Proprioceptive golf club with analysis, correction and control capabilities

Abstract

A method of analyzing the swing of a sport implement and player over time in three dimensional space involving implanting implement sensors at numerous locations in the implement adapted for measurement of linear motion on three axes and angular motion on said three axes, such as: linear motion inertial sensors; angular motion sensors; axial strain gauges; flexural strain gauges; and torsional strain gauges. Player sensors are set at a number of locations on the player's body, also adapted for measurement of linear motion on three axes and angular motion on said three axes. Data from the sensor suites are communicated via a wireless communications device to a processing unit by: infrared; radio frequency; or the Bluetooth system. Data is processed from the sensor units to derive an output communicated to the player via an interface such as: visual graphics display; text display; sound interface; tactile device; and vibratory device. The output includes an actuator signal communicated to actuator units engaging at least two actuatable portions of the sport implement moveable relative to each other, such as: solenoids; fluid power cylinders; piezoelectric actuators; magnetic actuators; magneto-restrictive actuators; and rheological fluid actuators.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of analysing the swing of a sport implement and player over time in three dimensional space, the sport implement having a manual grip on a shaft supporting a head with a strike face, the method comprising: 
 implanting an implement sensor suite comprising a plurality of implement sensors disposed at a plurality of locations in the implement, the implement sensors adapted for measurement of linear motion on three axes and angular motion on said three axes, the implement sensors selected from the group consisting of: linear motion inertial sensors; angular motion sensors; axial strain gauges; flexural strain gauges; and torsional strain gauges;    attaching a player sensor suite comprising a plurality of player sensors disposed at a plurality of locations on the player's body, the player sensors adapted for measurement of linear motion on three axes and angular motion on said three axes, the player sensors selected from the group consisting of: linear motion inertial sensors; and angular motion sensors;    communicating data acquired from the sensor suites via a wireless communications device to a processing unit, the wireless device selected from the group consisting of: infrared; radio frequency; and the Bluetooth system;    processing data from the sensor units with the processing unit to derive an output;    communicating the processor output to the player via an interface selected from the group consisting of: visual graphics display; text display; sound interface; tactile device; and vibratory device; and    wherein the output includes an actuator signal communicated to an actuator suite of actuator units engaging at least two actuatable portions of the sport implement moveable relative to each other, the actuator units selected from the group consisting of: solenoids; fluid power cylinders; piezoelectric actuators; magnetic actuators; magneto-restrictive actuators; and Theological fluid actuators.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the linear motion sensor is a micro electromechanical accelerometer.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the angular motion sensors are selected from the group consisting of: micro electromechanical gyroscopes; angular accelerometers; a plurality of coacting linear accelerometers.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the implement is a golf club and the actuator units are programmed to control the level of vibration induced within the shaft of the golf club.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the processor output is selected from the group consisting of: sensor position relative to a selected reference; sensor velocity; sensor acceleration; movement of swing rotation center; golf club head impact position; golf club face angle at impact; effective loft angle at impact; wrist cock angle; and swing tempo profile.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the processor output includes a parameter by parameter comparison of sensor data with an optimal model data set.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the processor output includes player body characteristics selected from the group consisting of: trunk angle tilt; body rotation; center of rotation shift; arm motion trajectory; and center of gravity shift.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein processor output includes a control signal communicating with the actuator suite.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the processing step includes processing techniques selected from the group consisting of: Kalman filtration; state estimation; and extrapolation of data to predict motion.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the sport implement is selected from the group consisting of: golf clubs; baseball bats; racquets; cricket bats; and fencing swords.