Patent Application
20240191966
This disclosure relates generally to archery information systems and methods, and more particularly to archery information systems configured to provide feedback to the archer to help improve the accuracy of a shot prior to release of the bowstring.
Generally, archery sighting devices can be used to help align a shot with a target. Some existing sighting devices include an aiming point, reticle, up pin, or the like either attached to the lens or otherwise in the sight line of the optical sighting device to help aim at a target. To help further improve an archer's performance, some bows include sensors connected to a user interface that can be configured to provide feedback to the archer after an arrow has been released from the bow. For example, some existing systems will output data to a connected user interface (e.g., a connected smart phone, a computer, or other electronic device) to provide the archer feedback on the stability of the bow prior to the shot, the arrow's path after release, and the angle at which the bow was held at the time of release. Although these existing feedback systems may be helpful for analyzing an archer's shot, these existing feedback systems only provide information after the arrow has been released from the bow and do not help increase the archer's accuracy prior to release of the bowstring. As will be appreciated, the ideal time to present critical information to an archer is in real-time when the archer is focusing on the target.
Some existing devices have attempted to provide feedback to an archer prior to release of the bowstring. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,970,730 discloses a system that includes a force sensor, a controller that can analyze the force data from the force sensor, and a light emitting diode (LED) that can be illuminated if the controller determines that the bowstring has been pulled to an optimal tension. As will be appreciated, knowing when you have pulled the bowstring to an optimal tension can help to improve the accuracy of an archer's shot because over-draw or under-draw of the bowstring can be prevented. Although this system may be helpful, bowstring tension is only one aspect of an archer's shot and many other aspects of an archer's shot can greatly affect the archer's accuracy. For example, if the archer has pulled the bowstring back to the optimal tension but has rotated the bow about the axis aligned with the target, the archer's accuracy will be negatively affected. Therefore, although knowing the bow tension can be helpful for improving an archer's shot, there are many other inputs that are necessary to improve an archer's shot.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an archery system that can provide feedback to an archer to help increase the archer's accuracy prior to release of the bowstring. These and other problems are addressed by the technology disclosed herein.
It is an object of the present invention to meet some or all of the above-stated needs. Embodied systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein can generally include an archery information system that can provide feedback to an archer during the aiming process and prior to release of the bowstring to help improve the archer's accuracy. The archery information system can be configured to provide feedback to the archer without requiring the archer to remove his or her eye from the target. In other words, the archery information system can provide notification or information to the archer without the archer needing to break focus on the target.
The disclosed technology can include one or more sensors configured to detect at least a bow tension, an angle of the bow in relation to three axes, the steadiness of the bow, the length of time that the bow has been drawn, changes to environmental factors, and movement near the archer at least while the archer is aiming at a target. The data obtained by the sensors can be output to a controller which can determine whether a notification should be output to a notification system. The notification system can include various lights, sounds, or tactile feedback devices to provide the archer with critical information during the aiming process that will help increase the accuracy of the archer's shot without requiring the archer to remove his or her focus from the target. Additionally, the disclosed technology can include a machine learning engine that can learn the archer's and/or the bow's performance over time and determine the optimal notification or bow adjustments that should be output to help improve the accuracy of a shot.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure are described in the Detailed Description below and the accompanying figures. Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following description of examples of the present disclosure in concert with the figures. While features of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certain examples and figures, all examples of the present disclosure can include one or more of the features discussed herein. Further, while one or more examples may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used with the various examples of the disclosure discussed herein. In similar fashion, while examples of the disclosed technology may be discussed below as a device, a system, or a method, it is to be understood that such examples can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure.
The above and further aspects of this invention are further discussed with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention. The figures depict one or more implementations of the inventive devices, by way of example only, not by way of limitation.
The present disclosure relates generally to archery information systems configured to provide information to an archer during the aiming process to help increase the accuracy of an archer's shot. Additional features and advantages will become apparent throughout this disclosure.
Although certain examples of the disclosed technology are explained in detail, it is to be understood that other examples, embodiments, and implementations of the disclosed technology are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosed technology is limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosed technology can be implemented in a variety of examples and can be practiced or carried out in various ways. In particular, the presently disclosed subject matter is described in the context of being an archery information system for use with a bow. The present disclosure, however, is not so limited, and can be applicable to other technologies. The present disclosure, for example and not limitation, can include information systems for guns, crossbows, slingshots, scopes, telescopes, cameras, mobile phone cameras, binoculars, range finders, or other equipment in which the user must remain steady and aligned with an object. Such implementations and applications are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, when the present disclosure is described in the context of being an archery information system for use with bow, it will be understood that other implementations can take the place of those referred to.
It should also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. References to a composition containing “a” constituent is intended to include other constituents in addition to the one named.
