U.S. patent application number 11/051087 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for real-time measurements for establishing database of sporting apparatus motion and impact parameters.
Invention is credited to Lim, Damon, Wang, Hongchuan, Wang, Hongyi, Yao, Jeffrey.
Application Number | 20050288119 11/051087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35506672 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050288119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang, Hongchuan ; et
al. |
December 29, 2005 |
Real-time measurements for establishing database of sporting
apparatus motion and impact parameters
Abstract
A sporting apparatus used by a person for engaging in a sporting
activity. The sporting apparatus includes a single or multiple
embedded MR sensors for measuring magnetic vectors of the earth
magnetic field for dynamically recording a path of motion of the
sporting apparatus in real time. In a preferred embodiment, the
sporting apparatus further includes one or multiple MEMS
accelerometer sensors for sensing acceleration of a designated
portion of the sporting apparatus for measuring impact velocity as
the designated portion impacting a ball. In a specific embodiment,
the sporting apparatus is a golf club wherein the accelerometer
sensors are disposed adjacent to the grip side of the shaft for
sensing the impact of the club head against a golf ball. In another
specific embodiment, the golf club further includes a magnetic
field sensor disposed near the grip end of the golf club for
measuring a motion path of the golf club.
Inventors: |
Wang, Hongchuan; (San Jose,
CA) ; Yao, Jeffrey; (Portola Valley, CA) ;
Lim, Damon; (Redwood City, CA) ; Wang, Hongyi;
(Cupertino, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERKINS COIE LLP
P.O. BOX 2168
MENLO PARK
CA
94026
US
|
Family ID: |
35506672 |
Appl. No.: |
11/051087 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60583876 |
Jun 28, 2004 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/362 20200801;
A63B 69/0024 20130101; A63B 69/36 20130101; A63B 2220/833 20130101;
A63B 69/3632 20130101; A63B 71/06 20130101; A63B 2209/08 20130101;
A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 2220/80 20130101; A63B 2220/40
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/223 |
International
Class: |
A63B 057/00 |
Claims
1. A method for providing sports performance feedback to a sports
player who is using a sporting implement, the method comprising:
using at least one magneto-resistive sensor embedded in said
sporting implement for measuring orientation parameters; and using
said orientation parameters for dynamically determining one or more
results from a set comprising: movement profile, velocity,
acceleration, impact angle, launch angle, face angle and impact
speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan of said
sporting implement.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically determining one or
more results further comprises using, embedded in said sporting
implement, at least one device from a set of devices comprising: a
microcontroller and a digital signal processor (DSP)
3. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring said orientation
parameters includes measuring three-dimensional earth magnetic
field vectors associated with a motion of said sporting
implement.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using at least one
accelerometer sensor for measuring acceleration parameters
associated with a motion of said sporting implement for dynamically
determining said one or more results.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating said
parameters and said one or more results to a remote computer for
further processing using wireless mechanisms.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said wireless mechanisms
comprises one or more of: infrared, Blue Tooth, WiFi, Zigbee, and
Radio Frequency transmission.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating said
parameters and said one or more results to a remote computer for
further processing using wire-based mechanisms.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said wire-based mechanisms
comprises one or more of: RS232, SPI, USB and I.sup.2C.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a communication
module embedded in said sporting implement, said communication
module for sending said parameters and said one or more results to
a remote computer for further processing.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a portable
display module capable of communicating with said sporting
implement, said display module for displaying said one or more
results.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a memory module
embedded in said sporting implement, said memory module for storing
data associated with said at least one magneto-resistive sensor and
said feedback.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a remote
database for storing said one or more results.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a remote
database for comparing said one or more results with corresponding
performance results associated with other sports players.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a remote
database for comparing said one or more results with corresponding
historical data of associated with a past performance of said
sports player.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameters are used for
tracking and diagnosing a performance of said sports player during
use of said sporting implement.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein said sporting implement is any
one of a set of implements comprising: a baseball bat, a cricket
bat, a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a squash racket, a boxing
glove.
