Golf Club Head Impact Sensors for Adjustable Sound Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf clubs have fixed and non-adjustable acoustic profiles that do not cater to individual golfer preferences, and they lack effective impact detection and location sensing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A golf club system with an actuator, impact sensor, and electronic controller that allows adjustable sound tuning and impact detection, integrated into the club head, shaft, or grip, enabling customizable acoustic profiles and impact location feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If advanced materials are used in golf club heads, then the acoustic output is reduced (muted sound), but the structural performance is improved
Solution Approach 1:
A piezoelectric element is introduced as an intermediary between the impact event and the acoustic output. The piezoelectric element converts mechanical impact energy into electrical signals, which then control an acoustic transducer to generate sound. This intermediary mechanism allows the club head materials to maintain their structural performance while the acoustic output is actively controlled through electrical signals rather than passive material properties.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the acoustic profile is adjusted after factory, then the golfer's preference is satisfied, but the performance of the golf club drops
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic profile is made dynamically adjustable through electronic control rather than fixed mechanical modifications. The system includes an acoustic transducer controlled by electronic circuits that can modify sound characteristics in real-time based on user preferences without altering the physical structure or performance characteristics of the golf club head. This dynamic adjustment separates acoustic customization from performance modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) are changed through electrical control of the acoustic transducer rather than physical modification of the club head. This allows independent adjustment of acoustic characteristics while maintaining the structural integrity and performance parameters of the golf club head unchanged.
3Measurement precision
If impact detection capability is added, then the location of impact can be determined, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric element serves multiple functions: it acts as both an impact sensor for detection and as part of the acoustic generation system. By making this component multi-functional, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving both impact detection and acoustic control capabilities through a single integrated element rather than separate components.
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 golfer-adjustable sound settings without affecting club performance, and provides accurate impact detection and location feedback, enhancing user experience and performance.
Implementation Method 1
an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club head with a golf ball
Implementation Method 2
an actuator configured to generate a sound and an electronic controller configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head includes a first impact sensor that is fixed to a toe-side interior surface of the golf club head opposite the curved strike face and located on a toeward side of the golf club head, and a second impact sensor that is fixed to a heel-side interior surface of the golf club head opposite the curved strike face and located on a heelward side of the golf club head. The golf club head further includes an electronic controller, fixed to the golf club head and electrically coupled with the first and second impact sensors, and a battery, fixed to the golf club head and electrically coupled with the electronic controller to supply electrical power to the electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to communicate impact data received from the first and second impact sensors to an external computing device.