Board sports sensing devices, and associated methods

• US 8,239,146 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Darcy, Dennis, Flentov, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/190,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 702/44, 702/150, 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/44
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/185 for ski-jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 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 2220/74 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 for skiing
• 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: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/00 Measuring force or stress, in general measuring force due to impact G01L5/00
• 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 3/50 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: G04F 8/08 : Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

A system assesses activity of a sportsman engaged in board sports. At least one sensor detects movement of the sportsman, and a processor processes data from the sensor to assess activity of the sportsman. Activity of sportsmen engaged in human powered sports is compared. A plurality of activity sensing units is associated with the sportsman. Each of the units (a) attach to one of either the sportsman or to a human powered vehicle ridden by the sportsman, and (b) wirelessly communicate activity to a remote location. The activity comprising one or more of airtime, speed, drop distance, power and energy absorbed. A database, accessible by Internet and connected to the remote location, provides access to the activity via the Internet.

Claims

1. A system for assessing activity of a sportsman engaged in board sports, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting movement of the sportsman; and

a processor for processing data from the sensor to assess activity of the sportsman.

2. The system of claim 1, the sensor comprising one or more of an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric element, a strain gauge, a GPS receiver, a microphone.

3. The system of claim 2, the system being attachable to the sportsman, to an article worn by the sportsman, or to a human powered vehicle controlled by the sportsman.

4. The system of claim 3, the vehicle comprising one of a snowboard, ski, skateboard, bike, wakeboard.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured with a helmet or goggles.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein activity comprises one or more of airtime, spin, drop distance, speed, power or energy absorbed by the sportsman.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the data to a remote location.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a database, accessible by Internet and connected to the remote location, for storing the data and making the data accessible via the Internet.

9. An activity measurement system, comprising:

a unit associated with a moving sportsman engaged in board sports; and

one or more sensors and a processor configured with the unit and cooperating to determine activity of the moving sportsman.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein sensors comprise accelerometers and the processor determines a period of free-fall of the accelerometers as airtime activity.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting the free-fall to a remote location as airtime.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is configured with a helmet or goggles.

13. The system of claim 12, the sensor comprising a GPS receiver for determining location and speed activity of the sportsman;

the goggles operable to receive and display at least the speed to the sportsman.

14. The system of claim 9, the sensors comprising one or more of an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric element, a strain gauge, a GPS receiver, and a microphone.

15. The system of claim 9, the system being attachable to the sportsman, to an article worn by the sportsman, or to a human powered vehicle controlled by the sportsman.

16. The system of claim 14, the vehicle comprising one of a snowboard, ski, skateboard, bike, wakeboard.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein activity comprises one or more of airtime, spin, drop distance, speed, power or energy absorbed by the sportsman.

18. The system of claim 9, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the data to a remote location.

19. A system for comparing activity between multiple sportsmen engaged in human powered sports, comprising:

a plurality of activity sensing units for associating with each of the sportsman, each of the units (a) attaching to either the sportsman or to a human powered vehicle ridden by the sportsman and (b) wirelessly communicating activity to a remote location, the activity comprising one or more of airtime, speed, drop distance, power and energy absorbed; and

a database, accessible by Internet and connected to the remote location, for providing access to the activity via the Internet.

20. The system of claim 19, the sensing units comprising one or more of accelerometers, pressure sensors, GPS receivers, microphones, and piezo elements;

the human powered vehicle comprising skis, snowboards, bikes, skateboards.