Motion capture element mount

• US 9,033,810 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US13/191,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20120052973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-222, 473/297, 473/316, 473/407
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

Enables coupling or retrofitting a golf club with active motion capture electronics that are battery powered, passive or active shot count components, for example a passive RFID, and/or a visual marker on the cap for use with visual motion capture cameras. Does not require modifying the golf club. Electronics package and battery can be easily removed and replaced, for example without any tools. May utilize a weight that is removed when inserting the electronic package in the mount, wherein the weight element may have the same weight as an electronics package, for no net change or minimal change in club weight. May be implemented with a shaft enclosure and expander that may be coupled with a screw aligned along an axis parallel to the axis of the golf club shaft. May utilize non-permanently and/or friction coupling between the mount and golf club shaft. Cap may include a visual marker and/or logo.

Claims

1. A motion capture element mount comprising:

an expander;

a shaft enclosure configured to couple with said expander, wherein said shaft enclosure and said expander are configured to be situated within a piece of equipment;

an attachment element configured to couple said expander with said shaft enclosure and non-permanently engage an inner portion of said piece of equipment without modification of said piece of equipment;

a cap;

wherein said shaft enclosure is configured to non-permanently couple with said cap;

electrical components comprising at least an accelerometer or gyroscope or both;

wherein said electrical components are couple with said shaft enclosure and between said shaft enclosure and said cap, and,

wherein said electrical components further comprise

a positive battery contact,

an insulator that is electrically insulative,

a negative battery contact

an electronics package, and

a wireless antenna;

wherein said shaft enclosure comprises a first set of coupling elements and said insulator comprises a second set of coupling elements, such that said insulator couples with said shaft enclosure via said first set of coupling elements and said second set of coupling elements;

an alignment configured to

rotationally align said insulator or with said shaft enclosure, and

angularly align said insulator and said electronics package with said cap;

a weight element; and

wherein said shaft enclosure and said cap are further configured to internally hold said weight element when at least one of said electrical components is removed,

wherein said weight element comprises a shape such that said weight element fits within said shaft enclosure and said cap,

wherein said cap covers said weight element, and,

wherein said weight element is substantially equal in weight to said at least one of said electrical components to minimize a difference in weight between said at least one of said electrical components that is removed and said weight element to keep a total weight of said motion capture element mount of equal value before said at least one of said electrical components is removed and after said at least one of said electrical components is removed and replaced by said weight element.

2. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said electrical components are removable to comply with sporting regulations.

3. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said piece of equipment is a piece of sporting, exercise or medical rehabilitation equipment, or a golf club, tennis racquet, or weight training bar.

4. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said electronics package associated with a golf club number.

5. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said electronics package associated with a golf club number wherein said identifier is passive and is configured to operate without contact with a battery or wherein said identifier is active and is configured to couple with a battery.

6. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising at least one passive or active visual marker coupled to said cap and comprises a plurality of positionally offset visual elements;

wherein plurality of positionally offset visual elements are arranged in a non-linear pattern.

wherein said at least one passive or visual marker further comprises a plurality of non-overlapping areas, wherein the plurality of non-overlapping areas enable visual determination of a rotational orientation of the at least one passive or active marker from a point orthogonal to a plane that passes through the plurality of non-overlapping areas; and

,

wherein said at least one passive or active visual marker comprising said plurality of positionally offset visual elements further comprises

at least one marker portion that is visually trackable, or

at least one light emitting diode configured to track images in low light conditions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of non-overlapping areas comprise a plurality of positionally offset dots, and wherein said plurality of positionally offset dots arranged in a non-linear pattern.

8. The apparatus claim 1 further comprising:

a display area coupled with said cap and configured to display a golf club number associated with said piece of equipment.

9. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said cap and said shaft enclosure are configured to couple together with a plurality of coupling elements situated around said cap.

10. A motion capture element mount comprising:

an expander;

a shaft enclosure configured to couple with said expander, wherein said shaft enclosure and said expander are configured situated within a piece of equipment;

an attachment element configured to couple said expander with said shaft enclosure and non-permanently engage an inner portion of a golf club shaft or grip of a golf club without modification of said piece of equipment;

a cap;

electrical components comprising

at least an accelerometer or gyroscope or both;

a positive battery contact;

an insulator that is electrically insulative;

a negative battery contact; and

,

an electronics package; and

,

wherein said electrical components are coupled said shaft enclosure and between said shaft enclosure and said cap;

wherein said shaft enclosure comprises a first set of coupling elements and said insulator comprises a second set of coupling elements, such that said insulator couples with said shaft enclosure via said first set of coupling elements and said second set of coupling elements;

