Device and method for determining and displaying travel or fitness quantities of a user of a sports equipment

• US 6,744,375 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MSPBO, LLC
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gross
• Inventors: Groos, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/962,807
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.07, 280/841, 280/11.19, 280/11.221, 377/24.2, 734/90
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/06 single-track type
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/22 Wheels for roller skates
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/223 Wheel hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/008 for skates
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 11/00 Measuring average value of speed by determining time taken to traverse a fixed distance G01P3/64, G01P5/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A device for determining and displaying travel data of a user of a sports equipment which has contact with the ground, comprises a first microcontroller associated with the sports equipment for at least recording or partially processing travel data of the sports equipment based on an interaction between the sports equipment and the ground; and a transmitter for transmitting the travel data to a receiver having a display. The receiver has a second microcontroller for at least further processing or displaying the partially processed travel data. The transmitter only transmits within defined transmitting intervals such that between the intervals when the transmitter is not transmitting, the transmitter is switched off. The receiver is synchronized with the such that the receiver is switched on only when the transmitter is expected to transmit and switched off when transmission is not expected from the transmitter.

Claims

1. A device for determining and displaying travel data of a user of a sports equipment which has contact with the ground, comprising:

a) a first microcontroller associated with said sports equipment for at least recording or partially processing travel data of said sports equipment based on an interaction between said sports equipment and the ground;

b) a transmitter for transmitting the travel data to a receiver having a display;

c) said receiver having a second microcontroller for at least further processing or displaying the partially processed travel data;

d) said transmitter only transmits within defined transmitting intervals such that between said intervals when said transmitter is not transmitting, said transmitter is switched off; and

e) said receiver is synchronized with said transmitter such that said receiver is switched on only when said transmitter is expected to transmit and switched off when transmission is not expected from said transmitter.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said first microcontroller is disposed on a wheel of the sports equipment.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said wheel includes a magnet in relative movement with a reed contact such that revolutions of said wheel are detected.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said magnet is imbedded within said wheel.

5. A device as in claim 2, wherein said first microcontroller is programmed to determine based on the revolutions of said wheel a function representing a time per revolution of said wheel.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein said second microcontroller is programmed to process said function to obtain travel data taking into account an actual diameter of said wheel.

7. A device as in claim 2, wherein said first microcontroller is disposed in a housing separate from said wheel.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said wheel includes a recess and said housing is disposed within said recess.

9. A device for determining and displaying travel data of a user of a sports equipment which has contact with the ground, comprising:

a) means associated with said sports equipment for at least recording or partially processing travel data of said sports equipment based on an interaction between said sports equipment and the ground;

b) means for transmitting the travel data;

c) means for receiving said travel data;

d) said receiving means having means for at least further processing or displaying the partially processed travel data;

e) said transmitting means only transmits within defined transmitting intervals such that between said intervals when said transmitting means is not transmitting, said transmitting means is switched off; and

f) said receiving means is synchronized with said transmitting means such that said receiving means is switched on only when said transmitting means is expected to transmit and switched off when transmission is not expected from said transmitting means.

10. A method for determining and displaying travel data of a user of a sports equipment which has contact with the ground, comprising:

a) at least recording or partially processing the travel data based on an interaction between the sports equipment and the ground;

b) transmitting the travel data to a receiver having a display during defined transmitting intervals;

c) switching off the transmitter between the intervals;

d) at least further processing or displaying the partially processed data;

e) synchronizing the receiver with the transmitter such that the receiver is on only when a transmission is expected from the transmitter; and

f) switching off the receiver when transmission is not expected from the transmitter.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein:

a) the sports equipment includes a wheel; and

b) said at least recording or partially processing the travel data generates a function representing a time per revolution of the wheel based on the revolutions of the wheel.

12. A method as in claim 11, and further comprising:

a) processing the function to obtain travel data taking into account an actual diameter of the wheel.