Method and apparatus for determining orientation and position of a moveable object

• US 20050032582A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fortescue Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fortescue Corporation
• Inventors: Gerasimov, Vadim, Mehta, Arun, LaValley, Zachery, Mahajan, Satayan
• Application Number:
  US10/742,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• 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 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

An orientation and position tracking system in three-dimensional space and over a period of time utilizing multiple inertial and other sensors for determining motion parameters to measure orientation and position of a moveable object. The sensors, for example vibrational and angular velocity sensors, generate signals characterizing the motion of the moveable object. The information is received by a data acquisition system and processed by a microcontroller. The data is then transmitted via wireless communication to an external data reception system (locally based or a global network). The information can then be displayed and presented to the user through a variety of means including audio, visual, and tactile.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining orientation and position of a moveable object, comprising:

at least one sensor that determines motion parameters, wherein said at least one sensor generates orientation and position signals;

a microcontroller that processes the orientation and position signals to generate orientation and position data;

a wireless transmitter that transmits in real-time said orientation and position data;

wherein said sensors, said microcontroller and said wireless transmitter are integrated into or on said moveable object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source to provide power to said sensors, said microcontroller, and said transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moveable object is a golf club.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is disposed in or on the grip or shaft of said moveable object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor includes an angular rate sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said angular rate sensor includes a gyroscope.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional sensor for determining motion parameters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor includes three gyroscopes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric compass, a GPS unit, and any combination thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller includes an integrated analog to digital conversion component, and wherein said microcontroller digitizes said orientation and position signals to generate digital orientation and position data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure sensor installed on, within, or behind an impact surface of said moveable object.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor, said microcontroller and said wireless transmitter are integrated into at least one modular node that is removable from said moveable object.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said apparatus includes at least two modular nodes, each modular node including a separate complement of elements.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each said at least two modular nodes are integrated into unconnected objects.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said at least two modular nodes are integrated into inter-connected objects.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein two modular nodes are affixed to the hips and shoulders of a user to detect body motion.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least two nodes detect the motion of multiple golf clubs.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moveable object is a game controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moveable object is a controller in a virtual reality simulation.

20. A system for determining orientation and position of a moveable object, comprising:

at least one sensor installed on or in a moveable object for generating orientation and position signals;

data acquisition means for processing orientation and position signals and that generates orientation and position data;

wireless data transmission means for wirelessly transmitting in real-time said orientation and position data;

data reception means for receiving said orientation and position data transmitted by said wireless data transmission means; and

processing and presenting means for processing and presenting said orientation and position data in a desired format.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said data reception means is selected from the group consisting of:

a laptop computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a network, and any combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said at least one sensor includes an angular rate sensor.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said angular rate sensor includes a gyroscope.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising at least one additional sensor for determining motion parameters.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said at least one sensor includes three gyroscopes.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric compass, a GPS unit, and any combination thereof.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein said at least one sensor, said data acquisition means, and said wireless data transmission means are disposed in or on the grip or shaft of said moveable object.

28. A method for determining orientation and position of a moveable object, comprising:

generating orientation and position signals to measure orientation and position of the moveable object with at least one sensor for determining motion parameters;

processing said and orientation and position signals with a microcontroller to generate orientation and position data;

wirelessly transmitting said orientation and position data in real-time to a receiving device external to said moveable object;

processing and presenting said orientation and position data.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said receiving device is selected from the group consisting of:

a laptop computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a network, and any combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein orientation and position data from motion of the moveable object are stored in the receiving device.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an angular rate sensor.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said angular rate sensor includes a gyroscope.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one additional sensor generates orientation and position signals.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said at least one sensor includes three gyroscopes.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric compass, a GPS unit, and any combination thereof.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein said at least one sensor, said microcontroller, and means for the wireless transmission of data are disposed in or on the grip or shaft of said moveable object.