Sport movement analyzer and training device

Abstract

A sport movement analyzer and training device and method, in real time, detect, analyze, correct and re-create sport movements of a user. An analyzer is secured to a user's wrist engaged in sport movements. A sensing unit in the analyzer provides signals representative of the movement of the wrist at various swing positions along a swing path during a sport movement. A processor in the analyzer processes the signals to measure various parameters descriptive of a sport performance of the user at the swing positions along the swing path. Stored programs in the analyzer service the processor in processing the signals representative of the sport performance for display to the user. A history of past sport performances by the user is stored for comparison purposes with current sport performances.

1 . A sport movement analyzer and training method for detecting, analyzing, correcting and re-creating sport movements of a user in real time, comprising: 
 a) securing an analyzer to a user's forearm engaged in sport movements;    b) providing signals representative of the movement of the forearm at various swing positions along a swing path during a sport movement via a sensing unit in the analyzer;    c) processing the signals to measure various parameters descriptive of a sport performance of the user at the swing positions via a processor in the analyzer; and    d) storing stored programs in the analyzer for servicing the processor in processing the signals representative of the sport performance and storing a history of past sport performances by the user for comparison purposes.    
   
   
       2 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 e) providing visual information to the user as provided by the processor.    
   
   
       3 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising 
 e) entering data into the processor via a data entry device seated in the first member and responsive to the user.    
   
   
       4 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising 
 g) providing audio signals as instructions to the analyzer and training device via an audio input device seated in the first member and responsive to the user.    
   
   
       5 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising 
 e) providing timing signals for measurement purposes via a timing generator within the package.    
   
   
       6 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 e) transmitting processed signals to a receiver and receiving information related to the signals from a transmitter via a transceiver within the package coupled to the processor.    
   
   
       7 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 e) providing sensory signals to the user via a transducer within the package and responsive to the processor.    
   
   
       8 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 e) processing audio signals generated by the user via a voice recognition unit within the package.    
   
   
       9 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include, but are not limited to, acceleration, angular velocity, swing angle, tempo, timing and rotation.  
   
   
       10 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the sensors include, but are not limited to, inertial, magnetic, optical, mechanical switches, potentiometers, angular rate, and angular acceleration.  
   
   
       11 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the stored programs include a swing detection algorithm.  
   
   
       12 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the transceiver is coupled to a server for receiving and storing data representative of sport performances by the user.  
   
   
       13 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein a database in a remote server collects and stores user performance data.  
   
   
       14 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the transceiver communicates with a server via short range communication protocols.  
   
   
       15 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the transceiver communicates with a server via cellular communication protocols.  
   
   
       16 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the user downloads past sport performance data from a server for display purposes.  
   
   
       17 . The analyzer and training method of  claim 1  wherein the user displays past performance data versus current performance data for comparison purposes.  
   
   
       18 . A sport movement analyzer and training device for detecting, analyzing, correcting and re-creating sport movements of a user in real time, comprising: 
 a) an analyzer fabricated as a package for securing to a user's arm engaged in sport movements;    b) a sensing unit in the analyzer providing signals representative of the movement of the forearm at various swing positions along a swing path during a sport movement;    c) a processor in the analyzer processing the signals to measure various parameters descriptive of a sport performance of the user at the swing positions; and    d) a storage means including stored programs in the analyzer servicing the processor in processing the signals representative of the sport performance and a history of past sport performances by the user for comparison purposes.    
   
   
       19 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) a display seated in the analyzer providing visual information to the user.    
   
   
       20 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) a data entry device responsive to the user for entering data into the processor.    
   
   
       21 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) an audio input device responsive to the user for providing audio signals as instructions to the analyzer and training device.    
   
   
       22 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) a timing generator in the analyzer providing timing signals for measurement purposes.    
   
   
       23 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) a transceiver in the analyzer coupled to the processor for transmitting processed signals to a receiver and receiving information related to the signals from a transmitter.    
   
   
       24 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) a transducer in the analyzer responsive to the processor for providing sensory signals to the user.    
   
   
       25 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 e) a voice recognition unit in the analyzer processing audio signals generated by the user.    
   
   
       26 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the parameters include, but are not limited to, acceleration, angular velocity, swing angle, tempo, timing and rotation.  
   
   
       27 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the sensors include, but are not limited to, inertial, magnetic, optical, mechanical switches, potentiometers, angular rate, and angular acceleration.  
   
   
       28 . The analyzer and training apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the stored programs include a swing detection algorithm.  
   
   
       29 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the transceiver is coupled to a server for receiving and storing data representative of sport performances by the user.  
   
   
       30 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 29  wherein the server is coupled to a storage device including a database for storing user performance data.  
   
   
       31 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the transceiver communicates with a server via short range communication protocols.  
   
   
       32 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the transceiver communicates with a server via cellular communication protocols.  
   
   
       33 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the user downloads past sport performance data from a server for display purposes.  
   
   
       34 . The analyzer and training device of  claim 18  wherein the user displays past performance data versus current performance data for comparison purposes.  
   
