Sport performance systems for measuring athletic performance, and associated methods

• US 7,162,392 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology Incorporated (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Darcy, Dennis, Vock, Curtis A., Flentov, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/221,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702 94- 97, 702149-152, 702/160, 702/188, 702183-185, 342/357.06, 342450-451, 342/485, 342/460, 342/357
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• 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: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

System determines impact of a helmet, comprising: accelerometer and processor, the accelerometer detecting acceleration of the helmet, the processor configured to process the signals from the accelerometer to determine impact of the helmet. System determines athletic performance, comprising: pressure sensor for sensing change in elevation; microprocessor for processing signals from the pressure sensor to determine vertical speed corresponding to the change in elevation; and display for reporting the vertical speed to a user. System assesses athletic performance, comprising: protective housing configured for attachment to a human-powered sport vehicle; GPS sensor configured with the housing for generating earth position signals; microprocessor configured with the housing for processing the signals to determine speed and distance traveled of the sport vehicle; and display configured with the housing for displaying one or both of the speed and distance traveled to a user of the human-powered sport vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for assessing athletic performance, comprising:

a protective housing for attachment to a person or to a human-powered sport vehicle;

a GPS sensor configured with the housing for generating earth position signals;

a microprocessor configured with the housing for processing the signals to determine at least one of speed and distance traveled of the person or human-powered sport vehicle; and

a data unit for reporting one or both of the speed and distance traveled to the person or to a user of the human-powered sport vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory for storing map data from which the microprocessor reports features along a path taken by the person or sport vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory for storing map data, the processor configured to display, on the data unit, a user position using the map data.

4. The system of claim 1, the sport vehicle comprising a bike.

5. The system of claim 1, the sport vehicle comprising a snowboard, ski, windsurf board or mask, roller blade boot, skate board, or kayak.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter configured with the housing for transmitting data indicative of one or both of the speed and distance traveled to the data unit.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a wireless receiver configured with the data unit for receiving the data from the wireless transmitter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the data unit comprises a display.

9. The system of claim 8, the data unit comprising a watch.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising headphones for audibly reporting one or both of the speed and distance traveled to the person or user.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the GPS sensor is integrated with clothing to be worn by the person.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising memory for storing map data, wherein the microprocessor utilizes the map data in determining one or both of the speed and distance traveled.

13. A system of claim 1, further comprising memory for storing at least one map, the microprocessor configured to identify terrain features near to the person and based on the map.

14. A system for assessing sporting performance, comprising:

a protective housing for attachment to a person or to a human-powered sport vehicle;

a GPS sensor configured with the housing for generating earth position signals;

a microprocessor configured with the housing for processing the signals to determine sporting performance data associated with the person or the human-powered sport vehicle;

a data unit for reporting the sporting performance data to the person or to a user of tho human-powered sport vehicle;

a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the sporting performance data; and

a wireless receiver connected with the data unit for wirelessly receiving the sporting performance data.

15. The system of claim 14, the microprocessor further configured to determine, from signals of the GPS sensor, one or more of drop distance, airtime, distance traveled, speed and height, as the sporting performance data.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising memory for storing map data, wherein the microprocessor utilizes the map data in determining the sporting performance data.

17. A system of claim 14, further comprising memory for storing at least one map, the microprocessor configured to identify terrain features near to the person and based on the map.