U.S. patent application number 12/220125 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for rule based body mechanics calculation.
Invention is credited to Koun-Ping Cheng.
Application Number | 20090042661 12/220125 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39643258 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090042661 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Koun-Ping |
February 12, 2009 |
Rule based body mechanics calculation
Abstract
The invention is a motion training method. The motion of golf
swing will be emphasized. In order to guide a golfer through a
proper swing, his/her swing must be analyzed first. To analyze the
swing, a set of frame photos will be needed. From those frame
photos, the invented method will provide a rule based method to
calculate the body mechanics/forces of the golfer. Once the body
mechanics/forces are known, the system will then determine the
swing is correct or incorrect. If the swing is incorrect, the
system will then make suggestions to the golfer about how to
correct his/her swing.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Koun-Ping; (San
Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HENNEMAN & ASSOCIATES, PLC
714 W. MICHIGAN AVENUE
THREE RIVERS
MI
49093
US
|
Family ID: |
39643258 |
Appl. No.: |
12/220125 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11472891 |
Jun 22, 2006 |
7404774 |
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12220125 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/266 ;
382/107; 434/252; 700/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20130101;
G09B 19/0038 20130101; A63B 2024/0012 20130101; A63B 24/0003
20130101; A63B 69/00 20130101; A63B 2220/806 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/266 ;
434/252; 382/107; 700/91 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36; G06F 19/00 20060101 G06F019/00 |
Claims
1. A system for training a person to move his/her body in a desired
way, said system comprising: an interface for receiving sets of
sequential images of a person performing an activity, a first set
of said sets of sequential images being obtained from a first
angle, and a second set of said sets of sequential images being
obtained from a second angle different from said first angle; code
defining a set of physical rules associated with acceptable body
motion for said activity; stored data based at least in part on
said physical rules and indicative of acceptable body motion for
said activity; a calculator configured to calculate data indicative
of body motion of said person performing said activity based on
said physical rules by obtaining from said sets of sequential
images one or more sets of two-dimensional lines defined by points
on one or more objects in said images and calculating said data
indicative of body motion of said person using said sets of
two-dimensional lines; an analyzer operative to compare said data
indicative of body motion of said person performing said activity
with said stored data indicative of acceptable body motion; and a
suggestion interface operative to provide suggestions to said
person based on said comparison by said analyzer, said suggestions
indicating how said body motion of said person should be changed to
more closely match said acceptable body motion for said
activity.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein: one of said objects is
said person; and at least two of said points are points on said
person's body.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said at least two of said
points define a line corresponding to the position of said person's
spine.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein at least two more of said
points define a line associated with the shoulder position of said
person.
5. A system according to claim 3, wherein at least two more of said
points define a line associated with the hip position of said
person.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said
points are points on an object held by said person.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said object held by said
person is a golf club.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first angle and said
second angle are orthogonal to one another.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein: one of said first angle
and said second angle is a front angle; and the other of said first
angle and said second angle is a side angle.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said rules define the
rotation of said person's body around said person's spine.
11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said rules define a
plane of travel for an object swung by said person.
12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said data indicative of
said body motion of said person includes body acceleration
data.
13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said calculator is
operative to calculate rotation of a golf club.
14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said calculator is
operative to calculate rotation of said person's hand.
15. A computer-readable storage medium having code embodied therein
for causing a computer to facilitate a method for training a person
to move his/her body in a desired way, the method comprising:
obtaining a set of physical rules associated with acceptable body
motion for a particular activity; storing data indicative of said
acceptable body motion based at least in part on said physical
rules; obtaining from a first angle a set of sequential images of
said person performing said activity; obtaining from a second angle
different from said first angle another set of sequential images of
said person performing said activity; obtaining from said images a
set of two-dimensional lines defined by at least two points on one
or more objects in said images based on said physical rules;
calculating data indicative of body motion of said person
performing said activity based on said physical rules; comparing
said data indicative of body motion of said person performing said
activity with said data indicative of acceptable body motion; and
providing suggestions to said person based on said comparison of
said data indicative of body motion of said person performing said
activity with said data indicative of acceptable body motion.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein: one of said
objects is said person; and said at least two points are points on
said person's body.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein two of said
at least two points define a line corresponding to the position of
said person's spine.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein two more
points define a line associated with the shoulder position of said
person.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein two more
points define a line associated with the hip position of said
person.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein two of said
at least two points are points on an object held by said
person.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said object
held by said person is a golf club.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first
angle and said second angle are orthogonal to one another.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein: one of said
first angle and said second angle is a front angle; and the other
of said first angle and said second angle is a side angle.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said rules
define the rotation of said person's body around said person's
spine.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said rules
define a plane of travel for an object swung by said person.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said data
indicative of said body motion of said person includes body
acceleration data.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said step of
calculating data indicative of body motion of said person
performing said activity includes calculating rotation of a golf
club.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said step of
calculating data indicative of body motion of said person
performing said activity includes calculating rotation of said
person's hand.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/472,891, entitled "Rule Based Body
Mechanics Calculation," filed Jun. 22, 2006 by the same inventor
(now U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,774), which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Background Art
[0002] 1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,061, Nakashima, et al. Method and
apparatus for producing an instructional video analyzing a golf
swing.
