METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH SPEED LOCATION DETERMINATIONS

• US 20180073897A1
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Xue, Yao, Zhen, Liu, Haibin, Moyerman, Stephanie, Lathrop, Braxton, Hall, James, Parra, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 10,345,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2006 by influencing the self-induction of one or more coils G01D5/22 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for high speed location determinations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least two coils arranged along a zone of interest to generate a magnetic field, and a sensor to measure a change in the magnetic field associated with the at least two coils as an object of interest moves within or into the zone of interest. The example apparatus also includes a processor to determine a position of the object of interest based on the measured change.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least two coils arranged along a zone of interest to generate a magnetic field;

a sensor to measure a change in the magnetic field associated with the at least two coils as an object of interest moves within or into the zone of interest; and

a processor to determine a position of the object of interest based on the measured change of the magnetic field.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is to further determine at least one of a velocity, an acceleration, an orientation, a spin velocity, or a projectile path of the object of interest.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is to further determine whether a trailing edge of the object of interest has entered the zone of interest.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least two coils includes:

a first coil in a first plane; and

a second coil in a second plane in a different orientation from the first plane.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the first and second planes are orthogonal to one another.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first or second coils includes an arcuate curve.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least two coil includes:

a first coil; and

a second coil that mirrors a path of the first coil, the second coil offset from the first coil.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second coil is applied with current in a first phase, the first coil is applied with current in a second phase different from the first phase.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, further including a third coil that mirrors the path of the first and second coils, the third coil is applied with current in a third phase different from the first and second phases.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed in the object of interest.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the object of interest includes a passive coil to define a magnetic dipole field.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the object of interest includes a plurality of passive coils are oriented perpendicular to one another.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one coil includes multiple discrete coil loop circuits arranged along the zone of interest.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sensors arranged along a zone of interest, the sensors to measure a change of a magnetic field based on movement of an object of interest within or into the zone of interest; and

a processor to determine a position of the object of interest based on the changes measured by the plurality of sensors.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, further including a coil to generate the magnetic field.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, further including a voltmeter in electrical communication with a coil.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the processor is to further determine whether a trailing edge of the object of interest has entered the zone of interest.

18. A method comprising:

generating a magnetic field with at least two coils arranged along a perimeter of a zone of interest;

determining a change of the magnetic field associated with the at least two coils as an object of interest moves into or within the zone of interest; and

calculating, by executing instructions with at least one processor, a position of the object of interest based on the determined change of the magnetic field.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, further including determining at least one of a velocity, an acceleration, an orientation, a spin, or a projectile path of the object of interest.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, further including determining whether a trailing edge of the object of interest has entered the zone of interest.

21. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the calculating of the position is based on measuring multiple peaks measured in the magnetic field.

22. A method comprising:

generating a magnetic field via a coil arranged along a zone of interest

determining, via each sensor of a plurality of sensors, a change of the magnetic field as an object of interest moves into or within the zone of interest; and

calculating, using a processor, a position of the object of interest based on the determined change of the magnetic field by comparing data between the plurality of sensors.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, further including determining at least one of a velocity, an orientation, a spin velocity, or a projectile path of the object of interest.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, further including determining whether a trailing edge of the object of interest has entered the zone of interest.

25. A sporting goal comprising:

at least two coils arranged along a zone of interest to generate a magnetic field;

a sensor to measure a change in the magnetic field as a sport implement moves within or into the zone of interest; and

a processor to determine a position of the sport implement based on the measured change in the magnetic field.

26. The sporting goal as defined in claim 25, wherein the sport implement is a puck or a ball.

27. The sporting goal as defined in claim 25, wherein the at least one coil includes multiple discrete coil loops arranged along the zone of interest.

28. The sporting goal as defined in claim 25, wherein the at least two coils includes:

a first coil in an opening of the sporting goal; and

a second coil in a base of the sporting goal.

29. The sporting goal as defined in claim 25, wherein the at least two coils includes:

a first coil; and

a second coil mirroring a path of the first coil, the second coil offset from the first coil.

30. The sporting goal as defined in claim 29, wherein the first and second coils in an opening of the goal apparatus.

31. A sporting implement including:

at least one coil; and

a sensor circuitry to measure a change in a magnetic field as the sport implement moves within or into a zone of interest.

32. The sporting implement as defined in claim 31, wherein the first and second coils in an opening of the goal apparatus.

33. The sporting implement as defined in claim 31, wherein the at least one coil includes three coils arranged orthogonal to one another.

34. The sporting implement as defined in claim 31, wherein the sport implement is a puck or a ball.

35. The sporting implement as defined in claim 31, wherein the sensor circuitry is to determine whether an trailing edge of the sporting implement has entered the zone of interest.