Sport Equipment Sensor Mode Control System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for tracking and recording sporting activities require observers or participants to interrupt their activities to record results, which is inconvenient and disruptive.

Innovation Solution

A sport equipment input control system that uses sensors and electronics integrated into sporting equipment to distinguish between sport action motions and mode input actions, allowing for continuous recording and mode adjustments without interruption, using sensors like pressure, motion, and orientation sensors to transmit signals for tracking and mode changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If observers or participants manually record results during sporting activities, then recording accuracy is improved, but interruption of sporting activity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording accuracyVSAvoidinterruption of sporting activity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sporting equipment itself performs the recording function through integrated sensors and electronics, eliminating the need for external observers or participants to manually record results. The equipment automatically detects and records performance metrics during the activity without requiring human intervention for data collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual recording methods are replaced with electronic sensing systems. Sensors integrated into the equipment automatically detect and transmit performance data, substituting the mechanical process of manual observation and recording with an automated electronic measurement and communication system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mode changes are implemented during sporting activities, then adaptability is improved, but complexity of control increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode change capabilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A processor acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the control system. The processor receives signals from multiple sensors, processes this information, and automatically determines when mode changes should occur, eliminating the need for complex manual control inputs while enabling versatile mode transitions based on detected sporting actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors signals from sensors and uses this feedback to automatically trigger mode changes when specific sporting actions are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the equipment to adapt its operational mode in response to actual usage patterns without requiring complex user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9916001B2Sport equipment input mode control

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO(US)

AI summary

An apparatus comprises a sensor to be carried by a piece of sporting equipment and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program logic that operates different operational modes. The program logic receives signals from the sensor, determines from the signals whether the piece of sporting equipment is in a sport action state or a mode input state, records a sport action result in response to determination that the piece of sporting equipment is in a sport action state, and switches the program logic to a different operational mode in response to determination that the piece of sporting equipment is in a mode input state.