Smart golf club multiplayer system for the internet

• US 7,789,742 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philip A. Williams, Wilbert Q. Murdock
• Original Assignee: Wilbert Q. Murdock
• Inventors: Williams, Philip A., Aboshihata, Mohamed, Pollock, Robert, Murdock, Wilbert Quinc
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US09/570,233
• Time in Patent Office: 3,770 Days
• Field of Search: 473220-221, 473/225, 473/282, 473/285, 473/313, 473/324, 473/340, 473/351, 473/406, 473/131, 473/151, 473/219, 273/317.2, 273/108.2, 273/108, 463 40- 42, 463 2- 3
• US Class Current: 463/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• 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 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/745 using a holographic display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 : Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• 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 2220/801 : Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 : Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 : Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/357 : for golf cups or holes, e.g. flags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/40 : Golf cups or holes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/405 : Cups with automatic ball ejector means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 : Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/02 : Special golf games, e.g. miniature golf or golf putting games played on putting tracks; putting practice apparatus having an elongated platform as a putting track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 : using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• 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 69/3655 : Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 : for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3688 : Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 : characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 : using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 : Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 : by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 : involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 : involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 : using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 : involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 : for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 : Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 : Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 : Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 : according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 : Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 : Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/26 : involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A system that wirelessly integrates actual golf equipment with a computer and the internet to allow players remotely located from one another to play a competitive simulated game of golf. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing techniques. The system includes smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing device, all containing circuits and contact or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, thereby wirelessly communicate game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays player information and visually simulates and controls a golf game between two players, via the internet, having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. Standard golf clubs may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such clubs into “smart clubs” for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information between players, generate and control visual simulations and display player performance information.

Claims

1. A computerized interactive sports system comprising:

At least two remote player sites comprising;

A golf club comprising a grip, a shaft, and a club-head;

A first array of sensors mounted on the face side of said club-head of said golf club;

A second array of sensors comprising one or more contact sensors mounted to a target receptacle;

A third array of sensors comprising golf club motion sensing devices attached to and or static and detached from said golf club;

A first computer programmed to process data derived from data acquired by said first, said second, and said third sensor arrays;

A first communications link for transmitting data derived from said data acquired by said first sensor array to said first computer;

A second communications link for transmitting data derived from said data acquired by said second remote sensors to said first computer; and

A display monitor connected to said first computer;

A second computer programmed to communicate with said at least two remote player sites;

A third communications link for transmitting data derived from said data acquired by said first computers to said second computer; and

A fourth communications link or medium for transmitting data derived from said data acquired by said second computer to at least one of said first computers;

Wherein said first computer is further programmed to analyze the performance of a person swinging said golf club so that said club-head strikes a golf ball with said performance analysis being based on said derived data transmitted by said first and second communications links; and

to further control said display monitor to display the results of said performance analysis;

Wherein said second computer is programmed to cause the transfer of local player events from a remote player site to another remote player site for presentation to another player, notify players when it is their respective turn to play, measure player time delays, disconnect player remote sites with excessive time delays, and conduct an Internet search for another opponent if the remaining player wishes to continue play.

2. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer is further programmed to send the results of said performance analysis to said second computer upon completion of said performance analysis via said third communications link.

3. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said third sensor comprises motion sensing devices or a motion detector mounted internally or externally to said golf club or a sports implement.

4. The interactive sports system as recited in claim 3, wherein said spatial orientation devices further comprise the following:

An infrared device attached to said golf club, gaming tool, or sports implement; and

An array of infrared receivers attached to said target receptacle unit.

5. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first sensor array comprises piezoactive transducers, pressure, and or force sensors.

6. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitry for outputting to said first communications link a signal representing the energy and momentum of a ball-club contact event derived from data acquired by said first sensor array.

7. The interactive sports system as recited in claim 6, wherein said electronic circuitry comprises a computing device mounted to said golf club, sports implement, or gaming device, and said target receptacle, programmed to convert data acquired by said first, second, and third sensor arrays into a time-multiplexed serial digital data stream containing a respective binary coded word for each channel.

8. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said third sensor array further comprise an array of capacitors, and said golf club motion sensing device further comprises a high frequency oscillator coupled to said capacitor array for detecting the motion of a standard golf club or sports implement.

9. The interactive sports system as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

A network of comparator amplifiers respectively connected to said capacitors for detecting voltage variations occasioned by disturbance due to proximal motion of said golf club;

An analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog outputs of said comparator amplifiers into digital signals; and

A multiplexer for converting the parallel digital signals into a serial digital data stream that is received by said first computer; and

A transmitter for wireless communication with said first computer.

