Method and system for detecting a state of a golf club

• US 9,868,027 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anton J. Holzapfel, Ken Knaub
• Original Assignee: Anton J. Holzapfel, Ken Knaub
• Inventors: Holzapfel, Anton J., Knaub, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US15/174,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20160279471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 3405686, 473200, 473212, 473221, 473223, 473409, 73 6503, 700 91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A method for detecting a lost club includes detecting an orientation characteristic of a golf club with a detection unit, transmitting the orientation characteristic from the detection unit to a mobile device, determining a distance between the golf club and the mobile device based on a signal transmitted from the detection unit to the mobile device and determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a detection unit including at least one motion analyzer configured to measure one or more motion characteristics of a golf club, wherein the at least one motion analyzer is housed in a stopper unit, wherein the stopper unit is reversibly couplable to an end portion of the golf club,

wherein the detection unit includes a communication module communicatively coupled to the at least one motion analyzer and configured to transmit one or more motion characteristics from the detection unit;

a server; and

a mobile communications device including one or more processors, the mobile communications communicatively coupled to the communication module of the detection unit, wherein the mobile communications device and the server are communicatively coupled via a network, wherein one or more processors of the mobile communications device are suitable for executing program instructions stored in a memory medium, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to receive the detected one or more motion characteristics of the golf club transmitted by the communication module, the program instructions further configured to cause the one or more processors to identify one or more club swings of the golf club by a user, wherein the mobile communications devices is configured to transmit one or more results from the detection unit to the server, wherein the server is configured to display a graphical representation of the one or more results obtained with the detection unit on the mobile communications device and an additional mobile communications device, wherein the additional mobile communications device is communicatively coupled to the server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the number of club swings by the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the one or more club swings by the user and a time of each club swing by the user.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

displaying the one or more identified club swings by the user on a display as function of time of the one or more identified club swings.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the one or more club swings by the user and a position of each club swing by the user.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying the one or more identified club swings by the user on a display as function of position of the one or more identified club swings.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the displaying the one or more identified club swings by the user on a display as function of position of the one or more identified club swings comprises:

plotting the one or more identified club swings by the user on a map of an associated golf course as function of position of the one or more identified club swings.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the one or more club swings by the user on at least one of a memory of the mobile communication device or a memory of a remote server.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to transmit one or more signals indicative of the one or more identified club swings by the user to an additional mobile communications device via a network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion analyzer comprises:

at least one of an accelerometer or a compass.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises:

at least one of a smartphone, personal digital assistant, a tablet device, a table PC, a laptop a smart book or an ultra-book.

12. A system comprising:

a detection unit including at least one motion analyzer configured to measure one or more impact characteristics of a golf club, wherein the at least one motion analyzer is housed in a stopper unit, wherein the stopper unit is reversibly couplable to an end portion of the golf club,

wherein the detection unit includes a communication module communicatively coupled to the at least one motion analyzer and configured to transmit one or more impact characteristics from the detection unit;

a server;

a mobile communications device including one or more processors, the mobile communications communicatively coupled to the communication module of the detection unit, wherein the mobile communications device and the server are communicatively coupled via a network, wherein one or more processors of the mobile communications device are suitable for executing program instructions stored in a memory medium, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to receive the detected one or more impact characteristics of the golf club transmitted by the communication module, the program instructions further configured to cause the one or more processors to identify one or more ball strikes of the golf club based on the one or more impact characteristics measured with the detection unit, wherein the mobile communications devices is configured to transmit one or more results from the detection unit to the server, wherein the server is configured to display a graphical representation of the one or more results obtained with the detection unit on the mobile communications device and an additional mobile communications device, wherein the additional mobile communications device is communicatively coupled to the server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the identifying one or more ball strikes of the golf club based on the one or more impact characteristics comprises:

differentiating between one or more ball strikes of the golf club and one or more strikes of an additional object based on the one or more impact characteristics measured with the detection unit.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the number of ball strikes by the user.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the one or more ball strikes and a time of each ball strike.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying the one or more identified ball strikes on a display as function of time of the one or more identified ball strikes.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the one or more ball strikes and a position of each ball strike.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the one or more identified ball strikes on a display as function of position of the one or more identified ball strikes.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the displaying the one or more identified ball strikes on a display as function of position of the one or more identified ball strikes comprises:

plotting the one or more identified ball strikes on a map of an associated golf course as function of position of the one or more identified ball strikes.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to record the one or more ball strikes on at least one of a memory of the mobile communication device or a memory of a remote server.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to transmit one or more signals indicative of the one or more identified ball strikes to an additional mobile communications device via a network.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one motion analyzer comprises:

at least one of an accelerometer or a compass.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile communications device comprises:

at least one of a smartphone, personal digital assistant, a tablet device, a table PC, a laptop a smart book or an ultra-book.