Systems and methods for an impact location and amplitude sensor

• US 8,447,559 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R0R3 Devices Inc., Soccer Matrix (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: R0R3 Devices Inc.
• Inventors: McCauley, Jack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US12/365,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 473/154, 473/190
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• 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 2244/102 Boxing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/22 mounted on, or suspended from, a fixed support
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

An impact location and amplitude sensory system is provided. Such an impact sensory system may be useful in conjunction with gaming, education, as a control and feedback mechanism for virtually any surface. One embodiment of the impact sensory system may include at least one sensor and a signal processor. The sensor(s) may couple to the object. Sensors may include any of microphones and accelerometers. The sensor(s) receive an impact wave from an impact to the object, either as a propagating acoustic wave or as a traverse phase shift in natural oscillation. The sensor(s) may generate an impact signal in response to the sensed impact wave. The signal processor may couple to the sensor(s). The signal processor may include a preamplifier, an impact triangulator, and an outputter. The impact triangulater may identify a location of the impact from the impact signals. The outputter may then output data regarding the location of the impact.

Claims

1. An impact sensory system, useful in conjunction with an object, the impact sensory system comprising:

at least two accelerometers configured to couple to the object in a linear orientation, and wherein the at least two accelerometers measure resonant vibrations in the object which oscillate transversely to the linear orientation, and wherein the at least two accelerometers detect frequency shifted vibrations in the object, and wherein the frequency shifted vibrations occur in response to an impact on the object;

a signal processor configured to couple to the at least two accelerometers, wherein the signal processor is further configured to identify a location of the impact by measuring the offset between the resonant vibrations and the frequency shifted vibrations; and

a data outputter configured to output data regarding the location of the impact.

2. The impact sensory system of claim 1, wherein the signal processor further comprises a signal amplitude calibrator, wherein the signal amplitude calibrator identifies force of the impact by referencing degree of the detected frequency shift.

3. The impact sensory system of claim 1, wherein the signal processor uses a wave propagation model of the object to identify the location of the impact.

4. The impact sensory system of claim 3, wherein the signal processor uses the differences in frequency shift detected by each of the at least two accelerometers to identify the location of the impact.

5. The impact sensory system of claim 1, wherein the signal processor further comprises a preamplifier for amplification of the frequency shifts detected by at least two accelerometers.

6. The impact sensory system of claim 1, wherein the impact sensory system is integrated into a soccer response system, further comprising at least one sensory panel configured to from a ring, wherein each of the at least one sensory panel includes the at least one sensor for receiving an impact wave from an impact of a ball on said panel.

7. A method for sensing an impact, useful in conjunction with an impact sensory system and an object, the method comprising:

sensing resonant vibrations in the object using at least two accelerometers coupled to the object in a linear orientation, wherein the resonant vibrations oscillate transversely to the linear orientation;

detecting frequency shifted vibrations in the object, wherein the frequency shifted vibrations occur in response to an impact on the object;

identifying a location of the impact by measuring the offset between the resonant vibrations and the frequency shifted vibrations; and

outputting data regarding the location of the impact.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising identifying the force of the impact by referencing the degree of the detected frequency shift.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the sensing the resonant vibrations includes sensing object accelerations.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the identifying the location of the impact uses a wave propagation model of the object to identify the location of the impact.