Repetitive motion feedback system and method of practicing a repetitive motion

Abstract

A repetitive motion feedback system is provided with various sensors and devices for monitoring aspects of a repetitive motion sequence, such as a golf swing. The monitored aspects can include motion properties of an object moved by the user, position properties of the user and motion properties of the user. A data processing system for receiving data of the monitored aspects provides feedback data that is provided to a feedback output device, such as a graphical display device or speaker, so that the user is provided with feedback regarding the repetitive motion sequence. In one particular embodiment, the user's performance is compared to a template of a prior performance, with feedback being provided regarding the differences.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of practicing a repetitive motion by an individual comprising: 
 having the individual perform a repetitive motion sequence;    monitoring a combination of at least two of properties a, b and c during the motion sequence, wherein the properties a, b and c are comprised of: 
 (a) motion properties of an object moved by the individual during the repetitive motion sequence;  
 (b) position properties of the individual during the motion sequence; and  
 (c) movement properties of the individual during the motion sequence; and  
   graphically displaying information relating to the properties of the monitored combination simultaneously with or immediately after the repetitive motion sequence on a graphical display device that is in visual proximity to the individual so that the individual is provided with the information upon performing the repetitive motion sequence.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a repetitive motion template of a previously monitored combination of a repetitive motion sequence;    comparing the newly monitored repetitive motion sequence to the repetitive motion template; and    providing feedback to the individual based upon differences in the newly monitored repetitive motion sequence to the repetitive motion template.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 providing feedback includes providing audio feedback.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the audio feedback is verbal feedback.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 providing feedback includes providing visual feedback on the graphical display device.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the repetitive motion template is a previously monitored repetitive motion sequence of the individual.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing the properties of the monitored combination in a data storage device.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the repetitive motion sequence includes a golf swing; and    the object moved includes a golf ball and golf club.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the combination includes all of the elements a, b and c.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the position properties of the individual include the position properties of the individual's feet.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the position properties of the individual include the weight distribution of the individual.    
     
     
         12 . A repetitive motion feedback system for a repetitive motion performed by an individual comprising: 
 a feedback output device;    a combination of at least two elements a, b and c, wherein the elements a, b and c are comprised of: 
 (a) an object motion sensor for providing motion data of a moving object when moved by the individual during a motion sequence;  
 (b) a position sensor for providing position data of the individual during the motion sequence; and  
 (c) a motion capturing device for capturing motion image data of the individual during the motion sequence; and  
   a data processing system for receiving data from the combination of at least two elements and providing feedback data that is provided to the feedback output device.    
     
     
         13 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device includes a graphical display device.    
     
     
         14 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the motion data includes speed and direction data of the moving object.    
     
     
         15 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a data storage device coupled to the data processing system; and    a template of previously stored data from the combination of the at least two elements from a previously performed motion sequence stored by the data storage device; and wherein 
 the data processing system compares newly monitored data to the previously stored data to determine differences in the newly stored and previously stored data and provides feedback data based upon the differences in the compared newly monitored and previously stored data.  
   
     
     
         16 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a communication network coupled to the data storage device for communicating the stored data to another location.    
     
     
         17 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device is an audio feedback device for providing audio feedback.    
     
     
         18 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device is a visual feedback device for providing visual feedback.    
     
     
         19 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the combination includes all of the elements a, b and c.    
     
     
         20 . A repetitive motion feedback system for a repetitive motion performed by an individual comprising: 
 a feedback output device;    a data monitoring system comprised of at least one of the following elements: 
 (a) an object motion sensor for providing motion data of a moving object when moved by the individual during a motion sequence;  
 (b) a position sensor for providing position data of the individual during the motion sequence; and  
 (c) a motion capturing device for capturing motion image data of the individual during the motion sequence;  
   a data processing system for receiving and storing data from the data monitoring system; and    a template of previously stored data from the data monitoring system from a previously performed motion sequence stored by the data processing system, the data processing system comparing newly received data to the previously stored data to determine differences in the newly received and previously stored data, the data processing system providing feedback based upon the differences in the compared newly received and previously stored data to the feedback output device.    
     
     
         21 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a filter for selectively limiting the feedback that is provided to the feedback output device.    
     
     
         22 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device is an audio feedback device for providing audio feedback.    
     
     
         23 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device provides verbalized audio feedback.    
     
     
         24 . The repetitive motion feedback system of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device is a visual feedback device for providing visual feedback.    
     
