BODY PROTECTOR DEVICE FOR MARTIAL ARTS AND VALID HIT DETERMINATION SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE SAME

Abstract

A body or head protector device for martial arts having at least one hit detector attached thereto or embedded therein is disclosed. The hit detector includes: an elongate upper substrate; an elongate lower substrate facing away the upper substrate; and a spacer disposed between the upper substrate and lower substrate, wherein a circuit pattern is formed on the lower substrate substantially across an entire length of the lower substrate, wherein the circuit pattern include first and second patterns, wherein the first pattern and second pattern are short-circuited with each other when the upper and lower substrates are in a non-contact with each other.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korea patent application No. 10-2016-0170449 filed on Dec. 14, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a body protector device for martial arts having a hit detector and, to a valid hit determination system including the body protector device.

Discussion of Related Art

In general, in hitting type martial arts, a body protective equipment is used to protect the athletes. Athletes wear helmets and the protective equipment to prevent injuries during the game. Taekwondo is linked with more than 80 million Taekwondo players and 205 participating countries. Taking Taekwondo as an example, the competition method is a method in which hit points are acquired with accurate and strong force on the opponent's effective attack area using various kinds of kicking techniques and hand rubbing techniques. At this time, in order to ensure the accuracy of the determination, a sensor is installed at a potential hit point.

A prior art electronic body protector device has a hit detector as shown in FIG. 1. The hit detector has a conducive upper contact 1′ and a conductive lower substrate 2′. Between the upper contact point 1′ and lower substrate 2′, an elastic buffer 3′ is disposed. The upper contact point 1′ and lower substrate 2′ may be connected to the LED light source 4′. In a non-hit mode, the upper contact point 1′ and lower substrate 2′ are in non-contact with each other, thereby to turn off the LED light source 4′. In a hit mode, the upper contact point 1′ and lower substrate 2′ are in contact with each other, thereby to turn on the LED light source 4′. This may be determined as the valid hit.

In this connection, when a force overcoming the elastic force of the elastic buffer 3′ is applied to the hit detector, this is determined as the valid hit, while a force not overcoming the elastic force of the elastic buffer 3′ is applied to the hit detector, this is not determined as the valid hit. This may lead to determination of the associated hit only as valid or invalid hit.

Korea patent No. 1321695 discloses an electronic protector and a blow sensing system for the same are provided to sense the blow of an opponent player and to improve fairness in martial arts. An electronic protector comprises a blow signal sensing part in which film sensors with blow signal generators are formed, a blow signal lead circuit which delivers an electric signal generated from the film sensors to an external object, and a hole sensor which senses the magnetic field of two or more permanent magnets attached to the body of a player. A sensor system includes a blow signal sensing part in which film sensors with blow signal generators are formed, a blow signal lead circuit which delivers an electric signal generated from the film sensors to an external object, and a hole sensor which senses the magnetic field of two or more permanent magnets attached to the body of a player

However, this patent has the disadvantage of requiring both the hit signal sensing unit and the magnetic field sensing unit. Therefore, it is necessary to simplify the system operation and maintenance of the electronic body protector device and to improve the flexibility through the control of the hitting strength by age and the reliability by upgrading the sensor.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify all key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present disclosure is to provide a body protector device for martial arts having a hit detector to detect a hit against any hit position, and a valid hit determination system including the same.

The present disclosure is to provide a body protector device for martial arts having a hit detector to allow accurate determination of a valid hit leading to acquisition of a game score, and a valid hit determination system including the same.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a body or head protector device for martial arts, the device having at least one hit detector attached thereto or embedded therein, the hit detector detecting a hit applied thereto, wherein the hit detector includes: an elongate upper substrate; an elongate lower substrate facing away the upper substrate; and a spacer disposed between the upper substrate and lower substrate, wherein a circuit pattern is formed on the lower substrate substantially across an entire length of the lower substrate, wherein the circuit pattern include first and second patterns, wherein the first pattern and second pattern are short-circuited with each other when the upper and lower substrates are in a non-contact with each other.