Also, in describing the examples, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Herein, the use of terms such as “having,” “has,” “including,” or “includes” are open-ended and are intended to have the same meaning as terms such as “comprising” or “comprises” and not preclude the presence of other structure, material, or acts. Similarly, though the use of terms such as “can” or “may” are intended to be open-ended and to reflect that structure, material, or acts are not necessary, the failure to use such terms is not intended to reflect that structure, material, or acts are essential. To the extent that structure, material, or acts are presently considered to be essential, they are identified as such.
As used herein “breaking focus” from a target can include an archer removing his or her eyes from a target when aligning a bow with the target. That is, when the archer breaks focus from the target, the archer removes his or her eyes from the target and is unlikely to be able to properly hit a target when releasing an arrow from a bow.
The components described hereinafter as making up various elements of the disclosed technology are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or similar functions as the components described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the disclosed technology. Such other components not described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, similar components that are developed after development of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Referring to the figures in which like numerals represent like elements, examples of the present disclosure are herein described.
The bow 100 can further include a sight 120 that can be configured to enable an archer to align the bow 100 with a target. The sight 120 can include a housing 122 and one or more reticles 326 (as shown in
The bow 100 can further include a smart front stabilizer 140 and a smart rear stabilizer 142. The smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142 can each include a shaft extending outwardly from the riser 102 (the smart front stabilizer 140 extending distally and the smart rear stabilizer extending proximally) and a weight disposed on each respective shaft. As will be appreciated, by positioning a weight further away from the riser 102, the smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142 can help an archer maintain a steady aim on a target when at full draw. The smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142 can each include an actuator that can be configured to cause the weight positioned on the smart front stabilizer 140 and weight positioned on the smart rear stabilizer 142 to move proximally or distally from the archer to change the center of gravity and help an archer align a shot with the target.
The smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142, for example, can include a telescopic rod that can extend or retract to cause the weight to move more proximally or distally. As another example, the smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142 can include a linear actuator that can cause the respective weight to move along the respective shaft. Alternatively, the smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142 can include a ball screw drive or lead screw that can rotate and cause the respective weight to move along the respective shaft. As will be described in greater detail herein, the bow 100 can include other features to control the smart front stabilizer 140 and the smart rear stabilizer 142 to help an archer align a shot with a target.
The bow 100 can include a controller 130 that can receive inputs from one or more sensors and output commands to one or more notification devices to provide information to an archer and/or actuate the smart front stabilizer 140 and/or the smart rear stabilizer 142. As shown in
As illustrated in
The upper cam force sensor 240A and the lower cam force sensor 240B can be sensors configured to detect a force applied at the cams 108. For example, the upper cam force sensor 240A and the lower cam force sensor 240B can each be configured to detect the tension force applied by the bowstring 106 on the cams 108 when an archer draws back the bowstring 106. Similarly, the grip force sensor 242 can be configured to detect a force applied at the grip 110 by the archer when the archer draws back the bowstring 106. The data from the upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and/or the grip force sensor 242 can be output to the controller 130 and the controller 130 can determine, based on the received force data, whether the bowstring 106 has been drawn to the optimal tension (neither underdrawn nor overdrawn). As will be appreciated, by receiving force data from the force sensors disposed at the cams 108 and/or the grip 110, the controller 130 can calculate an actual tension on the bowstring 106. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, determining the optimal draw based on the force data received from the upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and/or the grip force sensor 242 can be determined, at least in part, by the specific draw weight of the bow 100, which can vary from bow to bow.
The controller 130 can be configured to determine, via force data from the upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and/or the grip force sensor 242, whether the force on the bow 100 is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum force threshold indicative of the bow 100 being overdrawn. The controller 130 can be further configured to determine, via force data from the upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and/or the grip force sensor 242, whether the force on the bow 100 is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum force threshold indicative of the bow 100 being underdrawn. The predetermined minimum force threshold can be less than the predetermined maximum force threshold.
The controller 130 can be further configured to determine a change in the tension on the bowstring 106 when, for example, the archer releases the bowstring 106. In this way, the controller 130 can determine when the bow 100 has been shot. Furthermore, by determining a change in the tension on the bowstring 106, the controller 130 can determine if the archer has begun to increase or decrease tension on the bowstring 106 as the archer holds the bow 100 in a shooting position prior to taking the shot. As will be appreciated, over-drawing or under-drawing the bowstring 106 can negatively impact the accuracy of the archer's shot. As will be described in greater detail herein, the controller 130 can be further configured to output a notification to an archer to inform the archer that the bowstring 106 is overdrawn or underdrawn and the archer can adjust the tension on the bowstring 106 accordingly to increase the accuracy of his or her shot.
The upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and the grip force sensor 242 can each be any suitable type of force sensor for the particular application. For example, the upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and the grip force sensor 242 can each be a strain gauge, a piezoelectric sensor, a capacitive sensor, a solid state force sensor, an optical force sensor, Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor, a load cell, a force sensing resistor (FSR), or any other suitable type of force sensor or combination of force sensors. Furthermore, the upper cam force sensor 240A, the lower cam force sensor 240B, and the grip force sensor 242 can each be configured to detect a compressive or tensile force depending on the particular configuration.
The microphone 244 can be any type of microphone or sound detecting device that can detect a sound or vibration. The microphone 244 can be used, for example, to determine if the bow 100 has been shot or to receive commands from the archer. For example, the microphone 244 can output sound data to the controller 130 and the controller 130 can determine if the bow 100 has been shot based on detecting a sound of the bowstring 106 when it is shot. The controller 130 can further determine actions based on determining, based on the sound data, that the archer has provided a command to the controller 130. For example, the archer can say “set the sighting pin to 30 yards” and the controller 130 can output instructions to the sight 120 to adjust the position of the sighting pin so that it is set on the 30-yard distance setting.
The accelerometer 250, the gyrometer 252, and the IMU 254 (collectively referred to as a “motion sensor”) can be configured to determine movement of the bow 100 and an orientation of the bow 100 in relation to predefined axes. The predefined axes, for example, can be a first axis aligned with the target, a second axis vertically perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis horizontally perpendicular with the first axis (X, Y, and Z axes, respectively). The controller 130, for example, can receive movement data from the accelerometer 250 and determine a steadiness of the bow 100 prior to taking the shot. As will be appreciated, it would be ideal if the archer could align the bow 100 with the target and never move from that position. In reality, however, even the best of archers unintentionally move the bow 100 to a certain extent after aligning the bow 100 with the target. By detecting the movement of the bow 100 prior to taking the shot, the controller 130 can analyze the movement data received from the accelerometer 250 and determine if the archer exceeds a predefined movement threshold (i.e., a predetermine amount of movement that would indicate the archer is unlikely to accurately hit the target). If the archer is able to keep the bow 100 from moving more than the predefined movement threshold, the archer will be more likely to accurately hit the target. If controller 130 determines that the archer exceeds the predefined movement threshold, the controller 130 can output a notification to inform the archer that he or she exceeds the predefined movement threshold. The notification can be or include the example notifications described in greater detail herein.
As mentioned previously above, the accelerometer 250, the gyrometer 252, and/or the IMU 254 can be configured to detect an orientation of the bow 100 in relation to predefined axes (X, Y, and Z axes). By detecting the orientation of the bow 100 in relation to the above-describe predefined axes and outputting that data to the controller 130, the controller 130 can determine whether the bow 100 is aligned with the target. As described above, even the best of archers tend to move the bow 100 after aligning the bow 100 with the target the first time. Therefore, some amount of movement from the correct orientation is expected. For example, archers tend to rotate the bow 100 about at least one of the predefined axes when attempting to align the bow 100 with the target. The controller 130 can be configured to determine which axis (or axes) the archer has begun to rotate the bow 100 around after aligning the bow 100 with the target the first time and output a notification to the archer to help the archer realign the bow 100 with the target.
The controller 130 can be further configured to output a control signal to at least one of the smart front stabilizer 140 or the smart rear stabilizer 142 to cause one of them to actuate and change the center of gravity to automatically cause the bow 100 to properly align along the predefined axes. For example, if the archer has begun to tip the bow 100 backward (tilting the bow 100 around the Y axis), the controller 130 can cause the smart front stabilizer 140 to cause its weight to move distally or cause the smart rear stabilizer 142 to actuate its weight distally (or both) such that the bow 100 will tip forward. As will be appreciated, the controller 130 can be configured to cause the smart front stabilizer 140 or the smart rear stabilizer 142 to actuate as necessary to help the archer align the bow 100 with the target.
The controller 130 can, for example, be configured to determine if the bow 100 is aligned with the target and output a notification to a visual or audible notification device (as will be described in greater detail herein) to notify the archer that the archer is misaligned with the target to help the archer realign the bow 100 with the target. Determining the alignment of the bow 100 with the target can be processed as a magnitude, a direction, or as a binary data (in or out of a predetermined acceptable alignment threshold). If the controller 130 is configured to determine a magnitude of which the bow 100 is misaligned with the target, the controller 130 can output instructions to the notification system 260 to cause the notification system 260 to provide a notification indicative of a magnitude of which the bow 100 is misaligned with the target (e.g., how many degrees off of the target is the bow 100 currently aligned). If the controller 130 is configured to indicate a direction, the controller 130 can output a notification to inform the archer which direction the bow 100 should be moved to align the bow 100 with the target.
