Sports implement, amusement tool, and training tool

• US 8,678,958 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US11/064,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,315 Days
• Field of Search: 463/516, 463519-526, 463/537, 463/551, 463/553, 473/516, 473519-526, 473/537, 473/551, 473/553
• US Class Current: 473/520
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/00 Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/20 with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/802 Circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 39/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive element covered by groups H10N30/00 – H10N35/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a sports implement whose characteristics a user can adjust freely and minutely. According to the present invention, it is realized that a light-weight high functional circuit is installed in various sports implements by constituting various functional circuits with a TFT formed on a film, without using a printed board. A high functional circuit using a TFT formed over a flexible plastic film is light-weight and strong in bending and impacts. It is possible to provide a sports implement that is favorable in operationality and friendly to many users in a wide range regardless of the muscle strength or physical constitution and the like of a user, since the user can adjust characteristics of a sports implement.

Claims

1. A sports implement comprising:

an EL display portion;

a piezoelectric element which generates electric power by warping the piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element;

an instruction unit including a switch configured to determine whether or not to control strain of the sports implement; and

a charging control circuit and a secondary battery for storing the electric power,

wherein the instruction unit is configured to be turned on and off by a user,

wherein the amplifier circuit and the piezoelectric element are formed on a same flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film, the amplifier circuit, and the piezoelectric element are attached onto a curved surface of the sports implement.

2. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a rectifier unit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element.

3. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

4. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising the EL display portion for displaying a result of a voltage application obtained in the instruction unit.

5. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving circuit or a transmitting circuit.

6. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit.

7. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a memory element.

8. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

31. A sports implement according to claim 1, further comprising a control signal generation circuit to form a control signal, and

wherein the instruction unit determines an application of the control signal for controlling strain to the first piezoelectric element.

37. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit uses an external terminal through remote-controlling of the sports implement.

39. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the sports implement becomes warm by a circuit including at least a TFT.

40. A sports implement according to claim 1, wherein the sports implement measures a run-time between two points.

9. A sports implement comprising:

an EL display portion;

a piezoelectric element which generates electric power by warping the piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element;

an instruction unit which determines whether or not to control strain of the sports implement;

a power supply circuit operationally connected to the amplifier circuit;

a secondary battery for storing the electric power, that is operationally connected to the power supply circuit; and

an electric power generation unit operationally connected to the secondary battery,

wherein the electric power generation unit is a solar battery,

wherein the piezoelectric element and the amplifier circuit and the solar battery are formed on a same flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film, the piezoelectric element, the amplifier circuit, and the solar battery are attached onto a curved surface of the sports implement.

10. A sports implement according to claim 9, further comprising a rectifier unit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element.

11. A sports implement according to claim 9, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

12. A sports implement according to claim 9, further comprising the EL display portion for displaying a result of a voltage application obtained in the instruction unit.

13. A sports implement according to claim 9, further comprising a receiving circuit or a transmitting circuit.

14. A sports implement according to claim 9, further comprising a central processing unit.

15. A sports implement according to claim 9, further comprising a memory element.

16. A sports implement according to claim 9, wherein the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

32. A sports implement according to claim 9, further comprising a control signal generation circuit to form a control signal, and

wherein the instruction unit determines an application of the control signal for controlling strain to the first piezoelectric element.

41. A sports implement according to claim 9, wherein the instruction unit is configured to be turned on and off by a user.

17. A sports implement comprising:

an EL element;

a first piezoelectric element which generates first electric power by warping the first piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

a first amplifier circuit operationally connected to the first piezoelectric element;

a power supply circuit operationally connected to the first amplifier circuit;

a secondary battery operationally connected to the power supply circuit;

a charging control circuit operationally connected to the secondary battery;

a second piezoelectric element which generates second electric power by warping the second piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto; and

a second amplifier circuit operationally connected to the charging control circuit and the second piezoelectric element wherein the second electric power is amplified by the second amplifier circuit to produce an amplified electric power,

wherein the EL element, the first amplifier circuit and the first piezoelectric element are formed on a same flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film, the EL element, the first amplifier circuit, and the first piezoelectric element are attached onto a curved surface of the sports implement.

18. A sports implement according to claim 17, further comprising a rectifier unit operationally connected to the first piezoelectric element.

19. A sports implement according to claim 17, wherein the first amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

20. A sports implement according to claim 17, further comprising a receiving circuit or a transmitting circuit.

21. A sports implement according to claim 17, further comprising a central processing unit.

22. A sports implement according to claim 17, further comprising a memory element.

23. A sports implement according to claim 17, wherein the sports implement becomes warm or cool by the electric power.

33. A sports implement according to claim 17, further comprising a receiving circuit which receives a signal from an external terminal including a transmitting circuit and a communication control circuit.

24. A sports implement comprising:

a piezoelectric element;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element; and

an EL element,

wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the EL element emits light using the electric power,

wherein the piezoelectric element, the amplifier circuit, and the EL element are formed on a same flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film, the piezoelectric element, the amplifier circuit, and the EL element are attached onto a curved surface of the sports implement.

25. A sports implement according to claim 24, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

26. A sports implement according to claim 24, further comprising a central processing unit.

27. A sports implement comprising:

an EL element;

a piezoelectric element;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element; and

a receiving circuit including an antenna,

wherein the piezoelectric element is warped by being applied to a vibration or impact to generate electric power, and the amplifier circuit and the receiving circuit are supplied with the electric power, and

wherein the receiving circuit receives a signal from an external terminal,

wherein the sports implement measures a run-time between two points,

wherein the amplifier circuit and the piezoelectric element are formed on a same flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film, the amplifier circuit, and the piezoelectric element are attached onto a curved surface of the sports implement.

28. A sports implement according to claim 27, further comprising a central processing unit.

29. A sports implement according to claim 27, further comprising a memory element.

30. A sports implement according to claim 27, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

34. A sports implement comprising:

an EL element;

a piezoelectric element which generates electric power by warping the piezoelectric element due to a vibration or impact applied thereto;

an amplifier circuit operationally connected to the piezoelectric element;

an instruction unit including a switch configured to determine whether or not to control strain of the sports implement;

a power supply circuit operationally connected to the amplifier circuit;

a secondary battery for storing electric power, that is operationally connected to the power supply circuit; and

a pointless electric power transmission module operationally connected to the secondary battery,

wherein the instruction unit is configured to be turned on and off by a user,

wherein the amplifier circuit and the piezoelectric element are formed on a same flexible film, and

wherein the flexible film, the piezoelectric element, the amplifier circuit, and the EL element are attached onto a curved surface of the sports implement.

35. A sports implement according to claim 34, wherein the amplifier circuit includes at least a TFT.

36. A sports implement according to claim 34, wherein the EL element, the amplifier circuit and the piezoelectric element are formed on a same flexible film.

38. A sports implement according to claim 34, wherein the instruction unit uses an external terminal through remote-controlling of the sports implement.