Sports paddle with feedback

Abstract

A controller and methods for operating the controller are provided for an improved paddle, such as a pickleball paddle. The controller operates in a low-power state to ignore all inputs other than a “wake” input, such as tapping a pickleball on the controller or housing of the controller. Programmable options are presented, such as by computer generated/recorded speech, for selection via a mechanical input (e.g., a tap). The controller then operates to report ball strikes received on an impact sensor and reports the location of the impact to the user, such as with generated/recorded speech. As a result, the user may receive near real-time feedback of their performance and where they are striking a ball with a paddle comprising the controller and impact sensor. Focus functions are provided, such as to illuminate a particular LED to indicate an impact with the paddle, strike location, or both.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a controller; and   an input component; and   wherein the input component receives a first mechanical input, converts the first mechanical input into a first electrical signal, and provides the first electrical signal to the controller;   wherein the input component receives a second mechanical input, converts the second mechanical input into a second electrical signal, and provides the second electrical signal to the controller; and   wherein the controller, in response to receiving the second electrical signal within a predetermined threshold of time after receiving first electrical signal, while in a low-power state, causes the controller to transition to a programmable state.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the controller further evaluates the first electrical signal to determine whether the first electrical signal corresponds to a wake signal;   upon determining the first electrical signal is associated with the wake signal, the controller exits the low-power state and processes at least one additional electrical signal different from the first electrical signal; and   upon determining the first electrical signal is not associated with the wake signal, the controller maintains operation in the low-power state and ignores all inputs other than the first electrical signal.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first mechanical input comprises a tap. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the input component comprises a microphone and the tap is determined from sampling sound energy received from the microphone. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the input component comprises an accelerometer and the tap is determined from sampling motion reported by the accelerometer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined threshold is 300 milliseconds. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an impact sensor providing a location of a strike thereupon;   wherein the input component receives a second mechanical input, converts the second mechanical input into a second electrical signal, and provides the second electrical signal to the controller; and   wherein the controller, in response to receiving the second electrical signal, while in the low-power state, causes the controller to enter a playable state, and wherein inputs received from the impact sensor are processed and a result reported therefrom.   
     
     
         8 . A paddle, comprising:
 a controller;   an impact sensor to output an impact signal upon an impact with the paddle;   a location sensor to output a location signal upon the impact with the paddle occurring at a sensing location on the paddle and wherein the sensing location is less than all of the paddle; and   a reporting component;   wherein the impact sensor senses the impact, and in response, outputs the impact signal to the controller; and   wherein the controller, upon receiving the impact signal, accesses the location signal and determines therefrom whether the impact occurred at the sensing location or at a location other than the sensing location and reports the impact to the reporting component in accordance with the impact occurring at the sensing location or at the location other than the sensing location.   
     
     
         9 . The paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the controller reporting the impact to the reporting component comprises the controller reporting indicia of the impact to the reporting component, and wherein the reporting component comprises a computer memory. 
     
     
         10 . The paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the controller reporting the impact to the reporting component comprises the controller energizing the reporting component, and wherein the reporting component comprises at least one of a light or a speaker. 
     
     
         11 . The paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the controller reporting the impact to the reporting component comprises the controller energizing the reporting component, and wherein the reporting component comprises a radio frequency transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . The paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the impact sensor and the location sensor are each portions of a combined sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the location sensor comprises a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) microphone. 
     
     
         14 . The paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the MEMS microphone comprises an atmospheric sound attenuation component. 
     
     
         15 . The paddle of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the impact sensor or the location sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A paddle, comprising:
 a controller;   a sensor;   a memory; and   a reporting component;   wherein the sensor senses an impact at a location of the sensor and, in response, outputs an impact signal to the controller;   wherein the controller, upon receiving the impact signal, reports the impact at the location to the memory; and   wherein the controller accesses the memory and energizes the reporting component to output indicia of the impact.   
     
     
         17 . The paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the controller reports the impact comprising a plurality of impacts to the memory, and wherein the controller energizes the reporting component to output indicia of the plurality of impacts comprising indicia of the impact. 
     
     
         18 . The paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the reporting component comprises a light. 
     
     
         19 . The paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the reporting component comprises a speaker and outputs an audio signal. 
     
     
         20 . The paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the reporting component comprises a radio frequency transmitter and outputs the signal encoded with the indicia of the impact as an encoded radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         21 . A paddle, comprising:
 an impact sensor to output an impact with the paddle;   a reporting component comprising a light;   wherein the impact sensor senses the impact, and in response, outputs an impact signal to the reporting component; and   wherein the reporting component, upon receiving the impact signal, energizes the light to indicate the impact.