Using pressure signal from racket to advise player

• US 9,526,964 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sampathkumaran, Sriram
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US14/269,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 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 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for comparing signals from pressure sensors under the grip of a tennis racket to digital templates to gain insight into the player'"'"'s grip, e.g., during ball striking moments.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor;

at least one processor configured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to execute the instructions to configure the processor for;

receiving signals from at least one sensor on a handle of a sports racket;

comparing data represented by the signals to plural electronic templates;

based on the comparing, determining at least one match with a first template; and

presenting first human-perceptible output, the first output being correlated to the first template, wherein the templates are correlated in a data structure to respective expert opinions of respective grips represented by the respective templates, an expert opinion comprising at least one of;

whether dimensions of the handle are suitable the output including the expert opinion associated with the first template.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor configure the processor for:

based on the comparing, determining at least one match between the signals and at least a second template; and

presenting second human-perceptible output, the second output being correlated to the second template.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second outputs include comments related to a player'"'"'s grip on the handle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first output is audible.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first output is visual.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes plural sensors on a mat engaged with the handle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensors are contact sensors.

8. Method comprising:

receiving signals from a sports racket representing a grip pattern of a player wielding the racket;

evaluating the signals; and

based at least in part on the evaluating, outputting a grip characteristic, wherein the evaluating includes;

comparing the signals to plural electronic templates;

based on the comparing, determining at least one match between the signals and at least a first template; and

presenting first output, the first output being correlated to the first template and establishing the grip characteristic, wherein the templates are correlated in a data structure to respective expert opinions of respective grips represented by the respective templates, an expert opinion comprising at least one of;

whether dimensions of the handle are suitable, the output including the expert opinion associated with the first template.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

based on the comparing, determining at least one match between the signals and at least a second template; and

presenting second output, the second output being correlated to the second template and establishing the grip characteristic.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second outputs include comments related to a player'"'"'s grip on the racket.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first output is audible.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first output is visual.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the signals are generated by plural sensors on a mat engaged with the racket.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensors are contact sensors.

15. System comprising:

at least one racket;

at least one sensor on a handle of the racket under a grip thereof and configured for generating signals; and

at least one computing device configured for receiving the signals and outputting an indication based thereon, wherein the indication comprises an expert opinion comprising at least one of;

whether dimensions of the handle are suitable.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising plural sensors embedded in a mat engaged with the handle under the grip.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is a contact sensor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the contact sensor is a pressure sensor.