wherein said shaft enclosure and said cap are configured to internally hold said positive battery contact, said insulator, said negative battery contact and said electronics package;

an alignment element configured to

rotationally align said insulator with said shaft enclosure, and

angularly align said insulator and said electronics package with said cap; and

,

a weight element;

wherein said shaft enclosure and said cap are further configured to internally hold said weight element when at least one of said electrical components is removed,

wherein said weight element comprises a shape such that sail weight element fits within said shaft enclosure and said cap,

wherein said cap covers said weight element, and,

wherein said weight element is substantially equal in weight to said at least one of said electrical components to minimize a difference in weight between said at least one of said electrical components that is removed and said weight element to keep a total weight of said motion capture element mount of equal value before said at least one of said electrical components is removed and after said at least one of said electrical components is removed and replaced by said weight element.

11. The apparatus claim 10 wherein said electrical components are removable to comply with sporting regulations.

12. The apparatus claim 10 further comprising:

a wireless antenna coupled with said cap and coupled with said electronics package.

13. The apparatus claim 10 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said electronics package associated with a golf club number.

14. The apparatus claim 10 further comprising:

an identifier coupled with said electronics package associated with a golf club number wherein said identifier is active and is configured to couple with a battery or is passive and is configured to operate without contact with a battery.

15. The apparatus claim 10 further comprising at least one passive or active visual marker coupled to said cap and comprises a plurality of positionally offset visual elements;

wherein said plurality of positionally offset visual elements are arranged in a non-linear pattern;

wherein said at least one passive or visual marker further comprises a plurality of non-overlapping areas, wherein the plurality of non-overlapping areas enable visual determination of a rotational orientation of the at least one passive or active marker from a point orthogonal to a plane that passes through the plurality of non-overlapping areas; and

wherein said at least one passive or active visual marker comprising said plurality of positionally offset visual elements further comprises

at least one marker portion that is visually trackable, or

at least one light emitting diode configured to track images in low light conditions.

16. The apparatus claim 10 wherein said cap and said shaft enclosure are configured to couple together with a plurality of coupling elements situated around said cap.

17. The apparatus claim 10 further comprising:

a display area coupled with said cap and configured to display a golf club number associated with said piece of equipment.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plurality of non-overlapping areas comprise a plurality of positionally offset dots, and wherein said plurality of positionally offset dots are arranged in a non-linear pattern.

19. A motion capture element mount comprising:

an expander;

a shaft enclosure configured to couple with said expander, wherein said shaft enclosure and said expander are configured to be situated a pee of equipment;

an attachment element configured to couple said expander with said shaft enclosure and non-permanently engage an inner portion of a golf club shaft or grip of a golf club without modification of said piece of equipment;

a cap;

at least one passive or active visual marker coupled to said cap and comprises a plurality of positionally offset visual elements;

wherein said at least one passive or visual marker further comprises a plurality of non-overlapping areas with a plurality of positionally offset dots, wherein said plurality of positionally offset visual elements are arranged in a non-linear pattern, and wherein the plurality of non-overlapping areas enable visual determination of a rotational orientation of the at least one passive or active marker from a point orthogonal to a plane that passes through the plurality of non-overlapping areas;

electrical components comprising

at least an accelerometer or gyroscope or both;

a positive battery contact;

an insulator that is electrically insulative;

a negative battery contact;

an electronics package; and

,

an identifier;

wherein said electrical components are coupled with said shaft enclosure and arranged between said shaft enclosure and said cap; and

,

wherein said shaft enclosure comprises a first set of coupling elements and said insulator comprises a second set of counting elements, such that said insulator couples with said shaft enclosure via said first set of coupling elements and said second set of coupling elements;

an alignment element configured to

rotationally align said insulator with said shaft enclosure, and

angularly align said insulator and said electronics package said cap;

a wireless antenna;

a visual marker coupled with said cap;

a display area coupled with said cap and configured to display a golf club number associated with said piece of equipment;

a weight element;

wherein said shaft enclosure and said cap are further configured to internally hold said weight element when at least one of said electrical components is removed,

wherein said weight element comprises a shape such that said weight element fits within said shaft enclosure and said cap,

wherein said cap covers said weight element,

wherein said weight element is substantially equal in weight to said at least one of said electrical components to minimize a difference in weight between said at least one of said at least one of said electrical components that is removed and said weight element to keep a total weight of said motion capture element mount of equal value before said at least one of said electrical components is removed and after said at least one of said electrical components is removed and replaced by said weight element; and

,

wherein said shaft enclosure and said cap are configured to internally hold said positive battery contact, said insulator, said negative battery contact, said electronics package, said identifier and said wireless antenna and wherein said electrical components are removable from within said shaft enclosure and said cap to comply with sporting regulations.