[0003] 2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,878, Welch, Golf swing analysis
apparatus and method.
[0004] 3. U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,585, Miyamoto, et al. Swing
measurement method, golf swing analysis method, and computer
program product.
[0005] 4. United States Patent Application, 20040147330, DiMare,
Mark, Swing fault-correction matrix.
2. Other References
[0006] [1]. The Everything Golf Instruction Book by Rob Blumer and
Dr. Rex Chaney, Adams, 2003.
[0007] [2]. The Golf Doctor by Edward Craig, Hamlyn, 2004.
SUMMARY
[0008] This invention is related to a motion training/reforming
method. Using a video camera to record an action and later
reviewing each frame to analyze the movement, is a common practice
in many sports. For instance video a golfer's swing and analyze it
later. This has already been done for many years. In fact many
patents have already been issued for methods which analyze golf
swing by using video photos (see Background Art (1), (2) and (3)
above).
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,878 discloses a certain method of
analyzing a golf swing by using video photos. The foundation of
this method is completely based on motion capturing technology. A
set of 3D -points on the golfer's body and club is captured. The
(x, y, z)-coordinates of those 3D -points are calculated from at
least two sets of photos taking at different angles. Then the body
mechanics of the golfer are calculated by processing those captured
3D points with certain general processors.
[0010] Any motion, in general, is dominated by certain physical
laws/rules. For example, a golf swing is dominated by the following
two physical rules (see Other Reference [1] above), i.e. during the
swing,
[0011] (1) the golfer's upper body rotates around his/her backbone
and
[0012] (2) the backbone is almost constantly pointing at a fixed
direction.
[0013] However, these physical rules are completely ignored by U.S.
Pat. No. 5,823,878. If those rules can be used in the calculation
of the body mechanics, all the complicated system and processes
such as motion capturing mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,878 will
become unnecessary.
[0014] Starting with a set of frame photos, this invented method
will use a set of physical rules (including those mentioned above)
and a set of 2D lines to calculate the body mechanics/forces of the
golfer. Once the body mechanics/forces are known, we will have the
essential information of the golfer's swing. This essential
information will then provide the golfer with a clue of how to
correct his/her movement.
[0015] Although the motion of golf swing is emphasized, the
application of this invented method will not be limited to the golf
swing.
[0016] Although this invented method can be applied to different
kinds of motions, in order to make things clear we will concentrate
our motion just on golf swing. A good golf swing is composed of
correct body, hip, arm and club movements. The object of this
invented training method is to help train a golfer to move his/her
body, hip, arm and club correctly.
[0017] Using photos to help train a golfer is nothing new. However,
this inventive method will take a new approach. A set of
consecutive photos will be used as the input. A set of 2D lines on
the player's body will be selected from the photos. The selected
lines can either be the backbones (see FIG. 1), shoulder lines (see
FIG. 2), waist lines or any other meaningful lines. The player's
body mechanics will then be calculated from the motion of these
selected lines. To make the calculation simple, a set of physical
rules which dominates the motion of the swing, will be used. The
advantages of adapting physical rules are:
[0018] (1) The 3D technology such as motion capturing used in
calculating body mechanics (see background patent (2)) becomes
unnecessary.
[0019] (2) The 3D -points construction which is needed in the
classic method (see background patent (2)) will be either
unnecessary or greatly reduced.