   
       35 . A system for detecting, analyzing, correcting and re-creating sport movements of a user in real time, comprising: 
 a) an analyzer for detecting sport movements in terms of various parameters and separating the movements into parts wherein each part is a swing position included in a sport movement;    b) a transceiver in each sensor for transmitting signals representative of the detected sport movement by each part;    c) a server coupled to and receiving the signals; and    d) a memory coupled to the server for storing the signals representative of the movement by each part.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising a memory in the analyzer includes (i) stored programs for analyzing the sport movement by part in terms of the various parameters and (ii) a history of past sport movements by part of the user.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising: 
 e) a display in the analyzer responsive to an analysis for displaying the sport movement by part in real time.    
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising: 
 e) a timing generator providing timing signals for alignment with parts of the movement.    
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising: 
 e) automatic recording means for recording signals representative of a parameter in an event in the sport movement.    
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising: 
 e) a voice recognition system included in the sensor and responsive to an audio signal for activating the automatic recording means.    
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising: 
 f) a user interface for downloading and displaying past sport movements from the history as a training goal for the user.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising: 
 e) sensory signals provided via an interface to the user as feedback for recreating the downloaded past sporting movement.    
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 35  wherein a display displays a comparison between the movement and like movements stored in the history.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the parameters include, but are not limited to, acceleration, angular velocity, swing angle, tempo, timing and rotation.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the sensors include, but are not limited to, inertial, magnetic, optical, mechanical switches, potentiometers, angular rate, and angular acceleration.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the stored programs include a swing detection algorithm.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the analyzer is wearable by the user.  
   
   
       48 . A method for detecting, analyzing, correcting and re-creating sport movements of a user in real time, comprising: 
 a) detecting sport movements via an analyzer in terms of various parameters and separating the movements into parts wherein each part is a swing position included in a sport movement;    b) transmitting signals representative of the detected sport movement by each part via a transceiver;    c) receiving in a server the signals transmitted by the transceiver;    d) coupling a memory to the server and storing the signals representative of the movement by each part;    e) The memory including (i) stored programs for analyzing the movement in terms of the various parameters and (ii) a history of past sport movements by part of the user; and    f) displaying in real time the sport movement by part in a display responsive to an analysis.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising: 
 g) providing timing signals via a timing generator for alignment with parts of the movement.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising: 
 g) recording via automatic recording means signals representative of a parameter in an event in the sport movement.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising: 
 g) activating the automatic recording means via a voice recognition system included in the analyzer and responsive to an audio signal.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising: 
 g) downloading and displaying past sport movements via a user interface from the history as a training goal for the user.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising: 
 g) providing sensory signals via the interface to the user as feedback for recreating the downloaded past sporting movement.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 48  wherein a comparison between the movement and like movements stored in the history is displayed by the analyzer.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the parameters include, but are not limited to, acceleration, angular velocity, swing angle, tempo, timing and rotation.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the sensors include, but are not limited to, inertial, magnetic, optical, mechanical switches, potentiometers, angular rate, angular acceleration.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the stored programs include a swing detection algorithm.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the analyzer is wearable by the user.  
   
   
       59 . A training device for improving the performance of a sport movement by a user comprising: 
 a) an analyzer secured to a user's forearm engaged in sport movements;    b) a sensing unit within the analyzer providing signals representative of the movement of the forearm at various swing positions along a swing path during a sport movement;    c) a processor within the package processing the signals to measure various parameters descriptive of a sport performance of the user at swing positions; and    d) a storage means including stored programs within the package servicing the processor in processing the signals representative of the sport performance and including a history of past sport performances by the user for comparison purposes with the sport performance.    
   
   
       60 . The teaching device of  claim 49  wherein the wrist movement of the user is measured.  
   
   
       61 . The teaching device of  claim 48  wherein the rotation of the forearm is measured in a swing movement.  
   
   
       62 . A method of learning a swing movement comprising: 
 a) securing an analyzer to a forearm arm of a user;    b) taking an initial swing position by the user;    c) detecting the position by the analyzer and providing a feedback signal to the user;    d) initiating a swing by the user to a stop position;    e) providing a mark signal to the user at the stop position by the analyzer;    f) detecting the absence of movement by the analyzer and providing mark as sound or vibration; and    g) saving the position in the analyzer for comparison with future swing movement.    
   
   
       63 . A method of teaching a swing movement comprising: 
 a) securing an analyzer to a forearm of a user;    b) providing a command to the analyzer that the user intends to practice his/her swing movement;    c) configuring the analyzer to: 
 (i) detect the start position of the user;  
 (ii) detect the swing movement and estimate hand positions of the user at swing positions along a swing path;  
 (iii) notifying the user when the swing movement passes through a swing position with proper movement or improper movement; and  
 (iv) collecting and storing swing data for future use.  
   
   
   
       64 . A method of re-programming an analyzer for improved user swing performance, comprising: 
 a) storing all key motion data from a swing performance of a user in a programmable analyzer or an external database;    b) reviewing stored motion data for improved swing performance;    c) selecting the stored motion data for improved swing performance; and    d) re-programming the analyzer with the selected motion data for improved swing performance of the user.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising: 
 e) retraining the user for improved swing performance using the re-programmed analyzer.    
   
   
       66 . A medium, executable in a computer system, for detecting, analyzing, correcting and re-creating sport movements of a user in real time using an analyzer secured to a user's forearm engaged in sport movements, the medium comprising, 
 b) program code for providing signals representative of the movement of the forearm at various swing positions along a swing path during a sport movement via a sensing unit in the analyzer;    c) program code for processing the signals to measure various parameters descriptive of a sport performance of the user at the swing positions via a processor in the analyzer; and    d) program code for storing and executing stored programs in the analyzer for servicing the processor in processing the signals representative of the sport performance and storing a history of past sport performances by the user for comparison purposes.