In one implementation, the first and second patterns extend in an interdigitated manner with each other, wherein the first pattern includes: first segments, each first segment extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the hit detector, wherein the first segments are spacedly arranged in the extension direction of the hit detector; and second segments, each second segment extending between neighboring first segments in the extension direction of the hit detector, whereby the first pattern is formed of repetition of inverse “T” shaped patterns, wherein the second pattern has a complementary shape or interdigitated shape with the first pattern, wherein the second pattern includes: third segments, each third segment extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the hit detector, wherein the third segments are spacedly arranged in the extension direction of the hit detector; and fourth segments, each fourth segment extending between neighboring third segments in the extension direction of the hit detector, whereby the second pattern is formed of repetition of “T” shaped patterns, wherein between neighboring first segment and third segment, a first transverse gap is defined, wherein between neighboring fourth segment and first segment, a first longitudinal gap is defined, wherein between neighboring third segment and second segment, a second longitudinal gap is defined.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a valid hit determination system for martial arts, the system comprising: at least one hit detector attached thereto or embedded therein, the hit detector detecting a hit applied thereto; a light emitting unit; and a controller configured to receive a detected hit signal from the hit detector, to determine whether a hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is a valid hit resulting in an increment of a game score for the martial arts, and, upon determination that the hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is the valid hit, to allow the light emitting unit to emit a light beam.

In one implementation, the controller further include a memory having a table stored therein, wherein the table has a correspondence between valid hit reference values and weigh classes, gender and/or ages for martial arts, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the detected hit signal with the valid hit reference values and to determine, based on the comparison, whether the hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is the valid hit.

In one implementation, the controller further include a communication module, wherein upon determination that the hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is the valid hit, the communication module sends a total score of valid hits to a display unit.

In one implementation, the display unit is mounted on rear and/or front faces of a body or head protector device for martial arts having the hit detector.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the body protector device for martial arts may sense any hit applied thereto.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the hit applied to the body protector device for martial arts may be determined as a valid hit in connection with a weight, a gender and an age of a fighter.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the total score of the valid hits may be visible via the LED light sources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification and in which like numerals depict like elements, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art hit detector.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an operation of a prior art hit detector in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a stretched view of a body protector device for martial arts with a hit detector in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hit detector in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B is a top view of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate respective hit detection operations of the hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a valid hit determination system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numbers in different figures denote the same or similar elements, and as such perform similar functionality. Also, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Examples of various embodiments are illustrated and described further below. It will be understood that the description herein is not intended to limit the claims to the specific embodiments described. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and so on may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section described below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “between” two elements or layers, it can be the only element or layer between the two elements or layers, or one or more intervening elements or layers may also be present.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of explanation to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element s or feature s as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or in operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below” and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented for example, rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations, and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expression such as “at least one of” when preceding a list of elements may modify the entire list of elements and may not modify the individual elements of the list.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process structures and/or processes have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “substantially,” “about,” and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the use of “may” when describing embodiments of the present disclosure refers to “one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.”

FIG. 3 is a stretched view of a body protector device 100 for martial arts with a hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The body protector device 100 for martial arts may be elongate. The body protector device 100 for martial arts may be worn around a breast, a waist, a stomach, back, etc. to protect the body from the hit. The hit detector 1 may be plural. The plurality of the hit detectors 1 may be arranged in the body protector device 100 for martial arts in a length direction of the device 100 and may be spaced from each other, thereby to sense the hit applied to the device. The arrangement of the hit detectors 1 may be disposed in the arrangement region “A”.

LED light sources 2 may be arranged around and outside of the arrangement region “A” in the body protector device 100 for martial arts. The LED light sources 2 may turn on/off. In one example, the arrangement region “A” in the body protector device 100 for martial arts may be elongate and rectangular. The LED light sources 2 may be arranged in the arrangement regions “B”. In one example, the LED light sources 2 may turn on when the hit detector 1 adjacent to them detect a valid hit. In this way, a portion of the body receiving the valid hit may be visually identified.

