WIRELESS GOLF CLUB MOTION CAPTURE APPARATUS

• US 20120052972A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: BENTLEY, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• 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 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 : Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 : Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless golf club motion capture apparatus configured to obtain spatial data from at least one sensor that is coupled with a microcontroller wherein the apparatus fits into a golf club handle or weight port or otherwise couples to a golf club. The apparatus may send a unique identifier and spatial data over a self-contained radio and antenna wirelessly to an external system that may analyze and display the spatial data in a user-friendly manner. The unique identifier and/or radio through use of non-interfering communications mechanisms allows for multiple clubs one or more players to be within range of a wireless receiver and not interfere. Adapters that may be specific to each golf club manufacture allow for coupling the apparatus to any type of golf club.

Claims

1. A wireless golf club motion capture apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor configured to obtain spatial data;

a microcontroller coupled with said at least one sensor;

a unique identifier associated with said microcontroller;

a radio coupled with said microcontroller;

an antenna coupled with said radio;

a battery coupled with said at least one sensor, said microcontroller and said radio;

a mounting board coupled with said at least one sensor, said microcontroller, said radio and said antenna;

an adapter configured to couple said mounting board to a golf club;

said microcontroller programmed to

obtain said spatial data from said at least one sensor,

transmit

said unique identifier and

said spatial data,

via said radio and said antenna.

2. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor includes an accelerometer.

3. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor includes a gyroscope.

4. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor includes a magnetometer.

5. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spatial data includes any value associated with an orientation, position, velocity, acceleration of said at least one sensor.

6. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a visual marker coupled with said mounting board.

7. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller further comprises a memory unit configured to store said unique identifier.

8. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting board is a printed circuit board.

9. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adapter is configured to couple said mounting board within a handle of said golf club.

10. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adapter is configured to couple said mounting board to a head of said golf club.

11. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio enables interference free communication.

12. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio may select a channel for communication from multiple available channels of communication.

13. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio allows a plurality of said wireless golf club motion capture apparatus to be coupled with said golf club without communication interference from each respective radio in each of said wireless golf club motion capture apparatus.

14. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio allows a plurality of golf clubs associated with a player to communicate said spatial data without communication interference from said plurality of golf clubs associated with a player.

15. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio allows a plurality of golf clubs associated with a plurality of players to communicate said spatial data without communication interference from said plurality of golf clubs associated with said plurality of players.

16. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wireless golf club motion capture apparatus enables an assigned location of said at least one sensor coupled with said golf club to be automatically determined based on said spatial data.

17. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a recharger coupled with said battery and an overcharge detector coupled with said recharger and said battery.

18. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 further comprising heat sink.

19. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cap to cover said mounting board within a portion of said golf club.

20. The wireless golf club motion capture apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connection from a first wireless golf club motion capture apparatus coupled to a handle of said golf club, to a second wireless golf club motion capture apparatus coupled to a head of said golf club to enable electrical charging of said first and said second wireless golf club motion capture apparatus simultaneously.