As mentioned above, the controller 130 can be configured to determine if the bow 100 is outside of a predetermined acceptable alignment threshold. The acceptable alignment threshold, for example, can be a predetermined angle value in relation to each of the X, Y, and Z axes within which the archer is likely to accurately hit the target. The predetermined angle value, for example, can be +/−0.5 degrees, +/−1 degree, +/−2 degrees, +/−3 degrees, +/−4 degrees, +/−5 degrees, etc. The predetermined angle value can be predefined and programmed into the memory 232 of the controller 130. Alternatively, or in addition, the predefined angle value can be user configurable so that the archer can define his or her acceptable thresholds.
If the controller 130 determines that the orientation of the bow 100 in relation to the predefined axes has drifted outside of the predetermined acceptable alignment threshold (either in the X, Y, or Z axes or some combination thereof), the controller 130 can output instructions to the notification system 260 to provide a notification to the archer. The notification can be either visual, audible, tactile, or some combination thereof to help the archer align the bow 100 with the target. For example, as shown in
The accelerometer 250 can be any type of accelerometer suitable for the particular application. For instance, the accelerometer 250 can be a piezoelectric accelerometer, a piezoresistance accelerometer, a capacitive accelerometer, a triaxial accelerometer, or any other suitable type of accelerometer. Similarly, the gyrometer 252 can be any suitable type of gyrometer 252 for the particular applicating, including: a mechanical gyroscope, a MEMS gyroscope, a ring laser gyroscope, an optical gyroscope, or any other suitable gyroscope for the particular application. Furthermore, the inertial measuring unit 254 can be any suitable type of IMU for the particular application and can include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer.
As will be appreciated, the accuracy of an archer's shot can be greatly affected by wind or other environmental factors. Accordingly, the wind sensor 256 can be configured to detect a magnitude and direction of wind near the bow 100, near the target, and/or between the bow 100 and the target. The wind sensor 256 can detect a magnitude and direction of the wind and output wind data to the controller 130. The controller 130 can then determine the magnitude of the wind and determine if a notification should be provided to the archer via the notification system 260 (e.g., via the light notification system 262, the speaker 264, and/or the tactile feedback device 266). For example, if the wind exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the controller 130 can output a notification to the archer informing the archer how to adjust for the wind. To illustrate, if the wind sensor 256 determines that the wind is moving from right to left at 5 miles per hour, the controller 130 can determine to what degree the bow 100 should be moved to the right to compensate for the wind. In this way, the disclosed technology can help to increase the accuracy of an archer's shot even with wind affecting the archer's shot.
The wind sensor 256 can be any suitable type of wind sensor 256 for the application. The wind sensor 256, for example, can be a vane anemometer, a thermal anemometer, a pressure tube anemometer, an ultrasonic anemometer, a laser doppler anemometer, or any other suitable type of anemometer for the application.
The movement sensor 258 can be configured to detect a motion of people, animals, or objects near the bow 100, near the target, or between the bow 100 and the target when the bowstring 106 is drawn to a shooting position. As will be appreciated, when an archer has drawn the bowstring 106 to a shooting position and is focusing on the target, the archer can be less likely to see a person, animal, or object moving toward the pathway of the arrow (i.e., between the bow and the target). By including a movement sensor 258, the disclosed technology can be configured to determine if a person, animal, or object is likely to pass into the pathway of the arrow and the controller 130 can output instructions to the notification system 260 to notify the archer of the potential danger. In this way, the disclosed technology can help to prevent injuries or damage that could occur if a person, animal, or object passes in front of the bow 100 when the bow 100 is shot. The movement sensor 258 can be any type of movement sensor suitable for the particular application. For example, the movement sensor 258 can be a camera, a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, a microwave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a tomographic sensor, or any other suitable type of movement sensor for the application.
The controller 130 can be further configured to output various other notifications to inform the archer of the status of components of the bow 100. For example, the controller 130 can be configured to output a notification to inform the archer that the battery 238 is low, the sight 120 is set on a particular distance setting (e.g., 20 yards, 30 yards, etc.), the arrow has fallen off the arrow rest, etc. Furthermore, the controller 130 can be configured to determine an amount of time which the bowstring 106 has been drawn and output a notification to the archer if the bowstring 106 has been drawn for longer than a predetermined amount of time. This can be particularly helpful because the accuracy of an archer's shot generally declines with an increased length of time that the bowstring 106 has been drawn.
As will be described in greater detail in relation to
The controller 130 can be a computing device configured to receive data, determine actions based on the received data, and output a control signal instructing one or more notification devices to output a notification. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the controller 130 can be installed in any location, including locally on the bow 100 or remote from the bow 100, provided the controller 130 is in communication with at least some of the notification devices. Furthermore, the controller 130 can be configured to send and receive wireless or wired signals and the signals can be analog or digital signals. The wireless signals can include Bluetooth™, BLE, WiFi™, ZigBee™, infrared, microwave radio, or any other type of wireless communication as may be suitable for the particular application. The hard-wired signal can include any directly wired connection between the controllers and the other components described herein. Alternatively, the components can be powered directly from a power source and receive control instructions from the controllers via a digital connection. The digital connection can include a connection such as an Ethernet or a serial connection and can utilize any suitable communication protocol for the application such as Modbus, fieldbus, PROFIBUS, SafetyBus p, Ethernet/IP, or any other suitable communication protocol for the application. Furthermore, the controllers can each utilize a combination of wireless, hard-wired, and analog or digital communication signals to communicate with and control the various components. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the above configurations are given merely as non-limiting examples and the actual configuration can vary depending on the particular application.
