Abstract:
An instruction display system includes memory for storing instruction information in a format specified by the user, a display, and a hands-free user-controlled processor. Hands-free user inputs define selected portions of the stored instruction information that are to be displayed. The memory, display and processor are coupled to the user by a mounting assembly that allows the user to readily view the display for a particular activity.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to instructional systems, and more particularly to an instruction display system that displays user-formatted instruction data that is selected by a user in a hands-free fashion. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Typically, no two people perform the same activity in the same way. That is, while each person may want the same end result for an activity, their methods for achieving the end result will vary due to differences in physical abilities and/or mental abilities. For example, one chef might only need a list of ingredients to prepare a particular meal while another chef might need the ingredients lists, the order of preparation, time for mixing/cooking, etc. in order to prepare the same meal. Another example of this situation is golf. No two golfers are built the same way so no two golfers will have the same golf swing. Accordingly, teaching golf professionals will generally tailor their instruction for a particular individual. For the golfer to truly benefit from such specialized golf instruction, the golfer must practice what he was taught on his own. However, without the teaching professional at the golfer&#39;s side, it can be very difficult to remember all of the instruction tips one receives during a golf lesson. 
         [0003]    In addition to the fact that different people apply different methods to achieve the same end result, many activities (e.g., jobs, hobbies, sports, etc.) require the use of one&#39;s hands in the activity. This can make it difficult for one to consult notes about how the activity should be performed. Once again, consider the case of a golfer whose hand placement and movement are critical to the end result. That is, it would not be desirable or practical for a golfer to consult hand-held notes about his specialized golf instruction while he was trying to practice. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system that allows a user to format an instruction set related to an activity and then display the instruction set in a hands-free fashion. 
         [0005]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free instruction display system that one can readily use while performing an activity that requires the use of one&#39;s hands. 
         [0006]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, an instruction display system includes memory adapted to be accessible by a user for storing instruction information in a format specified by the user. A display is provided to display selected portions of the stored instruction information. A hands-free user-controlled processor, coupled to the memory and display, receives user inputs in a hands-free fashion. The user inputs define the selected portions of the stored instruction information that is to be displayed. Mounting means attach to the user for the purpose of coupling the memory, display and processor to the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a hands-free, user-formatted instruction display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of a hands-free, user-formatted-instruction display system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the electronic elements packaged in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a hands-free switch construction in a vertical orientation; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a strap in its unwrapped position where the strap is used as a mounting platform for the electronic elements in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the strap in its wrapped position; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5  as it would be attached to a user&#39;s shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a hands-free user-formatted-instruction display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown and is referenced generally by numeral  10 . System  10  can be used to display instructions, tips, lessons, reminders, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “instructions”), related to a particular activity where the instructions have been written or formatted by a particular individual in a way that is most beneficial for that individual. Accordingly, system  10  can be used by individuals for a variety of activities (e.g., jobs, sports, hobbies, etc.). In particular, system  10  is designed to allow the individual to select the various instructions for display in a hands-free fashion. Accordingly, system  10  can be used in a variety of activities that require the individual to use his hands when performing the activity (e.g., carpenter, chef, golfer, seamstress, etc.). However, by way of an illustrative example, the present invention will be explained in terms of its use by a golfer. 
         [0017]    System  10  has two main parts  10 A and  10 B. Briefly, electronic elements  10 A facilitate the instruction formatting and display functions, and attachment elements  10 B position/hold electronic elements  10 A in place on a user. In the illustrated embodiment electronic elements  10 A include a display  12 , a processor  14 , memory  16 , a hands-free input device  18 , a data port  20 , and a detachable data transfer cable  22 . Typically, electronic elements  10 A will also include a power source  24 , a platform  26  that supports the various electronic elements  10 A, and a mechanical coupling  28 . Attachment elements  10 B include an attachment platform  30  and a mechanical coupling  32  as will be explained further below. 
         [0018]    Display  12  is any conventional display device capable of reproducing text, graphic and/or video instructions that have been formatted by the user of system  10 . For the illustrated example where system  10  will be used by a golfer, display  12  can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) as these displays are easily viewed in bright light conditions. However, it is to be understood that other display devices could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Processor  14  is any conventional chip processor capable of handling the various data processing tasks of system  10  (e.g., data transfer from memory  16  to display  12  as requested by input device  18 , power monitoring and distribution, attribute settings of display  12 , etc.). Such processors are well understood in the art. 
         [0020]    Memory  16  is any conventional read/write memory that can be separate from processor  14  or incorporated therewith without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, memory  16  is a permanent part of electronic elements  10 A. Memory  16  receives/stores the various instructions that have been written/formatted by a user in a way that is most helpful to that user. For the golfer example, the user could write/format specially-tailored instructions received from the golfer&#39;s professional coach. The instructions could be related to driving the ball, hitting long/short irons, sand shots, putting, gauging distance, etc. Further, the instructions would be formatted in a way that the user can readily recall what he had been taught for his particular game. In this way, the user can essentially re-visit his specially-designed instructions on-demand as will be explained in greater detail below. 
         [0021]    To load data into memory  16 , data transfer cable  22  couples a conventional computer (e.g., laptop, desktop, hand-held, etc.) to memory  16  via data part  20 . More specifically, data transfer cable  22  has (i) a first terminal  22 A designed to connect to the conventional computer (not shown), and (ii) a second terminal  22 B designed to connect to data part  20 . Terminals  22 A and  22 B could be the same or different depending on hardware requirements. Examples of terminals  22 A and  22 B include, but are not limited to, serial data transfer terminals such as the ubiquitous USB terminal, an LED transmitter for cooperation with an LED receiver, and an RS-232 terminal just to name a few. 
