Golf free swing measurement and analysis system

• US 8,425,340 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golf Impact, LLC
• Original Assignee: Golf Impact, LLC
• Inventors: Davenport, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Application Number:
  US13/290,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20130059672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 534 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473150-154, 473/199, 473219-223, 473/266, 473/342, 473/409, 463/3, 463 36- 39, 434/252, 273/108.2, 702/41
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

The presented invention relates to a method for determining the effectiveness of a golfer'"'"'s swing without the requirement of the club head making contact with a golf ball. More specifically, the present invention relates to a measurement and analysis system comprising a first module that attaches to the club head and captures measurement receiver signal strength data during the entire swing time line and may capture motional data on same time line, further first module wirelessly communicates bi-directionally with a second module that is further connected to a user interface device and computational engine where feedback results are derived and conveyed to the golfer. The system provides comprehensive feedback for a swing characterization time line referenced to the spatial domain using receiver signal strength measurements that may be in combination with motional and dynamics orientation measurements.

Claims

1. A golf measurement and analysis system comprising:

a) a golf club comprising a golf club shaft and a golf club head attached to said golf club shaft and said golf club head comprising a club head face;

b) a first module attached to said golf club head comprising a first transceiver configured to;

(1) receive radio wave signals and measuring receiver signal strength with of said radio wave signals during a golf swing of said golf club with respect to time, thereby defining a receiver signal strength measurement time line;

(2) transmit radio wave signals defining a first module transmitted signal carrying said receiver signal strength measurement time line; and

c) a second module positioned at a predetermined spatial location near said golf swing of the golf club and comprising a second transceiver configured to;

(1) transmit said radio wave signals from at least one or more antennas to said first module, wherein the one or more antennas are;

(a) electrically connected to said second module; and

(b) placed at a second predetermined spatial location(s) near to said golf swing; and

(2) receive said first module transmitted signal carrying said received signal strength measurement time line at said one or more antennas.

2. The golf measurement and analysis system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more antennas comprises at least one antenna located within said second module.

3. The golf measurement and analysis system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more antennas comprises one or more optional remote antenna not located within said second module.

4. The golf measurement and analysis system of claim 3, further comprising:

d) a means of further transmitting said first module transmitted signal carrying signal receiver strength measurement time line received by said second module to a user interface device; and

e) a means of defining a relationship comprising;

i) if said one or more optional remote antennas are utilized, defining said relationship between said receiver signal strength measurement time line, said first predetermined spatial location, and said second predetermined spatial location(s); and

ii) if said one or more optional remote antennas are not utilized, defining said relationship between said receiver signal strength measurement time line and said first predetermined spatial location.

5. A golf club head module that is attachable to and detachable from a golf club head of a golf club, comprising:

a) a first circuit to measure receiver signal strength of a received radio frequency signal during a golf swing of said golf club with respect to time, defining a receiver signal strength measurement time line;

b) one or more sensors that measure motional characteristics of said golf club during said golf swing with respect to said time, defining a motional characteristics measurement time line, wherein said one or more sensors comprise at least one of;

one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, and one or more magneto resistive devices;

c) one or more second circuits configured to;

i) capture, process, and store said receiver signal strength measurement time line and said motional characteristics measurement time line in a synchronous fashion, defining synchronized measurements;

ii) wirelessly transmit said synchronized measurements; and

iii) receive wireless signals; and

d) an energy storage device that supplies power to said first circuit and said one or more second circuits.