Measuring instrument for the detection and evaluation of an impact

• US 8,333,104 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Government of Austria)
• Original Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Government of Austria)
• Inventors: Oberleitner, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US12/514,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20100307222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 73 1201- 1214
• US Class Current: 73/12.04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• 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 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/32 with indicating devices
• 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 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

A measuring device for detecting and evaluating an impact, jolt or the like is formed with an impact face, against which the impact, jolt or pulse which is to be evaluated strikes. A sensor, for example a force sensor, detects values of the force which act on the impact face as a result. A sensor, for example an acceleration sensor, detects values of the acceleration which act on the impact face as a result. An evaluation unit processes the determined force and acceleration values.

Claims

1. An impact pad, comprising:

a surface forming an impact surface defining a target surface;

an impact measuring device for detecting an impact, punch, or impulse impinging upon the target surface, said impact measuring device including;

at least one force sensor for detecting a value of a force acting upon the target surface due to the impact, punch, or impulse;

at least one acceleration sensor for detecting a value of an acceleration of the target surface due to the impact, punch, or impulse;

said force sensor and said acceleration sensor being operatively connected with the target surface and being disposed on or behind the target surface; and

an evaluation unit connected to receive signals from said force sensor and said acceleration sensor and configured to process the force values and the acceleration values detected by said force sensor and said acceleration sensor, respectively, and configured to compute the characteristic variables for qualitative evaluation of the impact, punch, or impulse, from the concrete force values and the acceleration values;

said evaluation unit being configured to calculate parameters of velocity, an impact direction, a momentum, an amount of transferred energy, and a power in the qualitative evaluation;

wherein all acquired parameters are given in a time course, so from a morphologic course of a curve or a profile, a performance of the impact is determined.

2. The impact pad according to claim 1, configured for integration in a coaching mitt or hand mitt.

3. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein the target surface is substantially circular or oval.

4. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said at least one force sensor is at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, and FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) sensors.

5. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said at least one force sensor is a laminar force sensors covering at least a major part of the complete target surface.

6. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said at least one acceleration sensor is a micro electro-mechanical system sensor.

7. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said acceleration sensor is a single sensor disposed at and/or near a center of the target surface and/or centrally behind the target surface in an impact direction.

8. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said acceleration sensor is one of two acceleration sensors disposed in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:

on a line defined in a direction of movement of said impact measuring device; and

on a movement plane defined by a center of the target surface in a starting position, by the center of the target surface in a final position, and a center of rotation, around which said impact measuring device is moved in use.

9. The impact pad according to claim 8, wherein the center of rotation is defined by an elbow of a person using the impact pad.

10. The impact pad according to claim 8, wherein said two acceleration sensors are disposed in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:

equidistantly from the center of the target surface; and

diametrically to the center of the target surface.

11. The impact pad according to claim 8, wherein said two acceleration sensors are disposed in an extension of a handle.

12. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said at least one acceleration sensor is one of three acceleration sensors on the target surface, said three acceleration sensors spanning a plane lying substantially perpendicularly to a direction of an impact vector.

13. The impact pad according to claim 12, wherein said three acceleration sensors are arranged in the plane equidistant from the center of the target surface.

14. The impact pad according to claim 12, wherein said three acceleration sensors are disposed equidistant from the center of the target surface and a regular intervals relative to each other.

15. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said force sensor is a single force sensor formed as a laminar sensor covering a substantial portion of the target surface.

16. The impact pad according to claim 15, wherein said single force sensor is a capacitive force sensor covering the target surface substantially completely.

17. The impact pad according to claim 15, wherein said force sensor is disposed circularly around the center of the target surface.

18. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said at least one force sensor is at least two circular force sensors disposed concentrically around the center of the target surface.

19. The impact pad according to claim 18, wherein the target surface is formed as an approximately circular or oval target surface.

20. The impact pad according to claim 18, wherein said circular force sensors have a ring width of at least 10 millimeters.

21. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein the target surface has a circular or oval first section and a second section contiguous with the first section and covering a remaining target surface, each of the first and second sections having at least one force sensor.

22. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said at least one force sensor is one of at least three punctiform force sensors disposed in a common plane aligned substantially perpendicularly to a blow direction.

23. The impact pad according to claim 22, wherein said three force sensors are FSR sensors.

24. The impact pad according to claim 22, wherein said three force sensors are disposed, linearly independently, equidistantly to the center of the target surface, and equidistantly from one another.

25. The impact pad according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation unit is configured to calculate:

the velocity from the acceleration detected by said at least one acceleration sensor;

the momentum from the force detected by said at least one force sensor;

the amount of transferred energy from the force detected by said at least one force sensor and from the acceleration detected by said at least one acceleration sensor; and

the power from the force detected by said at least one force sensor and from the acceleration detected by said at least one acceleration sensor.