         [0022]    The present invention is not limited to use of the combination of onboard memory  16 , data port  20 , and data transfer cable  22 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , memory in the present invention can be provided by a removable memory  17  (e.g., a memory “stick” as they are known). Removable memory  17  can be plugged into a conventional computer (not shown) so that a user can download his user-formatted instructions thereto. Removable memory  17  would then be removed from the computer and plugged into a port  21  (e.g., a USB port) for access by a processor  14 . 
         [0023]    Power for the above-described elements can be supplied by an onboard power source  24  such as removable and/or rechargeable batteries. Power source  24  could also include solar-powered cells for primary power, back-up power, or recharging power. Power source  24  could be directly connected to any element requiring power, or could just supply power to processor  14  (as shown) with processor  14  then making power available to other elements. 
         [0024]    Hands-free input device  18  is any device that can provide input signals to processor  14  in order to initiate the transfer of user-formatted instructions to display  12 . For example, hands-free input device  18  could be a simple switch that causes processor  14  to sequentially step or scroll through the instructions stored in memory  16  each time input device  18  is actuated. Accordingly, input device  18  could be a simple digital switch having a hands-free actuation feature. With each hands-free actuation, a pulse is generated. The generated pulse is used by processor  14  to cause the next instruction in memory  16  to be displayed on display  12 . An example of input device  18  will be described later below. 
         [0025]    Referring next to attachment elements  10 B, attachment platform  30  is attached to a user to provide a mounting platform for electronic elements  10 A. That is, attachment platform  30  is attached to a user such that mechanical couplings  28  and  32  can cooperate with one another to ultimately attach electronic components  10 A to the user. In general, attachment platform  30  can be realized by a clip, belt, strap, etc., attachable to some part of a user or the user&#39;s clothing. For the illustrated example of a user that is a golfer, it is preferred that attachment platform  30  be attachable to the user&#39;s foot (i.e., on or over the user&#39;s golf shoe) so that display  12  is readily viewable by the user as the user addresses a golf ball prior to striking same. 
         [0026]    Referring now simultaneously to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 A and  5 B, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be explained. A housing for the various electronic elements is defined by a top half  100  and a bottom half  102  that can be snapped, glued, welded, etc., together to from the support and protection for the electronics. A protective lens (e.g., non-glare material)  104  is provided to fit within an opening  100 A formed in top half  100 . An LCD screen  106  is coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB)  108  on which electronic components are mounted. Briefly, PCB  108  has a processor (“P”)  110  and memory (“M”)  112  mounted therein. A battery housing  114  is also provided on PCB  108  to support a battery  116  where power is supplied as needed in ways well known in the art. Battery  116  can be replaced via an access door  118  attachable to bottom half  102  using, for example, screws  120 . A power switch  122  is also provided on PCB  108 . Switch  122  will be accessible through bottom half  102  via a hole  124  formed therethrough. A data port  126  is provided to allow a data transfer cable (not shown) to be coupled to memory  112 . A receptacle  128  is formed in bottom half  102  and a magnet  130  is provided to fit and be retained within receptacle  128 . 
         [0027]    In this illustrated embodiment, the hands-free input function is provided by the combination of (i) a ball bearing  140  loosely fitted in a sleeve  142  (e.g., formed in top half  100 ), and (ii) a piezoelectric element  144  supported by PCB  108 . Briefly, actuation occurs when housing  100 / 102  is moved such that ball bearing  140  and sleeve  142  experience relative movement therebetween such that ball bearing impacts piezoelectric element  144 . This impact causes element  144  to generate a digital pulse that is passed to processor  110 . Upon receipt of such a pulse, processor  110  retrieves the next instruction from memory  112  and provides same to LCD screen  106 . The required relative movement between ball bearing  140  and sleeve  142  will be explained further below. 
         [0028]    Housing  100 / 102  is attached to a user&#39;s shoe (e.g., golf shoe)  300  using a strap assembly  200  that is shown in isolation in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . Strap assembly  200  has one or more elastic strips  202  that are terminated by hook-and-loop (e.g., VELCRO) pads  204  and  206 . Pads  204  and  206  can be coupled to strips  202  by, for example, crimping ferrules  208 . However, any other suitable means of attachment could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Mounted on pad  204  is a magnet catch  210  that will cooperate with magnet  130  as will be explained below. 
         [0029]    In use, strap assembly  200  is wrapped around the toe region of a user&#39;s shoe ( FIG. 6 ). Housing  100 / 102  is then placed on strap assembly  200  such that magnet  130  and magnet catch  210  (not visible in  FIG. 6 ) are coupled together via magnetic attraction. In this mounted position, sleeve  142  will be vertically oriented (as best seen in  FIG. 4 ) with ball bearing  140  resting loosely therein as previously described. When the user wants to toggle or scroll through the various instructions stored on memory  112 , the user simply taps his foot on the ground. This action will cause relative vertical movement between ball bearing  140  and sleeve  142  thereby causing ball bearing  140  to strike piezoelectric element  144  to generate a “scroll” pulse for processor  110 . 
         [0030]    The advantages of the present invention are numerous. An activity&#39;s instructions can be written/formatted by a user in a way that is most beneficial to that user, and then the instructions can be displayed without using one&#39;s hands. Thus, the present invention is ideally suited for a variety of activities (e.g., golf, cooking, carpentry, sewing, etc.) where the user needs his hands readily available, but also needs tips, lessons, reminders, etc., of the best way for this user to carry out the activity. 
         [0031]    Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, the present invention is not limited to attachment on one&#39;s foot/shoe as other suitable points of attachment could also be used. Further, other forms of hands-free input could be used as well as could other types of belts, straps, etc. used to attach the electronics to a user. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.