The memory 232 can store a program and/or instructions associated with the functions and methods described herein and can include one or more processors 234 configured to execute the program and/or instructions. The memory 232 can include one or more suitable types of memory (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash memory, a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), and the like) for storing files including the operating system, application programs (including, for example, a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine, and or other applications, as necessary), executable instructions and data. One, some, or all of the processing techniques or methods described herein can be implemented as a combination of executable instructions and data within the memory.
The controller 130 can also have a communication interface 236 for sending and receiving communication signals between the various components. Communication interface 236 can include hardware, firmware, and/or software that allows the processor(s) 234 to communicate with the other components via wired or wireless networks, whether local or wide area, private or public, as known in the art. Communication interface 236 can also provide access to a cellular network, the Internet, a local area network, or another wide-area network as suitable for the particular application.
The controller 130 can have or be in communication with a user interface 270 for displaying system information and receiving inputs from a user. The user interface 270 can be installed locally or be a remotely-controlled device such as a computer, a tablet, a mobile device, etc. The user, for example, can view system data on the user interface 358 and input data or commands to the controller 130 via the user interface 358. As a non-limiting example, the user interface 270 can be a remotely connected mobile phone that can pair with the controller 130 and be used by an archer to view and adjust settings of the bow 100. The user interface 270 can additionally be used to view historical data of the bow 100. For example, the historical data of the bow 100 can include data indicative of past shots by the bow 100 to show the performance of an archer over time.
The controller 130 can further include a machine learning engine 280 that can be configured to receive and process the historical data stored in the controller 130. The machine learning engine 280 can be configured, via one or more algorithms, to adjust the feedback provided to the archer over time to help increase the accuracy of the archer's shot. For example, because each bow 100 has unique characteristics and can be affected by various aftermarket accessories, archers, arrows, etc., the machine learning engine 280 can be configured to tune the feedback provided to the archer over time to help increase the accuracy of each shot. The machine learning engine 280 can be further configured to provide recommendations to the archer to help improve the archer's performance. For example, the machine learning engine 280 can be configured to determine various adjustments that could be made to the bow 100 to help adjust for an archer's shooting style or the bow's specific performance. The machine learning engine 280 can be further configured to provide recommendations for adding bow stabilizers, tuning the bow, etc. to help increase the archer's performance.
Although the machine learning engine 280 is shown as being incorporated into the controller 130, the machine learning engine 280 can be alternatively, or in addition, remotely connected to the controller 130. For example, the machine learning engine 280 can be hosted on a remote server or included in an application on a remotely connected computing device (e.g., the archer's mobile phone) and the controller 130 can be configured to output data to the machine learning engine 280. The data output to the machine learning engine 280 can include, among other things, a controller 130 identification number that can be correlated to a specific bow 100 and/or a specific archer. The machine learning engine 280 can process the received data to then output recommendations to the archer during the aiming process to adjust the bow 100 and or his/her shot. The machine learning engine 280 can additionally output setting changes that will adjust the type, magnitude, and/or timing of notifications provided to the archer by the notification system 260 to help the archer adjust his/her shot in real time.
The machine learning engine 280 can be configured to implement supervised learning algorithms (e.g., the archer can provide feedback to the controller 130 such as whether a shot hit the intended target or not), unsupervised learning algorithms, semi-supervised learning algorithms, and/or reinforcement learning algorithms. The machine learning algorithms can be or include nearest neighbor algorithms, Naive Bayes algorithms, decision trees, linear regression, Support Vector Machines (SVM), neural networks, and/or any other suitable machine learning algorithm.
In some examples, the controller 130 can include a bow set-up mode that can help an archer set up his or her bow 100. For example, the controller 130 can receive data from the accelerometer 250, the gyrometer 252, and/or the IMU 254 to provide real-time feedback to the archer to help the archer mount the sight 120 and tune their sight 120 and their rise to adjust for each axis to ensure the sight 120 is properly aligned. The controller 130 can be configured to output additional notifications to help the archer adjust the sight 120 or various other settings of the bow 100 as necessary during use of the bow 100.