[0020] Once the body mechanics/forces are known, the system will
then be able to determine whether the swing is correct or
incorrect. If the swing is incorrect, the system will then make
suggestions to the golfer about how to correct his/her swing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 contains a set of frame photos of a golf swing;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an illustration of how to obtain the (x, y,
z)-coordinates of a golfer's backbone;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows how to calculate the rotating angle of the
upper body;
[0024] FIG. 4 displays the acceleration diagrams of the upper
body;
[0025] FIG. 5 is an illustration of how to construct the waist
lines;
[0026] FIG. 6 is an illustration of how to obtain the (x, y,
z)-coordinates of the plane normal of a swing plane;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows how to calculate the rotating angle of the
club;
[0028] FIG. 8 displays the acceleration diagrams of the club;
[0029] FIG. 9 is an illustration of how to construct the hand and
arm lines; and
[0030] FIG. 10 is a data flow diagram of the system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(RULES-A)
[0031] During a golf swing, the golfer's body will:
[0032] (1) rotate around his/her backbone and
[0033] (2) the backbone is almost constantly pointing at a fixed
direction (see [1]).
The above physical rules dictate the motion of the golfer's upper
body. Deduced from these rules, to obtain a golfer's upper body
mechanics, we only need to calculate:
[0034] (1) the backbone positions of the golfer and
[0035] (2) the rotation angles of the body around the backbone.
[0036] How to calculate the backbone positions of the player 100 is
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 contains a sequence of golf
swing frame pictures
[0037] (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5).
Two fixed locations M1 and M2 are marked on the golfer's backbone
and are connected with a line (see FIG. 1). The same process is
repeated for all the frames. We will then have a set of lines
[0038] (B1, B2, B3, . . . ).
Note that for the reason of simplicity M1 and M2 are not drawn on
all the frames.
[0039] Once we have the geometry of (B1, B2 . . . B5), the next
step is to get the (x, y, z)-coordinates of (B1, B2 . . . B5). To
get the (x, y, z)-coordinates we need both the front and side
views. 201 and 203 of FIG. 2 shows the (x, y) components of B 1.
202 and 204 of FIG. 2 shows the (y, z) components of B1. Add the
z-component of (y, z) to (x, y) and we will have the (x, y,
z)-coordinates of B1. Repeat the same process for all the frames
and we will have all the (x, y, z)-coordinates of B1, B2 . . .
B5.
[0040] With the backbone positions defined, we can now calculate
the upper body rotation angles around the backbone. In 301 of FIG.
3 for each frame photo we select two fixed locations M3 and M4 on
the shoulder. Connect M3 and M4 with a line. Repeat the same
process for all the frames. We will then have a set of lines:
[0041] (S1, S2 . . . S5).
Let A1 be the upper body rotating angle of the first frame. Note
that to calculate A1, is equivalent to calculate the rotating angle
which rotates line S1 to S2 around the backbone B1 (see 302 of FIG.
3). Also note that the calculation of A1 is straight forward. There
is no need to calculate the z-component of S1 and S2. We only need
to treat the z-component of S1 as zero and ignore the z-component
of S2. Repeat the same process for all the frames. We will then
have all the angles
[0042] (A1, A2 . . . A5).
[0043] In FIG. 4, we redraw all the backbones Bi (i=1, 2 . . . 5)
by giving (1) equal distance on x-direction and (2) the length of
Bi equals Ai. The diagram we obtained is called the body
acceleration diagram DIAG-BODY 402 (FIG. 4) and it represents the
upper body mechanics of the golfer. The upper body acceleration
diagram can be used to determine if the golfer moves his/her upper
body correctly. The determination is done by comparing the diagram
generated by the golfer with a correct one stored in database. See
DIAG-BODYD 401 (FIG. 4).
[0044] The diagram stored in database is either known as the expert
knowledge or predefined conditions.
[0045] 401 of FIG. 4 is a correct acceleration diagram stored in
database and 402 is an incorrect acceleration diagram generated by
the golfer. From the comparison of these two diagrams, the system
can obviously make a suggestion to the player that he/she needs to
rotate his/her upper body more during the down swing.