17. A system for providing sports performance feedback to a sports
player who is using a sporting implement, the system comprising: at
least one magneto-resistive sensor and at least one accelerometer
sensor embedded in said sporting implement for measuring velocity,
acceleration and orientation parameters; and wherein said
parameters are used for dynamically determining one or more results
from a set comprising: movement profile, launch angle, face angle
and impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path
plan.
18. A system for providing sports performance feedback to a sports
player who is using a sporting implement, the system comprising:
means for measuring velocity, acceleration and orientation
parameters; and means for dynamically determining, based on said
parameters, one or more results from a set comprising: movement
profile, launch angle, face angle and impact speed, hitting zone,
direction of swing and swing path plan.
19. A system for providing sports performance feedback to a sports
player who is using a sporting implement, the system comprising: at
least one magneto-resistive sensor and at least one accelerometer
sensor embedded in said sporting implement for measuring velocity,
acceleration and orientation parameters; wherein said parameters
are for dynamically determining one or more results from a set
comprising: movement profile, launch angle, face angle and impact
speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan; at
least one device, embedded in said sporting implement, from a set
of devices comprising: a microcontroller and a digital signal
processor (DSP) for dynamically determining said one or more
results; at least one display module embedded in said sporting
implement, said display module for displaying said one or more
results; and at least one communication module embedded in said
sporting implement, said communication module for sending said
parameters to a remote computer for further processing.
20. A method for providing sports performance feedback to a sports
player who is using a sporting implement, the method comprising:
using sensors embedded in said sporting implement for measuring
velocity, acceleration and orientation parameters; and using said
parameters for dynamically determining one or more results from a
set comprising: movement profile, launch angle, face angle and
impact speed, hitting zone, direction of swing and swing path plan.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims benefit of Provisional Application
60/583,876, entitled, Real-Time Measurements For Establishing
Database of Sporting Apparatus Motion and Impact Parameters, filed
Jun. 28, 2004, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated
by reference as if fully set forth herein, under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to design of
microelectronic systems and methods for providing real-time
measurements of the motion and impact parameters of sporting
equipment. More particularly, this invention is related to the use
of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and magneto-resistive
(MR) sensors and other microelectronics installed in sporting
equipment such as a golf club, a hockey stick, a boxing glove, a
tennis racket or a baseball bat to obtain real-time motion
parameter measurements for analyzing a player's performance and for
establishing diagnostic and training databases associated with a
given sport.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional methods of measuring instantaneous position,
orientation and velocity of sporting equipment such as golf clubs,
hockey sticks and baseball bats are limited by the high-cost
measurement equipment such as high speed cameras, laser array and
photo detector array. Such high-cost equipments are typically
limited to club design and club-fit in R&D laboratories and/or
pro shops as in the golf industry, for example. Further, the
unwieldy size of the measurement equipment prevents the use of such
equipment during actual play of the sport.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a cross section diagram of the club shaft at the
grip end that illustrates the relative location of the sensors in
the system.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic that represents a golfer's swing of a
golf club.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic that illustrates the roll angle.
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates the magnetic field vector in the
horizontal plane relative to the earth coordinate system.
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates the coordinate system of the earth's
magnetic field vector in the shaft coordinate system relative to
the earth coordinate system.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a flow chart that illustrates a process flow for
calculating parameters associated with a sporting implement at
impact.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to certain embodiments, an embedded sensing system
is disposed in optimally selected locations of a sporting
implement, such as a golf club, a baseball bat, a tennis racket, a
hockey stick, a boxing glove, etc. The embedded system includes
sensors that are small in size, accurate and capable of high speed
measurements in order to reliably and dynamically measure, record
and/or transmit the measurements to a processor. According to
certain embodiments, the sporting implement includes sensors as
described herein, an embedded micro controller or digital signal
processor (DSP), a memory, an optional display and an embedded
communication module. The sensors include one or more
magneto-resistive (MR) magnetic field or compass sensors.