As stated previously, the controller 130 can be in communication with the notification system 260 via the communication interface 236 and/or the user interface 270. For example, the controller 130 can output data or instructions to the notification system 260 via the communication interface 236 to provide a notification to the archer during the aiming process. Alternatively, or in addition, the controller 130 can output data to the user interface 270 which can in turn provide data or instructions to the notification system 260. Furthermore, although the notification system 260 is shown as separate from the controller 130, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the notification system 260 can be integrated into the controller 130.
The tactile feedback device 266 can be positioned to provide tactile feedback to the archer. For example, the tactile feedback device 266 can be positioned near the archer's hand and/or integrated into the grip 110 such that an archer can feel the tactile feedback with the hand gripping the grip 110. As a non-limiting example, the tactile feedback device 266 can be a vibratory device (e.g., a rumble pack) integrated into the grip 110 such that the archer can feel a vibration at his or her hand when a notification is provided to the archer. As stated previously, the tactile feedback device 266 can be any suitable type of tactile feedback device 266 for the application (e.g., a device configured to provide haptic feedback to the archer such as force feedback, vibrotactile feedback, electrotactile feedback, ultrasonic tactile feedback, thermal feedback, rumble pack, etc.).
The sight 120 can include a light notification system 262 that can be configured to illuminate to provide a notification to an archer. The light notification system 262 can be configured to provide the notification without obstructing the archer's direct field of view to the target to help ensure the archer remains focused on the target. For example, the light notification system 262 can be configured to illuminate at an archer's peripheral view in such a manner that the archer is not required to break his or her focus on the target. The light notification system 262 can include a plurality of lights, a light panel, and/or a diffuser bar. If the light notification system 262 includes a plurality of lights, each light can be disposed at different locations around the sight 120 and can be configured to illuminate different colors to vary the type of notification provided to the archer. Similarly, if the light notification system 262 includes a light panel, the light panel can be configured to illuminate at different locations and with different colors to vary the type of notification provided to the archer. The light panel, for example, can be disposed around the viewing pane 324 and be configured to illuminate at different locations and at different colors to provide a notification to the archer. In other examples, the light notification system 262 can be configured to alter a flashing pattern of the lights to provide for animation, movement, pulsing, etc. to vary the type of notification provided to the archer. As yet another example, the light notification system can include e-ink such that that it can conserve energy.
The light notification system 262 can be configured to output various patterns and sequences of light notification to vary the type of notification provided to the archer. As a non-limiting example, if the circumference around the viewing pane 324 represents 360 degrees of rotation around an axis aligned with the target (X-axis) with the top center representing a vertical position, the light notification system 262 can be configured to illuminate a range of lights from the top center representing the angle at which the bow 100 should be rotated about the axis aligned with the target (X-axis) to bring the bow 100 to the vertical position. For example, if the archer should rotate the bow 10° to the left to bring the bow 100 back to a vertical position, the light notification system 262 can illuminate a number of lights (or section of the light panel) representative of 10° on the right side of the top center position indicative of the bow 100 needing to be rotated back to the left 10° to bring the bow 100 back to a vertical position.
As another example, the light notification system 262 can output different colors or light patterns depending on how stable the bow 100 is being held. For example, if the bow 100 is being held within a steadiness threshold, the light notification system 262 can output a green color. If the bow 100 is not remaining steady within the steadiness threshold, the light notification system 262 can output a yellow or red color indicative of the archer needing to hold the bow 100 more steady. As another example, the light notification system 262 can be configured to output a red color or flashing light pattern to warn an archer that a person, animal, or object has been detected moving toward the path of an arrow to be fired from the bow 100.
The sight 120 can further include a heads-up display. For example, the sight 120 can include a projector unit and glass configured to reflect light from the projector unit. The heads-up display can be configured to provide information to the archer as to how he or she can adjust his shot, shooting conditions (distance, wind speed, nearby people or animals, etc.). In this way, the archery information system 200 can be configured to provide information to the archer without the archer needed to remove his or her view of the target. The heads-up display can include various icons, brightness, light patterns, etc. to provide a plurality of different notifications to the archer.
Although the archery information system 200 has been described herein as being various discrete components that can be attached to the bow 100 at different locations, the archery information system 200 can also be integrated into a single unit and be configured for attachment and removal from the bow 100. For example, the archery information system 200 can be integrated into the housing 122 of the sight 120 and the sight 120 (and archery information system 200) can be removable from the bow 100 to enable charging of the archery information system 200 and use of the archery information system 200 on more than one bow 100. For example, the archer can use the archery information system 200 on a practice bow and then mount the archery information system 200 on a hunting bow. In some examples, the archery information system 200 may not include a sight 120 but can be integrated into a single housing that can be attached to a bow 100 and be configured to output notifications via a speaker 264, one or more tactile feedback devices 266, and/or one or more light notification systems 262 that can be integrated into the housing of the archery information system 200. In other examples, the archery information system 200 can be configured to output notifications to a connected computing device such as the archer's mobile device.
