(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0306707 A1
`Vock et al.
`(43) Pub. Date: Dec. 11, 2008
`
`
`US 20080306707A1
`
`(54)
`
`IMPACT REPORTING HEAD GEAR SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Curtis A. Vock, Niwot, CO (US);
`Dennis Darcy, Tyngsboro, MA
`(US); Peter Flentov, Carllele, MA
`(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`LATHROP & GAGE LC
`4845 PEARL EAST CIRCLE, SUITE 300
`BOULDER, CO 80301 (US)
`
`(21) App]. No.:
`
`12/135,893
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 9, 2008
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Continuation of application No. 11/598,410, filed on
`Nov. 13, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,386,401, which is a
`division ofapplication No. 11/221,029, filed on Sep. 7,
`2005, now Pat. No. 7,162,392, which is a continuation
`ofapplication No. 10/921,743, filed onAug. 19, 2004,
`now Pat. No. 7,092,846, which is a division of appli-
`cationNo. 10/283,642, filed on Oct. 30, 2002, now Pat.
`No. 6,959,259, which is a continuation of application
`No. 09/089,232, filed on Jun. 2, 1998, now Pat. No.
`6,539,336, which is a continuation-in—part of applica-
`tion No. 08/867,083, filed on Jun. 2, 1997, now Pat.
`No. 6,266,623, which is a continuation-in—part of
`application No. 08/344,485, filed on Nov. 21, 1994,
`now Pat. No. 5,636,146, said application No. 09/089,
`232 is a continuation-in-part of application No.
`08/764,758, filed on Dec. 12, 1996, now Pat. No.
`5,960,380, Continuation of application No. 10/842,
`947, filed on May 11, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,072,789,
`which is a continuation of application No. 09/992,966,
`filedonNov. 6, 2001,now Pat. No. 6,885,971, whichis
`a continuation of application No. 09/089,232, filed on
`Jun. 2, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,539,336, Continuation-
`in-part of application No. 10/289,039, filed on Nov. 6,
`2002, now Pat. No. 6,963,818, which is a continuation
`of application No. 09/784,783, filed on Feb. 15, 2001,
`
`now Pat. No. 6,516,284, which is a continuation of
`application No. 09/353,530, filed on Jul. 14, 1999, now
`Pat. No. 6,496,787, which is a continuation of appli-
`cation No. 08/764,758, filed on Dec. 12, 1996, now
`Pat. No. 5,960,380, Continuation-in—part of applica-
`tion No. 10/950,897, filed on Sep. 27, 2004, now Pat.
`No. 7,054,784, which is a division of application No.
`10/234,660, filed on Sep. 4, 2002, now Pat. No. 6,856,
`934, which is a continuation of application No. 09/886,
`578, filed on Jun. 21, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,498,994,
`which is a continuation of application No. 08/867,083,
`filed on Jun. 2, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,266,623, Con-
`tinuation of application No. 11/864,748, filed on Sep.
`28, 2007, which is a continuation of application No.
`11/598,410, filed on Nov. 13, 2006, now Pat. No.
`7,386,401.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/077,251, filed on Mar.
`9, 1998.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`GOIP 15/00
`G06F 15/00
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) US. Cl. ........................................................ 702/141
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system for determining airtime of a moving sportsman
`includes at least one accelerometer for detecting vibration or
`acceleration ofthe sportsman. A processor in communication
`with the at least one accelerometer processing signals from
`the accelerometer to determine free-fall. A pressure sensor
`may be used to determine change in altitude and the processor
`may process signals from the pressure sensor with the accel-
`erometer signals to determine airtime and drop distance dur-
`ing free-fall. A method for determining airtime of a moving
`sportsman includes processing data from one or more accel-
`erometers attached to the sportsman, to determine when the
`sportsman is in free-fall, and determining a time period cor-
`responding to the free-fall.
