Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods in a team sports environment

• US 8,172,722 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Molyneux, James, Weast, Aaron B., Burroughs, Brandon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/630,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20100184563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 473198-200, 473/405, 473/570, 463/7, 434/251, 434/247, 702/138, 702/141, 702/142, 482 1- 9, 482900-902
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 : Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• 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 2220/89 : Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 : Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 : Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 : American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 : Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 43/00 : Balls with special arrangements
• 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 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/081 : fluid-filled, e.g. air-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 : for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 : using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 : wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/82 : wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/65 : Entertainment or amusement; Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 20/10 : relating to the environment, e.g. temperature; relating to location
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 40/10 : Detection; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

Systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like, are described. These systems and methods can provide useful metrics for players and coaches relating to athletic performances in various sports, including various team sports.

Claims

1. A game ball, comprising:

a force sensor for detecting changes in internal forces within the game ball during a time period;

an inertial sensor for detecting changes in motion of the game ball during the time period; and

a propulsion determination module for processing data generated by the force sensor and data generated by the inertial sensor for determining which one of a throwing action and a kicking action was used to propel the game ball away from a user during the time period, the propulsion determination module for determining that the ball was propelled away from the user by a kicking action when;

(a) the force sensor indicates an internal force amount above a first predetermined threshold, caused by impact propelling the game ball, lasting less than a first predetermined time period before falling below the first predetermined threshold, and (b) the inertial sensor indicates a change in a ball movement characteristic above a second predetermined threshold.

2. A game ball according to claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor includes an accelerometer.

3. A game ball according to claim 2, wherein the force sensor includes an internal ball gas pressure sensor.

4. A game ball according to claim 3, wherein the propulsion determination module processes pressure data generated by the pressure sensor and acceleration data generated by the accelerometer.

5. A game ball according to claim 1, the propulsion determination module for determining that the ball was propelled away from the user by a kicking action based on at least one of a duration of a pressure change within the ball and a rate of speed reduction by the ball.

6. A game ball according to claim 1, wherein the force sensor includes an internal ball gas pressure sensor.

7. A game ball according to claim 6, further comprising:

an output system for outputting data generated by the propulsion determination module.

8. A game ball according to claim 7, wherein the output system includes a memory for storing the data generated by the propulsion determination module for post game ball use download.

9. A game ball according to claim 7, wherein the output system includes a wireless transmission system.

10. A game ball according to claim 6, wherein the propulsion determination module compares the data generated by the pressure sensor and the data generated by the inertial sensor.

11. A game ball according to claim 3, wherein the first predetermined threshold is a pressure threshold and the second predetermined threshold is an acceleration threshold.

12. A game ball according to claim 1, further comprising:

an output system for outputting data generated by the propulsion determination module.

13. A game ball according to claim 12, wherein the output system includes a wireless transmission system.

14. A game ball according to claim 12, wherein the output system includes a memory for storing at least one of:

(a) the data generated by the force sensor and the inertial sensor or (b) data derived from data generated by the force sensor and the inertial sensor, for post game ball use download.

15. A game ball according to claim 1, wherein the propulsion determination module compares the data generated by the force sensor and the data generated by the inertial sensor.

16. A system for monitoring motion of a game ball, comprising:

a game ball;

a force sensor for detecting changes in internal forces within the game ball during a time period;

an inertial sensor for detecting changes in ball motion during the time period; and

a ball motion monitoring system for processing at least one data set selected from the group consisting of;

(a) data generated by the force sensor and data generated by the inertial sensor or (b) data derived from the data generated by the force sensor and data derived from the data generated by the inertial sensor, said ball motion monitoring system further for determining which one of a throwing action and a kicking action was used to propel the game ball away from a user during the time period, wherein the ball motion monitoring system determines that the ball was propelled away from the user by a kicking action when;

(a) the force sensor indicates a force above a first predetermined threshold, caused by impact propelling the game ball, lasting less than a first predetermined time period before falling below the first predetermined threshold, and (b) the inertial sensor indicates a change in a ball movement characteristic above a second predetermined threshold.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the inertial sensor includes an accelerometer.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the force sensor includes an internal ball gas pressure sensor.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the ball motion monitoring system determines which one of a throwing action and a kicking action was used to propel the game ball by processing pressure data generated by the pressure sensor and acceleration data generated by the accelerometer.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the first predetermined threshold is a pressure threshold and the second predetermined threshold is an acceleration threshold.

21. A system according to claim 17, wherein the ball motion monitoring system determines that the ball was propelled away from the user by a kicking action based on a duration of a pressure change within the ball.

22. A system according to claim 16, wherein the force sensor includes an internal ball gas pressure sensor.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the ball motion monitoring system compares the data generated by the pressure sensor and the data generated by the inertial sensor.

24. A system according to claim 16, wherein the ball motion monitoring system determines that the ball was propelled away from the user by a kicking action based on a duration of a pressure change within the ball.

25. A system according to claim 16, wherein at least some portion of the inertial sensor is engaged with the game ball.

26. A system according to claim 16, wherein at least some portion of the force sensor is engaged with the game ball.