Player position detection system

• US 6,270,433 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toy Builders
• Original Assignee: Toy Builders
• Inventors: Orenstein, Henry, Maune, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/081,906
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/351, 473/353, 473/467, 473/570, 473/459, 473/469, 473/409, 342/52, 342/56, 342/125-126, 342/450, 342/457, 342/458, 342/463-465, 340/825, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 473/467
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/0428 Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/56 Timing the pulse-type envelope signals derived by reception of the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/05 Sport

Abstract

A system for locating players on a field includes first and second directional scanning antennas located adjacent the field. A transponder carried by the players detects the radiation from each antenna and transmits timing signals. The timing signals are received at a central station and compared to reference timing signals synchronized with the scanning of the antennas to provide an indication of the angular position of each player from the scanning antenna locations. The actual field position of the players can then be computed. The system can also locate the position of a playing object, such as a ball.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the position of an object in a field, comprising:

first and second directional antennas at different locations adjoining said field, each of said antennas having at least one antenna beam pattern having predetermined relation to an electromagnetic antenna boresight, said antennas being mounted for rotation to scan said antenna beams across said field;

transmitting and receiving apparatus for transmitting signals between said object and said first and second directional antennas;

timing circuits coupled to said receiving apparatus for generating timing signals corresponding to said first and second directional antenna boresight coinciding with said object position;

reference timing apparatus for providing time reference signals for said antenna beam scanning of said first and second antennas;

and computation circuits responsive to said timing signals and said time reference signals for computing position of said object.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said first antennas have and second antenna beam patterns comprise horizontally offset antenna beams having equal pattern amplitude at said electromagnetic antenna boresight.

3. Apparatus as specified in claim 2 wherein said timing circuits comprise comparison circuits for comparing signals from said first and second antenna beam patterns.

4. Apparatus as specified in claim 2 wherein said transmitting and receiving apparatus is for transmitting first and second on said first and second antenna beam patterns signals at different frequencies.

5. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said transmitting apparatus is coupled to said first and second directional antennas.

6. Apparatus as specified in claim 5 wherein said receiving apparatus and said timing circuits are on said object and wherein said timing signals are transmitted from said object to said computation circuits.

7. A system for locating objects on a field comprising:

first and second antennas, each radiating signals on multiple antenna beams at different frequencies and each arranged to scan said antenna beams over said playing field;

a receiver on each object to be located, said receiver for receiving said signals and for radiating timing signals in response thereto;

a reference timing apparatus for providing reference timing signals synchronized with scanning of said antenna beam;

and computation circuits responsive to said timing signals and said reference signals for computing position of said objects.

8. A method for locating an object on a field comprising:

radiating signals toward said field, said signals periodically sweeping across said field from first and second locations adjoining said field and providing at positions on said field periodic signals having intensities as a function of time that correspond to the angular direction from said locations to said position;

providing a receiver on each object to be located; and

analyzing signals received by said receivers to thereby determine said angular direction of said object from said locations to thereby locate said object.

9. A method as specified in claim 8 wherein said signals radiating step comprises radiating in first and second antenna patterns from each of said locations.

10. A method as specified in claim 9, wherein said radiating step comprises radiating first and second antenna having angularly offset antenna patterns.

11. A method a specified in claim 10 wherein said radiating step comprises radiating signals on said first and second antenna patterns comprise signals at different frequencies.

12. A method as specified in claim 11, wherein said step of analyzing signals comprises comparing the amplitude of said different frequency signals to derive a time value and comparing said time value to a reference time value synchronized with said periodic sweeping.

13. A method for locating an object on a field, comprising:

radiating signals from said object;

providing first and second directional antennas at locations adjacent said field for receiving signals radiated from said object;

periodically sweeping the radiation receiving beam of said antennas across said field;

deriving timing signals from said signals received from said object corresponding to the time when said radiation receiving beams intersect said object;

providing reference timing signals synchronized with said periodic antenna sweeping; and

computing the position of said object in response to said timing signals and said reference timing signals.

14. A method as specified in claim 13 wherein said antennas receive said signals on first and second directional beams.

15. A method as specified in claim 14 further comprising the step of comparing said signals received on said multiple beams to derive said timing signals.

16. A method as specified in claim 13 wherein there is provided a reference transmitter for transmitting reference signals, and wherein said directional antennas receive said reference signals to derive said reference timing signals.

17. A system for locating an object on a field comprising:

a transmitter for radiating signals from said object;

first and second directional antennas each arranged for horizontal rotation and each having a receiver for receiving said signals when the angular position of said antennas coincide with said object to derive timing signals;

a reference timing apparatus for providing reference timing signals synchronized with said antenna rotation; and

computation circuits responsive to said timing signals and said reference timing signals for computing the position of said object.

18. A system as specified in claim 17, wherein said first and second directional antennas provide at least two directional antenna beams, and wherein said receivers include a comparison circuit for comparing signals received on said antenna beams to derive said timing signals.

19. A system as specified in claim 17 wherein said reference timing apparatus comprises a reference signal transmitter.