System and methods for determining performance data

• US 6,959,259 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc., PhatRat Technology LLC (PhatRat Technology)
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology Incorporated (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Darcy, Dennis, Vock, Curtis A., Flentov, Peter, Burke, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/283,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 702/142, 702/149, 702150-152, 702/153, 702 94- 97, 702/143, 702/160, 702/188, 342104-107, 342/109, 342/113, 34235706-35714, 342/357.17, 342/450, 342/451, 342/458, 342/460
• US Class Current: 702/142
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/185 for ski-jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/19 : Skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/00 : Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 : for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 : for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/182 : for cross-country-skiing A63B23/0417, A63B69/0022 take precedence
• 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 71/10 : for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 : Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 : with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 : by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 : Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/16 : for erasable recording, e.g. magnetic recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/42 : Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means G01P3/66 takes precedence; measuring electric or magnetic values in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 : using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/60 : wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 : Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

The invention determines performance data during activity of a person. A microprocessor and a sensor, such as a GPS sensor, attach to the person or to a vehicle ridden by the person. The sensor and microprocessor may integrate in clothing or in a watch worn by the person. Wireless signals may be generated to a remote base station or to a watch. Performance data may for example include speed, drop distance, airtime and power.

Claims

1. A system for determining motion characteristics of a sportsman, comprising:

an accelerometer-based sensor for attachment with the sportsman, the accelerometer based sensor sensing acceleration of the sportsman during movement and processing the acceleration to determine airtime of the sportsman during the movement; and

a watch to be worn by the sportsman, the sensor wirelessly communicating data incorporating the airtime to the watch, the watch receiving the data and indicating the motion characteristics.

2. A system of claim 1, the sensor further processing the acceleration during the airtime to determine the motion characteristics, the sensor wirelessly communicating the data between the sensor and the watch to report, through the watch, the motion characteristics to the sportsman.

3. A system of claim 2, the motion characteristics comprising one or both of speed and distance traveled.

4. A system of claim 1, the sensor further processing the acceleration during the airtime to determine the one or both of distance traveled and speed of the sportsman during the airtime, the sensor wirelessly communicating the data between the sensor and the watch to report, through the watch, at least one of the speed said distance traveled as the motion characteristics to the sportsman.