Method and apparatus for determining orientation and position of a moveable object

Abstract

An orientation and position tracking system in three-dimensional space and over a period of time utilizing multiple inertial and other sensors for determining motion parameters to measure orientation and position of a moveable object. The sensors, for example vibrational and angular velocity sensors, generate signals characterizing the motion of the moveable object. The information is received by a data acquisition system and processed by a microcontroller. The data is then transmitted via wireless communication to an external data reception system (locally based or a global network). The information can then be displayed and presented to the user through a variety of means including audio, visual, and tactile.

1 . An apparatus for determining orientation and position of a moveable object, comprising: 
 at least one sensor that determines motion parameters, wherein said at least one sensor generates orientation and position signals;    a microcontroller that processes the orientation and position signals to generate orientation and position data;    a wireless transmitter that transmits in real-time said orientation and position data;    wherein said sensors, said microcontroller and said wireless transmitter are integrated into or on said moveable object.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source to provide power to said sensors, said microcontroller, and said transmitter.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said moveable object is a golf club.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is disposed in or on the grip or shaft of said moveable object.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor includes an angular rate sensor.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said angular rate sensor includes a gyroscope.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional sensor for determining motion parameters.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor includes three gyroscopes.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric compass, a GPS unit, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said microcontroller includes an integrated analog to digital conversion component, and wherein said microcontroller digitizes said orientation and position signals to generate digital orientation and position data.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pressure sensor installed on, within, or behind an impact surface of said moveable object.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor, said microcontroller and said wireless transmitter are integrated into at least one modular node that is removable from said moveable object.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said apparatus includes at least two modular nodes, each modular node including a separate complement of elements.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each said at least two modular nodes are integrated into unconnected objects.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of said at least two modular nodes are integrated into inter-connected objects.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein two modular nodes are affixed to the hips and shoulders of a user to detect body motion.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said at least two nodes detect the motion of multiple golf clubs.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said moveable object is a game controller.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said moveable object is a controller in a virtual reality simulation.  
     
     
         20 . A system for determining orientation and position of a moveable object, comprising: 
 at least one sensor installed on or in a moveable object for generating orientation and position signals;    data acquisition means for processing orientation and position signals and that generates orientation and position data;    wireless data transmission means for wirelessly transmitting in real-time said orientation and position data;    data reception means for receiving said orientation and position data transmitted by said wireless data transmission means; and    processing and presenting means for processing and presenting said orientation and position data in a desired format.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said data reception means is selected from the group consisting of: a laptop computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a network, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one sensor includes an angular rate sensor.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said angular rate sensor includes a gyroscope.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one additional sensor for determining motion parameters.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one sensor includes three gyroscopes.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric compass, a GPS unit, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one sensor, said data acquisition means, and said wireless data transmission means are disposed in or on the grip or shaft of said moveable object.  
     
     
         28 . A method for determining orientation and position of a moveable object, comprising: 
 generating orientation and position signals to measure orientation and position of the moveable object with at least one sensor for determining motion parameters;    processing said and orientation and position signals with a microcontroller to generate orientation and position data;    wirelessly transmitting said orientation and position data in real-time to a receiving device external to said moveable object;    processing and presenting said orientation and position data.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said receiving device is selected from the group consisting of: a laptop computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a network, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein orientation and position data from motion of the moveable object are stored in the receiving device.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises an angular rate sensor.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said angular rate sensor includes a gyroscope.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein at least one additional sensor generates orientation and position signals.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one sensor includes three gyroscopes.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric compass, a GPS unit, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one sensor, said microcontroller, and means for the wireless transmission of data are disposed in or on the grip or shaft of said moveable object.