SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING A BASKETBALL PLAYER'S SHOOTING INCLUDING A DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

• US 20130005512A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shoot-A-Way Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shoot-A-Way Incorporated
• Inventors: Joseph, John G., Geiser, Troy David, Abnett, Albert Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,017,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/431
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/02 for picking-up or collecting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/522 : using transmissions of interrupted pulse modulated waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/66 : Radar-tracking systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 : Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A system and method for improving a player'"'"'s efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player'"'"'s performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the a launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assisting basketball practice, comprising:

a) a launcher for launching a basketball into a flight path;

b) a measuring system which

i) measures speed of said basketball after either a player shoots said basketball or said launcher launches said basketball;

ii) ascertains elapsed time of said flight path; and

iii) using a formula which incorporates the speed and the elapsed time, computes a distance from which said player shot said basketball.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said measuring system measures said speed based on Doppler shift of reflected radiation which is reflected from said launched basketball.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said measuring system

i) ascertains a time T1 when said flight path begins;

ii) uses a radar gun to ascertain speed of said basketball;

iii) ascertains a time T2 when said measured speed of said basketball falls below a limit; and

iv) computes the elapsed time based on T1 and T2.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said speed is measured when said basketball exits said launcher.

5. An apparatus for assisting basketball practice, comprising:

a) a launcher for launching a basketball along a flight path; and

b) a radar gun which detects speed of said basketball when launched, and continues to measure speed along said flight path.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, and further comprising:

c) a system which computes elapsed time of said flight path.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, and further comprising:

d) a system which computes a distance based on the elapsed time and the detected speed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, and further comprising:

e) a basketball goal which includes a backboard, a rim attached to said backboard, and a net attached to said rim;

f) a system for detecting whether a player scores a goal; and

g) a data system which records

i) conditions of said flight path and

ii) whether said basketball on said flight path scored a goal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, in which said apparatus launches a succession of basketballs along a succession of flight paths, and said data system records

i) conditions of each flight path;

and

ii) whether said basketball launched on each flight path was subsequently shot by said player successfully through said rim.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, in which said data system records in a data file (1) conditions for each of multiple flight paths presented to said player and (2) whether said player scored a goal with each basketball of each respective flight path.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, in which said data system makes said data file available to remote parties.

12. An apparatus for assisting in basketball practice of a player, comprising:

a) a launcher which launches a basketball pass at a time T1;

b) a detector which measures speed S of said basketball upon launch; and

c) a control which

i) knows time T1,

ii) identifies a time T2, when said speed S measured by said detector falls below a first threshold,

iii) detects a time T3, occurring after time T2, when speed measured by said detector rises above a second threshold,

iv) learns that said basketball scored a goal at time T4 after a shot by said player,

v) computes at least one of the following;

a pass flight time PFT, based on the equation PFT=T2−

T1,

a distance D based on the equation D=PFT×

S,

a hold time H based on the equation H=T3−

T2,

a shot flight time SFT based on the equation SFT=T4−

T3, or

an arc of a shot.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detector is coupled to said launcher and moved in response to movement of said launcher.

14. A system, comprising:

a) a launcher for launching a basketball into a trajectory selected from a collection of possible trajectories;

b) a detection system which

i) detects when a player catches said basketball and terminates said trajectory;

ii) computes a flight distance of said trajectory;

iii) detects whether a shot of said basketball made by said player scores a goal; and

iv) records said flight distance or location from which said basketball was shot, computed and whether said goal was scored.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said detection system records said location at which said player shot said basketball and a percentage of shots made.

16. A system for practicing or improving shooting basketballs, comprising:

at least one launcher, which is programmable to make a series of passes to a player;

a measurement system which;

i) generates data associated with a player'"'"'s shooting, said data including at least one of the following measurements or calculations;

a distance from a basketball hoop from which said player shot a basketball, a release time, a release arc of said basketball when said player shoots it or an entry arc of said basketball entering said basketball hoop;

ii) determines or records a total number of shots said player took and whether said player made the shots; and

iii) stores the shots made by said player at each location.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said data includes said distance and said measurement system further comprises:

a measuring device that measures a distance from said basketball hoop that said player took a shot, with said distance being stored on said at least one launcher.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said measurement system is adapted to measure distance data for a plurality of distances extending along a plurality of vectors that project from said at least one launcher.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of vectors extend over a plurality of shooting locations that generally correspond to a plurality of selected shooting locations that were selected by a user.

20. The system as recited in claim 19 where said plurality of selected shooting locations generally correspond to a plurality of buttons, respectively, arranged in an arc on a user interface associated with said at least one launcher.

21. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said measuring device is a Doppler system having a plurality of amplifiers for amplifying a signal relating to movement of said basketball as it travels away from said at least one launcher.

22. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said system further comprises:

a tracking system for tracking said player'"'"'s shots and for generating reports showing said player'"'"'s shooting success at each distance from which a shot was taken by said player.

23. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein said tracking system is located on a server associated with a website so that it is accessible by an interested user, such as at least one of a coach, said player or other interested users.

24. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein said tracking system is adapted to receive data associated with a plurality of players who shot basketballs using said at least one launcher, wherein said data was initially captured by said at least one launcher and uploaded to said tracking system.

25. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein said system comprises a plurality of launchers, said tracking system further comprising:

said tracking system being adapted to receive data associated with a plurality of players who shot basketballs using said plurality of launchers, wherein said data was initially captured by said plurality of launchers and uploaded to said tracking system;

said tracking system comprising a chart/report generator for generating charts or reports showing said data.

26. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein said plurality of launchers are located at different locations.

27. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein said plurality of launchers are used at the same time.

28. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein said plurality of launchers are used at different times.

29. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein said chart/report generator generates charts or reports that includes at least one of a comparison of shooting statistics or data from at least one of said plurality of players.

30. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said charts or reports further comprise a ranking and a listing of at least one of said measurements or calculations.

31. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said charts or reports comprises a shooting measurement or calculation for a plurality of distances which are shown or listed on said charts or reports.

32. The system as recited in claim 31 wherein said shooting measurement or calculation is a number of makes or percentage calculation based upon or using the number of made shots.

33. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said charts or reports further comprise a comparative ranking and a listing of at least one of said measurements or calculations for a plurality of players.

34. The system as recited in claim 33 wherein said plurality of players are from the same team and use the same launcher.

35. The system as recited in claim 33 wherein said plurality of players are from different teams and use the same launcher.

36. The system as recited in claim 33 wherein said plurality of players are from a plurality of different teams, said plurality of different teams using a plurality of launchers, respectively, that are located at a plurality of different locations.

37. The systems as recited in claim 36 wherein said plurality of different locations are located in different countries.

38. The systems as recited in claim 36 wherein said plurality of different locations are located in different states or counties within the United States.

39. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein said tracking system further comprises:

a tracking website having an associated server for storing shooting data and statistics for said player;

a plurality of graphical user interfaces that are presented to a user after logging onto said tracking website, said tracking website being adapted to track and store data and statistics regarding a plurality of players'"'"' shooting performance over a predetermined period of time.

40. The system as recited in claim 39 wherein said predetermined period of time is a lifetime of each of said plurality of players.

41. The system as recited in claim 39 wherein said tracking system and graphical user interfaces are further adapted to permit said user to create and store a roster or team of players and assign them to said at least one launcher.

42. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said at least one launcher is adapted to receive said roster or team of players to enable said at least one launcher to capture and store shooting statistics and data for each player.

43. The system as recited in claim 42 wherein said tracking system is further adapted to permit said shooting data and statistics to be uploaded from said at least one launcher to said tracking website.

44. The system as recited in claim 39 wherein said tracking website comprises a chart/report generator for generating charts or reports showing said shooting statistics and data.

45. The system as recited in claim 44 wherein said chart/report generator generates charts or reports that includes at least one of a comparison of shooting statistics or data from a plurality of players that use said at least one launcher.

46. The system as recited in claim 45 wherein said charts or reports further comprise a ranking and a listing of at least one of said measurements or calculations.

47. The system as recited in claim 44 wherein at least one of said reports comprises a mapping report or scatter diagram showing a shooting accuracy for a plurality of distances along a vector extending from said at least one launcher.

48. The system as recited in claim 44 wherein said chart/report generator generates charts or reports that includes at least one of a comparison of shooting statistics or data from a plurality of players that use different launchers.

49. An apparatus which enables a player to practice basketball, comprising:

a) a display or interface which

i) indicates several different types of available basketball passes;

ii) accepts input from a user which selects a sequence of said basketball passes;

b) a basketball launcher which launches said sequence of said available basketball passes for said player to catch;

c) a detector which estimates, for some or all of said available basketball passes, a distance between (i) point of catching each pass by said player and (ii) a reference location;

d) a transmitter or system for transmitting or uploading data indicating said sequence of said available basketball passes to a remote location, which enables a second launcher to launch said sequence of said basketball passes.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, in which said reference location of paragraph (c) is a basketball goal.

51. The apparatus according to claim 49, in which said detector estimates said distance by measuring velocity V and flight time T of the basketball, and multiplying velocity V times flight time T.

52. The apparatus according to claim 49, in which said detector estimates said distance by measuring (i) horizontal velocity component Vh of a basketball shot by said player and (ii) time of flight T of said basketball, and then multiplying velocity V times flight time T.

