MARKING SYSTEM FOR SPORT AREAS

• US 20090197710A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ronda, Cornelis Reinder
• Application Number:
  US12/298,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/490
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/06 Apparatus for setting-out or dividing courts
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means

Abstract

The invention relates to a marking system comprising lighting devices, for example LEDs (11), that are used on a sport area (1) to indicate demarcations (100) of different games. By activating the associated lighting devices (11), the demarcations (100) of a particular game can selectively be made visible. The marking system may further comprise detection devices that can detect the occurrence of certain game events. Thus photodetectors (12) may for example detect if a ball (2) crosses a demarcation (100). A controller (13) may then activate the lighting devices (11) or separate signaling devices (14, 15) to indicate the detected event. The controller (13) may further communicate wirelessly with persons on the sport area, particularly with the referee to assist his/her decisions.

Claims

1. A marking system for a sport area (1), comprising at least one lighting device (11) that is coupled to a controller (13) for selectively activating it and that is disposed at the position of a demarcation (100, 200) of a game that can be played on the sport area (1).

2. The marking system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises a plurality of lighting devices (11) that can selectively be activated by the controller (13) to indicate demarcations (100, 200) of different games.

3. The marking system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least one signaling device (15) for indicating dynamic information, particularly information about a game on the sport area (1).

4. The marking system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the controller (13) is adapted to control the lighting device (11) according to different illumination patterns representing dynamic information, particularly information about a game on the sport area (1).

5. The marking system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the controller (13) is coupled to an input device, preferably a wireless input device (14), for receiving dynamical information about a game on the sport area (1).

6. The marking system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises at least one detection device (12) for detecting the occurrence of a particular game event.

7. The marking system according to claim 6,

characterized in that the game event comprises the crossing of a demarcation (100, 200) by an object (2).

8. The marking system according to claim 6,

characterized in that the detection device comprises a photodetector (12) for detecting changes in illumination caused by a crossing object (2).

9. The marking system according to claim 6,

characterized in that it comprises at least one identifier (3) that can be carried by an object (2) and that can be detected by the detection device (12).

10. The marking system according to claim 6,

characterized in that it comprises a sender (14) for a wireless communication of the detection of a game event to a receiver on the sport area (1).

11. The marking system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the lighting device comprises at least one LED (11) or organic LED.

12. A sport area (1), comprising a marking system according to claim 1, wherein the sport area comprises a sport stadium, a playing field, a track-and-field arena, a cycling arena, a ice arena or a swimming arena.

15. Use of a demarcation system according to claim 1 wherein the demarcation system provides information about at least the fastest person.

13. Use of a lighting device (11) as indication of a demarcation (100, 200) of a game that can be played on a sport area (1).

14. Use of a lighting device (11) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the demarcation system is arranged in or under water.