A reference symbol “C” indicates a controller. The controller C may receive a detection signal from the at least one hit detector 1 and determine whether the detection signal corresponds to the valid hit. When the detection signal corresponds to the valid hit, the controller may allow the corresponding LED light source 2 to turn on. The controller C may be housed in a housing. The controller C may be electrically connected to the hit detectors 1 and LED light sources 2 and may be embedded in the body protector device 100 for martial arts.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The hit detector 1 may be embodied as, for example, FSR (force sensitive resistor) pressure sensor. The hit detector 1 may be elongate to be mounted on the body protector device 100 for martial arts as shown in FIG. 3.

The hit detector 1 may include an elongate upper substrate 10, an elongate lower substrate 16, and a spacer 14 between the upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 16.

The upper substrate 10 may be embodied as a soft semiconductor substrate with a carbon or ink coating thereon. The upper substrate 10 may act as a resistor. The lower substrate 16 may embodied as a semiconductor substrate. A circuit pattern 18 may be fixed on the lower substrate 16. Alternatively, the upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 16 may be embodied as a flexible polymeric sheet made of PET, polyimide, etc.

The spacer 14 may separate the two substrates from each other. The spacer 14 may be attached on the upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 16. The spacer 14 may be formed a pressure-sensitive adhesive using a screen printing. Alternatively, the spacer 14 may be embodied as a film tape or any material film adhered to the upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 16. The spacer 14 may extend substantially along an entire length of the upper and lower substrates 10, 16.

The circuit pattern 18 may be screen-printed on the lower substrate 16. In one example, the circuit pattern 18 may be formed by screen-printing a thick film ink of Ag-containing polymer on the lower substrate 16. Alternatively, the circuit pattern 18 may be made of a copper with a gold plating. The circuit pattern 18 may include first and second patterns 18a and 18b. As shown in FIG. 4, the first pattern 18a and second pattern 18b may form a short-circuit.

The first and second patterns 18a and 18b may have terminals 18a′ and 18b′ respectively which may be connected to a current-voltage converter circuit including, for example, an operational amplifier in the controller C.

As well known to the skilled person to the art, when the upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 16 contact each other, the upper substrate 10 may act as a resistor and, thus, the first and second patterns 18,18b may be electrically connected to each other via the upper substrate 10. A current from the circuit pattern 18 may be supplied to the controller C where the current may be converted to a voltage.

A reference numeral 12 may refer to an adhesive band which may act to adhere the upper substrate to an adjacent element. The adhesive band 12 may be formed on the lower substrate 16 although not shown.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B is a top view of FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the upper substrate 10 and lower substrate 16 may sandwich the spacer 14 therebetween. The circuit pattern 18 may be printed on a base 160 of the lower substrate 16 as shown in FIG. 5A.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the first pattern 18a and second pattern 18b may not contact and face away from each other. Between the first pattern 18a and second pattern 18a, a gap is defined. The first and second patterns 18a and 18b may extend in an interdigitated manner with each other.

The first pattern 18a may have first segments 180, each first segment extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the hit detector 1, wherein the first segments 180 are spacedly arranged in the extension direction of the hit detector 1. The first pattern 18a may have second segments 182, each second segment extending between neighboring first segments in the extension direction of the hit detector 1. That is, the first pattern 18a may consist of repetition of inverse “T” shaped patterns.

The second pattern 18b may have a complementary shape or an interdigitated shape with the first pattern 18a. Specifically,

The second pattern 18b may have third segments 184, each third segment extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the hit detector 1, wherein the third segments 180 are spacedly arranged in the extension direction of the hit detector 1. The second pattern 18b may have fourth segments 186, each fourth segment extending between neighboring third segments in the extension direction of the hit detector 1. That is, the second pattern 18b may consist of repetition of “T” shaped patterns.

Between neighboring first segment 180 and third segment 184, a first transverse gap may be defined. Between neighboring fourth segment 186 and first segment 180, a first longitudinal gap may be defined. Similarly, between neighboring third segment 184 and second segment 182, a second longitudinal gap may be defined.

The first segment 180 may be parallel with the third segment 184. Further, the second segment 182 may be parallel with the fourth segment 186.

The first segment 180 may have the same size as the third segment 184. Further, the second segment 182 may have the same size as the fourth segment 186. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Each of the first pattern 18a and second pattern 18b may be monolithic.

As for the hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the circuit pattern 18 including the first pattern 18a and second pattern 18b may be printed substantially on an entire length of the detector. This may be different from a configuration where an activation area is locally specified on the conventional pressure sensor. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the configuration of the circuit pattern 18 may allow detection of hits in any location in the body protector device. Thus, the hit detector 1 may have improved hit detection.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate respective hit detection operations of the hit detector 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 6, for example, when the upper substrate 10 is hit-pressured relatively more weakly, the upper substrate 10 may be depressed in the region P where the circuit pattern 18 may partially contact the circuit pattern 18, thereby to allow a current circuit between the upper substrate 10 and circuit pattern 18, where the current Ia flows.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the upper substrate 10 is hit-pressured relatively more strongly, the upper substrate 10 may be depressed in the region P′ where the circuit pattern 18 may partially contact the circuit pattern 18, thereby to allow a current circuit between the upper substrate 10 and circuit pattern 18, where the current Ib flows. In this connection, the region P′ is larger than the region P, and, thus, the current Ib is larger than the current Ia.

In this way, an external hit-pressure increases, a contact area between the upper substrate 10 and the circuit pattern 18 increases accordingly. Thus, the variation of the current depending on the external hit-pressure may be monitored, thereby to determine the hit intensity.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a valid hit determination system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the system has the hit detector 1 and controller C.

The controller C may include a main controller unit (MCU) 200, a detected hit signal receiver 202, a memory 204, a LED driver 206, and a communication module 208. The MCU 200 may control internal components of the controller C and an I/O interface thereof.

The memory 204 may have a table stored therein, wherein the table has a correspondence between valid hit reference values and weigh classes for martial arts.

For example, Taekwondo weight class may include eight weight classes including a pin class, a flyweight class, a heavy class, etc. In the case of the Olympic game, for men, the weight classes include 58 kg, 68 kg, 80 kg, 80 kg, while, for women, the weight classes include 49 kg, 57 kg, 67 kg and 67 kg. The minimum criteria for valid hits may vary by weights and by gender. When the hit force is 30 Ns, it is “invalid” for a male heavy weight class, but it is “valid” for a male flyweight class. If the hit force is 20 Ns, it may be “invalid” for a male flyweight but may be “valid” for a female flyweight. The valid hit may result in an increment of a score.

The memory 204 may have a table stored therein, wherein the table has a correspondence between valid hit reference values and ages for fighters independently or in association with the gender and weight classes.

Further, the memory 204 may have hit position information corresponding to positions of LED light sources or positions of the hit detector 1. For example, the hit position information may have a breast position indicator corresponding to a hit detector 1 located in the breast position and/or a LED light source adjacent to the breast position.

The detected hit signal receiver 202 may include a current-voltage converter circuit to convert a current detected by the hit detector 1 to a voltage, and a determination unit to determine the position of the hit detector 1 to detect the current.

Upon receiving the voltage from the detected hit signal receiver 202, the MCU 200 may be configured to compare the voltage to a reference voltage, for example, for a specific weight class stored in the memory 204 and to determine whether the hit corresponding to the received voltage is a valid hit. For example, when the received voltage is 2.0V and the specific weight class is a male 68 kg where a valid hit reference voltage is 2.2V, it may be determined that the hit corresponding to the received voltage is invalid. When the received voltage is 2.4V and the specific weight class is a male 68 kg where a valid hit reference voltage is 2.2V, it may be determined that the hit corresponding to the received voltage is valid. To this end, the MCU 200 may have a comparator circuit (not shown).

Upon determination that the hit corresponding to the received voltage is valid, the MCU 200 may send a turn-on signal to the LED driver 206 and the communication module 208.

Based on the turn-on signal and the position information of the hit detector 1, the LED driver 204 may turn on the LED light source 2 corresponding to the position information of the hit detector 1.

Based on the turn-on signal, the communication module 208 may allow a display unit 210 to display the valid hit thereon. The display unit 210 may be integrated with the body protector device 100 for martial arts or separate from the body protector device 100. The display unit 210 may be disposed on front and/or rear faces of the body protector device 100 for martial arts. In one example, the display unit 210 may indicate that the hit is valid or indicate the total accumulated valid hit score. The display unit 210 may be implemented in various types including LED light sources.

Alternatively, the communication module 208 may communicate with a large display. The communication module 208 may communicate data about the current hit, for example, whether the hit is valid or a total score, to the a large display in a wireless or wired manner.

In one embodiment, the controller C may be modular and, thus, may be attached to or detached from the body protector device 100 for martial arts. Thus, the controller C may be selected based on a weight class, gender and/or age of a fighter wearing the body protector device 100 for martial arts.

In an alternative, the system may further comprise a valid hit reference adjuster 212 communicating with the controller C. Using the valid hit reference adjuster 212, the operator may adjust the valid hit reference value based on a weight class, gender and/or age of a fighter wearing the body protector device 100 for martial arts. In this connection, the certain protector device 100 for martial arts may be available for any fighter having any weight class, gender and/or age. In one example, the valid hit reference adjuster 212 may be implemented as a remote controller or as a button attached on the controller C.

Since the hit detector 1, the LED light sources 2 and the controller C all are integrated with the body protector device 100 for martial arts including, the body protector device may be easily and conveniently maintained.

In one example, the detector 1, the LED light sources 2 and the controller C may be integrated with a head protector device for martial arts.

The above description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments, and many additional embodiments of this disclosure are possible. It is understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. The scope of the disclosure should be determined with reference to the Claims. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic that is described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Claims

1. A body or head protector device for martial arts, the device having at least one hit detector attached thereto or embedded therein, the hit detector detecting a hit applied thereto, wherein the hit detector includes:

an elongate upper substrate;

an elongate lower substrate facing away the upper substrate; and

a spacer disposed between the upper substrate and lower substrate,

wherein a circuit pattern is formed on the lower substrate substantially across an entire length of the lower substrate,

wherein the circuit pattern include first and second patterns, wherein the first pattern and second pattern are short-circuited with each other when the upper and lower substrates are in a non-contact with each other.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second patterns extend in an interdigitated manner with each other,

wherein the first pattern includes:

first segments, each first segment extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the hit detector, wherein the first segments are spacedly arranged in the extension direction of the hit detector; and

second segments, each second segment extending between neighboring first segments in the extension direction of the hit detector, whereby the first pattern is formed of repetition of inverse “T” shaped patterns,

wherein the second pattern has a complementary shape or interdigitated shape with the first pattern,

wherein the second pattern includes:

third segments, each third segment extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the hit detector, wherein the third segments are spacedly arranged in the extension direction of the hit detector; and

fourth segments, each fourth segment extending between neighboring third segments in the extension direction of the hit detector, whereby the second pattern is formed of repetition of “T” shaped patterns,

wherein between neighboring first segment and third segment, a first transverse gap is defined, wherein between neighboring fourth segment and first segment, a first longitudinal gap is defined, wherein between neighboring third segment and second segment, a second longitudinal gap is defined.

3. A valid hit determination system for martial arts, the system comprising:

at least one hit detector attached thereto or embedded therein, the hit detector detecting a hit applied thereto;

a light emitting unit; and

a controller configured to receive a detected hit signal from the hit detector, to determine whether a hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is a valid hit resulting in an increment of a game score for the martial arts, and, upon determination that the hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is the valid hit, to allow the light emitting unit to emit a light beam.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller further include a memory having a table stored therein, wherein the table has a correspondence between valid hit reference values and weigh classes, gender and/or ages for martial arts, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the detected hit signal with the valid hit reference values and to determine, based on the comparison, whether the hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is the valid hit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller further include a communication module, wherein upon determination that the hit corresponding to the detected hit signal is the valid hit, the communication module sends a total score of valid hits to a display unit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display unit is mounted on rear and/or front faces of a body or head protector device for martial arts having the hit detector.