The method 400 can further include determining 420 if one or more adjustments are needed to properly align the bow with the target. For example, the adjustment can include any of the adjustments described herein. As a non-limiting example, the adjustment can include a number of degrees the bow 100 should be rotated about an axis to align the bow 100 with the target. The method 400 can include outputting 430 one or more notifications to inform the archer how to adjust the bow position. Outputting 430 the notification can include outputting a notification to the light notification system 262, speaker 264, and/or the tactile feedback device 266 as described herein.
The method 400 can include outputting a control signal to adjust a position of at least one of the smart front stabilizer 140 or the smart rear stabilizer 142 to help the archer align the bow 100 with the target.
The method 400 can include determining 440 if the bow 100 has been aligned with the target. If the bow 100 has not be aligned with the target, the method 400 can include repeating the previous steps. Alternatively, the method 400 can further include determining 450 if a shooting path is clear. Determining 450 if a shooting path is clear, for example, can include determining, based at least in part on data received from the movement sensor 258, whether a person, an animal, or an object has moved or is moving into the path between the archer and the target. If the shooting path is not clear, the method 400 can include outputting 460 a notification to warn the archer that the shooting path is not clear in accordance with the examples described herein.
If the bow has been aligned with the target, the method 400 can include outputting 470 a notification to indicate that the bow has been aligned with the target. The archer, upon receiving the notification that the bow has been aligned with the target (and, optionally, that the shooting path is clear) can then determine whether to release the bow to shoot the arrow toward the target.
As will be appreciated, the method 400 just described can be varied in accordance with the various elements and implementations described herein. That is, methods in accordance with the disclosed technology can include all or some of the steps described above and/or can include additional steps not expressly disclosed above. Further, methods in accordance with the disclosed technology can include some, but not all, of a particular step described above. Further still, various methods described herein can be combined in full or in part. That is, methods in accordance with the disclosed technology can include at least some elements or steps of a first method and at least some elements or steps of a second method.
The controller 130 can be further configured to determine whether the smart peep 107 is properly aligned with the sight 120. As will be appreciated, it is common for archers to not properly align the peep with the scope, to cause the peep to rotate when pulling the bowstring 106, and/or to add side pressure to the bowstring 106 when the archer pulls back on the bowstring 106. By receiving and analyzing image data from the imaging sensor 524, the controller 130 can be configured to determine whether the archer is aligning the smart peep 107 with the sight 120, whether the archer is rotating the bowstring 106, and/or whether the archers is adding side pressure to the bowstring 106 when drawing back on the bowstring 106, any of which could cause an inaccurate shot.
To illustrate further, the imaging sensor 524 can be mounted on the bow 100 in a location where the imaging sensor 524 can properly detect the alignment of the smart peep 107 (e.g., the imaging sensor 524 can be mounted on the riser 102, on the sight 120, or in any other suitable location). The imaging sensor 524 can for example and not limitation, be or include a charge-coupled device (CCD) or an active-pixel sensor (CMOS sensor), or can include Lidar, radar, infrared sensor, camera, or other sensors configured to detect the smart peep 107. The controller 130 can receive the data from the imaging sensor 524 and determine the position and orientation of the smart peep 107.
The imaging sensor 524 can be further configured to detect whether the archer's pupil is properly aligned with the smart peep 107 and the sight 120. That is, the imaging sensor 524 can detect characteristics of the archer's eye, the position and orientation of the archer's pupil, the position and orientation of the smart peep 107, and then output that data to the controller. The controller 130 can determine whether the archer's pupil, the smart peep 107, and the sight 120 are all properly aligned to help increase the accuracy of an arrow shot from the bow 100. If misalignment of the archer's pupil, the smart peep 107, and/or the sight 120 is detected, the controller 130 can be configured to determine what adjustments are needed to properly align the bow 100 with the target and output one or more notifications to help inform the archer of how to adjust the position of the bow 100. For example, if the archer's pupil is not properly aligned with the smart peep 107, the controller 130 can output a notification to the archer to align his or her pupil with the smart peep 107. As another example, if the controller 130 determines that the smart peep 107 is rotated slightly (e.g., due to torque applied to the bowstring 106), the controller 130 can output one or more notification to information the archer of the smart peep 107 rotation. As yet another example, if the controller 130 determines that the smart peep 107 is moved in a direction indicative of the archer applying too much side pressure, the controller 130 can output one or more notifications informing the archer how he or she can reduce the side pressure (e.g., reduce pressure pushed in a certain direction). As yet another example, the imaging sensor 524 can be further configured to detect deflection of the bowstring 106 and output that data to the controller 130. The controller 130 can then use that data to determine whether the bowstring 106 deflection is indicative of too much side pressure and output a notification to the archer informing the archer how to adjust his or her position.
