Visual Or Audible Indicators Of Sensed Motion In A Hockey Puck

Abstract

A hockey puck including a microprocessor operable to execute a processor readable code to convert sensor data generated by at least one sensor to hockey puck movement values, compare the hockey puck movement values to hockey puck movement threshold values, and actuate one or more light emitters or sound generators upon hockey puck movement values satisfying the hockey puck movement threshold values.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a computing device including a non-transitory computer readable medium containing a processor readable code, said processor readable code executable to display a graphical user interface on a display surface of said computing device, said graphical user interface configured to receive user indications to actuate an illumination core of a hockey puck, said illumination core including:   a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicatively couple to said computing device;   at least one sensor which generates sensor data that varies based on change in movement of said hockey puck;   one or more light emitters actuatable to illuminate said illumination core;   a microprocessor operable to execute said processor readable code to:
 convert said sensor data generated by said at least one sensor to hockey puck movement values correlated to said one or more movements of said hockey puck; 
 compare said hockey puck movement values to hockey puck movement threshold values; and 
 actuate one or more light emitters upon occurrence of said hockey puck movement threshold values. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises one or more of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said movement of said hockey puck comprises one or more of: acceleration, angular acceleration, velocity, rotation, inclination, trajectory and time of flight. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said radio frequency receiver, said at least one sensor, said one or more light emitters, and said microprocessor mounted to a printed circuit board contained inside of said illumination core. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a power source electrically coupled to said printed circuit board. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said illumination core comprises an elastomer which encapsulates said circuit board and said power source. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more hockey puck movement threshold values associated with a hockey move selectable from a hockey move set contained in said computer readable medium. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 present said set of hockey moves in said graphical user interface;   receive by user indications in said graphical user interface selection of one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves;   compare said hockey puck movement values to one or more hockey puck movement threshold values associated with selected one of said hockey moves; and   actuate one or more light emitters upon said hockey puck movement values satisfying said one or more hockey puck movement threshold values associated with said selected one of said hockey moves.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 present said set of hockey moves in said graphical user interface;   receive by user indications in said graphical user interface selection of one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves;   receive by user indications in said graphical user interface threshold movement values to associate with selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves; and   associate said threshold movement values with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 present a set of threshold movement values in said graphical user interface to associate with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves, said threshold movement values selectable by user indications in said graphical user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 receive by user indications in said graphical user interface light emission indicia to associate with said selected one of said hockey moves selected from said set of hockey moves; and   associate said one or more light emission indicia with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 present a set of light emission icons in said graphical user interface to associate said light emission indicia with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves, said light emission indicators selectable by user indications in said graphical user interface, selected said light emission indicia actuated upon occurrence of said threshold movement values associated with said selected one of said hockey moves.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said light emission indicators comprises emission of light from said one or more light emitters including one or more of: an emitted light color, an emitted light pattern, and an emitted light time period. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said set of hockey moves includes one or more of: a first touch move, a leading move, a passing move, a hit move, a flat stick tackle, and a hockey puck shot. 
     
     
         15 . They system of  claim 7 , wherein said threshold values include one or more of: an acceleration threshold value, an angular acceleration threshold value, a velocity magnitude threshold value, and a pattern recognition threshold value. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sound generator mounted to said circuit board. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 receive by user indications in said graphical user interface sound emission indicia to associate with said selected one of said hockey moves selected from said set of hockey moves; and   associate said one or more sound emission indicia with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said processor readable code executable to present a set of sound emission icons in said graphical user interface to associate said sound emission indicia with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves, said sound emission icons selectable by user indications in said graphical user interface to associate said sound emission indicia with said selected one of said hockey moves from said set of hockey moves, selected said sound emission indicia actuated upon satisfying said threshold movement values associated with said selected one of said hockey moves. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said overcoat comprises a hockey puck-shaped over-mold. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said hockey puck-shaped over-mold comprises an elastomer layer. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein overcoat comprises a hockey puck-shaped releasably mated elastomer layer. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said overcoat comprises vulcanized rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a server accessible by said computing device through a network, said server adapted to serve said processor readable code to said computing device. 
     
     
         24 . A hockey puck, comprising:
 an illumination core, containing:
 a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicatively couple to a computing device; 
 at least one sensor which generates sensor data that varies based on change in one or more movements of said hockey puck; 
 one or more processors communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium containing processor readable code executable to: 
 actuate one or more light emitters to illuminate said illumination core based on said change in said one or more movements of said hockey puck; and 
 an overcoat substantially enveloping said illumination core, said overcoat having a first flat face opposite a second flat face joined by an annular side wall, said first flat face or said second flat face of said overcoat including a plurality of apertures through which light passes from said one or more light emitters within said illumination core. 
   
     
     
         25 . A hockey puck, comprising:
 an illumination core including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium containing a processor readable code, said processor readable code executable to:   collect acceleration data generated by an accelerometer contained in said illumination core over a period of time;   calculate acceleration magnitude values based on said acceleration data over said time period;   calculate acceleration baseline values over said time period based on said acceleration magnitude values;   correlate said acceleration baseline values with said acceleration magnitude values over said time period; and   detect a hockey puck shot, wherein a hockey puck shot start occurs when said acceleration magnitude value exceeds said acceleration baseline value, and wherein a hockey puck shot end occurs when said acceleration magnitude value subsequently falls below said acceleration baseline value.   
     
     
         26 . The hockey puck of  claim 25 , wherein said processor readable code further executable to detect occurrence of an acceleration magnitude minimum subsequent to occurrence of said acceleration magnitude value falling below said acceleration baseline value, wherein said hockey puck shot end occurs at said acceleration magnitude minimum. 
     
     
         27 . The hockey puck of  claim 26 , wherein said processor readable code further executable to smooth acceleration magnitude values by applying a rolling mean. 
     
     
         28 . The hockey puck of  claim 26 , wherein said processor readable code further executable to:
 collect angular velocity data generated by a gyroscope contained in said illumination core over said period of time;   calculate angular velocity magnitude values based on said angular velocity data over said period of time;   calculate angular velocity baseline values based on said angular velocity values over said period of time;   correlate the angular velocity magnitude values to said acceleration magnitude values over said time period;   detect when said angular velocity magnitude values exceed said angular velocity baseline values; and   correlate occurrence of said angular velocity magnitude values exceeding said angular velocity baseline values in said time period to occurrence of said acceleration magnitude values exceeding said acceleration baseline values in said time period to validate said hockey puck shot.   
     
     
         29 . The hockey puck of  claim 28 , wherein said processor readable code further executable to calculate velocity magnitude values based on integration of said acceleration magnitude values calculated over said period of time. 
     
     
         30 . The hockey puck of  claim 29 , wherein said processor readable code further executable to compare said velocity to a velocity magnitude threshold value, wherein said velocity magnitude value in excess of a velocity magnitude threshold value during said time period validates said hockey puck shot. 
     
     
         31 . A hockey puck, comprising:
 a computing device including a non-transitory computer readable medium containing a processor readable code, said processor readable code executable to display a graphical user interface on a display surface of said computing device, said graphical user interface configured to receive user indications to actuate an illumination core of a hockey puck, said illumination core including:   a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicatively couple to said computing device;   at least one sensor which generates sensor data that varies based on change in movement of said hockey puck;   one or more light emitters actuatable to illuminate said illumination core;   a microprocessor operable to execute said processor readable code to:
 record said sensor data that varies based on change in movement of said hockey puck; 
 convert said sensor data generated by said at least one sensor to hockey puck movement values correlated to said one or more hockey puck movements; 
 compare said hockey puck movement values to hockey puck movement threshold values; and 
 actuate one or more light emitters upon satisfying said hockey puck movement threshold values. 
   
     
     
         32 . The hockey puck of  claim 30 , wherein said processor readable code executable to actuate said one or more light emitters upon actuation of said illumination core to indicate said microprocessor ready to record said sensor data that varies based on change in said hockey puck movement. 
     
     
         33 . The hockey puck of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer, and wherein said sensor data comprises acceleration data and wherein said hockey puck movement value comprises acceleration magnitude values, and wherein said hockey puck movement threshold value comprises an hockey puck acceleration threshold value, wherein said processor readable code further executable to compare said acceleration magnitude values to said acceleration magnitude threshold value, wherein said acceleration magnitude value in excess of acceleration magnitude threshold value actuates said processor to execute said processor readable code to record said sensor data that varies based on change in movement of said hockey puck. 
     
     
         34 . The hockey puck of  claim 33 , wherein said processor readable code further executable to pause recording of said sensor data during elapse of a cool down period in which said hockey puck remains motionless. 
     
     
         35 . The hockey puck of  claim 34 , wherein said processor readable code executable to actuate said one or more light emitters upon elapse of said cool down period in which said hockey puck remains motionless to indicate said microprocessor recorded said sensor data preceding cool down period in which said hockey puck remains motionless. 
     
     
         36 . The hockey puck of  claim 35 , wherein duration of said cool down period in a which said puck remains motionless pre-selected by user indications in said graphical user interface. 
     
     
         37 . The hockey puck of  claim 36 , wherein said processor readable code executable to maintain said pause in said recording of said sensor data and to actuate said one or more light emitters during said cool down period. 
     
     
         38 . The hockey puck of  claim 37 , wherein said processor readable code executable to receive user indications in said computing device to stop recording of said sensor data that varies based on change in said hockey puck movement. 
     
     
         39 . The hockey puck of  claim 38 , wherein said processor readable code executable to save hockey puck movement values correlated to said one or more movements of said hockey puck as session. 
     
     
         40 . The hockey puck of  claim 39 , wherein said processor readable code executable to save a plurality of sessions of said hockey move. 
     
     
         41 . The hockey puck of  claim 40 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 superimpose said plurality of recorded sessions of said hockey move;   calculate average hockey puck movement values correlated to said hockey puck movements in said plurality of sessions of said hockey move; and   save said average hockey puck movement values as a hockey move pattern.   
     
     
         42 . The hockey puck of  claim 41 , wherein said processor readable code executable to:
 present in said graphical user interface a plurality of hockey move pattern icons correspondingly associated with a plurality of hockey move patterns;   receive by user indications in said graphical user interface selection of one of said hockey move patterns;   compare said hockey puck movement values associated with performance of a hockey move to selected said hockey move pattern; and   actuate one or more light emitters upon said hockey puck movement values occurring during performance of said hockey move exceeds a pre-determined pattern recognition threshold value.   
     
     
         43 . A hockey puck, comprising:
 an illumination core, containing:
 at least one sensor which generates sensor data that varies based on change in one or more movements of said hockey puck; 
 a microprocessor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium containing processor readable code executable to actuate one or more light emitters to illuminate said illumination core based on said change in said one or more movements of said hockey puck; and 
   an overcoat comprising an annular member having an annular sidewall extending to a first annular retainer ring having an inwardly directed annular lip terminating in first retainer ring periphery defining a first overcoat open area, said annular sidewall having external surface dimensions of said hockey puck, said illumination core disposed within said overcoat.   
     
     
         44 . The hockey puck of  claim 43 , further comprising a first overcoat inlay configured to mate with or have a common boundary with said first retainer ring periphery to overlay said illumination core disposed within said overcoat, said first overcoat inlay overlaying an illumination core first face to form a first flat face of said hockey puck. 
     
     
         45 . The hockey puck of  claim 44 , wherein said annular sidewall extending between said first annular retainer ring and a second annular retaining ring having an inwardly directed annular lip terminating in second retainer ring periphery defining a second overcoat open area. 
     
     
         46 . The hockey puck of  claim 45 , further comprising a second overcoat inlay configured to mate with or have a common boundary with said second retainer ring periphery to overlay said illumination core disposed within said overcoat, said second overcoat inlay overlaying an illumination core second face to forms a second flat face of said hockey puck. 
     
     
         47 . The hockey puck of  claim 43 , wherein said annular sidewall extending between said first annular retainer ring and a second flat face of said hockey puck. 
     
     
         48 . The hockey puck of  claim 46 , wherein said first overcoat inlay or said second overcoat inlay include one or more apertures through which light passes from said one or more light emitters within said illumination core. 
     
     
         49 . The hockey puck of  claim 46 , wherein said first overlay inlay or said second overcoat inlay further comprising a translucent material through which light passes from said one or more light emitters within said illumination core. 
     
     
         50 . The hockey puck of  claim 46 , further comprising a first adhesive layer or a second adhesive layer correspondingly disposed between said illumination core first face or said illumination core second face and said first overcoat inlay or said second overcoat overlay. 
     
     
         51 . The hockey puck of  claim 50 , wherein said adhesive layer comprising a translucent two-sided adhesive material. 
     
     
         52 . The hockey puck of  claim 43 , wherein said overcoat comprises an over-mold of said illumination core. 
     
     
         53 . The hockey puck of  claim 43 , wherein said overcoat comprises an elastomer layer have an overcoat internal surface defining a hollow interior space configured to receive said illumination core. 
     
     
         54 . A method of making a hockey puck, comprising:
 forming an illumination core, containing:
 at least one sensor which generates sensor data that varies based on change in one or more movements of said hockey puck; 
 a microprocessor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium containing processor readable code executable to actuate one or more light emitters to illuminate said illumination core based on said change in said one or more movements of said hockey puck; and 
   disposing said illumination core within an overcoat comprising an annular member having an annular sidewall extending to a first annular retainer ring having an inwardly directed annular lip terminating in first retainer ring periphery defining a first overcoat open area, said annular sidewall having external surface dimensions of said hockey puck. The method of  claim 54 , further comprising configuring a first overcoat inlay to mate with or have a common boundary with said first retainer ring periphery to overlay said illumination core disposed within said overcoat, said first overcoat inlay overlaying an illumination core first face to form a first flat face of said hockey puck.   
     
     
         56 . The method of claim  55 , wherein said annular sidewall extending between said first annular retainer ring and a second annular retaining ring having an inwardly directed annular lip terminating in second retainer ring periphery defining a second overcoat open area. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising configuring a second overcoat inlay to mate with or have a common boundary with said second retainer ring periphery to overlay said illumination core disposed within said overcoat, said second overcoat inlay overlaying an illumination core second face to forms a second flat face of said hockey puck. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said annular sidewall extending between said first annular retainer ring and a second flat face of said hockey puck. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising disposing one or more apertures in said first  10  overcoat inlay or said second overcoat inlay through which light passes from said one or more light emitters within said illumination core. The method of  claim 57 , wherein said first overlay inlay or said second overcoat inlay further comprising a translucent material through which light passes from said one or more light  15  emitters within said illumination core. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising disposing a first adhesive layer or a second adhesive layer between said illumination core first face or said illumination core second face and said first overcoat inlay or said second overcoat overlay. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising forming said first adhesive layer or said second adhesive layer from a translucent two-sided adhesive material.