HITTING TECHNIQUE BY IDENTIFYING BALL IMPACT POINTS
First Claim
1. A sensor system for identifying an impact point of a ball exhibiting a ball diameter, on at least one side of a ball hitting means, the sensor system comprising:
- at least one transmitter arranged to transmit an optical signal at a transmission timing;
at least one detector arranged to detect a reflection of the optical signal from the ball, the reflection exhibiting a detection timing and detection intensity; and
a control unit arranged to control the at least one transmitter;
to control the at least one detector;
to determine the transmission timing; and
to analyze the reflection,wherein the ball hitting means exhibits a hitting area comprising an edge, and a hitting volume defined by the hitting area, the ball diameter and the at least one side,wherein the at least one transmitter is attached to at least one transmitting point on the edge;
the at least one transmitter is arranged to transmit an optical signal to substantially the entire hitting volume;
the at least one detector is attached to at least one detection point on the edge; and
the at least one detector is arranged to detect the reflection of the ball hitting the ball hitting area at a part of substantially the entire hitting volume, andwherein the control unit is arranged to identify the impact point of the ball by analyzing the reflection timing in relation to the transmission timing and the at least one detection point.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system for identifying an impact point of a ball hitting a ball hitting means, and a system and method for improving a hitting technique based thereupon. One system comprises an optical array, an motion processing module, a processing unit and an interface unit. The optical array is attached to the ball hitting means and comprises light emitters and light detectors arranged to repeatedly determine consequent impact points of the ball by detecting reflections of emitted optical signals. The motion processing module is attached to the ball hitting means measures its motion characteristics. The processing unit is arranged to analyze and process the consequent impact points and the motion characteristics of the ball hitting means to characterized the hitting technique. The interface unit is arranged to present the hitting technique, generate suggestions for improving the hitting technique and allow further analysis of the hitting technique.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A sensor system for identifying an impact point of a ball exhibiting a ball diameter, on at least one side of a ball hitting means, the sensor system comprising:
-
at least one transmitter arranged to transmit an optical signal at a transmission timing; at least one detector arranged to detect a reflection of the optical signal from the ball, the reflection exhibiting a detection timing and detection intensity; and a control unit arranged to control the at least one transmitter;
to control the at least one detector;
to determine the transmission timing; and
to analyze the reflection,wherein the ball hitting means exhibits a hitting area comprising an edge, and a hitting volume defined by the hitting area, the ball diameter and the at least one side, wherein the at least one transmitter is attached to at least one transmitting point on the edge;
the at least one transmitter is arranged to transmit an optical signal to substantially the entire hitting volume;
the at least one detector is attached to at least one detection point on the edge; and
the at least one detector is arranged to detect the reflection of the ball hitting the ball hitting area at a part of substantially the entire hitting volume, andwherein the control unit is arranged to identify the impact point of the ball by analyzing the reflection timing in relation to the transmission timing and the at least one detection point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system for improving a hitting technique of hitting a ball with a ball hitting means comprising:
-
an optical array attached to the ball hitting means and comprising at least one light emitter and at least one light detector arranged to repeatedly determine a plurality of consequent impact points of the ball on the ball hitting means by detecting at least one reflection of at least one emitted optical signal; a motion processing module attached to the ball hitting means and arranged to measure motion characteristics of the ball hitting means; a processing unit arranged to analyze and process the plurality of consequent impact points and the motion characteristics of the ball hitting means to characterized the hitting technique; and an interface unit arranged to present the hitting technique, generate suggestions for improving the hitting technique and allow further analysis of the hitting technique. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A system for managing training of a group of players in a ball game comprising:
-
a plurality of measurement apparatuses for generating hitting data relating to the players'"'"' performance in hitting a ball with a ball hitting means, each measurement apparatus comprising; at least one position sensor attached to the ball hitting means and arranged to repeatedly determine a plurality of consequent impact points of the ball on the ball hitting means; at least one motion processing module attached to the ball hitting means and arranged to measure motion characteristics of the ball hitting means; a data acquisition module arranged to analyze and process the plurality of consequent impact points and the motion characteristics of the ball hitting means and generate hitting data; and a communication module arranged to communicate the hitting data and the acquired data from the measurement apparatus via a first communication link, and a server comprising; a communication module connected via the first communication link to the communication modules of the plurality of measurement apparatuses;
arranged to receive the hitting data from the communication modules; and
connected to a second communication link;a control module arranged to receive and analyze the hitting data from the plurality of measurement apparatuses, and further arranged to generate reports relating to a hitting performance of each of the players and based on the analyzed data; and an interface module arranged to present the hitting performance of each of the players and allow defining practice programs and supervising their application in respect to the reports. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification