US 6,151,563 A · Speed, spin rate, and curve measuring device using magnetic field sensors

Abstract

A device for measuring a movable object, such as a baseball, football, hockey puck, soccer ball, tennis ball, bowling ball, or a golf ball. Part of the device, called the object unit, is embedded, secured, or attached to the movable object of interest, and has a spin detection circuit, electronic processor circuit, magnetic field sensor circuit, and a radio transmitter. The other part of the device, called the monitor unit, is held or worn by the user and serves as the user interface for the device. The monitor unit has a radio receiver, a processor, an input keypad, and an output display that shows the various measured motion characteristics of the movable object, such as the time of flight, speed, trajectory height, spin rate, or curve of the movable object, and allows the user to input data to the device.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A measuring device secured to a movable object, said measuring device comprising:

a first magnetic field sensor for providing an output indicative of a change of alignment between said movable object and the earth's magnetic field;
an electronic processor circuit connected to said output of said first magnetic field sensor, wherein said electronic processor circuit determines motion characteristics of said movable object from said output of said first magnetic field sensor;
and
an output display connected to said electronic processor circuit, for displaying said motion characteristics determined by said electronic processor circuit.

1 more element

A system for measuring motion characteristics of a movable object, said system comprising:

an object unit secured to said movable object, said object unit comprising
a first magnetic field sensor for providing an output indicative of a change of alignment between said movable object and the earth's magnetic field;
an electronic processor circuit connected to said first magnetic field sensor, wherein said electronic processor circuit receives an output of said first magnetic field sensor and further wherein said electronic processor circuit determines motion data of the movable object from said output of said first magnetic field sensor;
a transmitter connected to said electronic processor circuit for transmitting at least one signal representing said motion data;
and
a monitor unit comprising
a receiver for receiving said at least one signal from said transmitter;
a monitor processor connected to said receiver;
wherein said monitor processor determines at least one motion characteristic of said movable object;
and
an output display for displaying said at least one motion characteristic.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Speed, spin rate, and curve measuring device using magnetic field sensors

Life of this patent

Speed, spin rate, and curve measuring device using magnetic field sensors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26