`
`207a
`
`PITCH
`ACCELERATION \\
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`//
`
`
`ROLL
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`kI
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`CONDITIONING
`IN IERFACE
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`ELECTRONICS
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`MICROPROCESSOR j
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`/
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 1
`
`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`
`Page 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 1 of 49
`
`US 2008/0306707 A1
`
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 2
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 2
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 2 of 49
`
`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`DATA
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 3
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 3
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 3 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 4
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 4
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 4 0f 49
`
`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 5
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 5
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 5 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 6
`
`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 6 0f 49
`
`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`ACCELEROMETER DATA
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 7
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 7
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 7 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 10 of 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 11 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 12 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 13 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 14 of 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 17 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 18 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 19 0f 49
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`Dec. 11
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 21 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`INTERFACE
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 22
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 22
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 22 of 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 26 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 27 0f 49
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 28 of 49
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 29 of 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 30 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 31 of 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 32 0f 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 33 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Page 34
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`Page 34
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 34 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 35
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`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 35 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 36
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 36
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 36 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 37
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 37
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 37 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`SNOWBOARD
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 38
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 38
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 38 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 39
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 39
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 39 of 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 40 0f 49
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`FIG.61
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`Page 41
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 41
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 41 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 42
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 42
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 42 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 43
`
`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 43
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 43 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`FORCE
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 44
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 44
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 44 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 45
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 45
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 45 0f 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 46 of 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 47 of 49
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 48
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`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
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`Page 48
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 48 of 49
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 11, 2008 Sheet 49 0f 49
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`Page 50
`
`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`
`Page 50
`
`

`

`US 2008/0306707 A1
`
`Dec. 11,2008
`
`IMPACT REPORTING HEAD GEAR SYSTEM
`AND METHOD
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation of US. Ser. No.
`11/598,410, filed Nov. 13, 2006, which is a divisional appli-
`cation of US. application Ser. No. 11/221,029, filed Sep. 5,
`2005 (now US. Pat. No. 7,162,392), which is a continuation
`ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/921 ,743, filedAug. 19,
`2004 (now US. Pat. No. 7,092,846), which is a divisional of
`US. patent application Ser. No. 10/283,642, filed Oct. 30,
`2002 (now US. Pat. No. 6,959,259), which is a continuation
`of US. patent application Ser. No. 09/089,232, filed Jun. 2,
`1998 (now US. Pat. No. 6,539,336), which (a) claims priority
`to US. Provisional Application No. 60/077,251, filed on Mar.
`9, 1998, (b) is a continuation-in-part of US. application Ser.
`No. 08/867,083, filed Jun. 2, 1997 (now US. Pat. No. 6,266,
`623), which is a continuation-in-part of US. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 08/344,485, filed Nov. 21, 1994 (now US. Pat.
`No. 5,636,146), and (c) is a continuation-in-part of US.
`application Ser. No. 08/764,758, filed Dec. 12, 1996 (now
`US. Pat. No. 5,960,380).
`[0002] This application is also a continuation of US. appli-
`cation Ser. No. 10/842,947, filed May 11,2004 (now US. Pat.
`No. 7,072,789), which is a continuation of US. application
`Ser. No. 09/992,966, filed Nov. 6, 2001 (now US. Pat. No.
`6,885,971), which is also a continuation of US. application
`Ser. No. 09/089,232.
`[0003] This application is also a continuation-in-part of
`US. application Ser. No. 10/289,039, filed Nov. 6, 2002 (now
`US. Pat. No. 6,963,818), which is a continuation of US.
`application Ser. No. 09/784,783, filed Feb. 15, 2001 (now
`US. Pat. No. 6,516,284), which is a continuation of US.
`application Ser. No. 09/353,530, filed Jul. 14, 1999 (now US.
`Pat. No. 6,496,787), which is a continuation ofU.S. applica-
`tion Ser. No. 08/764,758.
`[0004] This application is also a continuation-in-part of
`US. application Ser. No. 10/950,897, filed Sep. 27, 2004
`(now US. Pat. No. 7,054,784), which is a divisional of US.
`patent application Ser. No. 10/234,660, filed Sep. 4, 2002
`(now US. Pat. No. 6,856,934), which is a continuation of
`US. application Ser. No. 09/886,578, filed Jun. 21, 2001
`(now US. Pat. No. 6,498,994), which is a continuation of
`US. application Ser. No. 08/867,083.
`[0005] This application is also a continuation of US. appli-
`cation Ser. No. 11/864,748, filed Sep. 28, 2007, which is a
`continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 1 1/598,410 (above). Each ofthe
`aforementioned patents and patent applications is incorpo-
`rated herein, by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0006] The invention relates generally to monitoring and
`quantifying sport movement (associated either with the per-
`son or with the vehicle used or ridden by the person), includ-
`ing the specific parameters of “air” time, power, speed, and
`drop distance. The invention also has “gaming” aspects for
`connecting users across the Internet. The invention is particu-
`larly useful in sporting activities such as skiing, snowboard-
`ing, mountain biking, wind-surfing, skate-boarding, roller-
`
`blading, kayaking, racing, and running, in which sporting
`persons expend energy, catch “air”, move at varying speeds,
`and perform jumps.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is well known that many skiers enjoy high speeds
`[0007]
`and jumping motions while traveling down the slope. High
`speeds refer to the greater and greater velocities which skiers
`attempt in navigating the slope successfully (and sometimes
`unsuccessfully). The Jumping motions, on the other hand,
`include movements which loft the skier into the air. Gener-
`
`ally, the greater the skier’s speed, the higher the skier’s loft
`into the air.
