Golfer's head motion sensor

• US 4,502,035 A
• Filed: 07/11/1983
• Issued: 02/26/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SPORTS TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, 8457 E. DESERT STEPPES DR., TUCSON, AZ 85710, PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF CHARLES, E. BRODISH, 8805 S.E. 78TH ST., MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON, 98040, THOMAS W. MCCURNIN, 8451 E. DESERT STEPPES DR., TUCSON, AZ 85710, AND HAROLD R. LEE, 1932 PLACITA ANDUJAR, TUCSON, AZ 85744
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Brodish, James E. Obenauf
• Inventors: Obenauf, James E., Brodish, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/512,236
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 340/323 R, 340/669, 340/665, 340/384 E, 364/410, 116/222, 434/252, 273/183 B, 273/190 R, 273/190 A, 273/186 C
• US Class Current: 340/323.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

A device for sensing and indicating movement of a golf player'"'"'s head adapted to be worn upon the golfer'"'"'s cap proximate the side of the head, the motion sensor adapted to sense motion of the golfer'"'"'s head up and down and side to side, the motion sensor device outputting an electrical signal in accordance with movement acceleration sensed to a signal processing unit which generates a variable audio frequency electrical signal in accordance with electrical signal received from the motion sensor, and an audio output device receiving the electrical signals from the signal processing unit, the audio output device being such as an earphone worn in or near the golfer'"'"'s ear to indicate to the golfer in real time motion made by his head at and during the time that he makes his golf swing.

Claims

1. A device for sensing and in real time indicating movement of a golf player'"'"'s head comprising:

a motion sensor operably attached to the head of a golf player, said motion sensor continuously outputting an electrical signal proportional to the movement sensed;

a signal processing unit to receive signals from said motion sensor and to output a continuously processed signal; and

an audio output device adapted to receive the output from said signal processing unit and give audio indication of the movement sensed whereby said audio output device indicates audibly to the golf player that his head is moving.

2. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 1 wherein said motion sensor senses movement in at least two directions at a flat plane.

3. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 2 wherein said motion sensor senses movement in the vertical and horizontal direction.

4. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 3 wherein said signal processing unit defines means to convert the received electrical signal to an electrical oscillator output.

5. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 4 wherein said audio output device comprises headphones adapted to be worn by the golf player.

6. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 5 wherein said signal processing unit includes a voltage to frequency processor.

7. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 6 wherein said signal processing unit additionally includes a filter and amplifier receiving said motion sensor output signal, said filter and amplifier providing a filtered and amplified signal to said voltage to frequency processor, and an amplifier and frequency emphasis network receiving the signal from said voltage to frequency processor, said amplifier and frequency emphasis network supplying a signal to said audio output device.

8. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 7 wherein said motion sensor defines a peizoceramic bender element mounted in a cantilevered construction to a reference surface, said reference surface operably attached to the golf player'"'"'s head.

9. The device for sensing and indicating movement as defined in claim 8 wherein said piezoceramic bender element is oriented in a vertical plane bisecting the golf player'"'"'s arms, shoulders, torso, and head.