Motion capture and analysis

• US 8,589,114 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NewSpin Sports, LLC
• Original Assignee: NewSpin Sports, LLC
• Inventors: Papadourakis, Angelo Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, TOAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/194,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 702/145, 702/33, 702/41, 702/81, 702/84, 702 94- 96, 702/127, 702141-142, 702150-153, 702182-183, 702188-189, 473/131, 473201-202, 473/206, 473/209, 473212-213, 473218-219, 473222-224, 473/228, 473265-266, 473/282, 473/407, 473/409, 73 137- 139, 73/17.9, 734/88, 734/93, 7350402-50403, 73510-511, 7351401-51402, 434/252, 703/2
• US Class Current: 702/145
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/065 Racketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 : for golf
• 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: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 : for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration

Abstract

Motion capture and analysis is described, including a motion sensor unit configured to capture data associated with movement of an object, to process the data to determine one or more values, to store the data and the one or more values, and to convert the data and the one or more values from an analog signal to a digital signal associated with a wireless transmission, and a display unit configured to receive the data from the motion sensor unit, the data being transmitted using through the wireless transmission, to process the data to determine one or more values, to store the data, and to graphically present the data and the one or more values.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a non-wearable motion sensor unit configured to be adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface at a first location on an object using an adjustable attachment mechanism, the object being used in a physical activity, the non-wearable motion sensor unit being further configured to be removed from the object and adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, another outer surface of another object using the adjustable attachment mechanism and to capture data associated with movement of the object, to process the data to determine one or more values, to store the data and the one or more values, to translate the values to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location, and to convert an analog signal to a digital signal comprising the data and the one or more values; and

a display unit configured to receive the data from the non-wearable motion sensor unit, the data being transmitted using through the wireless transmission, to process the data to determine one or more values, to store the data, and to graphically present the data and the one or more values.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises acceleration data associated with the object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises angular momentum data associated with the object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a maximum velocity associated with the object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a graphical path associated with the object.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a velocity associated with the object at a time when the object impacts another object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate an angle associated with the object at a time when the object impacts another object.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more values indicate a trajectory associated with the object adheres to a fixed plane.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit coupled to the non-wearable motion sensor unit, the control unit being configured to receive input.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphic indicator unit coupled to the non-wearable motion sensor unit, the graphic indicator unit being configured to present the data and the one or more values.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to graphically present the data and the one or more values as an image.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to graphically present an image comprising the data and the one or more values.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-wearable motion sensor unit is detachably and adjustably coupled to the object.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is a display mat.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a golf club.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a baseball bat.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a tennis racket.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a hockey stick.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a fishing pole.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a racquetball racquet.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a squash racquet.

22. A system, comprising:

a non-wearable motion sensor unit configured to be adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface at a first location on an object using an adjustable attachment mechanism, the object being used in a physical activity, the non-wearable motion sensor unit being further configured to be removed from the object and adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, another outer surface of another object using the adjustable attachment mechanism and comprising a motion measurement unit configured to capture data associated with movement of the object;

a processor configured to process the data to determine one or more values associated with movement of the object, and to translate the values to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location;

a wireless transmitter being coupled to the non-wearable motion sensor unit, the wireless transmitter being configured to transmit the data; and

a display unit comprising a display and a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver being coupled to the display unit and configured to send and receive the data from the non-wearable motion sensor unit and another processor configured to process the data and generate an image based on the data.

23. A system, comprising:

a non-wearable motion sensor unit configured to be adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface at a first location on an object using an adjustable attachment mechanism, the object being used in a physical activity, the non-wearable motion sensor unit being further configured to be removed from the object and adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, another outer surface of another object using the adjustable attachment mechanism, the motion sensor unit comprising a three-dimensional accelerometer and a gyroscope configured to capture data associated with movement of the object, a processor configured to process the data to determine one or more values associated with movement of the first location on the object and to translate the values to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location, and a wireless transmitter coupled to the non-wearable motion sensor unit, the wireless transmitter being configured to transmit and receive the data;

a display unit comprising a graphic display, a wireless transceiver coupled to the display unit, the wireless transceiver being configured to send and receive the data from the non-wearable motion sensor unit, and another processor configured to process the data and generate an image to be presented on the graphic display;

a portable handheld display unit comprising another graphic display, another wireless transceiver being coupled to the portable display unit, the another wireless transceiver being configured to send and receive the data from the non-wearable motion sensor unit; and

a further processor configured to process the data and generate another image to be presented on the another graphic display.

24. A method, comprising:

capturing data associated with movement of an object, the data corresponding to a first location on the object and being captured by a non-wearable motion sensor unit adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, an outer surface of the object at the first location using an adjustable attachment mechanism the object being used in a physical activity, the non-wearable motion sensor unit being further configured to be removed from the object and adjustably coupled to, but not mechanically integrated with, another outer surface of another object using the adjustable attachment mechanism;

processing the data to determine one or more values associated with the movement of the object;

translating the values to correspond to a second location on the object located away from the first location;

storing the data and the one or more values;

converting an analog signal to a digital signal, the digital signal comprising the data and the one or more values;

transmitting the digital signal using a wireless connection established between a wireless transmitter and a wireless transceiver; and

presenting the data and the one or more values graphically.