Method and apparatus for sport swing analysis system

Abstract

A sports swing analysis system provides audio feedback to a user in response to analyses related to a swung sports implement.

1 . A golf swing analyzer comprising: 
 swing sensing apparatus configured to sense the motion of a golf club;    a controller configured to analyze the motion of the golf club; and    audio apparatus configured to announce to a user the results of the motion analysis.    
   
   
       2 . The swing analyzer of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the sensing apparatus comprises a radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a location in the path of a swung sports implement;    a radiation receiver configured to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the swung sports implement; and    the controller is configured to generate at least one signal for each transition in light level reflected from the retroreflective material corresponding to the leading or trailing edge of the retroreflective material.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the implement further comprises: 
 light-absorptive material coupled to the sports implement to create at least one transition area wherein the implement presents an area of high contrast between highly absorptive and highly reflective regions.    
   
   
       4 . A golf swing analyzer comprising: 
 swing sensing apparatus configured to sense the motion of a golf club;    a controller configured to analyze the motion of the golf club;    audio apparatus configured to announce to a user the results of the motion analysis;    a retroreflective strip coupled to the golf club head;    a light source configured to emit light toward a location in a path of the swung golf club;    a light receiver configured to receive light reflected from the reflective materials; and    the controller further configured to generate at least one signal for each transition in 
 light level reflected from the reflective material attached to the club.  
   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the processor is further configured to: 
 differentiate a signal generated by light reflected from the attached reflective material; and    correlate the differentiated signal to transitions in light levels reflected from the reflective material.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the processor is further configured to: 
 divide the width of the attached reflective material by the time between two transitions in light reflected from the reflective material to obtain the club head speed.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the processor is further configured to: 
 compare the club head speed to a threshold club head speed to determine whether the transitions in light level are associated with an undesirable artifact.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the processor is further configured to: 
 receive reflected light at a plurality of locations; and    divide the distance between two receiving locations by the time between two light transition events to obtain the club head speed.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the processor is further configured to: 
 correlate reflected light signals for a plurality of locations to determine whether the light level transitions are associated with an undesirable artifact.    
   
   
       10 . A golf swing analysis method for use with a golf club comprising the steps of: 
 (A) sensing the motion of a golf club;    (B) analyzing the motion of the golf club; and    (C) announcing the results of the analysis of step (B).    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of: 
 (D) a radiation source emitting electromagnetic radiation toward a location in the path of a swung golf club,    (E) a radiation receiver receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected from the swung golf club;    (F) a controller generating at least one signal for each transition in light level reflected from the golf club head; and    (G) the controller analyzing parameters of a golf club swung at a speed that is lower than a valid swing speed.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (G) further comprises the steps of: 
 (C1) differentiating a signal generated by light reflected from retroreflective material coupled to the golf club; and    (C2) correlating the differential signal to transitions in light levels reflected from the retroreflective material.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the width of the retroreflective material is predetermined and the method further comprises the step of: 
 (H) dividing the width of the retroreflective material by the time between two transitions in light reflected from the reflected material to obtain the club head speed.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of: 
 (F) comparing the club head speed to a threshold club head speed to determine whether the transitions in light level are associated with club head movement of interest or the transitions are associated with an undesirable artifact.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of: 
 (G) receiving reflected light at a plurality of locations; and    (H) dividing the distance between two receiving locations by the time between two light transition events to obtain the club head speed.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the steps of: 
 (I) correlating reflected light signals for a plurality of locations to determine whether the light level transitions are associated with club head movement of interest or the transitions are associated with an undesirable artifact.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 (M) employing a plurality of transmitters and receivers along the expected golf club head flight path; and    (N) using one or more of the receivers as a trigger for other transmitters and receivers, whereby the activation of a trigger receiver by reflected light activates non-trigger transmitters and receivers.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of activating non-trigger transmitters and receivers further comprises the step of: 
 (K1) activating the transmitters at a high power level.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 (O) computing a club swing path angle.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 (P) computing a club head angle.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of: 
 (Q) computing a club head lateral alignment.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of: 
 (R) computing an effective club head speed.