Instrumented golf club system & method of use

• US 20010053720A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Lee, Nathan J., Borsum, William Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• 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 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• 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 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0023 Measuring of sport goods, e.g. bowling accessories, golfclubs, game balls

Abstract

An instrumented golf club system having an instrumented golf club, an interface means and a computing means is disclosed herein. The instrumented golf club includes a plurality of sensors, an internal power supply, an angular rate sensor and an internal ring buffer memory for capturing data relating to a golf swing. The interface means is capable of transferring data from the instrumented golf club to the computing means for processing the data and presenting the data in a useful and informative format. The data may be used to assist a golfer'"'"'s swing, or to design an appropriate golf club for a specific type of golfer.

Claims

1. An instrumented golf club system comprising:

a club head and a shaft attached to the club head, an angular rate sensor disposed within the shaft, the at least one sensor capable of measuring data related to the shaft during a golf swing, an internal memory device capable of receiving and storing data from the at least one sensor, the internal memory device disposed within the shaft;

a computer for processing the data from the internal memory device; and

an interface mechanism capable of providing communication between the instrumented golf club and the computer.

2. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 1

wherein the internal memory device is a ring buffer memory, the ring buffer memory capable of continually recording data when the instrumented golf club is in a ready state, and capable of capturing data both prior to and following an impact threshold triggering event.

3. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 1

wherein the angular rate sensor is capable of directly measuring an angular rotation rate at a predetermined location within the instrumented golf club.

4. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 1

wherein the ring buffer memory is capable of continually recording data in increments of two milliseconds or less.

5. The instrumented golf club system according to claim 21 wherein the interface mechanism comprises a connection plug and a serial interface device, the connection plug having a plurality of pins for connection to a plurality of receptors within the shaft for electronically communicating data from the instrumented golf club to the computer.

6. A method for measuring and storing golf swing data, the method comprising:

placing an instrumented golf club into a ready state;

recording data from at least one sensor disposed within or on the instrumented golf club, the data recorded to an internal memory device disposed within a shaft of the instrumented golf club;

sensing a first impact threshold triggering event by the instrumented golf club;

saving data to the internal memory device for a first predetermined period of time prior to the first impact threshold triggering event and a second predetermined period of time following the first impact threshold triggering event.

7. The method according to

claim 6

wherein the first predetermined period of time is greater than the second predetermined period of time.

8. The method according to

claim 6

wherein the internal memory device continually records data in increments of 2 milliseconds or less.

9. The method according to

claim 6

wherein the at least one sensor is a first angular rate sensor, the first angular rate sensor capable of directly measuring an angular rotation rate at a predetermined location on or within the instrumented golf club.

10. The method according to

claim 6

further comprising:

storing the data into a data block on the internal memory device;

sensing a plurality of impact threshold triggering events by the instrumented golf club, each of the plurality of impact threshold events resulting in data being saved to a corresponding data block on the internal memory device, data from each of the plurality of impact threshold events comprising data for a predetermined period of time prior to each of the plurality of impact threshold triggering events and a second predetermined period of time following each of the plurality of impact threshold triggering events.

11. The method according to

claim 6

further comprising:

connecting the instrumented in golf club to an interface mechanism; and

communicating the data from the internal memory device of the instrumented golf club to a computer via the interface mechanism.

12. The method according to

claim 6

further comprising recording data from a plurality of sensors to the internal memory device.

13. An instrumented golf club system comprising:

a shaft having a hollow interior, an angular rate sensor disposed within the hollow interior of the shaft, the angular rate sensor capable of measuring data related to the shaft during a golf swing, a power supply disposed within the hollow interior of the shaft, and an electronic circuitry board disposed within the hollow interior of the shaft, the electronic circuitry board having a ring buffer memory circuit, a power control circuit, a signal conditioning circuit for the angular rate sensor, and a serial communication circuit;

a club head secured to the shaft, the club head having a hollow interior, a plurality of accelerometers disposed within the hollow interior of the club head, and a signal conditioning board for the accelerometers;

a computer for processing the data from the electronic circuit board; and

an interface mechanism capable of providing communication between the instrumented golf club and the computer.

14. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 13

further comprising means for connecting the interface mechanism to the electronic circuitry board for transferring data from the electronic circuitry board to the computer.

15. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 13

further comprising a plurality of strain gauges disposed on the butt end of the shaft and a plurality of strain gauges disposed on the tip end of the shaft.

16. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 13

further comprising a signal conditioning board for the plurality of strain gauges disposed on the tip end of the shaft, the signal conditioning board disposed within the hollow interior of the club head, and a signal conditioning circuit on the electronic circuitry board for the plurality of strain gauges disposed on the butt end of the shaft.

17. The instrumented golf club system according to

claim 13

wherein the club head is composed of a composite material.