Archery information system and methods thereto

Abstract

The disclosed technology includes an archery information system that can provide feedback to an archer without requiring the archer to break focus on a target during the aiming process and prior to release of the bowstring to help improve the archer's accuracy. The disclosed technology can include one or more sensors configured to detect at least a bow tension, an angle of the bow in relation to three axes, the steadiness of the bow, the length of time that the bow has been drawn, changes to environmental factors, and movement near the archer. The disclosed technology can receive data from the sensors and determine if a notification should be output to various lights, speakers, or tactile feedback devices to provide the archer with critical information that will help increase the accuracy of the archer's shot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An archery information system comprising:
 a notification system configured to provide a notification to an archer without the archer breaking focus on a target, the notification system being configured for attachment to a bow; and   a controller, the controller configured to:
 receive data from a sensor; 
 determine if a notification should be output to the archer based at least in part on data received from the sensor; and 
 in response to determining that a notification should be output to the archer, cause the notification system to output the notification. 
   
     
     
         2 . The archery information system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification system comprises a light notification system configured to emit a light. 
     
     
         3 . The archery information system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification system comprises a speaker configured to output a sound. 
     
     
         4 . The archery information system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor configured to determine a movement of the bow. 
     
     
         5 . The archery information system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether movement of the bow exceeds a predetermined movement threshold; and   in response to determining that movement of the bow exceeds the predetermine movement threshold, output the notification to the archer.   
     
     
         6 . The archery information system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the bow has been moved about a predetermined axis beyond a predetermined threshold; and   in response to determining that the bow has been moved about the predetermined axis beyond the predetermined threshold, output the notification to the archer.   
     
     
         7 . The archery information system of  claim 6 , wherein the notification comprises an indication of which direction the archer should move the bow to properly align the bow with the predetermined axis. 
     
     
         8 . The archery information system of  claim 6 , wherein the notification comprises an indication of how many degrees the archer should move the bow about the predetermined axis to properly align the bow with the predetermined axis. 
     
     
         9 . The archery information system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a force sensor configured to detect a force applied to the bow, the controller being further configured to:
 determine whether the force is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum force threshold; and   in response to determining that the force is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum force threshold, output the notification.   
     
     
         10 . The archery information system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the force is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum force threshold, the predetermined minimum force threshold being less than the predetermined maximum force threshold; and   in response to determining that the force is less than or equal to the predetermined force minimum threshold, output the notification.   
     
     
         11 . The archery information system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an imaging sensor configured to detect a position and orientation of a peep attached to a string of the bow. 
     
     
         12 . The archery information system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine, based on data received from the imaging sensor, whether the peep is aligned with a sight of the bow; and   in response to determining that the peep is not aligned with the sight of the bow, output the notification.   
     
     
         13 . A bow comprising:
 a riser;   one or more limbs extending outwardly from the riser;   a string in mechanical communication with the one or more limbs; and   a notification system configured to provide a notification to an archer without the archer breaking focus on a target; and   a controller, the controller configured to:
 receive data from a sensor; 
 determine if a notification should be output to the archer based at least in part on data received from the sensor; and 
 in response to determining that a notification should be output to the archer, cause the notification system to output the notification. 
   
     
     
         14 . The bow of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor configured to determine a movement of the bow, the controller being further configured to:
 determine whether movement of the bow exceeds a predetermined movement threshold; and   in response to determining that movement of the bow exceeds the predetermine movement threshold, output the notification to the archer.   
     
     
         15 . The bow of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the bow has been moved about a predetermined axis beyond a predetermined threshold; and   in response to determining that the bow has been moved about the predetermined axis beyond the predetermined threshold, output the notification to the archer.   
     
     
         16 . The bow of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a force sensor configured to detect a force applied to the bow, the controller being further configured to:
 determine whether the force is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum force threshold; and   in response to determining that the force is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum force threshold, output the notification.   
     
     
         17 . The bow of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the force is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum force threshold, the predetermined minimum force threshold being less than the predetermined maximum force threshold; and   in response to determining that the force is less than or equal to the predetermined force minimum threshold, output the notification.   
     
     
         18 . The bow of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a movement sensor configured to detect movement near the bow or between the bow and a target and output movement data to the controller, the controller being further configured to:
 determine whether the movement data is indicative of movement near the bow or between the bow and the target; and   in response to determining that the movement data is indicative of movement near the bow or between the bow and the target, output the notification.   
     
     
         19 . The bow of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a wind sensor configured to detect a magnitude of wind near the bow or between the bow and the target and output wind data, the controller being further configured to:
 determine, based at least in part on the wind data, the magnitude of the wind near the bow or between the bow and the target; and   output the notification, the notification being indicative of how the archer should adjust the bow.   
     
     
         20 . The bow of  claim 13 , further comprising a stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising:
 a shaft;   a weight; and   an actuator configured to cause the weight to move along the shaft to adjust a center of gravity of the bow.