SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING BALL MOVEMENT

• US 20140256478A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Just Rule, LLC
• Original Assignee: Just Rule, LLC
• Inventors: Gale, Gregory W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,242,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/465
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/125 stitchings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• 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 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 Closures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/008 Goals for rugby or American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0013 Baseball bases

Abstract

A system for identifying ball movement and position is disclosed. The system includes a ball for use in a sport activity comprising a lace or thread on, or adjacent to, an outer surface of the ball, and a communication element such as a wire or antenna disposed within the lace or thread, the ball'"'"'s communication element being adapted to communicate via a signal received from, or sent to, one or more communication elements, such as a transmitter or receiver, disposed at or near a playing area. The playing area communication elements are adapted to communicate ball position based upon the signals sent and/or received. A processor is provided which is adapted to translate or process information received by the playing area communication elements into position, trajectory and/or movement of the ball. A method of identifying ball movement, trajectory and position and a ball for use with a ball movement and position identification system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A ball for use in a sport activity, the ball comprising:

a lace; and

a communication element disposed inside of the lace, wherein the communication element is adapted to communicate a signal.

2. The ball of claim 1 further including an outer surface, wherein a portion of the lace is disposed on the outer surface, and further wherein the communication element is disposed inside of the portion of the lace which is disposed on the outer surface.

3. The ball of claim 1 further including an outer surface, wherein a portion of the lace is disposed adjacent to the outer surface, and further wherein the communication element is disposed inside of the portion of the lace which is disposed adjacent to the outer surface.

4. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is a wire communication element.

5. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is an antenna.

6. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is an electrically conductive element.

7. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is inserted into the lace.

8. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is integrated into the lace.

9. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is woven into the lace.

10. The ball of claim 1 wherein the lace is comprised of a plurality of thread fibers and at least one of the thread fibers is the communication element.

11. The ball of claim 12 wherein the communication element is electrically conductive.

12. The ball of claim 1 wherein the lace is the communication element.

13. The ball of claim 1 wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a baseball, a football, a soccer ball, a cricket ball, and a volley ball.

14. The ball of claim 1 wherein the signal is an electrical signal.

15. The ball of claim 1 wherein the signal is a magnetic signal.

16. The ball of claim 1 wherein the ball includes a transmitter coupled to the communication element.

17. A system for identifying movement and position of balls on, in, within and/or around a sport playing area, the system comprising:

a ball for use in a sport activity, wherein the ball has an outer surface, a lace disposed adjacent to the outer surface, and a ball communication element at least partially disposed inside of the lace, wherein the ball communication element is adapted to communicate a signal; and

at least one playing area communication element positioned near the playing area, wherein the at least one playing area communication element is adapted to communicate with the ball communication element via the signal.

18. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one playing area communication element is a receiver adapted to receive the signal from the ball communication element.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the ball includes a radio-frequency identification tag coupled to the ball communication element.

20. A system for identifying movement and position of balls on, in, within and/or around a sport playing area, the system comprising:

a ball for use in a sport activity, wherein the ball has an outer surface, a lace disposed adjacent to the outer surface, and a ball communication element at least partially disposed inside of the lace, wherein the ball communication element is adapted to communicate a signal;

a playing area communication element positioned near the playing area, the playing area communication element adapted to communicate ball position based upon the signal received by the playing area communication element from the ball communication element; and

a processor adapted to process ball position information received by the playing area communication element into position and movement of the ball.