Sport monitoring system for determining airtime, speed, power absorbed and other factors such as drop distance

• US 6,539,336 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1998
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc., PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Darcy, Dennis, Vock, Curtis A., Youngs, Perry, Marshall, Charles, Burke, Shawn, Bodkin, Andrew, Grealish, Kevin J., Finberg, Steven, Flentov, Peter, Larkin, Adrian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): WACHSMAN, HAL D
• Application Number:
  US09/089,232
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/41, 702/42, 702/44, 702/79, 702/80, 702/96, 702/104, 702/138, 702/139, 702/158, 702/141, 702/142, 702/147, 702/149, 702/160, 702/176-178, 702/183, 702/187, 702/189, 702/198, 702/FOR.126, 702/56, 702/60-62, 702/166, 702/179, 364/528.36, 364/39, 364/41, 364/410.1, 364/411.1, 377/20, 377/23, 377/24.1, 377/24.2, 377/5, 377/9, 482/71, 482/74, 482/902, 482/8, 235/105, 324/160, 324/161, 324/162, 324/142, 280/DIG.13, 368/10, 368/11, 368/14, 735/97, 734/88--93, 734/95, 735/02, 735/03, 738/620.1, 738/620.2, 733/790.1, 733/790.3, 737/20, 737/21, 737/26, 737/27, 738/652, 73D/IG.4, 738/620-2-8, 340/323.R, 340/665, 340/668-670, 434/253, 968/885
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/185 for ski-jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/19 : Skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/00 : Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 : for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 : for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/182 : for cross-country-skiing A63B23/0417, A63B69/0022 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/10 : for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 : with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 : by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 : Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/16 : for erasable recording, e.g. magnetic recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/42 : Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means G01P3/66 takes precedence; measuring electric or magnetic values in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 : using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/60 : wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 : Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

The invention detects the loft time, speed, power and/or drop distance of a vehicle, such as a sporting vehicle, during activities of moving and jumping. A loft sensor detects when the vehicle leaves the ground and when the vehicle returns to the ground. A controller subsystem converts the sensed information to determine a loft time. A display shows the recorded loft time to a user of the system. In addition, a speed sensor can detect the vehicle'"'"'s speed for selective display to the user. A power sensing section informs the user of expended energy, which can be compared to other users. A drop distance sensing unit informs the user of the peak height of a jump, during an airtime. Gaming on the internet is facilitated to connect worldwide sport enthusiasts.

Claims

1. A sensing unit for monitoring performance data associated with sporting activity, comprising:

an airtime sensor for sensing movement along a surface and for generating first electrical data indicative of the movement;

a power sensor for sensing energy imparted into the power sensor during the movement and for generating second electrical data indicative of the energy; and

a controller subsystem for processing the first electrical data to determine airtime and for processing the second electrical data to determine power, power being defined as proportionate to the energy.

2. The sensing unit of claim 1, further comprising a data transfer section for remotely transmitting performance data to a data unit or a base station.

3. The sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the controller subsystem comprises logic to eliminate certain performance data based upon pre-selected characteristics.

4. The sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises an interface for mounting to a sporting vehicle, and further comprising a data unit for wirelessly interfacing with the sensing unit to communicate performance data to a user.

5. The sensing unit of claim 1, further comprising a data unit for wirelessly interfacing with the sensing unit to acquire performance data.

6. The sensing unit of claim 5, wherein the data unit further comprises a user interface for displaying performance data.

7. The sensing unit of claim 6, wherein the user-interface comprises a heads-up display.

8. The sensing unit of claim 7, wherein the heads-up display comprises one of goggles or sunglasses.

9. The sensing unit of claim 5, wherein the data unit further comprises a user interface, including a speaker, for generating words indicative of performance data.

10. The sensing unit of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises head-phones.

11. The sensing unit according to claim 1, wherein the airtime sensor comprises a piezo foil for sensing sound generated by the movement along a surface, the airtime sensor converting the sound to the first electrical data indicative of the sound.

12. The sensing unit according to claim 1, wherein the airtime sensor comprises an accelerometer for sensing acceleration generated by the movement along a surface, the airtime sensor converting the acceleration to the first electrical data indicative of the movement.

13. The sensing unit according to claim 12, wherein the power sensor comprises the accelerometer for sensing shock and vibration generated by the movement along the surface, the power sensor converting the shock and vibration to the second electrical data indicative of the energy.

14. The sensing unit according to claim 13, further comprising conditioning electronics for processing the second electrical data into data indicative of energy endured by the power sensor.

15. The sensing unit of claim 1, further comprising a data transfer section for wirelessly transmitting performance data, and further comprising a watch data unit for receiving the transmitted performance data and for informing a wearer of the watch of the performance data.

16. A sensing unit for monitoring performance data associated with sporting activity, comprising:

a power sensor for sensing movement along a surface and for sensing energy imparted into the power sensor during the movement, the power sensor generating electrical data indicative of the-energy;

a controller subsystem for processing the electrical data to determine power, power being defined as proportionate to the energy; and

a transmitter for wirelessly communicating data indicative of the power to a remote receiver.

17. The sensing unit according to claim 16, wherein the power sensor comprises a detector selected from the group of piezo foil and accelerometer, the power sensor converting the signals from the detector to the electrical data indicative of the energy.

18. The sensing unit according to claim 16, further comprising electronics for temporally binning the electrical data into pre-selected frequency ranges.

19. The sensing unit according to claim 18, wherein the electronics further comprise logic to use at least part of the pre-selected frequency ranges to determine the power.

20. The sensing unit according to claim 18, wherein the controller subsystem processes the electrical data in the pre-selected frequency ranges to correlate the electrical data to speed of the movement.

21. The sensing unit according to claim 18, wherein the controller subsystem processes the electrical data in the pre-selected frequency ranges to determine the power.

22. The sensing unit of claim 16, wherein the controller subsystem comprises logic to determine power over a preselected time interval between about a fraction of a second and eight hours.

23. The sensing unit according to claim 16, wherein the controller subsystem comprises logic for determining airtime based upon a substantial absence of the electrical data over a period between about one half second and five seconds.

24. The sensing unit according to claim 23, wherein the controller subsystem comprises logic for sensing displacement orthogonal to the movement during airtime, to determine drop distance.