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Method and system for defining and using a reference swing for a sports training systemRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable ImplementMethod and system for defining and using a reference swing for a sports training system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060084516, Method and system for defining and using a reference swing for a sports training system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/640,676 filed on Dec. 31, 2004, as well as U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/591,637 filed on Jul. 28, 2004. [0002] This disclosure pertains generally to a sport training system and, more particularly, to an intelligent sports club, bat or racket that takes quantitative measurements of a swing for real-time feedback and subsequent analysis and display, even more particularly, the present invention relates to the formulation of a "reference" swing for use in such a training system. BACKGROUND [0003] Various inventions are described to assist golfers' efforts to improve their swing. One category of devices involves systems of restraints on the golfer's body or on the club to force the golfer into a more perfect swing. Restraint based systems operate on the premise that by forcing a golfer into a given stance or swing pattern, the golfer will inculcate the lesson as a form of muscle memory that can then be employed while golfing with a standard club. However, a golfer's natural tendency is to resist the restraint system and thereby learn a stance or swing pattern predicated on the presence of the restraint system. In the absence of the restraint system, the user's new stance or swing pattern is incorrect. [0004] Other devices attempt to mechanically react to the swing with hinged clubs or moving weights. Mechanically reactive systems provide hinged or weighted systems that react to various qualities of a swing. For example, a hinged golf club is specified that stays rigid during the course of a good swing, but will collapse under the conditions of a poor club swing. These devices do not allow the golfer to train with a physically intact, standard golf club. Also, some of these devices do not allow for actually striking a golf ball during the swing. Once again, the golfer is learning swing habits divorced from requirements of swinging a standard golf club in a standard manner. [0005] Another category of devices is electronic in nature and entirely external to the golf club, typically involving some type of swing motion capture. These systems typically employ arrays of sensors and cameras configured around the golfer. Visualization and analysis of individual frames, as well as slow motion animation of the golf swing are difficult with conventional video analysis because of the required high frame rates. Further, high frame rates require large amounts of data storage and processing power. In some instances, the users must also affix indicators or sensors on their person and/or their club. The inconvenience and complexity of these externally configured systems prevent this technology category from gaining widespread appeal in the golfing community. In addition, because of the nature of these systems, golfers are not able to play a round of golf while using these systems. [0006] A class of electronic devices exists that requires users to mount the devices on the outside of the shaft of the club. The weight of these devices changes the club's swing characteristics and renders swing lessons less meaningful. The externally mounted devices significantly change the look of the club and may loosen or move on the shaft. [0007] Another class of electronic devices exists that require users to mount devices on their person. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,324, issued to Socci et al., the specification discloses headgear for detecting head motion and providing an indication of head movement. An object of this invention is to provide players with a device to teach proper ball striking in a variety of sports including golf by tracking head motion. Devices designed to exclusively monitor a subset of the golfer's motions do not adequately capture the various motions required for a human to hit a golf ball. Therefore, these devices cannot precisely predict the path of the golf club during a swing. [0008] Lastly, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,769, issued to Lee et al., a device is disclosed to capture and analyze data related to a golf club swing. This device is comprised of electronic components in the distal end of the club shaft with additional circuitry in the head of the club. The presence of components in the modified golf club head degrades the users' experience by providing a different tone at ball strike. Furthermore, by locating critical components in the club head, the region of the club which experiences the highest rates of acceleration, the device is more susceptible to mechanical degradation and failure. The club requires a wired link to download swing data to a computing device. This wired link is cumbersome for users. Finally, the club provides feedback to the user regarding their swing only after data is downloaded to a computing device. This lack of real-time feedback, during the course of the swing, provides a less meaningful learning experience to the user. [0009] In such a system, there is the need for a reference swing in that may be employed in numerous ways, such as in an instrumented golf club, a means of communicating to a standard computing platform, a standard computational platform, such as a PC, and the required control and display software. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0010] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like features. [0011] FIG. 1 shows an instrumented golf club (IGC), which is a component of the claimed subject matter; [0012] FIG. 2 shows additional components of the claimed subject matter, i.e. a radio frequency (RF) link box, a universal serial bus cable and a computing device executing a software program; [0013] FIG. 3 shows a battery recharger designed to be used with the IGC of FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 4 shows two views of a club grip incorporated into the IGC, i.e., an outer view and an expanded inner view; [0015] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the top portion of the IGC grip; [0016] FIG. 6 shows three views of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) incorporating the claimed subject matter; [0017] FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional frame of reference corresponding to the IGC with respect to a three-dimensional frame of reference corresponding to the world; [0018] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the RF link box introduced in FIG. 2; [0019] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary swing path data model used to store information collected by the IGC; [0020] FIG. 10 shows an exemplary analysis application 88 graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a user access to the functionality and configuration of the IGC; [0021] FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the RF link box of FIGS. 1 and 8; Continue reading about Method and system for defining and using a reference swing for a sports training system... 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