ELECTRONIC SCORING SYSTEM, METHOD AND ARMOR FOR USE IN MARTIAL ARTS

• US 20120029667A1
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chiron Ip Holdco 2 Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nedsyp Nominees Pty Ltd., Zatara Nominee Pty Limited
• Inventors: Forsell, Justin, Pysden, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/08 Body-protectors for players or sportsmen , i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions protective clothing or garments for sporting purposes A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic scoring system for use in a variety of martial arts (including traditional styles of martial arts, mixed martial arts, weapons based martial arts or the fighting arts generally). The scoring system allows an objective determination of the force, location and effectiveness of forces applied during competition, without the need for electric weaponry.

Claims

1. An electronic scoring system for use in various styles of martial arts comprising:

a. armour to provide impact protection, the armour having at least one force sensing element that is an integral part thereof, the force sensing element being configured so that the armour acts as a force sensor, recording and measuring force parameter data of each contact regardless of an origin of the contact, the sensing element generating a force parameter data signal that is based on one or more sensed contact forces, wherein the force parameter data includes data regarding;

i. magnitude;

ii. location;

iii. duration; and

iv. direction

 

of one or more forces applied to the armour;

b. computer generated imagery (CGI) means for rendering one or more visual representations of competition, the visual representations being based on force parameter data relating to one or more forces applied; and

c. a scoring machine having;

i. communication means for receiving the force parameter data signal from the sensing element;

ii. calculation means for calculating one or more results using the force parameter data; and

iii. output means for displaying one or more results.

2. An electronic scoring system according to claim 1, wherein the visual representation is further based on movement data relating to movement of:

(a) a competitor;

(b) any object associated with the competitor, including one or more of;

i. a sensor;

ii. a marker; and

iii. a weapon or other force-applying member.

3. An electronic scoring system according to claim 1, wherein said visual representation includes a visual simulation of a damage value of one or more forces applied.

4. An electronic scoring system according to claim 3, wherein said visual simulation includes an anatomical representation of a competitor'"'"'s body and a theoretical effect of the force applied, said effect including one or more of the following:

(a) displacement of a body part in a direction of the force applied;

(b) breaking of a bone;

(c) tissue damage;

(d) organ damage;

(e) fluid loss; and

(f) reaction by the competitor to damage.

5. An electronic scoring system according to claim 1, further including position-sensing means for detecting position data of one or more of the following:

(a) a competitor; and

(b) any other object associated with a competitor during competition.

6. An electronic scoring system according to claim 5, wherein the position data includes data regarding one or more of the following:

i. motion capture data;

ii. locating data; and

iii. positioning data.

7. An electronic scoring system according to claim 1, wherein the scoring machine calculates one or more results based on one or more of:

a. force parameter data;

b. movement data; and

c. position data.

8. An electronic scoring system according to claim 7, wherein the scoring machine is further configured to calibrate damage value according to a physical attribute of a force applying member, wherein the force applying member is one or more of:

(a) a competitor;

(b) an object used to apply a contact force during competition; and

(c) a contact surface used to apply a force,

such that the scoring machine is enabled to interpret a result of a contact force as if the contact force had been applied by a force-applying member that is different than the force-applying member actually used to apply the contact force.

9. An electronic scoring system for use in various styles of martial arts comprising:

a. armour to provide impact protection;

b. at least one first sensing element that is associated with the armour and is configured to measure and record force parameter data of each force applied to the armour regardless of an origin of the force, the first sensing element generating a force parameter data signal that is based on one or more sensed forces;

c. at least one second sensing element that is associated with armour and is configured to measure and record data relating to a competitor; and

d. a scoring machine having;

i. communication means for receiving the force parameter data signal from the first sensing element and the data from the second sensing element;

ii. calculation means for calculating one or more results using the force parameter data and the data from the second sensing element; and

iii. output means for displaying one or more results.

10. An electronic scoring system according to claim 9, wherein the first sensing element comprises a force sensing element and the second sensing element comprises one or more of:

(a) a motion-sensing means for detecting movement data regarding movement of one or more of;

i. a competitor;

ii. a force-sensing element; and

iii, a force-applying member including one or more of;

A. a weapon;

B. any other object used to apply a force during competition;

(b) a position-sensing means for detecting position data including tracking a position of one or more of;

A. the competitor;

B. a force-applying member; and

C. any other object associated with the competitor.

11. An electronic scoring system according to claim 9, wherein the force parameter data includes data regarding:

i. magnitude;

ii. location;

iii. duration; and

iv. direction

of one or more forces applied to the armour.

12. An electronic scoring system according to claim 9, further including computer generated imagery (CGI) means for rendering one or more visual representations of competition, the visual representations being based on one or more of:

(a) force parameter data;

(b) movement data; and

(c) position data.

