movable object with a mechanical inertial switch secured to the movable object;

b) monitoring at least one magnetic field sensor output for indications of magnetic field fluctuations resulting from rotations of said movable object through the earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

c) determining spin rate data of said movable object from said magnetic field fluctuations; and

d) displaying said spin rate data.

24. The method for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object according to claim 23 wherein step b further comprises the following step (b0) performed before step (b), and the following step (b1) performed after step (b):

b0) powering said at least one magnetic field sensor within said movable object; and

b1) removing power from said at least one magnetic field sensor within said movable object.

25. The method for measuring a movable object according to claim 23 further comprising the step:

e) repeating steps a) through d) for each next launch of said movable object.

26. The method for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object according to claim 23 wherein step d) further comprises the steps of:

d1) transmitting from said object unit to an external monitor unit, a signal representative of said spin rate data;

d2) receiving said signal indicating said spin rate data in a receiver located in said monitor unit; and

d3) displaying spin rate of said movable object on an output display connected to a monitor processor within said monitor unit.