[0011] According to certain embodiments, the MR sensors are used
for dynamically measuring the three-dimensional magnetic vectors
through the motion of the sporting apparatus, as in a golf swing or
swing of a hockey stick, for example. For purposes of explanation,
a golf club is used as an example. However, the embedded sensing
system can be used for other sporting implements and can vary from
implementation to implementation. The sporting implements include
but are not limited to baseball bats, cricket bats, hockey sticks,
tennis rackets, squash rackets, boxing gloves, etc. The sensors
also include one or more MEMS accelerometer sensors for measuring
the accelerations experienced by the sporting implement along
various axes. Thus, the measurements made by the MR sensors and the
MEMS sensors are used as input data into the micro controller or
DSP for dynamically determining the movement profile, the launch
angle, the face angle, and impact speed, and vibration
characteristics of the sporting implement. Such parameters can be
used for tracking and diagnosing the performance of the sportsman
who is using the sporting implement. Such parameters can be sent
through the communication module to a base station for further
processing. The communication module can send data to the base
station from the micro controller or DSP through wireless
mechanisms such as infrared, Blue Tooth, WiFi, Zigbee or other
Radio Frequency (RF) transmission mechanism. The communications
module can also send data through RS232, SPI, USB or I.sup.2C and
other wire based transmission mechanisms.
[0012] The one or more embedded MR sensors are adapted for
measuring relative changes of earth magnetic field in projection
with respect to the multiple axes for dynamically recording the
motion path, impact angle and launch angle of the sporting
implement in real-time. In one embodiment, the sporting apparatus
further includes one or more MEMS accelerometer sensors for sensing
acceleration along multiple axes of a designated portion of the
sporting implement for sensing impact velocity (when the designated
portion impacts a ball, for example) and the tilt angle between the
sporting implement shaft and the earth gravitational direction.
According to one embodiment, the sporting implement is a golf club
where the accelerometer sensors and the magnetic sensors are
disposed inside of the club shaft near the grip end for sensing a
club head motion for measuring the velocity, club head orientation,
hitting spot and motion path of the golf club head when a club head
impact against a golf ball. According to certain other embodiments,
the accelerometer sensors and the magnetic sensors are disposed
inside of the club shaft near the grip end of the shaft.
[0013] The sensors, micro controllers or DSP, memory and
communication modules can be separate semiconductor chips that are
mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) or connected by wires.
Alternatively, the sensors, micro controllers or DSP, memory and
communication modules can be integrated on a single chip that
utilizes Application Specific Integrated Circuit Chip (ASIC) or
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) technologies that are capable
of integrating several functions in a single chip.
[0014] The memory in the embedded sensing system can be flash
memory or DRAM for storing the programs used by the micro
controller or DSP and for storing the measurement data from the
sensors. The flash memory can also be used to transport the data
from the sporting apparatus to the base station for further
analysis.
[0015] The base station is a separate unit that is not embedded in
the sporting implement. The base station has a central processing
unit (CPU) or a DSP, memory, display and communications modules to
receive data transmitted by the embedded micro controller or DSP in
the sporting implement for further processing and analysis. The
base station can be but is not limited to a personal digital
assistant (PDA), a cell phone or a portable handheld computer.
[0016] According to certain embodiments, the MR and MEMS sensors
can be disposed adjacent to the club head for measuring the impact
force of the club head against a golf ball, for example. The
sensors can be mounted at the tip of the shaft of the golf club, or
at the tip of the grip end of the shaft using a mounting module to
be snapped onto the club.
[0017] Using the measurements from the sensors as described herein,
the following parameters can be determined using the calculation
methods described herein:
[0018] 1) angular difference of the sporting implement at moment of
impact with the target object (examples of target objects are golf
ball, hockey puck, baseball, etc.) compared with the address or
static position.
[0019] 2) speed of the sporting implement at the moment of impact
with the target object;
[0020] 3) direction of the sporting implement swing path;
[0021] 4) hitting zone of the sporting implement club face, if
applicable (e.g., golf club face or hockey stick hook end. etc.);
and
[0022] 5) determination of the swing plane.
[0023] The above parameters provide valuable evaluation feedback to
the sportsman. A database can be maintained for storing the above
parameters. The database can further include a data bank of data
values of the above parameters associated with the performance of
famous sportsman. Thus, a given player can analyze his performance
based on comparisons with the data values associated with the
performance of famous sportsman, or by comparing to another player
of similar handicap, age, swing pattern, physical attributes,
equipment used, etc.
