Method and apparatus for teaching proper swing tempo

• US 6,261,102 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brian M. Dugan, Robert D. Grober
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Dugan, Robert D. Grober
• Inventors: Grober, Robert D., Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/440,581
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902, 434/247, 434/252, 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.13, 340/323.R, 473/213, 473/221, 473/223, 473/224, 473/234, 473/233
• US Class Current: 434/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/12 Recording devices indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

A swing tempo training device is provided which may be used to teach proper swing tempo. The disclosed swing tempo training device comprises an accelerometer coupled to a voltage-to-frequency converter, and an output means coupled to the voltage-to-frequency converter. The accelerometer measures the real-time acceleration of a swinging object and produces a first voltage signal with a voltage level related to the measured real-time acceleration. The voltage-to-frequency converter then converters the first voltage signal into a second voltage signal with a frequency related to the first voltage level. The output means then outputs the second voltage signal. Preferably the output means comprises a frequency modulator and a FM transmitter.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted to monitor swing tempo comprising:

an accelerometer, said accelerometer adapted to measure a real-time acceleration of a swinging object and to produce a first voltage signal with a voltage level related to said real-time acceleration;

a voltage-to-frequency converter coupled to said accelerometer, said voltage-to-frequency converter adapted to convert said first voltage signal into a second voltage signal having an audio frequency related to said voltage level; and

an output device coupled to said voltage-to-frequency converter and adapted to output said second voltage signal.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said accelerometer measures a centripetal acceleration of said swinging object.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said accelerometer measures a linear acceleration of said swinging object.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said output device comprises:

an amplifier, said amplifier adapted to amplify said second voltage signal to produce an amplified second voltage signal; and

a speaker coupled to said amplifier, said speaker adapted to output said amplified second voltage signal.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is mounted on said swinging object.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is mounted inside said swinging object.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said output device comprises:

a modulator, said modulator adapted to modulate said second voltage signal to produce a modulated second voltage signal; and

a transmitter coupled to said modulator, said transmitter adapted to transmit said modulated second voltage signal.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said transmitter uses said swinging object as an antenna.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said modulator is a frequency modulator.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said transmitter is a FM transmitter.

11. A method of teaching proper swing tempo comprising the steps of:

measuring a real-time acceleration of a swinging object;

producing a first voltage signal with a voltage level related to said real-time acceleration;

converting said first voltage signal into a second voltage signal having an audio frequency related to said voltage level; and

outputting said second voltage signal.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said acceleration is centripetal acceleration.

13. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said acceleration is linear acceleration.

14. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said outputting step further comprises:

amplifying said second voltage signal to produce an amplified second voltage signal; and

outputting said amplified second voltage signal to a speaker.

15. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said outputting step further comprises:

modulating said second voltage signal to produce a modulated second voltage signal; and

transmitting said modulated second voltage signal.

16. The method defined in claim 15 wherein said transmitting step comprises:

transmitting said modulated second voltage signal by using said swinging object as an antenna.

17. The method defined in claim 15 wherein said modulating step comprises:

frequency modulating said second voltage signal.

18. An apparatus adapted to monitor swing tempo comprising:

an accelerometer adapted to measure an acceleration of a swinging object and to produce in real time a first voltage signal with a voltage level related to the measured acceleration; and

an audio frequency generation circuit coupled to the accelerometer and adapted to generate and output in real time an audio frequency that depends on the voltage level of the first voltage signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the audio frequency generation circuit comprises:

a voltage-to-frequency converter coupled to the accelerometer and adapted to convert in real time the first voltage signal into a second voltage signal having an audio frequency related to the voltage level of the first voltage signal; and

an output device coupled to the voltage-to-frequency converter and adapted to output in real time the second voltage level.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the accelerometer is adapted to measure a linear acceleration.