Monitoring sports

• US 7,715,982 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catapult Group International Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: M.B.T.L. Limited, Sportzco Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Davey, Neil, Mackintosh, Colin, Grenfell, Ronald, James, Daniel, Zhang, Kefei
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/843,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/213, 701/214, 701/207, 701/25, 340/427, 340/432, 482/57, 702/182, 702/188
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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 2225/60 Apparatus used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games

Abstract

A data logger for a monitoring sports which includes an accelerometer, a GPS unit to sense position and velocity, a heart rate monitor, a controller programmed to manipulate the data and provide a display of the heart rate, speed, and other sport parameters. The data can be stored or transmitted to a remote computer for use by the coach. The device is useful in football codes, athletics, snow sports and cycling.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system for use in sporting events which incorporates

a) a global position sensor to derive three dimensional positioning data relative to time elapse

b) at least one accelerometer to derive acceleration and velocity data in three dimensions

c) a microcontroller with a clock to interrogate the global position sensor and to collect the accelerometer data

d) a power supply

e) means for transmission of global position and accelerometer data from the microcontroller to a computer device

f) the computer device being programmed to use the global position and accelerometer data to provide accurate and continuous output of parameters such as velocity acceleration and distance traveled.

2. A data acquisition system as claimed in claim 1 in which velocity is derived from the global position sensor and the accelerometer data is sampled to obtain movement characteristics of the sport being monitored.

3. A data acquisition system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the accelerometer data is integrated to derive velocity related movement characteristics and drift is be checked every second using the output from the global position sensor.

4. A data acquisition system as claimed in claim 1 wherein an inertial navigation system based on the accelerometer data is used to determine position when the GPS system is unable to receive it data.

5. A data acquisition system as claimed in claim 1 which also includes a physiological sensor.

6. A data acquisition system as claimed in claim 5 in the physiological sensor is a heart rate monitor.

7. A data acquisition system as claimed in claim 6 for a cyclist which also includes a pedal cadence sensor.

8. A sports data acquisition system which incorporates

a) at least one accelerometer to derive acceleration, and velocity data in three dimensions

b) a microcontroller with a clock to collect the accelerometer data

c) a power supply

d) means for transmission of the accelerometer data from the microcontroller to a computer device

e) the computer device being programmed to use the accelerometer data to provide accurate and continuous output of parameters such as air time and velocity.