Method in connection with a wristop computer and a wristop-computer system

• US 7,489,241 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Puuri, Heikki, Ruotsalainen, Sami, Miettinen, Michael, Lindman, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Syed; Nabil H
• Application Number:
  US11/152,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.23, 340/572.1, 340/825, 273/259, 377/5, 434/392, 473/221, 473/199, 235/375
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system in connection with a wristop computer (20). In the method, the wristop computer (20) is used to determine at least one of the following data in a game of golf: position, time, height, distance travelled, or club used. According to the invention, the club striking the ball is determined with the aid of a measurement and at least one datum of the game of golf is recorded, in such a way that the recording is triggered from the measurement of the club (3) striking the ball (4).

Claims

1. A method in connection with a wristop computer, in which the wristop computer detects a strike event with the aid of a measurement, and at least one datum of the game of golf, is recorded, comprising:

detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement;

determining a GPS position of the user when the strike event is detected; and

recording at least the GPS position of the user within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the GPS position of the user is completed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further com rises the step of:

determining a RFID identifier of the golf club when the strike event is detected; and

recording the RFID identifier of the golf club within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the RFID identifier of the golf club completed.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement, further comprises:

detecting the strike event when a pressure of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement, further comprises:

detecting the strike event when an acceleration of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of detecting the strike event when an acceleration of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value, further comprises:

monitoring the value of the derivative of the acceleration signal and when it exceeds a predefined threshold value, then from that moment a specific number of samples of the original signal are summed and, if the value of the sum thus obtained exceeds a threshold value, the stroke and hit are interpreted as having taken place.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement, further comprises:

detecting the strike event using a mechanical switch.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining terminates when the GPS position is successfully read.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining terminates when one RFID sign is successfully read.

33. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining the at least one of the following datum in a game of golf;

time of day, height of the golf ball, or distance the golf ball traveled, when the strike event is detected; and

recording at least the one datum of the game of golf within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the at least one of the datum of a game of golf is completed.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the step of determining is performed for a predefined duration.

9. A wristop computer system, which includes a wristop computer that is able to detect a strike event with the aid of a measurement, and at least one datum of the game of golf is recorded, wherein the system includes:

a wristop computer further comprising;

a strike event detecting means for detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement;

a data determining means for determining a GPS position of the user when the strike event is detected; and

a recording means for recording at least the GPS position of the user within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the GPS position of the user is completed.

10. A wristop computer system according to claim 9, wherein the system further comprises:

a club determining means for determining a RFID identifier of the golf club when the strike event is detected; and

a recording means for recording the RFID identifier of the golf club within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the RFID identifier of the golf club completed.

11. A wristop computer system according to claim 9, wherein the strike event detecting means detects a strike event when a pressure of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

12. A wristop computer system according to claim 9, wherein the strike event detecting means detects a strike event when an acceleration of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

13. The strike event detecting means according to claim 12, further comprises:

monitoring a value derived from the acceleration signal in such a way that, if the acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold value, then from that moment a specific number of samples of the original signal are summed and, if the value of the sum thus obtained exceeds a threshold value, the stroke and hit are interpreted as having taken place.

14. A wristop computer system according to claim 9, wherein the strike event detecting means detects a strike event using a mechanical switch.

15. The data determining means according to claim 9, wherein determining the GPS position terminates when the GPS position is successfully read.

16. The data determining means according to claim 10, wherein determining a RFID identifier terminates when one RFID sign is successfully read.

35. A wristop computer system according to claim 9, wherein the system further comprises the steps of:

a determining means for determining the at least one of the following datum in a game of golf;

time of day, height of the golf ball, or distance the golf ball traveled, when the strike event is detected; and

a recording means for recording at least the one datum of the game of golf within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the at least one of the datum of a game of golf is completed.

36. The data determining means according to claim 35, wherein the data determining means determines for a predefined duration.

17. A method in connection with a wristop computer, in which the wristop computer detects a strike event with the aid of a measurement, and at least one datum of the game of golf is recorded, comprising:

detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement;

determining a RFID identifier of the golf club when the strike event is detected; and

recording the RFID identifier of the golf club within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the RFID identifier of the golf club completed.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining the at least one of the following datum in a game of golf;

GPS position of the user, time of day, height of the golf ball, or distance the golf ball traveled, when the strike event is detected; and

recording at least the one datum of the game of golf within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the at least one of the datum of a game of golf is completed.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of determining is performed for a predefined duration.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement, further comprises:

detecting a strike event when a pressure of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement, further comprises:

detecting a strike event when an acceleration of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of detecting a strike event when an acceleration of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value, further comprises:

monitoring the value of the derivative of the acceleration signal and, when it exceeds a predefined threshold value, then from that moment a specific number of samples of the original signal are summed and, if the value of the sum thus obtained exceeds a threshold value, the stroke and hit are interpreted as having taken place.

23. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement, further comprises:

detecting a strike event using a mechanical switch.

24. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of determining terminates when one RFID sign is successfully read.

25. A wristop computer system, which includes a wristop computer that is able to detect a strike event with the aid of a measurement, and at least one datum of the game of golf is recorded, wherein the system includes:

a wristop computer further comprising;

a strike event detecting means for detecting a strike event with the aid of a measurement;

a data determining means for determining a RFID identifier of the golf club when the strike event is detected; and

a recording means for recording the RFID identifier of the golf club within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the RFID identifier of the golf club completed.

26. A wristop computer system according to claim 25, wherein the system further comprises the steps of:

a determining means for determining the at least one of the following datum in a game of golf;

GPS position of the user, time of day, height of the golf ball, or distance the golf ball traveled, when the strike event is detected; and

a recording means for recording at least the one datum of the game of golf within a wearable wristop computer after the determination of the at least one of the datum of a game of golf is completed.

27. The data determining means according to claim 26, wherein the data determining means determines for a predefined duration.

28. A wristop computer system according to claim 25, wherein the strike event detecting means detects a strike event when a pressure of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

29. A wristop computer system according to claim 25, wherein the strike event detecting means detects a strike event when an acceleration of a specific club exceeds a predefined threshold value.

30. The strike event detecting means according to claim 29, further comprises:

monitoring a value derived from the acceleration signal in such a way that, if the acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold value, then from that moment a specific number of samples of the original signal are summed and, if the value of the sum thus obtained exceeds a threshold value, the stroke and hit are interpreted as having taken place.

31. A wristop computer system according to claim 25, wherein the strike event detecting means detects a strike event using a mechanical switch.

32. The data determining means according to claim 25, wherein the step of determining terminates when one RFID sign is successfully read.