Abstract:
The present invention concerns a club for impacting an object. The club may have a club head having a club face. At least one microprocessor in communication with a plurality of infrared sources is also provided. There are also a plurality of infrared sensors, and indicators configurable in a configuration indicating proper club face alignment and a configuration indicating club face misalignment. The infrared sources are periodically pulsed by a microprocessor between an activated and deactivated state. The sensors are configured on the club head to receive infrared from the infrared sources and to generate a signal in response to the infrared received. The microprocessor is programmed to receive signals from the sensors when the infrared sources are activated. The microprocessor is programmed to activate the indicators in an aligned or misaligned configuration.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a sports swing training apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a training device that assists a user in attaining the proper alignment of a piece of sports equipment with an object to be struck during a user&#39;s swing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In prior attempts such as that set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,063, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference, a training golf club is disclosed. The device uses discreet components in conjunction with infrared sensors, among other things, to provide a user with feedback in the form of LED indicators to promote the proper club face alignment. This is accomplished by reflecting infrared beams off of a golf ball back to sensors.  
           [0003]    There are several drawbacks associated with the design disclosed. First, after the ball is struck, the target golf ball quickly speeds away. This results in the LED indicators turning off since the golf ball is needed to reflect infrared back to the sensors. This, in turn, prevents the golfer from receiving information as to the alignment of the club face with respect to the ball at the time of impact since, again, the impact of the club with the ball results in the termination of the indicator lights. This problem is especially present where swing speeds can be around 70-100 mph for clubs other than putters and where the duration of the swing may last for several seconds.  
           [0004]    In addition, the infrared technology of the prior art training aid cannot be used in outdoor applications. This is the result of the infrared generated by the sun interfering with the device&#39;s ability to operate.  
           [0005]    The present invention overcomes the deficiencies noted above. The problem with losing the alignment information upon impact is solved by freezing the alignment information at the moment of impact for later use by the user. The second problem of not being able to use the device outside is solved by the use of a circuit which ignores the infrared generated by the sun and which selectively focuses on the infrared beams generated by the device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in several views, and in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry used with the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a representation of a pulsed signal generated by the present invention for use with the infrared LEDs.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the voltage applied to the infrared LEDs.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the training device is a golf club head which is in a preferred alignment with a golf ball.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the golf club head is misaligned with a golf ball.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view with portions removed to illustrate a club having an impact surface and a cavity in which a sounder is located. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.  
         [0014]    The present invention comprises a swing training aid  110  which may be a putter, driver, iron, wood type of club or some other device that has a club head  116  such as a tennis racket, baseball bat, hockey stick, and other types of equipment. However, for ease of reference, the embodiment concerning a golf club will be primarily referred to in this specification. A shaft  14  may also be provided. The club has a face or surface  140  that impacts an object such as ball  22 . The circuitry used to operate the device&#39;s electronics may be housed in a cavity of club  116 , elsewhere in the club such as handle  14 , or in a combination of places.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows the circuitry used with the present invention. At the center of the circuitry is microprocessor  10  which is in communication with a number of circuits.  
         [0016]    One circuit is designed to freeze the indicator LEDs  154  and  155  in either an aligned signal or configuration as well as a misaligned signal or configuration as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 indicates that the golf ball  22  has been squarely struck since both indicators  154  and  155  are illuminated. FIG. 5 shows a misaligned hit. Only indicator  154  is illuminated which indicates a toe-in alignment or that the club face  140  was closed at impact. If indicator  155  was only illuminated, it would indicate that the club face was open at impact.  
         [0018]    The circuit includes a piezo sounder  300  located in golf club head  116  in cavity  302 . When surface  140  of the golf club head  116  strikes a golf ball, the impact causes the sounder  300  to generate a voltage which is directed through op/amp  306  to create a digital signal that is fed to the microprocessor  10 . Once the microprocessor receives the signal it freezes the information it is currently receiving from the other components of the invention as to the position of the club face with respect to the golf ball. This information is frozen for a predetermined period of time. In one preferred embodiment the amount of time is between 2-6 seconds with 4 seconds being the most preferred.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, the voltage or signal generated from sounder  300  may be directly fed to the microprocessor. However, it has been found that a base voltage may also be applied to one line of the op/amp via resistors  307  and  308 , with the feedback connected to the op/amp via resistor  309 . In this embodiment, once the sounder  300  creates a voltage upon impact, op/amp  306  amplifies the signal which is fed through diode  311  to microprocessor  10 . Capacitor  313  also charges and then discharges through resistor  315 , so that a continuous signal of predetermined length is provided to the microprocessor. This is done as a result of finding that, in some instances, the signal generated by the impact may occur too quickly for detection by the microprocessor.  