[0024] Types of Sensors
[0025] The types of the sensors used in this design include a
single-axis or multiple-axis magneto-resistive compass sensor (e.g.
HMC1051 from Honeywell, Inc.) and a single-axis or multiple-axis
MEMS accelerometer sensor (e.g. ADXL202 from Analog Devices).
[0026] Parameters Measured by the Sensors
[0027] The MR sensor measures the magnetic vector of the earth
magnetic field along the MR sensor's axis. The MEMS accelerometer
sensor measures the acceleration along the MEMS sensor's axis.
[0028] The Installed Locations of the Sensors
[0029] The sensors can be installed anywhere between the tip and
the grip end of the club shaft. According to one embodiment, the
sensors are installed near the grip end. When the sensors are
installed near the grip end, there is minimum weight impact from
the sensors and accompanying circuitry. The larger shaft diameter
at the butt end is also convenient for installation of the sensors.
The sensor system also bears relatively less force at the butt end
of the shaft during the impact as compared to that at the club
head.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a cross section diagram of the club shaft at the
grip end that illustrates the relative location of the sensors in
the system. In FIG. 1, the sensors are mounted on a printed circuit
board (PCB) inside the shaft at the grip end of the shaft. The
cross section shown in FIG. 1 has a centerline 30. Sensors 21, 22,
23, 24 and 28 are single-axis MEMS accelerometers and sensors 25,
26 and 27 are MR earth magnetic field sensors. The axis of sensors
21, 22 and 26 are along the Y (11) direction. The axis of sensors
23, 25 and 28 are along the Z (12) direction. The axis of sensors
24 and 27 are along the X (10) direction. X (10) Y (11) Z (12) are
in the club shaft coordinate system.
[0031] However, according to certain embodiments, multiple-axes
sensors can be used. For example, a two-axis MR sensor can replace
the single-axis MR sensors 25 and 26. One two-axis accelerometer
sensor can replace sensors 22 and 24.
[0032] Impact Velocity Calculation Method
[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic that represents a golfer's swing of a
golf club. Rod 101 represents the arms of the golfer, having the
equivalent mechanical properties of his two arms, and rod 102
represents the golf club, having the mechanical properties of the
club used in the swing. The joint (103) between rod 101 and rod 102
is a fully articulated joint. Further, joint 103 also represents
the location of one set of sensors such as sensors 21, 22, 23, 24
of FIG. 1. The system rotates about an origin 100, which has a
horizontal acceleration. The horizontal acceleration is along a
direction in X.sub.H Y.sub.H plane. Location 104 is the location of
another set of sensors, such as sensors 25, 26, 27 and 28 of FIG.
1. From the above model, the club head velocity at the impact is
composed of three components. The three components are:
[0034] (1) The linear velocity of the rod 101 rotating around the
origin 100. This velocity component can be measured by an
accelerometer sensor (23) installed at joint 103;
[0035] (2) The linear velocity of the rod 102 rotating around the
fully articulated joint 103. This velocity component can be
measured by the centrifugal acceleration difference sensed by the
sensor 23 at joint 103 (A23) and sensor 28 at 104 (A28) and the
known distance between 103 and 104 (D(103-104)) and the distance
between joint 103 and the club head or the club length (D103);
and
[0036] (3) The velocity generated by the horizontal acceleration of
the origin 100. This component is small and can be added base on
the experimental results or simply neglected.
[0037] Shaft Rotation Acceleration Calculation Method
[0038] In a typical golf swing, the shaft can have a rotation
around centerline 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Such a rotation is for
purposes of modeling the waggle of golfer's wrist and hand. This
rotation acceleration can be measured by the acceleration
difference of sensor 21 (A21) and sensor 22 (A22). This rotation
acceleration is used in following roll angle calculation.
