Motion capture and analysis

• US 8,831,905 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NewSpin Sports, LLC
• Original Assignee: NewSpin Sports, LLC
• Inventors: Papadourakis, Angelo Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, TOAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/972,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20140032162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702/33, 702/41, 702/81, 702/84, 702 94- 96, 702/127, 702/142, 702/145, 702150-153, 702182-183, 702188-189, 473/131, 473201-202, 473/206, 473/209, 473212-213, 473222-224, 473/228, 473265-266, 473/282, 473/407, 473/409, 73 137- 139, 73/17.9, 734/88, 734/93, 7350402-50403, 73510-511, 7351401-51402, 73 137- 139, 434/252, 703/2
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/065 Racketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 : for golf
• 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 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 : for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

Motion capture and analysis is described, including a motion sensor unit configured to capture data associated with movement of an object, to process the data to determine one or more values, to store the data and the one or more values, and to convert the data and the one or more values from an analog signal to a digital signal associated with a wireless transmission, and a display unit configured to receive the data from the motion sensor unit, the data being transmitted using through the wireless transmission, to process the data to determine one or more values, to store the data, and to graphically present the data and the one or more values.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a motion sensor unit configured to be adjustably and detachably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface at a first location on an object, the object being used in a physical sport or leisure activity, the motion sensor unit being further configured to capture data associated with movement of the object, to process the data to determine one or more values associated with movement of the object, and to translate the data or values to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location; and

a display unit configured to receive the data and values from the motion sensor unit, the data and values being transmitted using wireless transmission, to store the data and values, and to graphically present the data and values.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises acceleration data associated with the object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises angular momentum data associated with the object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a maximum velocity associated with the object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a graphical path associated with the object.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a velocity associated with the object at a time when the object impacts another object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate an angle associated with the object at a time when the object impacts another object.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a trajectory associated with the object adheres to a fixed plane.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit coupled to the motion sensor unit, the control unit being configured to receive input.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphic indicator unit coupled to the motion sensor unit, the graphic indicator unit being configured to present the data and the one or more values.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to graphically present the data and the one or more values as an image.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to graphically present an image comprising the data and the one or more values.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is a display mat.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a tennis racket, a hockey stick, a fishing pole, a racquetball racquet and a squash racquet.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

16. A system, comprising:

a motion sensor unit configured to be adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface at a first location on an object using an adjustable attachment mechanism and to capture data associated with movement of the object, the object being used in a physical sports or leisure activity;

a processor configured to process the data to determine one or more values associated with movement of the object, and to translate the values and data to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location;

a wireless transmitter being coupled to the motion sensor unit, the wireless transmitter being configured to transmit the data; and

a display unit configured to generate one or more images based on the data and values, the display unit comprising a display and a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive the data from the motion sensor unit.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

18. A method, comprising:

capturing data associated with movement of an object, the data corresponding to a first location on the object and being captured by a motion sensor unit adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface of the object at the first location using an adjustable attachment mechanism, the object being used in a physical sports or leisure activity;

processing the data to determine one or more values associated with the movement of the object;

translating the values to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location;

storing the data and the one or more values;

transmitting the data and values using a wireless connection established between a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver; and

presenting the data and the one or more values graphically.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating one or more images based on the transmitted data and values; and

displaying the images on a display.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein capturing data includes capturing the outputs of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.