         [0020]    Another circuit used with the present invention concerns supplying power to the LEDs  138  and  139  in a more efficient manner and in a manner which allows for operation in an outdoor environment. It has been found that to increase the device&#39;s ability to work outdoors the LEDs need to be a) 0  turned on as bright as possible. This, however, leads to power supply problems, in that, as shown in FIG. 3, line  20 , the power supplied to the LEDs tends to diminish over time, especially, as will be explained in further detail below, when the LEDs are pulsed at a predetermined rate, with 4 kilohertz being preferred.  
         [0021]    To overcome this situation, a capacitor  330  is provided which supplies power to the LEDs as well. The LEDs are turned on and off (pulsed), through the use of transistor switch  332  which is operated by the microprocessor  10 . When the LEDs are in an activated state, capacitor  330  supplies power to the LEDs  138  and  139 . When the LEDs are in a deactivated state, again through the use of switch  332 , capacitor  330  is charged. Using the capacitor in this manner provides a constant power supply to the LEDs as shown by line  30  in FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    Another circuit used with the present invention aids in the operation of the device in the outdoors where sunlight is present. Sunlight is a problem because its infrared washes out the infrared generated by LEDs  138  and  139  and disrupts the ability of sensors  128  and  129  to receive valid infrared signals from LEDs  138  and  139 .  
         [0023]    Two identical circuits are provided to solve this problem. Since each circuit is the same, reference will be made to the circuit used with sensor  128 , with the same design applying to the circuit associated with sensor  129 . Once sensor  128  receives infrared from LED  138 , it sends a signal through capacitor  360 . A capacitor is used because it permits an alternating current signal to pass while blocking out a direct current signal. Since sunlight is, in essence, detected as a direct current signal, the reception of this infrared by the sensor is not mistakenly received by the microprocessor as a false reading. It is filtered out by capacitor  360 . The capacitor&#39;s ability to separate these two types of currents or signals is also why LEDs  138  and  139  are pulsed at 4 kilohertz so as to create an AC current or signal that will pass through capacitor  360  for detection by microprocessor  10 . It has been found through trial and error that a pulse rate of about 2-6 kilohertz is acceptable with a pulse rate of 4 kilohertz being most preferred.  
         [0024]    Once the signal is passed through capacitor  360  a two stage amplifier consisting of op/amps  364  and  366  is used. Associated with the op/amps are resistors  370 - 378  which form part of the two stage amplifier. It has also been found that placing a second capacitor  361  between the op/amps, which functions in the same manner as capacitor  360 , is also beneficial to the operation of the device in the presence of natural sunlight.  
         [0025]    Another way in which the apparatus reduces the effects of sunlight on the device&#39;s ability is to program the microprocessor to accept input from sensors  128  and  129  during time periods when LEDs  138  and  139  are activated and to ignore signals received during time periods when the LEDs are deactivated. In another embodiment, not only does the microprocessor only sense a signal from the sensors during activation, it also does so during a specific time period in the cycle. As shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable for the microprocessor to be programmed to look for a signal during the later half of the activation cycle  400 , with the deactivation cycle being designated  401 . Programming microprocessor  10  to look for a signal at about point  404  in the cycle further takes into account a finding that the sun causes a phase-shift in the 4 kilohertz AC cycle. Looking for a signal later in the pulse takes this into account. In addition, simply programming the microprocessor to look for a pulse only when LEDs  138  and  139  are activated also reduces errors caused by outdoor use.  