13. An electronic scoring system according to claim 9, wherein the armour includes built-in electronic circuitry for driving at least one component of the armour that requires power.

14. An electronic scoring system according to claim 9, wherein the scoring machine is further configured to calibrate damage value of a force according to a physical attribute of a force-applying member, wherein the force-applying member is one or more of:

i. a competitor;

ii. an object used to apply the force; and

iii. a contact surface used to apply the force,

such that the scoring machine is enabled to interpret a result of a contact force applied with a first force-applying member as if the contact force had been effected with a second force-applying member that is different than the first force-applying member that was actually used to apply the contact force.

15. An electronic scoring system for use in various styles of martial arts, comprising:

(a) armour to provide impact protection, the armour including a sensing means, wherein the sensing means includes force sensing means for detecting force parameter data from one or more forces applied to the armour regardless of an origin of the force;

(b) position-sensing means for detecting position data of one or more of;

i. a competitor;

ii. a force-applying member; and

iii. any other object associated with the competitor during competition; and

(c) a scoring machine having;

i. communication means for receiving the force parameter data from the sensing means and position data from the position-sensing means;

ii. tallying means for calculating one or more results using the force parameter data and the position data; and

iii. report generating means for generating one or more reports,

wherein the scoring machine is capable of generating output for display on a visual display.

16. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, wherein said force parameter data includes data regarding:

i. magnitude,

ii. location;

iii. duration; and

iv. direction

of one or more forces applied to the armour.

17. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, wherein said position data includes data regarding one or more of the following:

i. motion capture data;

ii. locating data; and

iii. positioning data.

18. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, wherein the sensing means includes motion-sensing means for detecting movement data regarding movement of one or more of the following:

a) a competitor;

b) any object associated with the competitor, including one or more of;

i. a sensor;

ii. a marker; and

iii. a force-applying member,

wherein the motion-sensing means communicates the movement data to the scoring machine such that the system is capable of detecting movement related to competition.

19. An electronic scoring system according to claim 18, wherein the movement data includes data relating to one or more of the following:

a) speed;

b) magnitude;

c) direction; and

d) path of movement.

20. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, wherein the armour includes built-in electronic circuitry for driving at least one component of the armour that requires power.

21. An electronic scoring system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one of:

(a) a sensing means;

(b) a response-simulation means; and

(c) a camera.

22. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, wherein the armour is divided into segments, each segment of the armour corresponding to different grid co-ordinates on a scoring grid, such that the scoring machine is enabled to record a specific location of a force applied to the armour by reference to the corresponding grid co-ordinates.

23. An electronic scoring system according to claim 22, wherein the scoring machine calculates a damage value based on one or more of:

i. force parameter data;

ii. movement data; and

iii. position data.

24. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, further including a response simulation means coupled to the armour, the response simulation means being activated when the sensing means detects a force of a particular threshold damage value, the damage value being calculated based on a combination of force parameter data including two or more of the following:

a) magnitude;

b) location;

c) duration; and

d) direction

of one or more forces applied to the armour, and

wherein the response simulation means simulates at least part of the effect on a competitor of being struck by a force of the calculated damage value.

25. An electronic scoring system according to claim 24, wherein the response simulation means is one or more of the following:

a) light-emitting means;

b) electric shock-emitting means.

26. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, wherein the scoring machine is configured to calibrate damage value of a contact force according to a physical attribute of a force-applying member, wherein the force-applying member is one or more of:

i. a competitor;

ii. an object used to apply the force; and

iii. a contact surface used to apply the force,

such that the scoring machine is enabled to interpret a result of a contact force applied with a first force-applying member as if the contact force has been effected with a second force-applying member that is different than the first force-applying member that was actually used to apply the contact force.

27. An electronic scoring system according to claim 26, wherein the first force generating member comprises a non-edged weapon and the second force generating member comprises an edged weapon.

28. An electronic scoring system according to claim 15, further including a computer generated imagery (CGI) means for rendering one or more visual representations of competition, the visual representations being based on force parameter data relating to one or more forces applied.

29. An electronic scoring system according claim 28, wherein the visual representation is further based on movement data relating to movement of a competitor.

30. An electronic scoring system according to claim 28, wherein said visual representation includes a visual simulation of a damage value of one or more forces applied.

31. An electronic scoring system according to claim 30, wherein said visual simulation includes an anatomical representation of a competitor'"'"'s body and a theoretical effect of the force applied, said effect including one or more of the following:

(a) displacement of a body part in a direction of the force applied;

(b) breaking of a bone;

(c) tissue damage;

(d) organ damage;

(e) fluid loss; and

(f) reaction by the competitor to damage.