[0039] The Club Roll Angle (.theta.) Calculation Method
[0040] The roll angle (.theta.) is required for the launch angle
(.theta.) and face angle (.theta.) calculation. The roll angle is
defined as the angle between the club shaft and the gravitational
force. FIG. 3 is a schematic that illustrates the roll angle. In
FIG. 3, orthogonal coordinates X.sub.H 108, Y.sub.H 109, Z.sub.H
110 represent the earth coordinate system, and (X.sub.H, Y.sub.H)
plane is the horizontal plane. Location 104 is the location of
sensors as previously described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.
1. Angle 106 is the roll angle (.theta.), axis 105 is in the
direction of the earth's gravitational force. Axis 107 is an axis
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the club shaft and
parallel to the axis of the accelerometer sensor 21 installed at
location 103 of FIG. 1. The roll angle is the angle between the
horizontal plane and axis 107. The heading direction is in the
direction of X.sub.H 108 in the earth coordinate system. The
acceleration component A21 can be measured by sensor 21. Thus, the
roll angle (.theta.) can be calculated as arccosine (A21/g), where
g is earth gravity.
[0041] The shaft rotation will affect the roll angle measurement
and calculation. Therefore, instead of using A21 to calculate the
roll angle, (A21-A22) should be used.
[0042] The Static Club Launch (Pitch) Angle (.phi.) Calculation
Method
[0043] Before a golf swing, the golfer usually has a posture and
has the club close to the ball in an "address" position. At the
address position, a static launch angle or pitch angle (.phi.) can
be measured by sensor 24 and calculated as arccosine (A24/g), where
A24 is the acceleration measured by sensor 24 and g is earth's
gravity.
[0044] The Earth Magnetic Field Vector in Earth Gravity Direction
Calculation Method
[0045] If the orthogonal coordinates X.sub.H 108, Y.sub.H 109,
Z.sub.H 110 represent the earth coordinate system, and (X.sub.H,
Y.sub.H) plane is the horizontal plane, then Z.sub.H axis is the
direction of the earth's gravity. FIG. 4 illustrates the magnetic
field vector (Mx.sub.H113, My.sub.H114, Mz.sub.H115) in the
horizontal plane relative to the earth coordinate system. Angle 116
is the face angle. FIG. 5 illustrates the coordinate system of the
earth magnetic field vector (Mx117, My118, Mz119) in the shaft
coordinate system (i.e., embedded sensor coordinate system)
relative to the earth coordinate system X.sub.H 108, Y.sub.H 109,
Z.sub.H 110. Angle 120 is the launch angle, and angle 106 is the
roll angle. Mearth 111 is the earth's magnetic field. The earth's
magnetic field can be expressed as M (Mx.sub.H, My.sub.H,
Mz.sub.H), where Mz.sub.H is the same as M.sub.g and
M.sup.2=Mx.sub.H.sup.2+My.sub.H.sup.2- +Mg.sup.2. Because the angle
between the earth's magnetic field and the earth's gravity does not
change at any given location, M.sub.g will be constant at the given
location. Therefore, M.sub.g will not change with the club
motion.
[0046] At the address position when the golf shaft is static, the
following parameters can be measured from the sensors as previously
described:
[0047] shaft roll angle (.theta..sub.0) from sensor 21;
[0048] shaft pitch angle (.phi..sub.0) from sensor 24;
[0049] earth magnetic vector along X (10) direction Mx.sub.0 from
sensor 27;
[0050] earth magnetic field vector along Y (11) direction My.sub.0
from sensor 26; and
[0051] earth magnetic field vector along Z (12) direction Mz.sub.0
from sensor 25.
[0052] Mx.sub.0, My.sub.0 and Mz.sub.0 can be transformed back to
the horizontal plane (X.sub.H, Y.sub.H) by applying the rotational
equations shown below:
Mx.sub.H=Mx.sub.0*cos(.phi..sub.0)+My.sub.0*sin
(.phi..sub.0)*sin(.phi..su-
b.0)-Mz.sub.0*cos(.theta..sub.0)*sin(.phi..sub.0)
My.sub.H=My.sub.0*cos(.theta..sub.0)+Mz.sub.0*sin(.theta..sub.0)
Azimuth(face angle(.alpha..sub.0))=arc Tan(My.sub.H/MX.sub.H)
Therefore, M.sub.g.sup.2=M.sup.2-Mx.sub.H.sup.2-My.sub.H.sup.2
[0053] The Dynamic Launch Angle (.phi.) and Face Angle (.alpha.)