53. An apparatus which enables a player to practice basketball, comprising:

a) a launcher which launches a basketball for said player to catch; and

b) a detector which makes an estimate at least one of;

i) distance of said player from said launcher;

ii) a release time;

iii) an arc of a shot;

iv) height of a shot made by said player after catching said basketball;

v) release angle by said player;

or

vi) entry angle of said basketball into a goal.

54. The apparatus according to claim 53, in which said detector uses only (i) detected speeds of said basketball, (ii) time of flight of said shot and (iii) time of flight of a launched basketball pass, to compute the distance, height, release angle, and entry angle of paragraph (b).

55. The apparatus according to claim 53, in which a detected speed includes (i) speed of said basketball when leaving said launcher.

56. The apparatus according to claim 53, in which a time of flight of said basketball is that between (i) time of launch of said basketball and (ii) time at which detected speed of said basketball reaches a lower limit.

57. The apparatus according to claim 56, in which said lower limit is zero.

58. The apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said detector makes an estimate or measurement of a plurality of:

i) said distance of said player from said launcher;

ii) said release time;

iii) said arc of said shot;

iv) said height of a shot made by said player after catching said basketball;

v) said release angle by said player;

or

vi) said entry angle of said basketball into said goal.

59. A system for players to practice basketball, comprising:

a) a first launching system which includes

i) a first launcher which launches a predetermined sequence of basketball passes for a first player to catch;

ii) a first detector which, for each pass, produces performance data which includes at least one of;

A) distance of said first player from said first launcher;

B) height of a shot made by said first player after catching a basketball;

C) release angle, release time, or arc of a shot by said first player; and

D) entry angle of said basketball into a goal;

E) hold or release time;

or

F) shot arc;

iii) a first communication system which posts on a web site (1) a description of said predetermined sequence of basketball passes (2) selected of said performance data of said first player;

b) a second launching system, located remote from said first launching system, which obtains a description of said predetermined sequence of basketball passes, either from said first launching system or said web site; and

includes

i) a second launcher which launches said predetermined sequence of basketball passes for a second player to catch;

ii) a second detector which, for each pass, produces performance data which includes at least one of;

A) distance of said second player from said second launcher;

B) height of a shot made by said second player after catching said basketball;

C) release angle, release time or arc of a shot by said second player; and

D) entry angle of said basketball into a goal;

E) hold or release time;

or

F) shot arc;

iii) a second communication system which posts on said web site selected of said performance data for each pass to said second player.

60. The system according to claim 59, in which said first communication system posts, on said web site, a plurality of:

A) distance of said first player from said first launcher;

B) height of a shot made by said first player after catching said basketball;

C) release angle, release time or arc of a shot by said first player; and

D) entry angle of said basketball into a goal for every pass to said first player.

61. The system according to claim 59, in which said second communication system posts, on said web site, a plurality of:

A) distance of said second player from said second launcher;

B) height of a shot made by said second player after catching said basketball;

C) release angle, release time or arc of a shot by said second player;

D) entry angle of said basketball into a goal for every pass to said second player;

E) hold or release time;

or

F) shot arc;

62. The system according to claim 59, in which the performance data for said first and second players are presented at said web site in a manner which allows comparison between said first and second players.

63. The system according to claim 59, wherein said system creates reports from criteria selected by a user.

64. The system according to claim 63, wherein said reports comprise relative compromises and rankings for a plurality of either players or teams.

65. The system according to claim 64, wherein said reports are for players on different teams.

66. A basketball tracking system comprising:

a launcher for launching a basketball to a plurality of locations on a basketball floor;

a distance sensor for measuring a distance from which said basketball is shot from at least one of said plurality of locations;

at least one sensor for sensing at least one of whether a shot was made or missed;

a database for storing statistics at each distance for each shot taken.

67. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 66 wherein said system further comprises:

an interface for use in causing said launcher to throw said basketballs along a plurality of different vectors.

68. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 66 wherein said distance sensor senses where a player caught said basketball and determines at least one of a location or distance from a rim where said player released said basketball toward said rim.

69. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 68 wherein said distance sensor is adapted to determine a release angle or arc at which said player shot said basketball.

70. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 66 wherein said database receives said distance measurements and said statistics at each distance, said statistics comprising statistics of made shots at said distance.

71. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 67 wherein said plurality of different vectors is sixteen or less.

72. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 67 wherein said interface comprises said plurality of different vectors laid out on said interface for selection by a user.

73. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 66 wherein said distance sensor comprises a Doppler or radar measurement system.

74. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 66 wherein said tracking system further comprises a plurality of graphical user interfaces for enabling a user to view said distance measurements and said statistics in said database.

75. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 74 wherein said plurality of graphical user interfaces enables said user to at least one of edit, view, print, copy and create reports using said distance measurements and said statistics stored in said database.

76. The basketball tracking system as recited in claim 74 wherein said system further comprises a report generator for generating at least one report in response to a selection of a plurality of criteria selected by said user using at least one of said plurality of graphical user interfaces.