SPORT PERFORMANCE SYSTEM WITH BALL SENSING

• US 20140135959A1
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thurman, Robert T., Krysiak, Kevin L., Proeber, David J., Gaff, Bradley L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,339,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• 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 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: determine at least one football event by comparing the at least one attribute of the football to one or more predetermined signature characteristics of different football events; and an output device to present output to a person based on the determination of the at least one football event.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a portable performance system including a processor, a memory and a display, the training apparatus comprising:

an American-style football;

at least one sensor carried by the football to sense at least one attribute of the football;

at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor; and

a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code to direct the processor to;

determine at least one football event by comparing the at least one attribute of the football to one or more predetermined signature characteristics of different football events; and

an output device to present output to a person based on the determination of the at least one football event.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises instructions to direct the processing unit to identify one or more predetermined signature characteristics of a football event based upon signals received from the at least one sensor carried by the football during at least one calibration football event.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one football event is a caught football and wherein the one or more predetermined signature characteristics comprises a sensed vibration of the football corresponding to impact of the football with a person'"'"'s hands followed by a predetermined amount of time before any sensed vibration of the football corresponding to impact of the football with ground.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to track timing of the at least one determined football event.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to identify a first football event comprising a snap of the football and to determine an elapsed time for a second football event from the snap of the football.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second football event comprises a pass release of the football.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second football event comprises initiation of a pass of the football.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second football event comprises a punt of the football.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second football event comprises a field goal kick of the football.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to determine multiple football events which are part of a continuous series of football events and to track timing of the multiple football events of the continuous series, the series selected from a group of series consisting of:

(1) snap, 3 step drop, pass release;

(2) snap, 3 step drop, pass release, catch;

(3) snap, 3 step drop, pass release, drop;

(4) snap, 5 step drop, pass release;

(5) snap, 5 step drop, pass release, catch;

(6) snap, 5 step drop, pass release, drop;

(7) snap, 5 step drop, pass release;

(8) snap, 7 step drop, pass release, catch;

(9) snap, 7 step drop, pass release, drop;

(10) shotgun/quick snap, pass release;

(11) shotgun/quick snap, pass release, catch;

(12) shotgun/quick snap, pass release, drop;

(13) pass release, catch;

(14) pass release, drop; and

(15) pass release, impact with ground.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to identify a first football event comprising an initiation of a pass of the football and to determine an elapsed time for a second football event from the initiation of the passing of the football.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to identify a first football event comprising a punt of the football and to determine an elapsed time for a second football event from the initiation of the punt of the football, the second football event comprising a catch of the football or an impact of the football with ground.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to display a timing route having a distance component and an elapsed time from snap component, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to identify a first football event comprising a snap of the football, to determine an elapsed time from the snap of the football to a pass of the football satisfying the distance component.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, where the timing route being displayed has a target location and wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to determine whether motion of the football satisfies the target location based upon the input.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to identify a first football event comprising an initiation of a pass of the football and to determine a second location of the football at a second football event.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to determine a plurality of football events and to display the plurality of football event with at least one of timing and football position for each event.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to identify a first football event comprising initial ground impact of the football following one of a punt and a kickoff and to determine a motion distance of the football following the determined initial ground impact.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code configured to direct the processor to associate a location of the football for each of the at least one determined football event.

2. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one football event is selected from a group of football events consisting of:

an under center snap of the football;

a shotgun/quick snap of the football;

a multi-step drop back with the football;

a handoff of the football;

a pass release of the football;

pass flight of the football;

a catch of the football;

a drop of the football;

an initiation of a pass of the football;

a run with the football;

a punt of the football;

initial ground impact of the football;

a kickoff of the football; and

an onside kick of the football.

20. An apparatus for use with a portable performance system including a processor, a memory and a display, the training apparatus comprising:

an American-style football;

at least one sensor carried by the football to sense at least one attribute of the football;

at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor; and

a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code to direct the processor to;

display a target distance for motion of the football; and

determine an accuracy of the football satisfying the target distance based upon input from the at least one sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code to direct the processor to display a target time for the football satisfying the target distance and to determine an accuracy the football satisfying the target time based upon input from the at least one sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the target distance and the target time are for a football action selected from a group of football actions consisting of:

a pass of the football;

a punt of the football; and

a kickoff of the football.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the non-transient computer-readable medium contains code to direct the processor to display a target region of the football field and to determine an accuracy the football satisfying the target region based upon input from the at least one sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the target region of the football field is for a football action selected from a group of football actions consisting of:

a pass of the football;

a punt of the football; and

a kickoff of the football.