Tennis Racket Sensor System and Coaching Device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices, systems, and methods for measuring values obtained from one or more sensors installed on a player's tennis racket and/or worn on the player's body, and using those values to calculate various parameters, such as the physical position and motion of the tennis racket. Embodiments may translate the parameters and derive one or more occurrences corresponding to phases of a tennis point or drill and then generate real-time audible, visual, and/or haptic coaching prompts and other related commands and signals, for the purpose of improving a player's motor skills. Embodiments may also send and receive messages to/from other embodiments, thereby permitting a player to interact with other players, coaches, or devices, such as ball machines and cameras.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first wearable coaching device worn on a first tennis player's wrist;   a second wearable coaching device worn on a second tennis player's wrist;   wherein each of the first and second wearable coaching devices comprise:
 a sensor; 
 a wireless transceiver; 
 a speaker; and 
 a processor; and 
   wherein each of the first and second wearable coaching devices are configured to:
 (a) detect, using the sensor, a local impact of a tennis ball striking a tennis racket; 
 (b) in response to the local impact, transmit, using the wireless transceiver, a message indicative of the local impact to the other coaching device of the first and second wearable coaching devices; 
 (c) receive, using the wireless transceiver, the message from the other coaching device of the first and second wearable coaching devices; and 
 (d) in response to the message:
 (1) determine, using the processor, a recorded voice message selected from a set of recorded voice messages; and 
 (2) output, using the speaker, the recorded voice message. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second wearable coaching devices are configured to determine the recorded voice message selected from the set of recorded voice messages based on a user-selected lesson plan. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user-selected lesson plan determines the recorded voice messages available for selection and the frequency at which the recorded voice messages are selected. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second wearable coaching devices are configured to determine the recorded voice message selected from the set of recorded voice messages based on a random selection. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second wearable coaching devices are configured to determine the recorded voice message selected from the set of recorded voice messages based on whether the local impact is one of a shot, start-of-exchange, or end-of-exchange tennis event. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the set of recorded voice messages comprises different recorded voice messages corresponding to each of the shot, start-of-exchange, and end-of-exchange tennis events.