Methods and systems for analyzing the motion of sporting equipment

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for analyzing the motion of a sporting equipment, such as a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a football or a tennis racquet, for example. The systems comprises a motion sensing system in communications with the sporting equipment to measure motion parameters, wherein the motion sensing system has at least one at least one accelerometer or at least one gyroscope, and a command station having a data acquisition system to process the measured motion parameters and produce data. The motion sensing system may be located on the sporting equipment or, optionally, within the sporting equipment. The systems and methods described herein can be used to determine the impact location of the sporting equipment with another object, the force of the sporting equipment, the velocity of the sporting equipment and/or the angular orientation of the sporting equipment during a motion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for measuring motion of a sporting equipment, the system comprising: 
 a motion sensing system in communications with said sporting equipment to measure motion parameters, wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one of: at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a command station comprising a data acquisition system to process said measured motion parameters and produce data.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sporting equipment is at least one of the following: a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, a football and a tennis racquet.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said motion sensing system is located on said sporting equipment.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said motion sensing system is located within said sporting equipment.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one accelerometer is a micromachine device.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one gyroscope is a micromachine device.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said motion sensing system includes an accelerometer, a first gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a first axis and a second gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a second axis.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said motion sensing system includes: 
 a first gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a first axis;    a first accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a first axis;    a second gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a second axis;    a second accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis;    a third gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a third axis; and    a third accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis, and wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis and said third axis is orthogonal to said first and said second axes.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said data acquisition system processes said measured motion parameters and produces data representative of an impact location of said sporting equipment.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said data acquisition system processes said measured motion parameters and produces data representative of a velocity of said sporting equipment.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said data acquisition system processes said measured motion parameters to produce data representative of an angular orientation of said sporting equipment.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said motion sensing system comprises memory for storing said measured motion parameters.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said memory is detachable from said sporting equipment.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a transmitter to transmit said measured motion parameters to a command station.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said transmitter is a wireless communications transmitter.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter transmits said measured motion parameters in accordance with one of the following wireless communication protocols: Bluetooth and IEEE 804.12.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter is an Infrared-frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the data acquisition system includes a data error correction module for compensating for an error rate of said motion sensing system.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a command station that includes a display monitor.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said data acquisition system compares said produced data to previously stored data.  
     
     
         25 . A system for analyzing a golf swing, comprising: 
 a golf club head; and    a motion sensing system in communications with said golf club head to measure golf swing motion parameters, wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one of: at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a command station comprising a data acquisition system to process said measured motion parameters and produce data.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said motion sensing system is located on said golf club head.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said motion sensing system is located within said golf club head.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said motion sensing system includes an accelerometer, a first gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a first axis and a second gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a second axis.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said motion sensing system includes: 
 a first gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a first axis;    a first accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a first axis;    a second gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a second axis;    a second accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis;    a third gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a third axis; and    a third accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis, and wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis and said third axis is orthogonal to said first and said second axes.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said data acquisition system processes said measured motion parameters and produces data representative of an impact location of a golf ball on a club face of said club head.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said data acquisition system processes said measured motion parameters and produces data representative of a velocity of said club head.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said data acquisition system processes said measured motion parameters and produces data representative of an angular orientation of a club face of said club head.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein said data acquisition system provides an angular orientation of said club face when said club face impacts a golf ball.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said data acquisition system provides a reference angular orientation of said club face at an initiation of said golf swing.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said motion sensing system comprising memory for storing said measured motion parameters.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein said memory is detachable from said golf club.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a transmitter to transmit said measured motion parameters to a command station.    
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein said transmitter is a wireless communications transmitter.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter transmits said measured parameter data in accordance with one of the following wireless communication protocols: Bluetooth and IEEE 804.12.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter is an Infrared-frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the data acquisition system includes a data error correction module for compensating for an error rate of said motion sensing system.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a command station that includes a display monitor.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said data acquisition system compares said produced data to previously stored data.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said golf club head is a putter.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said golf club head is a driver.  
     
     
         50 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a club head;    a shaft; and    a motion sensing system to measure motion parameters of said golf club during a golf swing, wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one of: at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.    
     
     
         51 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system is located on said club head.  
     
     
         52 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system is located within said club head.  
     
     
         53 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system is located on said shaft.  
     
     
         54 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system is located within said shaft.  
     
     
         55 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.  
     
     
         56 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system includes an accelerometer, a first gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a first axis, and a second gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a second axis.  
     
     
         57 . The golf club of  claim 56 , wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis.  
     
     
         58 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system includes: 
 a first gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a first axis;    a first accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a first axis;    a second gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a second axis;    a second accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis;    a third gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a third axis; and    a third accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis, and wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis and said third axis is orthogonal to said first and said second axes.    
     
     
         59 . The golf club of  claim 50 , further comprising memory for storing said measured motion parameters.  
     
     
         60 . The golf club of  claim 59 , wherein said memory is detachable from said golf club.  
     
     
         61 . The golf club of  claim 50 , further comprising a transmitter to transmitting said measured motion parameters to a command station.  
     
     
         62 . The golf club of  claim 61 , wherein said transmitter is a wireless communications transmitter.  
     
     
         63 . The golf club of  claim 62 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter transmits said measured parameter data in accordance with one of the following wireless communication protocols: Bluetooth and IEEE 804.12.  
     
     
         64 . The golf club of  claim 62 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         65 . The golf club of  claim 62 , wherein said wireless communications transmitter is an Infrared-frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         66 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said motion sensing system is removable and replaceable from said golf club.  
     
     
         67 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said golf club is a putter.  
     
     
         68 . The golf club of  claim 50 , wherein said golf club is a driver.  
     
     
         69 . A method for analyzing a golf swing, comprising: 
 having a motion sensing system in communications with a golf club to measure golf swing motion parameters, wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one of: at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope; and    processing said measured motion parameters to produce data.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 locating said motion sensing system on a club head of said golf club.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 locating said motion sensing system within a club head of said golf club.    
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said motion sensing system comprises at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said motion sensing system includes an accelerometer, a first gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a first axis and a second gyroscope for detecting an angular acceleration relative to a second axis, and wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said motion sensing system includes: 
 a first gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a first axis;    a first accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a first axis;    a second gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a second axis;    a second accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis;    a third gyroscope for detecting angular acceleration relative to a third axis; and    a third accelerometer for detecting linear acceleration relative to a second axis, and wherein said second axis is orthogonal to said first axis and said third axis is orthogonal to said first and said second axes.    
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said data is representative of an impact location of a golf ball on a club face of said golf club.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said data is representative of a velocity of a club head of said golf club.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said data is representative of an angular orientation of a club face of said golf club.  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 storing said measured motion parameters.    
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 transmitting said measured motion parameters to said command station.    
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said processing of said measured motion parameters includes compensating for an error rate of said motion sensing system.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 displaying said data on a display monitor.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 comparing said produced data to previously stored data.