System for assessing and displaying activity of a sportsman

• US 8,620,600 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• 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:
  US13/567,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 702/44, 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 and displays activity of a sportsman. At least one sensor detects movement of the sportsman, and a processor processes data from the sensor to assess activity of the sportsman. A heads-up display mounted with a pair of goggles or glasses displays data indicative of the activity to the sportsman.

Claims

1. A system for assessing and displaying activity of a sportsman, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting movement of the sportsman;

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

a heads-up display mounted with a pair of goggles or glasses, for displaying data indicative of the activity to 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 and a microphone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the processor are configured with the goggles or glasses.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured for mounting with the sportsman or a human-powered vehicle ridden by the sportsman, and the processor is configured with the goggles or glasses, the sensor and the processor being in wireless communication.

5. The system of claim 4, the human-powered vehicle comprising one of a snowboard, ski, skateboard, bike and wakeboard.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the 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. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising a GPS receiver and the processor comprising memory for storing a trail map therein;

the processor processing a location of the sportsman obtained via the GPS receiver with the trail map and displaying position of the sportsman on the map, on the heads-up display.

10. The system of claim 9, the processor processing the GPS coordinates with the activity and displaying an image representative of the activity on the map, at a location at which the activity occurred.

11. A system for assessing and displaying activity of a sportsman, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting movement of the sportsman;

a GPS receiver;

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

a heads-up display mounted with a pair of goggles or glasses, for displaying data indicative of the activity to the sportsman;

the processor comprising memory for storing a trail map therein;

the processor processing a location of the sportsman obtained via the GPS receiver with the trail map and displaying position of the sportsman on the map, on the heads-up display.

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

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

a processor for processing data from the accelerometer to determine g forces experienced by the sportsman.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a GPS receiver wherein the processor determines altitude variations experienced by the sportsman.

14. The system of claim 13, the system being attachable to the sportsman, to an article worn by the sportsman, or to a human powered vehicle controlled by the sportsman.

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

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is configured for attachment with a helmet, clothing or goggles.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a display for displaying the g forces to the sportsman.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting g force or altitude variations data to a remote location.

19. The system of claim 18, 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.

20. The system of claim 18, the altitude variations comprising drop distance within an airtime period experienced by the system.

21. The system of claim 12, the processor further processing data from the accelerometer to determine airtime experienced by the system.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising a display for displaying the g forces to the sportsman.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting g force or altitude variations data to a remote location.

24. The system of claim 23, 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.

25. The system of claim 23, the altitude variations comprising drop distance within an airtime period experienced by the system.