Ball sensing

• US 10,549,165 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thurman, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wei
• Application Number:
  US14/188,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: 463 7, 473457
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball

Abstract

A ball including a core, at least one layer of yarn surrounding the core, a cover assembly comprising panels joined by stitching and surrounding the at least one layer of yarn, a sensor to sense motion of the ball, a data output device carried by the ball and in communication with the sensor, and a light emitter coupled to the sensor.

Claims

1. A ball comprising:

a core;

at least one layer of yarn surrounding the core;

a cover assembly comprising panels joined by a stitching and surrounding the at least one layer of yarn, the stitching including a curved light pipe, wherein the light pipe, as at least a part of the stitching, is threaded through each of the panels joined by the stitching;

a sensor to sense motion of the ball;

a data output device carried by the ball and in communication with the sensor; and

a light emitter coupled to the sensor and to the light pipe.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the light emitter provides light to the light pipe based upon the sensed motion of the ball.

3. The ball of claim 2, wherein the light emitter provides light having an illumination characteristic to the light pipe in response to the sensed motion of the ball satisfying at least one first threshold.

4. The ball of claim 3, wherein the threshold is a ball motion

parameter value selected from the group consisting of a spin rate value, a spin acceleration value, a travel velocity value, an acceleration value.

5. The ball of claim 3, wherein the at least one first threshold comprises at least one of a spin rate and a travel velocity associated with a major league baseball player.

6. The ball of claim 3, wherein the light emitter provides light having a second illumination characteristic, different than the first characteristic, to the light pipe in response to the sensed motion of the ball satisfying at least one second threshold.

7. The ball of claim 6, wherein the at least one first threshold comprises at least one of a spin rate and a travel velocity of a pitch associated with a first league level pitcher and wherein the at least one second threshold comprises at least one of a spin rate and a travel velocity of a pitch associated with a second league level picture, the first league level pitcher and the second league level pitcher being selected from a group of league level pitchers consisting of:

a Little League pitcher, a minor-league pitcher, a major-league pitcher, a major-league All-Star pitcher, a high school pitcher, and a college pitcher.

11. The ball of claim 1, wherein the light emitter provides a first non-zero light having a first illumination characteristic based upon a first sensed motion of the ball and provides a second non-zero light having a second illumination characteristic different than the first light based upon a second sensed motion of the ball different than the first sensed motion of the ball.

12. The ball of claim 11, wherein the light emitter provides the light in pulses, and wherein the first illumination characteristic and the second illumination characteristic have different frequencies of the light pulses.

13. The ball of claim 11, wherein the light emitter provides the light in pulses, and wherein the first illumination characteristic and the second illumination characteristic have different durations of the light pulses.

14. The ball of claim 11, wherein the first illumination characteristic in the second illumination characteristic have different nonzero levels of brightness.

15. The ball of claim 11, wherein the first illumination characteristic and the second illumination characteristic comprise different colors of the light.

16. The ball of claim 1 further comprising a portable electronic device to receive wireless signals from the data output device and to display data based upon the signals.

17. The ball of claim 16, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to determine movement of the ball relative to a predetermined strike zone based upon the received wireless signals from the data output device.

18. The ball of claim 17, wherein the ball comprises a mark for being aimed towards the predetermined strike zone at a height and a distance from the strike zone, wherein the portable electronic device determines movement of the ball relative to the predetermined strike zone based upon the height, the distance from the predetermined strike zone and signals received from the ball while the ball is aimed towards the predetermined strike zone.

20. The ball of claim 1, wherein the light pipe, formed at least as part of the stitching, axially extends into a first face and out of a second face, opposite the first face, of each of the panels joined by the stitching.

8. A ball comprising:

a core;

at least one layer of yarn surrounding the core;

a cover assembly comprising panels joined by a stitching and surrounding the at least one layer of yarn, the panels forming a spherical shape;

a sensor to sense motion of the ball;

a data output device carried by the ball and in communication with the sensor; and

a light emitter coupled to the sensor, wherein the light emitter comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes entirely positioned inward and underneath ofa translucent portion of spherical outer surface of at least one of the spherically shaped panels.

9. The ball of claim 8, wherein the light emitter is a display operably coupled to the data output device.

10. The ball of claim 9, wherein the display is positioned below a translucent portion of one of the panels.

19. The ball of claim 8, wherein the spherically shaped cover panels are formed of one of a leather and a synthetic leather, and where the light emitter is inward of translucent portions the spherically shaped panels of the cover assembly.