Removable motion sensor embedded in a sport instrument

• US 9,579,541 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Shunyuan Kaihua Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Zepp Labs, Inc. (Zepp Health Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhao, Ke, Han, Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US14/657,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/221, 473/222, 473/223, 473/549, 473/409
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/04 Badminton
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0017 for badminton
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A solution is provided to enhance motion detection and recognition of moving objects associated with various sports by intelligently embedding motion sensors into sport instruments such as tennis rackets, badminton rackets, baseball bats and golf clubs, that are swung in a three-dimensional (3D) space. The motion sensors embedded inside the sport instruments are securely locked and are detachable for replacement. A motion sensor inserted and locked inside a sport instrument is configured to detect motions associated with movements associated with the sport instrument. The motion parameters associated with the detected motion are collected through the embedded motion sensor and analyzed by a motion detection and recognition system. Based on the analysis of the motion parameters, various types of sports performance reports and performance improvement recommendations are generated for users of the sport instruments.

Claims

1. A device to insert a motion sensor into a sport instrument, the device comprising:

a motion sensor for detecting motion associated with the movement of the sport instrument;

a cover for protecting the insertion of the motion sensor inside the sport instrument;

a locking mechanism for locking the motion sensor inside a housing, the housing located inside a selected part of the sport instrument, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to secure the motion sensor inside the housing, and wherein the locking mechanism is further configured to release the motion sensor responsive to a tap on the selected part of the sport instrument; and

a cap attached to the selected part of the sport instrument for protecting the motion sensor inserted in the selected part of the sport instrument.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sport instrument is one of the following:

a tennis racket;

a badminton racket;

a baseball bat;

a golf club; and

a sport instrument that has a space to house a motion sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sport instrument is in one of a plurality sizes and in one of a plurality of shapes.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor has a square cap.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein dimensions of the motion sensor are approximately 20 millimeters by 20 millimeters by 40 millimeters.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor has a round cap.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is configured to:

collect motion data associated with the movement of the sport instrument at one or more sampling time, wherein the motion data comprises at least one of acceleration of the sport instrument and an angle of the sport instrument corresponding to a three-dimensional geomagnetic coordinate system;

detect motion of the sport instrument based on analysis of the collected motion data; and

generate one or more performance recommendations to a player using the sport instrument based on the motion detection.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring locking mechanism is further configured to be detached from the memory card of the motion sensor for removing the motion sensor from the housing.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein dimensions of the spring locking mechanism are approximately 5.2 millimeters by 6.5 millimeters by 19.2 millimeters.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor has one or more printed circuit boards attached to either a top part of motion sensor or a bottom part of the motion sensor.

11. A method for inserting a motion sensor into a sport instrument, the device comprising:

selecting a location in the sport instrument to insert a motion sensor, the motion sensor configured for detecting motion associated with the movement of the sport instrument;

replacing a cap originally attached to the sport instrument with a new cap, wherein the new cap has a sensor housing to house the motion sensor inside the selected location, a locking mechanism configured to secure the motion sensor inside the selected location in the sport instrument, and a cap cover to hold the locking mechanism;

structuring a space inside the selected location of the sport instrument;

pushing the motion sensor with the new cap into the structured space of the sport instrument to secure the insertion of the motion sensor; and

tapping the selected location in the sport instrument to release the motion sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sport instrument is one of the following:

a tennis racket;

a badminton racket;

a baseball bat;

a golf club; and

a sport instrument that has a space to house a motion sensor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor is configured to:

collect motion data associated with the movement of the sport instrument at one or more sampling time, wherein the motion data comprises at least one of acceleration of the sport instrument and an angle of the sport instrument corresponding to a three-dimensional geomagnetic coordinate system;

detect motion of the sport instrument based on analysis of the collected motion data; and

generate one or more performance recommendations to a player using the sport instrument based on the motion detection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the sport instrument is in one of a plurality sizes and in one of a plurality of shapes.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor has a square cap.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor has a round cap.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the sport instrument is a tennis racket and wherein inserting a motion sensor into the tennis racket comprises:

selecting a location in the tennis racket to insert a motion sensor, the motion sensor configured for detecting motion associated with the movement of the tennis racket;

selecting a racket butt cap to house the motion sensor for the tennis racket based on size, shape and the selected location of the tennis racket, wherein the selected racket butt cap has a sensor housing to house the motion sensor inside the selected location, a locking mechanism and a butt cap cover to hold the locking mechanism;

structuring a space inside the selected location of the tennis racket; and

inserting the motion sensor into the sensor housing of the selected racket butt cap; and

replacing a cap originally attached to the tennis racket with the selected racket butt cap.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

securing the motion sensor inside the tennis racket with the locking mechanism; and

holding the locking mechanism inside the tennis racket with the cap cover.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

replacing the motion sensor inserted into the sport instrument with another motion sensor and its associated cap.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

removing the motion sensor from the sport instrument in response to the releasing of the spring locking mechanism.