Ball Rebound Feedback Using Accelerometer Force And Impact Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing athlete performance feedback systems are inadequate for providing comprehensive feedback on ball sports, particularly in sports where installing sensors on instruments or athletes is not feasible, failing to detect force, impact point, and distance of ball impact effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a non-rebound substrate with a frame and an array of sensors, including accelerometers, a digital sensor interface, and a control unit to calculate force, impact point, and distance of ball impact, using a processor to analyze data from the sensors and transmit results wirelessly to a handheld device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are installed on instruments or athletes to provide feedback, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to restricted motion and installation feasibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rebound substrate as an intermediary object between the ball and the sensor array. Instead of attaching sensors directly to the athlete's body or instrument, the substrate acts as a mediator that captures impact data while allowing the athlete full motion freedom. The substrate is positioned in the ball's path and contains the sensor array on its rear surface, enabling indirect measurement without restricting athletic movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the feedback mechanism into separate functional components: the rebound substrate that intercepts the ball, the sensor array that measures impact characteristics, and the feedback system that processes and communicates data. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and eliminates the need for direct sensor attachment to the athlete, maintaining measurement precision while preserving motion freedom.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are attached directly to athletes to measure performance, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rebound substrate serves as a manufacturable intermediary platform that simplifies sensor installation. Rather than directly attaching sensors to complex athletic gear or bodies, the substrate provides a stable, accessible surface where the sensor array can be mounted using standard manufacturing techniques. This approach improves ease of manufacture while maintaining measurement precision through the substrate's ability to accurately capture impact forces.
3Measurement precision
If a sensor array is used to detect ball impact, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor functions into a single integrated rebound substrate unit. The substrate combines the rebound function with the sensing function, housing the entire sensor array on its rear surface. This merging reduces device complexity by consolidating what would otherwise be separate components into one unified structure that can be manufactured and installed as a single unit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables athletes to quantify performance improvements by providing real-time feedback on force, impact point, and distance, facilitating targeted training adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The array of sensors are accelerometers
Data Source
AI summary
The system has a non-rebound substrate and a first frame disposed around a peripheral edge thereof. The system further has an array of sensors, a digital sensor interface, and a control unit. The array of sensors is disposed in a center portion of the first frame. The array of sensors has at least 9 accelerometers configured in rows in a rectangular array in the central portion of the first frame. The control unit has a processor electrically connected to the digital sensor interface to receive data from the array of sensors, and has instructions to calculate a force, an impact point, and a distance from a user to the system based on the data received from the array of sensors.