`
`[0008] The interest in high speed skiing is apparent simply
`by observing the velocity of skiers descending the mountain.
`The interest in the loft motion is less apparent; although it is
`known that certain enthusiastic snowboarders regularly
`exclaim “let’s catch some air” and other assorted remarks
`
`when referring to the amount and altitude of the lofting
`motion.
`
`[0009] The sensations of speed and jumping are also
`readily achieved in other sporting activities, such as in moun-
`tain biking, skating, roller-blading, wind-surfing, and skate-
`boarding. Many mountain bikers and roller-bladers, like the
`aforementioned skiers, also crave greater speeds and “air”
`time.
`
`[0010] However, persons in such sporting activities only
`have a qualitative sense as to speed and loft or “air” time. For
`example, a typical snowboarder might regularly exclaim after
`a jump that she “caught” some “big sky,” “big air” or “phat
`air” without ever quantitatively knowing how much time
`really elapsed in the air.
`[0011]
`Speed or velocity also remain unquantified. Gener-
`ally, a person such as a skier can only assess whether they
`went “fast”, “slow” or “average”, based on their perception of
`motion and speed (which can be grossly different from actual
`speed such as measured with a speedometer or radar gun).
`[0012] There are also other factors that sport persons some-
`times assess qualitatively. For example, suppose a snow-
`boarder skis a double-diamond ski slope while a friend skis a
`green, easy slope. When they both reach the bottom, the
`“double-diamond” snowboarder will have expended more
`energy than the other, generally, and will have worked up a
`sweat; while the “green” snowboarder will have had a rela-
`tively inactive ride down the slope. Currently, they cannot
`quantitatively compare how rough their journeys were rela-
`tive to one another.
`
`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to pro-
`[0013]
`vide systems and methods for determining “air” time associ-
`ated with sport movements.
`[0014]
`It is another object of the invention to provide sys-
`tems and methods for determining the speed of participants
`and/or vehicles associated with sport movements.
`[0015]
`It is yet another object of the invention to provide
`improvements to sporting vehicles which are ridden by sport-
`ing participants, and which provide a determination of speed,
`airtime, drop distance and/or power of the vehicle.
`[0016]
`Still another object of the invention is to provide
`systems and methods for determining the amount of “power”
`or energy absorbed by a person during sporting activities. One
`specific object is to provide a gauge of energy spent by a
`
`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`Page 51
`
`Mayfonk Exhibit 2001
`
`Page 51
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`US 2008/0306707 A1
`
`Dec. 11,2008
`
`sporting participant as compared to others in the same sport,
`to provide a quantitative comparison between two or more
`participants.
`[0017] Yet another object of the invention is to provide the
`“drop distance associated with a jump; and particularly the
`drop distance which occurs within “airtime””.
`[0018]
`Still another object of the invention is to provide a
`gaming system to quantitatively compare airtime, drop dis-
`tance, power, and/or speed between several participants,
`regardless of their location.
`[0019] These and other objects of the invention will
`become apparent in the description which follows.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0020] As discussed herein, “air” or “loft” time (or “air-
`time”) refer to the time spent offthe ground during a sporting
`movement. For example, airtime according to the invention
`can include a snowboarder catching air off of a mogul or a
`ledge. Typically, airtime is greater than one-half (or one-
`third) second and less than six seconds. In “extreme” sporting
`events, the maximum airtime can increase up to about ten or
`fifteen seconds.
`
`In most cases, it is useful to specify the lower and
`[0021]
`upper limits of airtime%.g., from one second to five sec-
`ondsiso as to reduce processing requirements and to logic
`out false airtime data. More particularly,
`the following
`description provides several techniques and methods for
`determining airtime. One technique, for example, monitors
`the vibration of the user’s vehicle (e.g., a ski or snowboard)
`moving on the ground; and senses when the vibration is
`greatly reduced, indicating that the vehicle is off the ground.
`However, when such a user stands in line for the chair-lift, she
`might remain motionless for thirty seconds or more. By
`restricting the upper limit to five seconds, a system of the
`invention can be made to ignore conditions such as standing
`in line. Similarly, when a user walks slowly, there are cyclical
`periods of relatively small vibration (e.g., when the user lifts
`his foot off the ground). Therefore, a lower limit of one-half
`second or one second are appropriate; so that any detected
`“airtime” that falls below that lower limit is ignored and not
`stored.