     
         25 . A method of practicing a golf swing by an individual comprising: 
 having the individual perform a golf swing sequence;    monitoring a combination of at least two of properties a, b and c during the golf swing sequence wherein the properties a, b and c are comprised of: 
 (a) motion properties of an object moved by the individual during the golf swing sequence;  
 (b) position properties of the individual during the golf swing sequence; and  
 (c) movement properties of the individual during the golf swing sequence; and  
   graphically displaying the properties of the monitored combination simultaneously with or immediately after the golf swing sequence on a graphical display device that is in visual proximity to the individual so that the individual is provided with the monitored properties upon performing the golf swing sequence;    providing a golf swing template of a previously monitored combination of a golf swing sequence;    comparing the newly monitored golf swing sequence to the golf swing template; and    providing feedback to the individual based upon differences in the newly monitored golf swing sequence to the golf swing template.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 providing feedback includes is an audio feedback device for providing audio feedback.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the audio feedback is verbal feedback.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 providing feedback includes providing visual feedback on the graphical display device.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the golf swing template is of the previously monitored golf swing sequence of the individual.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 storing the properties of the monitored combination using a data storage device.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the object moved includes a golf ball.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the object moved includes a golf club.    
     
     
         33 . A feedback system for a golf swing performed by an individual comprising: 
 a feedback output device;    a combination of at least two elements a, b and c, wherein the elements a, b and c are comprised of: 
 (a) an object motion sensor for providing motion data of a moving object when moved by the individual during a golf swing sequence;  
 (b) a position sensor for providing weight placement data of the individual during the golf swing sequence; and  
 (c) a motion capturing device for providing motion image data of the individual during the golf swing;  
   a data processing system for receiving and storing data from the combination of at least two elements; and    a template of previously stored data from the combination of at least two elements from a previously performed golf swing sequence stored by the data processing system, the data processing system comparing newly received data to the previously stored data to determine differences in the newly received and previously stored data and providing feedback relating to the newly received and previously stored data to the feedback output device.    
     
     
         34 . The feedback system of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 a communication network coupled to the data processing system for communicating the stored data to another location.    
     
     
         35 . The feedback system of  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device provides audio feedback.    
     
     
         36 . The feedback system of  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the feedback output device includes a graphical display device.    
     
     
         37 . The feedback system of  claim 34 , wherein: 
 a remote data receiving system coupled to the communication network for accessing the stored data at a location remote from the data processing system.    
     
     
         38 . A method of practicing a golf swing performed by an individual comprising: 
 having the individual perform a golf swing;    monitoring position properties of at least one of the individual's feet during the golf swing; and    graphically displaying the position properties in the form of footprint images of the at least one of the individual's feet, the footprint images having contrasted areas corresponding to the relative degree of pressure exerted by the at least one of the individual's feet during the golf swing simultaneously with or immediately after the golf swing on a graphical display device that is in visual proximity to the individual so that the individual is provided with the images upon performing the golf swing.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 providing a golf swing template of previously monitored position properties;    comparing the newly monitored position properties to the template; and    providing feedback to the individual based upon differences in the newly monitored position properties to the template.    
     
     
         40 . A method of practicing a golf swing performed by an individual, comprising: 
 having the individual perform a golf swing;    monitoring movement properties of the individual during the golf swing; and    graphically displaying information in the form of a 3-dimensional model of the individual relating to the monitored properties upon performing the golf swing on a graphical display device that is in visual proximity to the individual so that the individual is provided with the information upon performing the golf swing, and wherein the three-dimensional model allows the individual to selectively view the model at any point during the golf swing and from any desired angle.    
     
     
         41 . A method of comparing at least two different individuals' performances of a repetitive motion sequence, comprising: 
 having the individuals each perform a repetitive motion sequence;    monitoring at least one of properties a, b and c during the motion sequence, wherein the properties a, b and c are comprised of: 
 (a) motion properties of an object moved by the individuals during the repetitive motion sequence monitored by an object motion sensor;  
 (b) position properties of the individuals during the motion sequence monitored by a position properties sensor; and  
 (c) movement properties of the individuals during the motion sequence as monitored by a motion capturing device; and  
   comparing the at least one of the monitored properties of the individuals; and    providing comparative feedback based on differences between the monitored properties of the individuals.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein: 
 the comparative feedback is provided on a graphical display device.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein: 
 data relating to the monitored properties of at least one of the individuals is stored on a data storage device that is coupled to a communication network; wherein 
 comparing the monitored properties includes retrieving the stored data of the at least one individual from the data storage device through the communication network and comparing the stored data to data of the other at least two individuals relating to the monitored properties.