Systems and methods for measuring and/or analyzing swing information

• US 8,808,114 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Dugan
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/846,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/219, 473221-224, 473/226, 473/233, 473/234, 473/409, 434/247, 434/252
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• 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 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 : with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

In a first aspect, a system for monitoring a swing is provided that includes a wireless device adapted to couple to a swinging object and to provide information indicative of a characteristic of the swinging object. The wireless device is a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a tennis swing comprising:

providing a cellular telephone having one or more accelerometers and a program that allows the cellular telephone to;

monitor acceleration of the cellular telephone as the cellular telephone swings;

collect acceleration information based on the monitored acceleration of the cellular telephone as the cellular telephone swings;

analyze the collected acceleration information to determine one or more characteristics of a tennis swing based on the collected acceleration information; and

output information regarding the one or more characteristics of the tennis swing on a display of the cellular telephone;

coupling the cellular telephone to an arm or wrist of a user; and

employing the cellular telephone coupled to the arm or wrist of the user to;

monitor acceleration of the cellular telephone as the cellular telephone swings while the user swings a tennis racquet;

collect acceleration information based on the monitored acceleration of the cellular telephone as the cellular telephone swings;

analyze the collected acceleration information to determine one or more characteristics of the tennis swing based on the collected acceleration information; and

output information regarding the one or more characteristics of the tennis swing on the display of the cellular telephone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that determines one or more of acceleration of the tennis racquet, velocity of the tennis racquet, and speed of the tennis racquet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that determines one or more of ball-racquet contact, ball-racquet contact timing and ball-racquet contact force.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that determines number of swings of the tennis racquet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that determines one or more of predicted ball travel distance and predicted ball position.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that detects wirelessly transmitted signals from multiple users.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that transmits swing information over the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that converts acceleration information into an audio signal and provides an audio signal indicative of swing tempo.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that compares a current swing to an ideal swing and outputs a cue if the current swing varies from an ideal swing in real time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that tracks swing statistics of a group a tennis players.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that detects wirelessly transmitted signals from multiple users and tracks swing statistics of a group of tennis players.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that prompts the user to indicate when a swing is a practice swing.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that prompts the user to indicate when a swing is a practice swing by speaking a command.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that graphs swing information.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that compares current swing information to historical swing information of the user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that compares current swing information to historical swing information of a tennis pro.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that compares current swing tempo information of the user to historical swing tempo of the user or a tennis pro.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that compares current swing speed information of the user to historical swing speed of the user or a tennis pro.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone includes a program that compares current ball-racquet contact force information of the user to historical ball-racquet contact force of the user or a tennis pro.