10. The interactive sports system as recited in claim 9, wherein said computer is further programmed to analyze the serial data stream, identify the capacitors that experienced a disturbance due to the proximal motion of a standard golf club;

and control said display monitor to display the golf club motion as a function of the identified capacitors.

11. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second computer comprises a sports competition server connected to said first computer via a network, which comprises the fourth communications link, wherein said first computer is further programmed to process data from said sports competition server representing the user performance of a competition at a remote site during the turn of said competitor;

wherein said sports competition server selects remote players from a queue of awaiting players in response to a first player indicating a readiness to play.

12. The interactive sports system as recited in claim 11, wherein said sports competition server is programmed to establish connections amongst subscribing players at a plurality of remote locations via said network.

13. The interactive sports system as recited in claim 11, wherein said second computer is further programmed to create and manage a plurality of games and players wherein said games comprise one or more said first computers of opponents connected to said first computer;

Wherein each first computer comprises a network port for connecting to said network, a serial data port for receiving a serial data stream from a respective set of sensors designed to detect the motion of respective sports equipment items or controllers being manipulated by a respective player and a port for connecting to its respective display monitor where each first computer is programmed to perform the following;

Processing the digital data stream from said respective set of sensors into game data having a format representing game results for said first computer player;

controlling the respective display monitor to provide visual feedback concerning the progress of the game;

Transmitting said game data from said first computer player to said second computer that comprises said sports competition server; and

Polling said competition server for receipt of game data and or messages from opponents or players at remote sites.

14. The interactive sports game system as recited in claim 13, further includes electronic sports equipment comprising an electronic golf club or standard golf club retrofitted with electronic devices operably connected to said first computer and said sports competition server via a network, and the impacted object is a projectile such as a golf ball.

15. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer programming comprises:

A serial port listener software program that receives acquired data from said first, second, and third sensor arrays;

a socket event listener that receives data from said sports competition server; and

A main thread for alternately processing data received by either said socket event listener or said serial port listener in accordance with sports competition format wherein acquired data from said first, said second, and said third sensor arrays are processed by said first computer and the results are sent to said sports competition server only if data has been previously received from said sports competition server indicating that it is that player'"'"'s turn to play, otherwise, acquired data from said golf club, said golf club motion sensing devices, and said target receptacle are ignored by said computer if data has been previously received from said sports competition server indicating that it is a remote player'"'"'s turn to play;

Wherein controlling the reception of data received from said first, said second, and said third sensor arrays is allowed only on that player'"'"'s turn thus allowing sequential play, the use of one or more said golf clubs, one or more said golf club spatial orientation and directional devices, and one or more target receptacles with one or more said first computers in the network.

16. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer programming further comprises single-player sports training software for providing training as a function of the data received from said golf club, said golf club motion sensing device, and said target receptacle.

17. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first computer further comprises audible golf image simulation and display software for displaying images that simulate the results of said performance and analysis.

18. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1 comprising:

A row of sensors mounted on said face of said club-head of said golf club for acquiring data from respective channels, and said acquired data representing the force, time of contact, energy, and position of the impact of a golf ball relative to each impacted sensor when a golf ball is struck by said club-head;

A target receptacle comprising at least one contact sensor for acquiring data representing the struck ball or object entering the target receptacle;

An accelerometer attached to said golf club, gaming tool, or sports implement to detect spatial translational motion and or rotational orientation of said golf club, gaming tool, or sports implement;

A first computer having a data input port for receiving data and an output port for communicating with said display monitor of said first computer;

A first communications link for communicating data derived from said impact data acquired by said row of sensors in said respective channels to said data input port; and

A second communications link for transmitting data derived from impact data acquired by said contact sensor of said target receptacle to said data input port;

Wherein said first computer is programmed to process said received data into data representing the final location of the struck ball relative to a target receptacle, and control said display monitor to display animated feedback having visual indicators representing the trajectory and final location of the golf ball relative to said target receptacle, except if the impact data from the contact sensor of said target receptacle indicates that the ball entered said target receptacle.

19. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first communications link comprises a telemetry system and comprises a wireless transmitter housed inside or attached to said golf club and a wireless receiver coupled to an input port of said first computer as said first communications link to said first computer.

20. The computerized interactive sports system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second communications link further comprises a wireless transmitter mounted inside said target receptacle and a wireless receiver coupled to an input port of said first computer as said second communications link to said first computer.