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.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 60 / 733,877, filed on Nov. 7, 2005, and U.S. provisional application 60 / 739,527, filed on Nov. 28, 2005BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to sporting equipment such as racquets, paddles and boards, and more particularly relates to a racquet providing entertainment and performance feedback. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Conventional sporting equipment, such as tennis racquets, paddles, boards and the like, are designed for players of a variety of skill levels from beginners to very advanced. They vary in size, design, weight, color, composition, etc., but are designed and manufactured primarily with player size and player performance objectives in mind. Racquet and other sporting equipment design typically does not include consideration of entertainment value or audio / visual feedback. [0006] Moreover, conventional ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] Another embodiment of the invention is a racquet having a frame and strings mounted on and stretched across the frame. Sensors are mounted on the frame to detect an impact of a ball on the strings, and a feedback indicator provides feedback based on data collected by the sensors. In one implementation, the data collected by the sensors includes performance data such as number of impacts, location of impacts, ball speed and racquet angle, and the racquet includes a communication link for downloading the performance data to an external device. In another implementation, the feedback indicator provides audio or visual feedback based on whether the ball impact was within the sweet spot of the racquet.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, conventional racquets do not provide performance feedback, such as an indication of where the ball hit the strings during a stroke.

If the ball is hit outside of this area, the ball may still be returned, but with less control and with a higher chance of being off target.

However, it is difficult for a player to know with certainty whether the ball was hit with the sweet spot contour or with the outer part of the strings.

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