Vision system for viewing a sporting event

• US 6,031,545 A
• Filed: 01/15/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Geovector Corporation
• Original Assignee: Geovector Corporation
• Inventors: Ellenby, Peter, Ellenby, Thomas, Ellenby, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/007,558
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/435, 345/425, 345/427, 345/428, 345/113, 345/114
• US Class Current: 345/632
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/34 Sun- or astro-compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32014 Augmented reality assists operator in maintenance, repair, programming, assembly, use of head mounted display with 2-D 3-D display and voice feedback, voice and gesture command
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces

Abstract

The systems combine images of a real scene with computer generated imagery where the computer generated imagery is particular to the position and pointing attitude of the device. Being useful to spectators of the game baseball, the device can produce images showing where a strike zone is relative to the position of the players; can produce images of ball tracks; of replays and many other forms of information having characteristics dependent on a viewer'"'"'s position and attitude.

Claims

1. An electro-optic vision system comprising:

a camera for producing an electronic image of a scene being addressed;

a position and attitude determining means for determining the position and attitude of the vision system;

a data store responsive to outputs of position and attitude determining means, the data store having information stored therein;

a computer operable for combining the stored information with the electronic image to produce an augmented image;

and an electro-optic display operable for displaying the augmented image.

2. A vision system of claim 1, further comprising transducers in communication with the computer, the transducers being fixed about an event forum and directed to make measurements from objects within a field of interest whereby said measurements are converted into information which relates to the scene being addressed.

3. An apparatus of claim 2, said transducers being operable for measuring the dynamic position of an element from the group;

players;

baseball;

coaches;

referees;

umpires;

bat, in play.

4. A vision system of claim 1, said position determining means being further comprised of a plurality of transducers at fixed locations about the event forum operable for transmitting a signal which enables said computer to determine the position of the camera.

5. A vision system of claim 1, further comprising an electro-optic display operable for displaying the augmented image, said position determining means being further comprised of a second data store having prior knowledge of seating locations about an event stadium, and a means to enter a spectator seat number.

6. A vision system of claim 1, said data store further comprising recorded data which represents events from a previous time in a format that can be combined with images of a real scene being addressed by said camera.

7. A vision system of claim 1, said data store further comprising recorded data which represents symbols in a format that can be combined with the images of a real scene being addressed by the camera.

8. A vision system of claim 1, said electro-optic display further being operable for displaying the augmented image, said data store further comprising recorded data which represents statistical information in a format that can be combined with the images of a real scene being addressed by the camera.

9. A vision system of claim 1, said data store further comprising recorded data which represents action traces in a format that can be combined with the images of a real scene being addressed by the camera.

10. A vision system of claim 1, said data store further comprising recorded data which represents computer graphical interface devices in a format that can be combined with the images of a real scene being addressed by the camera.