The disclosed technology can be understood according to the following clauses:
Clause 1: An archery information system comprising: a notification system configured to provide a notification to an archer without the archer breaking focus on a target, the notification system being configured for attachment to a bow; and a controller, the controller configured to: receive data from a sensor; determine if a notification should be output to the archer based at least in part on data received from the sensor; and in response to determining that a notification should be output to the archer, cause the notification system to output the notification.
Clause 2: The archery information system of clause 1, wherein the notification system comprises a light notification system configured to emit a light.
Clause 3: The archery information system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the notification system comprises a speaker configured to output a sound.
Clause 4: The archery information system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor configured to determine a movement of the bow.
Clause 5: The archery information system of clause 4, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether movement of the bow exceeds a predetermined movement threshold; and in response to determining that movement of the bow exceeds the predetermine movement threshold, output the notification to the archer.
Clause 6: The archery information system of clause 4 or clause 5, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether the bow has been moved about a predetermined axis beyond a predetermined threshold; and in response to determining that the bow has been moved about the predetermined axis beyond the predetermined threshold, output the notification to the archer.
Clause 7: The archery information system of clause 6, wherein the notification comprises an indication of which direction the archer should move the bow to properly align the bow with the predetermined axis.
Clause 8: The archery information system of clause 6 or clause 7, wherein the notification comprises an indication of how many degrees the archer should move the bow about the predetermined axis to properly align the bow with the predetermined axis.
Clause 9: The archery information system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sensor comprises a force sensor configured to detect a force applied to the bow, the controller being further configured to: determine whether the force is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum force threshold; and in response to determining that the force is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum force threshold, output the notification.
Clause 10: The archery information system of clause 9, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether the force is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum force threshold, the predetermined minimum force threshold being less than the predetermined maximum force threshold; and in response to determining that the force is less than or equal to the predetermined force minimum threshold, output the notification.
Clause 11: The archery information system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sensor comprises an imaging sensor configured to detect a position and orientation of a peep attached to a string of the bow.
Clause 12: The archery information system of clause 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine, based on data received from the imaging sensor, whether the peep is aligned with a sight of the bow; and in response to determining that the peep is not aligned with the sight of the bow, output the notification.
Clause 13: A bow comprising: a riser; one or more limbs extending outwardly from the riser; a string in mechanical communication with the one or more limbs; and a notification system configured to provide a notification to an archer without the archer breaking focus on a target; and a controller, the controller configured to: receive data from a sensor; determine if a notification should be output to the archer based at least in part on data received from the sensor; and in response to determining that a notification should be output to the archer, cause the notification system to output the notification.
Clause 14: The bow of clause 13, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor configured to determine a movement of the bow, the controller being further configured to: determine whether movement of the bow exceeds a predetermined movement threshold; and in response to determining that movement of the bow exceeds the predetermine movement threshold, output the notification to the archer.
Clause 15: The bow of clause 14, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether the bow has been moved about a predetermined axis beyond a predetermined threshold; and in response to determining that the bow has been moved about the predetermined axis beyond the predetermined threshold, output the notification to the archer.
Clause 16: The bow of any one of clauses 13-15, wherein the sensor comprises a force sensor configured to detect a force applied to the bow, the controller being further configured to: determine whether the force is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum force threshold; and in response to determining that the force is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum force threshold, output the notification.
Clause 17: The bow of clause 16, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether the force is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum force threshold, the predetermined minimum force threshold being less than the predetermined maximum force threshold; and in response to determining that the force is less than or equal to the predetermined force minimum threshold, output the notification.
Clause 18: The bow of any one of clauses 13-17, wherein the sensor comprises a movement sensor configured to detect movement near the bow or between the bow and a target and output movement data to the controller, the controller being further configured to: determine whether the movement data is indicative of movement near the bow or between the bow and the target; and in response to determining that the movement data is indicative of movement near the bow or between the bow and the target, output the notification.
Clause 19: The bow of any one of clauses 13-18, wherein the sensor comprises a wind sensor configured to detect a magnitude of wind near the bow or between the bow and the target and output wind data, the controller being further configured to: determine, based at least in part on the wind data, the magnitude of the wind near the bow or between the bow and the target; and output the notification, the notification being indicative of how the archer should adjust the bow.
Clause 20: The bow of any one of clause 13-19, further comprising a stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising: a shaft; a weight; and an actuator configured to cause the weight to move along the shaft to adjust a center of gravity of the bow.
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with a plurality of exemplary aspects, as illustrated in the various figures and discussed above, it is understood that other similar aspects can be used, or modifications and additions can be made to the described aspects for performing the same function of the present disclosure without deviating therefrom. For example, in various aspects of the disclosure, methods and compositions were described according to aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter. But other equivalent methods or composition to these described aspects are also contemplated by the teachings herein. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to any single aspect, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/430,734, filed 7 Dec. 2022, the entire contents and substance of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth below.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63430734 | Dec 2022 | US |
