Systems and methods for measuring and/or analyzing swing information

• US 9,975,001 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Dugan
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US15/394,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20170106237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 473131, 473219, 473221, 473222, 473223, 473226, 473233, 473234
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• 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 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 : with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

In a first aspect, a method for monitoring a golf swing is provided that includes coupling a mobile telephone to a golf club and employing the mobile telephone coupled to the golf club to monitor acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings while a user swings the golf club, collect acceleration information based on the monitored acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings, analyze the collected acceleration information to determine one or more characteristics of the golf swing based on the collected acceleration information, and output information regarding the one or more characteristics of the golf swing on the display of the mobile telephone. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a golf swing comprising:

providing a mobile telephone having one or more accelerometers and a program stored therein that when executed by the mobile telephone causes the mobile telephone to;

monitor acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings;

collect acceleration information based on the monitored acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings;

analyze the collected acceleration information to determine one or more characteristics of a golf swing based on the collected acceleration information; and

output information regarding the one or more characteristics of the golf swing on a display of the mobile telephone;

coupling the mobile telephone to a golf club; and

generating, by the one or more accelerometers, a corresponding one or more electrical signals as the mobile telephone swings while a user swings the golf club, the one or more electrical signals indicative of an acceleration of the mobile telephone;

executing the program stored in the mobile telephone coupled to the golf club to;

monitor the acceleration of the mobile telephone as the mobile telephone swings while the user swings the golf club to produce acceleration information;

collect the acceleration information as the mobile telephone swings;

analyze the collected acceleration information to determine one or more characteristics of the golf swing based on the collected acceleration information; and

output information regarding the one or more characteristics of the golf swing on the display of the mobile telephone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to determine one or more of acceleration of the golf club, velocity of the golf club, and speed of the golf club.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to determine one or more of ball-club contact, ball-club contact timing and ball-club contact force.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to determine a number of swings of the golf club.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to determine one or more of predicted ball travel distance and predicted ball position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to detect wirelessly transmitted signals from multiple users.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to transmit swing information over the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to convert acceleration information into an audio signal and provides an audio signal indicative of swing tempo.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to compare a current swing to an ideal swing and output a cue if the current swing varies from an ideal swing in real time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one swing statistic for each one of a group of golfers to provide received swing statistics; and

executing the program to track the received swing statistics.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to detect wirelessly transmitted signals from multiple users and track swing statistics of a group of golf players.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to prompt a user to indicate when a swing is a practice swing.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to prompt a user to indicate when a swing is a practice swing by speaking a command.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to graph swing information.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to compare current swing information to historical swing information of a user.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising executing the program to compare current swing information to historical swing information of a golf pro.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to compare current swing tempo information of a user to historical swing tempo of the user or a golf pro.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to compare current swing speed information of a user to historical swing speed of the user or a golf pro.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing the program to compare current ball-club contact force information of a user to historical ball-club contact force of the user or a golf pro.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the mobile telephone to a golf club includes coupling the mobile telephone to a shaft of the golf club.