Position detector and method of motion analysis

Abstract

The invention relates to a position detector ( 3 ) for a method of motion analysis, especially for golf training. It is proposed that the position detector ( 3 ) be detachably mounted on a ball sport device ( 2 ) and then receive and transmit at least one position signal for the determination of the spatial position and/or the alignment of the ball sport device ( 2 ). Furthermore, the invention includes a method of motion analysis by using the position detector according to the invention.

1 . Position detector ( 3 ) characterized by a mounting arrangement with which the position detector ( 3 ) can be detachably mounted on a ball sport device ( 2 ).  
   
   
       2 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the ball sport device ( 2 ) is a golf club.  
   
   
       3 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one transmitter ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) for emitting a position signal to a stationary receiver ( 16 - 18 ), wherein the receiver ( 16 - 18 ) determines the position and/or the alignment of the ball sport device ( 2 ), dependent upon the received position signal.  
   
   
       4 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized by at least three, interspaced transmitters ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ), each of which emits a position signal to three stationary and interspaced receivers ( 16 - 18 ).  
   
   
       5 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized by at least one receiver for receiving the position signal from a stationary transmitter, wherein the receiver determines the position and/or the alignment of the ball sport device, dependent upon the received position signal.  
   
   
       6 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized by at least three, interspaced receivers, each of which receives a position signal from three stationary and interspaced transmitters.  
   
   
       7 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the  claims 3  to  6 , characterized in that the transmitter ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) is an ultrasonic transmitter.  
   
   
       8 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the  claims 3  to  7 , characterized in that the transmitters ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) are essentially arranged on one plane (flush).  
   
   
       9 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the  claims 3  to  8 , characterized in that the transmitters ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) essentially emit the position signals in the same direction.  
   
   
       10 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the  claims 3  to  9 , characterized in that the three transmitters ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) are essentially arranged in the shape of a triangle.  
   
   
       11 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the  claims 3  to  10 , characterized in that one of the transmitters ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) is arranged, in the mounted state, flush with the shaft of the ball sport device ( 2 ), while the two other transmitters ( 9 ,  10 ) are arranged on opposite sides of this plane.  
   
   
       12 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the position detector has at least one acceleration sensor.  
   
   
       13 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the  claims 2  to  12 , characterized in that the position detector ( 3 ) can be mounted on the shaft of the ball sport device ( 2 ).  
   
   
       14 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cable connection ( 11 ) is provided for wire communication with a stationary control unit ( 12 ).  
   
   
       15 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional transmitter is provided for wire communication with a stationary control unit ( 12 ).  
   
   
       16 . Position detector ( 3 ) according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the additional transmitter can be attached to the body of a golfer.  
   
   
       17 . Motion-analysis system with a position detector ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims and a control unit ( 12 ) that is connected to the position detector ( 3 ) in order to control and assess the motion analysis.  
   
   
       18 . Method of motion analysis, characterized in that the motion of the ball sport device ( 2 ) during a swing is recorded and analyzed by a position detector ( 3 ) mounted on the ball sport device ( 2 ).  
   
   
       19 . Method of motion analysis according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the ball sport device ( 2 ) is a golf club.  
   
   
       20 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  19 , characterized by the following steps: 
 transmission of a position signal between the position detector ( 3 ) mounted on the ball sport device ( 2 ) and a stationary control unit ( 12 ),    determination of the position and/or the alignment of the ball sport device ( 2 ), dependent upon the position signal.    
   
   
       21 . Method of motion analysis according to  claim 20 , characterized in that the transit time of the position signal between the position detector ( 3 ) and the control unit ( 12 ) is measured, and then the position and/or alignment of the ball sport device ( 2 ) is determined using the transit time.  
   
   
       22 . Method of motion analysis according to  claim 20  or  21 , characterized in that the position detector ( 3 ) and the control unit ( 12 ) have several interspaced transmitters ( 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) or several interspaced receivers, among which several position signals are transmitted, wherein the position and/or the alignment of the ball sport device ( 2 ) is determined, dependent upon the position signals.  
   
   
       23 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  22 , characterized in that the following data are determined from the position and/or the alignment of the ball sport device ( 2 ): 
 start of a swing motion and/or    end of a swing motion and/or    moment of impact of the ball sport device ( 2 ) on the ball.    
   
   
       24 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following swing parameters is determined for a swing from the position and/or the alignment of the golf club ( 2 ): 
 duration of backswing    duration of follow-through    impact time    symmetry of the impact time    symmetry of the velocity profile    alignment when addressing the ball    club head at the moment of impact    differential value for alignment    rotation to the moment of impact    rotation after the moment of impact    rotation rate per time    horizontal angle of the club head on the swing path    loft of the club at the moment of impact    point of impact on the club head    height of club at moment of impact    length of backswing    length of follow-through    symmetry of swing path    horizontal direction of the swing path at the moment of impact    vertical incline of the swing path at the moment of impact    maximum backswing velocity    velocity at impact    maximum follow-through velocity    maximum acceleration    acceleration after impact    maximum braking    average jerk during the backswing    average jerk during the follow-through.    
   
   
       25 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  24 , characterized in that the variability is calculated for each of the swing parameters in order to measure motion consistency.  
   
   
       26 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  25 , characterized in that the swing parameters are graphically displayed.  
   
   
       27 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  26 , characterized in that the chronological sequence of the swing parameters is graphically displayed.  
   
   
       28 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 24  to  27 , characterized in that the swing parameters are normalized.  
   
   
       29 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  28 , characterized in that the swing parameters are compared to stored reference values and/or displayed together with the reference values.  
   
   
       30 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 28  to  29 , characterized in that an Overall-Performance-Index is calculated from the normalized swing parameters in order to determine the performance of the golfer.  
   
   
       31 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to the position determination of the club, other position signals, such as, the positions and motions of the golfer's body, are synchronously recorded and jointly analyzed.  
   
   
       32 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to the position determination of the club, the ground reaction forces during golf play are synchronously measured and analyzed using a force measuring plate.  
   
   
       33 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  32 , characterized in that motion problems, such as the Yips Syndrome, can be classified and identified already before they actually occur by using the calculated competency profile.  
   
   
       34 . Method of motion analysis according to one of the  claims 18  to  33 , characterized in that the position detector has at least one acceleration sensor that produces an acceleration signal corresponding to the motion of the ball sport device.  
   
   
       35 . Method of motion analysis according to  claim 34 , characterized in that the position signal that is dependent upon the transit time is balanced with the acceleration signal, in order to increase the precision.  
   
   
       36 . Method of motion analysis according to  claim 34 , characterized in that the position signals and the angle signals of the club are reconstructed from the acceleration signals, in order to calculate the swing parameters from them.