`
`In one aspect, an impact reporting head gear system
`[0022]
`includes at least one accelerometer, a processor for process-
`ing signals from the accelerometer to determine shock expe-
`rienced by the accelerometer, and an interface for reporting
`shock to a remote location.
`
`In one aspect, a method for reporting impact ofhead
`[0023]
`gear includes: measuring acceleration of the head gear with
`an accelerometer; processing signals from the accelerometer
`to determine impact of the head gear, and communicating
`information indicative of the impact to a remote location.
`[0024]
`In another aspect of the invention, the measurement
`of airtime is used to quantify the efficiency by which a person
`or sport vehicle remain on the ground. By way of example,
`speed skiers desire to remain on the ground; and the invention
`thus provides a system which monitors the person and/or
`vehicle (e.g., the slalom ski) to detect airtime. This informa-
`tion is fed back to the person (in real time or in connection
`with a later review of video) so that he or she can improve
`their posture to reduce unwanted airtime. In such applica-
`tions, airtime is typically less than about three or four sec-
`onds; and the lower limit is essentially zero (that is, providing
`miniscule airtime data can be appropriate for training pur-
`poses).
`
`[0025] As used herein, “power” refers to the amount of
`energy expended by a person or vehicle during a sporting
`activity, typically over a period such as one ski run. The
`following description provides several systems, techniques
`and methods for determining power. Power need not corre-
`spond to actual energy units; but does provide a measure of
`energy expended by the person or vehicle as compared to
`other persons and vehicles in the same sporting activity.
`Power can be used to quantify “bragging rights” between
`sport enthusiasts: e.g., one user can quantify that he expended
`more energy, or received more “punishment”, as compared to
`a friend. Power can refer to the amount of “G’s” absorbed
`
`during a given period ofactivity. Power is typically quantified
`over a period that is selectable by the user. For example,
`power can be determined over successive one-second peri-
`ods, or successive five second periods, or successive one
`minute periods, or successive five minute periods, or other
`periods. Power can also be measured over a manually selected
`period. For example, two snowboarders can initialize the
`period at the beginning of a run down a ski slope and can stop
`their period at the end of the run.
`[0026]
`“Speed” refers the magnitude of velocity as mea-
`sured during a sport activity. Speed generally refers to the
`forward direction of the moving sportsman.
`[0027]
`“Drop distance” refers to the height above the
`ground as experienced by a user or vehicle during a sport
`activity. Drop distance preferably corresponds to a measured
`airtime period. For example, a snowboarder who takes a jump
`off of a ledge might drop thirty feet (drop distance) in three
`seconds (airtime). Drop distance can also specifically refer to
`maximum height above the ground for a given jump (for
`example, a user on a flat surface can first launch upwards off
`a jump and return to the same level but experience a five foot
`drop distance).
`[0028] The invention thus provides systems and methods
`for quantifying airtime, power, speed and/or drop distance to
`quantify a user’s sport movement within one or more of the
`following activities:
`skiing, snowboarding, wind-surfing,
`skate-boarding, roller-blading, kayaking, white water racing,
`water skiing, wake-boarding, surfing, racing, running, and
`mountain biking. The invention can also be used to quantify
`the performance of vehicles upon which users ride, e.g., a
`snowboard or ski or mountain bike.
`
`[0029] The following US. patents provide useful back-
`ground for the invention and are herein incorporated by ref-
`erence: US. Pat. No. 5,343,445; US. Pat. No. 4,371,945;
`US. Pat. No. 4,757,714; US. Pat. No. 4,089,057; US. Pat.
`No. 4,722,222; US. Pat. No. 5,452,269; US. Pat. No. 3,978,
`725; and US. Pat. No. 5,295,085.
`[0030]
`In one aspect, the invention provides a sensing unit
`which includes a controller subsystem connected with one or
`more of the following sensors (each of which is described
`herein): an airtime sensor, a speed sensor, a power sensor, and
`a drop distance sensor. The controller subsystem includes a
`microprocessor or microcontroller and can include preampli-
`fiers and A/D converters to interface with the sensor(s) (alter-
`natively, the sensor contains such circuitry). The controller
`subsystem can further include logic circuitry and/or software
`modules to logic out unwanted data from the sensors (e.g.,
`airtime data that does not correspond to reasonable loft
`times). Preferably, the controller subsystem a