         [0026]    A computer routine which may be used with the circuitry of the present invention is as follows:  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ;************************************************************       ,            _CONFIG _CP_ALL &amp; _WDT_OFF &amp;       _PWRTE_ON &amp; _INTRC_OSC &amp; _MCLRE_OFF            ;       ;************************************************************       , All of the equates are listed below.       ,************************************************************       ,       ;Usable Registers: 32 to 127            X_VALUE   EQU   32   ;used in waita routine, a loop delay       Y_VALUE   EQU   33   ;       Z_VALUE   EQU   34   ; . . .       temp1   EQU   35   ;temp register used in ′waita routine       temp2   EQU   36   ;       temp3   EQU   37   ; . . .                   ;       flag   EQU   38   ;register to tell when to check inputs       input   EQU   39   ;input storage register       ,   EQU   40   ;       ,   EQU   41   ;       ,   EQU   42   ;       ,   EQU   43   ,       ,   EQU   44   ;       ,   EQU   45   ;       ,   EQU   46   ;                   ;            ,************************************************************       ; Start of Program       ,************************************************************                        ;           org   0   ;           goto   config   ;jump around interrupt routine                   ;            ,************************************************************       ; Interrupt Routine       ,************************************************************                        ;           org   4   ;interrupt vectors here           btfss   INTCON, TOIF   ;Check if TMR0 overflow           goto   int_end   ;NO, so get out of here           movlw   210   ;otherwise, set TMR0           movwf   TMR0   ;           bcf   INTCON, TOIF   ;clear the TMR0 interrupt flag           btfss   GPIO,5   ;Check tor Infrared&#39;s already on           goto   interrupt1   ;no, so go turn them on           bcf   GPIO,5   ;yes, so turn them off           movf   GPIO,w   ;get the inputs           movwf   input    ,and save them           bcf   flag,0   ,clear the “inputs checked” flag           retfie       ;and leave       interrupt1   bsf   GPIO,5   ;turn on the Infrared&#39;s           retfie       ;and leave       int_end   movlw   B′1010000′   ,reset the interrupt control           movwf   INTCON   ;register and then leave           retfie       ;                   ;            ,************************************************************       ;  Configure Ports for Analog/Digital Input       ,************************************************************            config   bcf   STATUS, IRP   ;register bank select bit for           bcf   STATUS, RP1   ;indirect addressing                   ;           bsf   STATUS, RP0   ;Setect page 1           call   07FFH   ;Get the osc. cal. value           movwf   OSCCAL   ;and save it to the cal. location           movlw   B′00000111′   ;select no analog inputs           movwf   ADCON1   ;configure ports           bcf   PIE1, ADIE   ;disable A/D interrupts           clrf   OPTION_REG   ;Set up the option register           bsf   OPTION_REG,7   ;                   ;           bcf   STATUS, RP0   ;select page 0                   ;           bsf   INTCON, GIE   ;enable interrupt           bcf   INTCON, PEIE   ;disable peripheral interrupts           bsf   INTCON, TOIE   ;enable TMR0 Interrupt           bcf   INTCON, INTE   ;disable external interrupt           bcf   INTCON, GPIE   ;disable GPIO Interrupts           bcf   INTCON, TOIF   ;clear TMR0 interrupt flag           bcf   INTCON, INTF   ;clear external interrrupt flag           bcf   INTCON, GPIF   ;clear GPIO interrupt flag                   ;            ;************************************************************       ;  Configure Ports for Output/Input       ;************************************************************                        ;           bsf   STATUS,RP0   ;select page 1                   ;           movlw   B′00001011′   ;GP0,GP1,GP3 inputs, rest                   outputs           movwf   TRISIO   ;set I/O&#39;s                   ;           bcf   STATUS,RP0   ;select page 0                   ;                   ;            ;************************************************************       ;  Initialise values       ;************************************************************                        ;           movlw   205   ;Set up TMR0 to count 100 uS                   for           movwf   TMR0   ;pulses at 5 KHz and 50%                   duty cycle           clrf   GPIO   ;                   ;           bcf   GPIO,5   ;turn off IR emitters           bcf   GPIO,4   ;left LED on           bcf   GPIO,2   ;right LED on                   ;           movlw   248   ;set 1 second delay           movwf   X_VALUE   ;           movlw   8   ;           movwf   Y_VALUE   ;           movlw   167   ;           movwf   Z_VALUE   ;           call   waita   ;1 second delay                   ;           bsf   GPIO,4   ;left LED off           bsf   GPIO,2   ;right LED off                   ;           movlw   246   ;set up for 4 second delay           movwf   X_VALUE   ;to use later           movlw   35   ;           movwf   Y_VALUE   ;           movlw   77   ;           movwf   Z_VALUE   ;                   ;            ;************************************************************       ;  The main routine.       ;************************************************************            Main           ;           btfsc   GPIO,5   ;check for Infrared&#39;s on           goto   Main1   ;           btfsc   flag,0   ;see if we should check inputs           goto   Main1   ;no, so get out of here                   ;           bsf   flag,0   ;set the flag so we only do this                   once                   ;       Left_led   btfss   input,0   ;check for right input           goto   Left_off   ;not ‘on’ so leave here           bcf   GPIO,4   ;turn right LED on           goto   Right_led   ;go check for left side                   ;       Left_off   bsf   GPIO,4   ;turn right LED off                   ;       Right_led   btfss   input,1   ;Check for left input           goto   Right_off   ;not ‘on’ so leave here           bcf   GPIO,2   ;turn left LED on           goto   Main1   ;go check for impact                   ;       Right_off   bsf   GPIO,2   ;turn left LED off                   ;       Main1   btfsc   GPIO,3   ;check impact sensor, if 1 then                   delay           call   waita   ;4 second delay           Goto   Main   ;loop back to main                   ;            ;************************************************************            ; wait_a           ;   Function: This routine is a delay loop. The delay       ;   is set by the equates Z1_VALUE, Y1_VALUE, and           X1_VALUE.       ;       ;   The time delay can be calculated using the formula       ;   below where X, Y, and Z have been used as a shorthand:       ;       ;   Delay = (4 + (Z − 1) * 3) + [(4 + (Y − 1) * 3) +           (4 + (X − 1) * 3) * Y] * Z       ;       ;   The retlw adds another 2 clock cycles and calling this       ;   routine takes 2 cycles to transfer control. Therefore,       ;   the total time delay generated by ‘call wait_a’ is       ;   equal to Delay + 4 and is given below:       ;   TOTAL DELAY = 4 + (4 + (Z − 1) * 3) +           [(4 + (Y − 1) * 3) + (4 + (X − 1) * 3) * Y) * Z       ;   Example: Z:52, Y:101, X:5 ==&gt; 100,001 clock cycles           ;            ;************************************************************            waita           ;           movf   Z_VALUE,w   ;           movwf   temp3   ;       wait_a_3   movf   Y_VALUE,w   ;           movwf   temp2   ;       wait_a_2   movf   X_VALUE,w   ;           movwf   temp1   ;       wait_a_1   decfsz   temp1,F   ;           goto   wait_a_1   ;           decfsz   temp2,F   ;           goto   wait_a_2   ;           decfsz   temp3,F   ;           goto   wait_a_3   ;           return       ;                   ;           END                  
 
         [0027]    In use, the club face or impact surface is positioned behind a ball or other object to be struck  22 . To determine if the club face or impact surface is properly aligned, infrared is pulsed from LEDs  138  and  139 . The infrared reflects off of ball  22  and is received by sensors  128  and  129 . If microprocessor  10  receives signals from both sensors  128  and  129 , LEDs  154  and  155  will be activated as shown in FIG. 4. This indicates proper alignment. For the embodiment involving a golf club, this will be typical when the ball is positioned at the sweet spot of the club. Misalignment will result in only one of the sensors receiving infrared as shown in FIG. 5. This will only result in either LED  154  or  155  being activated which, depending on the LED activated, indicates either an open or closed club face.  
         [0028]    To be truly useful, the club must also be capable of being swung through a complete stroke while retaining the ability to inform the user of the orientation of the club face or impact surface at the time of impact. As mentioned above, this is not possible in current designs. For example, as described above, with respect to a golf club embodiment, once the golf ball is struck, the source for reflecting the infrared back to the sensors is no longer present which results in the indicators being turned off. To take this into account, once the microprocessor receives a signal from sounder  300 , the information that is currently being received by the microprocessor  10  as to the orientation of the club face is frozen and held for a predetermined amount of time. This allows a user to perform a take-away and then complete a full swing, which often results in the club being positioned at the user&#39;s back upon completion. To review the stroke, the user must unwind and only then can the results be examined. Moreover, the golfer typically does not see the indicators at the time of impact since the golfer&#39;s focus is on swinging the club even for the slower speed putting strokes. This is also especially true for swings using other clubs such as irons, woods and drivers, baseball bats, hockey sticks and tennis rackets, which may reach speeds up to 100 mph, or more. Freezing the information obtained in the manner described above creates a useful training aid.  
         [0029]    While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that changes and other modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.