Calculation Method
[0054] During a golf swing at impact, the following parameters can
be measured by sensors:
[0055] shaft roll angle (.theta.) from sensor;
[0056] earth magnetic vector along X (10) direction Mx from sensor
27;
[0057] earth magnetic field vector along Y (11) direction My from
sensor 26; and
[0058] earth magnetic field vector along Z (12) direction Mz from
sensor 25.
[0059] Unlike the static situation, the pitch angle can not be
measured by the accelerometer sensor 24 due to the interference of
the shaft acceleration along the X (10) direction in the swing.
[0060] By using the same rotational equations shown below, Mx, My
and Mz can still be transformed back to the horizontal plan
(X.sub.H, Y.sub.H),
Mx.sub.H=Mx*cos(.phi.)+My*sin(.theta.)*sin(.phi.)-Mz*cos(.theta.)*sin(.phi-
.)
My.sub.H=My*cos(.theta.)+Mz*sin(.theta.)
Azimuth(face angle(.alpha.))=arc Tan(My.sub.H/Mx.sub.H)
M.sub.g.sup.2=M.sup.2-Mx.sub.H.sup.2-My.sub.H.sup.2
Therefore,
Azimuth(face angle(.alpha.))=arc Tan((My.sub.H/root
square(M.sup.2-M.sub.g.sup.2-My.sub.H).sup.2)=arc
Tan(((My*cos(.theta.)+M- z*sin(.theta.))/root
square(M.sup.2-M.sub.g.sup.2-(My*cos(.theta.)+Mz*sin(-
.theta.)).sup.2)
Launch angle(.phi.)=arc sine((-B+/-root
square(B.sup.2-4AC))/2A)
[0061] Where A=Mx.sup.2+((Mz*cos (.theta.)-My*sin (.theta.)).sup.2,
B=2*(Mz*cos (.theta.)-My*sin (.theta.))*root square
(M.sup.2-M.sub.g.sup.2-(My*cos (.theta.)+Mz*sin (.theta.)).sup.2),
and C=M.sup.2-M.sub.g.sup.2-Mx.sup.2-(My*cos (.theta.)+Mz*sin
(.theta.)).sup.2
[0062] The three axis MR sensor orientation on the PCB board can be
varied as long as the angle between one of its axes and the shaft
longitudinal direction is known. A fix angle rotation operation can
bring the coordinates back to the (Mx, My, Mz) coordinates
discussed above.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a flow chart that illustrates a process flow for
calculating parameters associated with a sporting implement at
impact. At block 601, the sensing and DSP system (embedded and
non-embedded) are initialized. At block 602, some data is input
into the base station (such as a PDA) and the sensors are
calibrated at block 604. Examples of data that is input into the
base station are arm length of the player, and height of the
player. The sensors can be calibrated based on a table lookup
automatically performed by the base station, or the base station
can be equipped to calculate the calibration. In the case of a
table look-up, the table of data can be resident on the base
station or can be downloaded over-the-air onto the base station
from an appropriate server. The sensors need to be calibrated based
on the geographic location where the game is played. At block 606,
static position (address position, for example) measurements are
taken. At block 608, the sporting implement is swung and impact of
the sporting implement against a target object (such as a golf
ball, shuttle cock, etc.) takes pace. At block 610, the impact
velocity, the roll angle, the face angle, the launch angle and the
hitting zone are calculated. At block 612 the swing path is
calculated. At block 614, the measurements and results are stored
in the base station such as a PDA. At block 616, the results are
displayed on a display device such as the PDA and the results and
measurement can be optionally transmitted (uploaded) to a
relational database. The relational database can be web-based. At
block 618, the process flow is complete and the system is
reset.
[0064] In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention
have been described with reference to numerous specific details
that may vary from implementation to implementation. The
specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an
illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *