US 4,516,110 AGranted

Ski stress signaling device

OwnerMark Overmyerinventor

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Abstract

A ski stress signaling device comprising a pair of strain gauges mounted on the top surface of each of a pair of skis with one strain gauge in front of the boot and the other strain gauge behind the boot. Each pair of strain gauges is connected by electrical conductor wires to a bridge circuit. The magnitude and polarity of the voltage output of the bridge circuit is determined by the amount of strain measured at the tops of the skis by the four gauges. The amplified output of the bridge circuit is used by a pair of LED (light emitting diode) drivers to control the illumination of two pluralities of LEDs mounted around the periphery of a pair of goggles worn by the skier. When a skier leans forward causing compressive stress to be applied to the fronts of his skis one or more of the LEDs in one of the goggles is illuminated, with the number of illuminated LEDs being proportional to the magnitude of the stress difference between the fronts of the skis and the backs of the skis resulting from the forward pitch of the skier. When a skier leans backwards the resulting stress imbalance produces a like signal in the other goggle. A skier is able to observe with his peripheral vision which, if any, LEDs are illuminated and adjust his position on his skis to produce a desired stress imbalance, such as may be required for making a turn, or to eliminate an undesired stress imbalance, all without taking his eyes off the ski path.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A ski stress signaling device comprising a plurality of strain gauges mounted on the top surfaces of a pair of skis and adapted to measure lengthwise strains in the said top surfaces of the said pair of skis;

a plurality of electrical conductor wires adapted to connect the said plurality of strain gauges to form a Wheatstone bridge circuit;
resistance compensation means adapted to compensate for any differences in the magnitudes of zero-stress resistances of the strain gauges of the said plurality of strain gauges;
electrical conductor means adapted for connecting a direct current power supply to the said Wheatstone bridge circuit;
first and second bridge output means;
a first amplifier means adapted to be connected to a direct current power source and adapted to amplify an output voltage of the said Wheatstone bridge circuit;
a second amplifier means adapted to be connected to a direct current power source and adapted to amplify an output voltage of the said Wheatstone bridge circuit;
a third amplifier means adapted to invert an output voltage of the said second amplifier means;
a first light emitting diode driver circuit adapted to be driven by an output voltage of the said first amplifier means and having a plurality of output means and adapted to be connected to a direct current power source wherein each of the said output means of the said plurality of output means is connected by electrical conductor means to an anode of a light emitting diode of a first plurality of light emitting diodes each having a cathode that is connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source;
a second light emitting diode driver circuit adapted to be driven by an output voltage of the said third amplifier means and having a plurality of output means and adapted to be connected to a direct current power and wherein each of the output means of the said plurality of output means is connected by electrical conductor means to an anode of a light emitting diode of a second plurality of light emitting diodes each having a cathode that is connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source;
a plurality of direct current power sources adapted to operate the aforesaid Wheatstone bridge circuit, the said first, second and third amplifier means, the said first and second light emitting diode driver circuits, and the said first and second pluralities of light emitting diodes;
and a pair of goggles having mounted on a first portion of the perimeter thereof the said first plurality of light emitting diodes and having mounted on a second portion of the perimeter thereof the said second plurality of light emitting diodes.

8 more elements

A ski stress signaling device comprising first, second, third and fourth strain gauges wherein the said first strain gauge is mounted on a front portion of a top surface of a first ski and is adapted to measure lengthwise strain in the said front portion of the said top surface of the said first ski, and wherein the said second strain gauge is mounted on a back portion of the top surface of the said first ski and is adapted to measure lengthwise strain in the said back portion of the said top surface of the said first ski, and wherein the said third strain gauge is mounted on a front portion of a top surface of a second ski and is adapted to measure lengthwise strain in the said front portion of the said top surface of the said second ski, and wherein the said fourth strain gauge is mounted on a back portion of the top surface of the said second ski and is adapted to measure lengthwise strain in the said back portion of the said top surface of the said second ski;

a plurality of electrical conductor means adapted to connect a first side of the said first strain gauge to a first side of the said second strain gauge and a second side of the said second strain gauge to a first side of the said fourth strain gauge and a second side of the said fourth strain gauge to a first side of the said third strain gauge and a second side of the said third strain guage to a second side of the said first strain gauge to form a Wheatstone bridge circuit;
a first resistance compensation resistor comprising a potentiometer having a movable contact and connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said second side of the said fourth strain gauge and to the said first side of the said third strain gauge and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said first side of the said second strain gauge and to the said first side of the said first strain gauge and a second resistance compensation resistor connected on a first side by electrial conductor means to the said movable contact of the said first resistance compensation resistor and connected on a second side to the said second side of the said first strain gauge and the said second side of the said third strain gauge;
electrical conductor means adapted for connecting one side of a direct current power supply to the said second side of the said fourth strain gauge and to the said first side of the said third strain gauge and to the said first side of the said first resistance compensation resistor and electrical conductor means adapted for connecting a second side of the said direct current power supply to the said first side of the said first strain gauge and to the said first side of the said second strain gauge and to the said second side of the said first resistance compensation resistor;
a first bridge output means comprising an electrical conductor connected at one end to the said second side of the said third strain gauge and the said second side of the said first strain gauge and the said second side of the said second resistance compensation resistor;
a second bridge output means comprising an electrical conductor connected at one end to the said second side of the said second strain gauge and the said first side of the said fourth strain gauge;
a first differential amplifier having first and second input connection means and an output connection means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said first input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to a first side of a first input resistor that is connected on a second side to the aforesaid first bridge output means and wherein the said second input connection means is grounded;
a first current limiting resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said first differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to an anode of a first clamping diode having a cathode that is grounded;
a first variable feedback resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said first input connection means of the said first differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said first differential amplifier;
a second differential amplifier having first and second input connection means and an output connection means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said first input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to a first side of a second input resistor that is connected on a second side to the aforesaid second bridge output means and wherein the said second input connection means is grounded;
a second variable feedback resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said first input connection means of the said second differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said second differential amplifier;
a third differential amplifier adapted to serve as an inverter and having first and second input connection means and an output connection means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said first input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to a first side of a third input resistor that is connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said second differential amplifier and wherein the said second input connection means is grounded;
a second current limiting resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said third differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to an anode of a second clamping diode having a cathode that is grounded;
a third feedback resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said first input connection means of the said third differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said third differential amplifier;
a first light emitting diode driver circuit having an input connection means and a plurality of output means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to the aforesaid second side of the said first current limiting resistor and the said anode of the said first clamping diode and wherein each of the output means of the said plurality of output means is connected by electrical conductor means to an anode of a light emitting diode of a first plurality of light emitting diodes each having a cathode that is connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source;
a second light emitting diode driver circuit having an input connection means and a plurality of output means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to the aforesaid second side of the said second current limiting resistor and the said anode of the said second clamping diode and wherein each of the output means of the said plurality of output means is connected by electrical conductor means to an anode of a light emitting diode of a second plurality of light emitting diodes each having a cathode that is connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source;
a plurality of direct current power sources adapted to operate the aforesaid Wheatstone bridge circuit, the said first, second and third differential amplifiers, the said first and second light emitting diode driver circuits, and the said first and second pluralities of light emitting diodes;
and a pair of goggles having mounted on the perimeter of one side thereof the said first plurality of light emitting diodes and having mounted on the perimeter of the other side thereof the said second plurality of light emitting diodes.

14 more elements

A ski stress signaling device comprising first and second strain gauges wherein the said first strain gauge is mounted on a front portion of a top surface of a ski and is adapted to measure lengthwise strain in the said front portion of the said top surface of the said ski, and wherein the said second strain gauge is mounted on a back portion of a top surface of the said ski and is adapted to measure lengthwise strain in the said back portion of the said top surface of the said ski;

a plurality of electrical conductor means adapted to connect a first side of the said first strain gauge to a first side of the said second strain gauge and a second side of the said first strain gauge to a first side of a first fixed resistor and a second side of the said first fixed resistor to a first side of a second fixed resistor and a second side of the said second fixed resistor to a second side of the said second strain gauge to form a Wheatstone bridge circuit;
a first resistance compensation resistor comprising a potentiometer having a movable contact having a first side connected by electrical conductor means to the said first side of the said first strain gauge and to the said first side of the said second strain gauge and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said first side of the said second fixed resistor and to the said second side of the said first fixed resistor and a second resistance compensation resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said movable contact of the said first resistance compensation resistor and connected on a second side to the said second side of the said first strain gauge and to the said first side of the said first fixed resistor;
electrical conductor means adapted for connecting one side of a direct current power supply to the said first side of the said first strain gauge and the said first side of the said second strain gauge and to the said first side of the said first resistance compensation resistor and electrical conductor means adapted for connecting a second side of the said direct current power supply to the said second side of the said first fixed resistor and the said first side of the said second fixed resistor and to the said second side of the said first resistance compensation resistor;
a first bridge output means comprising an electrical conductor connected at one end to the said second side of the said first strain gauge and the said first side of the said first fixed resistor and the said second side of the said second resistance compensation resistor;
a second bridge output means comprising an electrical conductor connected at one end to the said second side of the said second fixed resistor and the said second side of the said second strain gauge;
a first differential amplifier having first and second input connection means and an output connection means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said first input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to a first side of a first input resistor that is connected on a second side to the aforesaid first bridge output means and wherein the said second input connection means is grounded;
a first current limiting resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said first differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to an anode of a first clamping diode having a cathode that is grounded;
a first variable feedback resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said first input connection means of the said first differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said first differential amplifier;
a second differential amplifier having first and second input connection means and an output connection means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said first input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to a first side of a second input resistor that is connected on a second side to the aforesaid second bridge output means and wherein the said second input connection means is grounded;
a second variable feedback resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said first input connection means of the said second differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said second differential amplifier;
a third differential amplifier adapted to serve as an inverter and having first and second input connection means and an output connection means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said first input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to a first side of a third input resistor that is connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said second differential amplifier and wherein the said second input connection means is grounded;
a second current limiting resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said third differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to an anode of a second clamping diode having a cathode that is grounded;
a third feedback resistor connected on a first side by electrical conductor means to the said first input connection means of the said third differential amplifier and connected on a second side by electrical conductor means to the said output connection means of the said third differential amplifier;
a first light emitting diode driver circuit having an input connection means and a plurality of output means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to the aforesaid second side of the said first current limiting resistor and the said anode of the said first clamping diode and wherein each of the output means of the said plurality of output means is connected by electrical conductor means to an anode of a light emitting diode of a first plurality of light emitting diodes each having a cathode that is connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source;
a second light emitting diode driver circuit having an input connection means and a plurality of output means and adapted to be connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source wherein the said input connection means is connected by electrical conductor means to the aforesaid second side of the said second current limiting resistor and the said anode of the said second clamping diode and wherein each of the output means of the said plurality of output means is connected by electrical conductor means to an anode of a light emitting diode of a second plurality of light emitting diodes each having a cathode that is connected by electrical conductor means to a direct current power source;
a plurality of direct current power sources adapted to operate the aforesaid Wheatstone bridge circuit, the said first, second and third differential amplifiers, the said first and second light emitting diode driver circuits, and the said first and second pluralities of light emitting diodes;
and a pair of goggles having mounted on a portion of the perimeter of one side thereof the said first plurality of light emitting diodes and having mounted on another portion the perimeter of the said side the said second plurality of light emitting diodes.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.