[0046] Same as the upper body, the hip mechanics of a golf swing
(i.e. the angle that the hip rotates around the backbone) can also
be calculated in the same way. The only difference is that to
calculate the angles we use the waist lines
[0047] (W1, W2 . . . W5)
Instead of the shoulder lines (S1, S2 . . . S5).
[0048] FIG. 5 shows how to construct the waist lines. Select two
fixed locations M1 and M2 on the waist, and then connect M1 and M2
with a line W1. Note that only W1 is drawn in FIG. 5. For the
simplicity of drawing, W2, W3 . . . W5 are not shown. (RULES-B)
[0049] (a) During a golf swing, the club head stays in a plane and
this plane is known as the swing plane ([1]).
[0050] (b) The golfer's hand (or arm) will also stay in a slightly
different plane.
In 601 of FIG. 6 PL is the swing plane of the club head and PN is
the plane normal of PL. The (x, y z)-coordinates of PN are shown in
601 and 602 of FIG. 6. In 701 of FIG. 7, two fixed points M1 and M2
are selected on the club. Connect M1 and M2 we will have a line.
Repeat the same process and we will have a set of lines
[0051] (C1, C2 . . . C5).
Note that for simplicity only C1 and C2 are drawn.
[0052] In 702 of FIG. 7, we define the angle AN1 as the rotating
angle from C1 to C2 around the plane normal PN. Similar to the
calculation of the said body angle A1, the calculation of AN1 is
also straight forward. Repeat the same calculation and we will have
all the club angles
[0053] (AN1, AN2 . . . AN5).
[0054] In FIG. 8 we construct a diagram by giving the y-values at
xi equals ANi, where i=1, 2 . . . 5. The diagram we obtained here
is called the club acceleration diagram DIAG-CHA 802, shown in FIG.
8.
[0055] Similar to body acceleration, the club acceleration diagram
can also be used to determine if the golfer moves his/her club
correctly. The determination is done by comparing the diagram
generated by the golfer with a correct one stored in database. See
diagram DIAG-CHAD 801 (FIG. 8).
[0056] The diagram stored in database is either known as the expert
knowledge or predefined conditions.
[0057] FIG. 8 shows a correct acceleration diagram DIAG-CHAD 801
stored in database and an incorrect acceleration diagram DIAG-CHA
802 generated by the golfer. From the comparison of these two
diagrams, once again the system can obviously make suggestion to
the player that he/she needs to accelerate the club more during the
down swing.
[0058] The hand (or arm) mechanics can also be calculated in the
same way as the club rotation. The only differences are:
[0059] (a) hand (or arm) rotates around a slightly different plane
PL'. The plane normal PN' of PL' is very close to PN. The (x, y,
z)-coordinates of PN' can also be obtained in the same way as
PN.
[0060] (b) we use hand lines
[0061] (H1, H2 . . . H5) or arm lines
[0062] (AM1, AM2 . . . AM5)
[0063] Instead of club lines (C1, C2 . . . C5).
[0064] FIG. 9 shows how to construct lines (H1, H2 . . . H5) and
(AM1, AM2 . . . AM5). Three fixed locations M1, M2 and M3 are
selected. Line H1 is constructed by connecting M1 and M2 and the
line AM1 is constructed by connecting M1 and M3. Note that only H1
and AM1 are drawn in FIG. 9. For simplicity, the rest of lines are
not drawn.
[0065] Similarly, once the hand (or arm) mechanics are calculated,
we can also construct the hand (or arm) acceleration diagram
DIAG-CHA 802 (FIG. 8). Furthermore the system can then make
suggestion to the player by comparing the diagram generated by the
golfer with the one stored in database. See DIAG-CHAD 801 (FIG.
8).
[0066] Once again the diagram stored in database is either known as
the expert knowledge or predefined conditions.
[0067] FIG. 10 shows the data flow of the system. Video photos 1001
are the input to the system. Physical rules 1002 are used for
calculation. The body mechanics are calculated in 1003. The results
of 1003 are passed to 1004 for swing analysis. The results of 1004
are used by 1005 to give advices to the golfer.
[0068] Note that in calculating the body mechanics of a golf swing,
rules RULES-A and RULES-B are used as the foundation of the
calculation. For other sports such as baseball or tennis the
player's body mechanics will satisfy a different set of physical
rules. To calculate the body mechanics, these different rules
should be used.
* * * * *