Game Device Swing Detector

Abstract

Analysis of a swing of a game device such as a golf club is carried out by a first component shaped and arranged to be attached to the club by sliding a slot portion along the tapered shaft to a friction fit at a wider position. The component includes accelerometers and gyroscopic devices the output of which is stored in memory only when an impact characteristic of a golf swing is detected. The raw data on the swing is communicated by wireless to a smart phone carrying an “app” or a program to process the information to generate data relating to the golf swing for showing on the display.

1 . Apparatus for use in detecting and analyzing a swing of a game device comprising:
 a first component shaped and arranged to be attached to the game device, the component including:   a plurality of accelerometers for measuring linear movement in different directions;   a plurality of gyroscopic devices for measuring angular movement in different planes;   a power supply;   a memory for recording output signals from the accelerometers and the gyroscopic devices;   a communication system for wireless communication with an exterior device;   and a program for implementation in a mobile smart phone device of the type including arrangements therein for two way text and voice communication and for internet communication and a display, the smart phone device being arranged by the program to receive information relating to the signals from the memory and to process the information to generate data relating to the golf swing for showing on the display.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided an arrangement for detecting an impact and wherein the processor is arranged to record in the memory the signals from the accelerometers and the gyroscopic devices within a window on each side of the sensing of an impact. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein of the signals from the sensors, only data in the windows is retained for transmission to the external smart phone device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the signals from the sensors are recorded in the memory and transmitted to the smart phone for all processing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the program and display are arranged to display the swing in a 3-dimensional image. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the image displayed includes color change information which is indicative of significant acceleration or deceleration during the swing. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the first component includes elements arranged to automatically determine its orientation on the game device at an initial position of the game device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the elements use the gyroscopic devices to determine the direction of gravity at an initial position of the game device to automatically determine the orientation of the housing on the game device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the program is arranged to provide an input of the type of club 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the Software is split into two parts: firmware that runs on the first component and a software application running on the smart phone. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the firmware is responsible for reading raw data from the sensors, detecting swings in the raw data, saving these swings to the memory, and transferring the swing data to the smart phone and the smart phone software is responsible for all the analysis and display of the raw data. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the software is capable of calculating or estimating one or more of the following parameters from a timeline of a golf club's position and orientation: swing speed; swing tempo; swing plane angles; dynamic face, lie, and loft angles; angle of attack and club path at impact; arm length; time and location of wrist release; swing time; transition factor; bail launch direction, speed, and spin. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the software is capable of determining and diagnosing general characteristics of the ball flight path. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the device uses physical location data to associate each swing with its geographical location. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for use in detecting and analyzing a swing of a game device comprising:
 a first component shaped and arranged to be attached to the game device, the component including:   a plurality of accelerometers for measuring linear movement in different directions;   a plurality of gyroscopic devices for measuring angular movement in different planes;   a power supply;   a memory for recording output signals from the accelerometers and the gyroscopic devices;   a communication system for communication with an exterior device;   and a program for implementation in the exterior device arranged by the program to receive information relating to the signals from the memory and to process the information to generate data relating to the swing for showing on the display;   wherein the first component includes a housing which is easily removable from the game device and is transportable.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein the housing includes a slot portion which engages around the game device. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein the slot portion is arranged to engage over a tapered shaft of the game device at a narrower location on the game device and to slide along the game device to a wider location on the game device where the slot portion is held in place by its engagement with the wider location. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein the housing is located at different positions on different game devices and there is provided an arrangement for inputting information concerning the distance of the housing from a specific location in the game device and the orientation of the housing on the game device and wherein the program is arranged to effect calculations using the information. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus for use in detecting and analyzing a swing of a game device comprising:
 a first component shaped and arranged to be attached to the game device, the component including:   a plurality of accelerometers for measuring linear movement in different directions;   a plurality of gyroscopic devices for measuring angular movement in different planes;   a power supply;   a memory for recording output signals from the accelerometers and the gyroscopic devices;   and a program arranged by the program to receive information relating to the signals from the memory and to process the information to generate data relating to the swing for showing on the display;   wherein the software uses predetermined characteristics of a swing of the game device to correct errors in its calculations.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein the program uses as one of the predetermined characteristics the detecting of the pivot point of the swing. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein the program uses as one of the predetermined characteristics the fact that the game device is in a similar location at impact and initial address. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus for use in detecting and analyzing a swing of a game device comprising:
 a first component shaped and arranged to be attached to the game device, the component including:   a plurality of accelerometers for measuring linear movement in different directions;   a plurality of gyroscopic devices for measuring angular movement in different planes;   a power supply;   a memory for recording output signals from the accelerometers and the gyroscopic devices;   and a program arranged by the program to receive information relating to the signals from the memory and to process the information to generate data relating to the swing for showing on the display;   wherein the device is arranged to look for impacts which may or may not constitute an impact with a ball by the game device and to distinguish possible impacts by subsequently examining the surrounding data, both before and after the possible impact, for data characteristic of a swing by the game device and only stores in the memory data recognized as a swing.   
     
     
         35 . Apparatus for use in detecting and analyzing a golf swing comprising:
 a first component shaped and arranged to be mounted in the shaft of a golf club at the open end of the handle, the component including:   a plurality of accelerometers for measuring linear movement in different directions;   a plurality of gyroscopic devices for measuring angular movement in different planes;   a power supply;   a memory for recording output signals from the accelerometers and the gyroscopic devices;   a sensor to monitor grip pressure, the sensor including a communication device for communicating grip pressures monitored to the memory for storage and transmission to be processed;   and a program arranged to receive information relating to the signals from the memory and to process the information to generate data relating to the golf swing for showing on the display.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the pressure sensor strip comprises a capacitive sensor using a strip of metal and a mesh both placed underneath the grip or between the grip and the hands of the user to detect changes in capacitance generated by the squeezing of the components.