Racquet with Entertainment and Performance Feedback

Abstract

A tennis racquet that provides audio or visual feedback to a player. Sensors sense the impact of a ball on the racquet. A feedback indictor provides visual or audio feedback. A controller controls the indicator based on data provided by the sensors. In an entertainment mode, feedback is provided based on any ball impact. In a training mode, feedback is based on a ball impact within a sweet spot of the racquet. The sensors may collect performance data such as number of impacts, location of impacts, ball speed and racquet angle. A communication link may be provided to download the performance data to an external device.

1 . A racquet that provides feedback to a player comprising: 
 feedback means for providing feedback based on an impact of a ball on the racquet.    
   
   
       2 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback means comprises: 
 sensor means for sensing the impact of the ball on the racquet; and    indicator means for providing visual or audio feedback; and    a controller for controlling the indicator means based on data provided by the sensor means.    
   
   
       3 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the indicator means to provide visual or audio feedback when the sensor means detects any ball impact.  
   
   
       4 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the indicator means to provide visual or audio feedback when the sensor means detects a ball impact with a predetermined zone of the racquet.  
   
   
       5 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined zone is a sweet spot of the racquet.  
   
   
       6 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor means comprises an optical link extending across a ball impact zone of the racquet, and wherein the controller detects interruptions in the optical link to indicate a ball impact.  
   
   
       7 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the optical links are aligned with strings of the racquet.  
   
   
       8 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the indicator means are selected from a group consisting of lights mounted on the racquet, an audio speaker mounted on the racquet, and a visual display mounted on the racquet.  
   
   
       9 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor means collect performance data, and wherein the racquet further comprises a memory for storing the performance data.  
   
   
       10 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 9 , and further comprising a display for displaying the performance data.  
   
   
       11 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 9 , and further comprising a communication link for downloading the performance data to an external device.  
   
   
       12 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the communication link uploads instructions for operation of the indicator means from an external device.  
   
   
       13 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback means comprises: 
 strings of the racquet that emit light based on the ball impact.    
   
   
       14 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback means comprises: 
 strings of the racquet that change color based on the ball impact.    
   
   
       15 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the feedback means comprises: 
 a spray applied to the racquet that changes color based on a ball impact itself can be used to carry light so it is visible to the player.    
   
   
       16 . A dual-mode racquet comprising: 
 an entertainment mode means for providing audio or visual feedback based on any ball impact; and    a training mode means for providing audio or visual feedback based on a ball impact within a predetermined zone of the racquet.    
   
   
       17 . A racquet comprising: 
 a frame;    strings mounted on an stretched across the frame;    sensors mounted on the frame to detect an impact of a ball on the strings; and    a feedback indicator for providing feedback based on data collected by the sensors.    
   
   
       18 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the data collected by the sensors includes performance data selected from a group consisting of number of impacts, location of impacts, ball speed and racquet angle.  
   
   
       19 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 18 , and further comprising a communication link for downloading the performance data to an external device.  
   
   
       20 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the feedback indicator provides audio or visual feedback based on a determination by the sensor of whether the ball impact was within the sweet spot of the racquet.