Basketball goal sensor for detecting shots attempted and made

• US 6,389,368 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randal R. Hampton
• Original Assignee: Randal R. Hampton
• Inventors: Hampton, Randal R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US09/411,436
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 702/179-182, 702/186-188, 340/323.R, 473/433, 473/447, 473/479, 473/480, 700/91, 700/92, 348/157, 348/169
• US Class Current: 702/179
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0023 Measuring of sport goods, e.g. bowling accessories, golfclubs, game balls
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/00 Scenes; Scene-specific elements control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A basketball score-keeping apparatus (10) for detecting and tracking shooting statistics of a player shooting a basketball (12) at a basketball goal (14) that detects a first location at which the basketball (12) crosses a generally horizontal detection plane (26) as it ascends and a second location at which the basketball (12) crosses the detection plane (26) as it descends. The apparatus (10) also tracks the shooting statistics of the player. The apparatus (10) may also include a display (30). The apparatus (10) may be coupled to other similar apparatuses to allow competition between players. Vibration (38) and verification (40) sensors may be part of the apparatus (10) in order to provide additional features.

Claims

1. A basketball score-keeping apparatus for detecting and tracking shooting statistics of a player shooting a basketball at a basketball goal comprising:

a detection device for detecting a first location at which the basketball passes through a generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball is launched, for detecting a second location at which the basketball passes through the generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball descends, and for generating output signals representative thereof; and

a computing device coupled with and responsive to the detection device for analyzing the output signals and for generating data corresponding to the shooting statistics of the player,

wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing levels of ambient light at the generally horizontal detection plane.

2. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display coupled with the computing device for displaying the shooting statistics generated by the computing device.

3. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the detection device is a charge coupled device.

4. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured for mounting to a portion of the basketball goal.

5. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the portion of the basketball goal is a rim of the basketball goal.

6. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to analyze a time period over which the shooting statistics are kept.

7. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the computing device is configured to use the time period to process the shooting statistics.

8. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a coupling device for connecting the computing device with a second basketball score-keeping apparatus.

9. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the coupling device includes a coupling to a telecommunications network.

10. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a vibration sensor for detecting whether the basketball strikes a rigid portion of the basketball goal.

11. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the vibration sensor is an accelerometer.

12. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a verification sensor for detecting whether the basketball passes through a rim of the basketball goal.

13. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the verification sensor is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and a mechanical switch assembly.

14. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the shooting statistics are selected from the group consisting of shooting percentage, shots attempted, shots made, field goal percentage, length of time of shooting session, consecutive goals made, three point shots made and locations of shots attempted.

15. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing variations in the levels of ambient light.

16. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the computing device is configured for comparing the variations in the levels of ambient light to a signature of the basketball to determine if an object passing through the generally horizontal detection plane is the basketball.

17. A basketball score-keeping apparatus for detecting and tracking shooting statistics of a player shooting a basketball at a basketball goal comprising:

a machine vision device for detecting a first location at which the basketball passes through a generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball is launched, for detecting a second location at which the basketball passes through the generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball descends, and for generating output signals representative thereof;

a computing device coupled with and responsive to the machine vision device for analyzing the output signals and for generating data corresponding to the shooting statistics of the player; and

a display coupled with the computing device for displaying the shooting statistics generated by the computing device,

wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing levels of ambient light at the generally horizontal detection plane.

18. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the machine vision device is a charge coupled device.

19. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the machine vision device is configured for mounting to a portion of the basketball goal.

20. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the portion of the basketball goal is a rim of the basketball goal.

21. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the computing device is configured to analyze a time period over which the shooting statistics are kept.

22. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the computing device is configured to use the time period to process the shooting statistics.

23. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising a coupling device for connecting the computing device with a second basketball score-keeping apparatus.

24. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the coupling device includes a coupling to a telecommunications network.

25. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, further comprising a vibration sensor for detecting whether the basketball strikes a rigid portion of the basketball goal.

26. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the vibration sensor is an accelerometer.

27. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, further comprising a verification sensor for detecting whether the basketball passes through a rim of the basketball goal.

28. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein the verification sensor is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and a mechanical switch assembly.

29. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the shooting statistics are selected from the group consisting of shooting percentage, shots attempted, shots made, field goal percentage, length of time of shooting session, consecutive goals made, three point shots made and locations of shots attempted.

30. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing variations in the levels of ambient light.

31. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein the computing device is configured for comparing the variations in the levels of ambient light to a signature of the basketball to determine if an object passing through the generally horizontal detection plane is the basketball.

32. A basketball score-keeping apparatus for detecting and tracking shooting statistics of a player shooting a basketball at a basketball goal comprising:

a detection device for detecting a first location at which the basketball passes through a generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball is launched, for detecting a second location at which the basketball passes through the generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball descends, for detecting motion above the generally horizontal detection plane, and for generating output signals representative thereof; and

a computing device coupled with and responsive to the detection device for analyzing the output signals and for generating data corresponding to the shooting statistics of the player,

wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing levels of ambient light at the generally horizontal detection plane.

33. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, further comprising a display coupled with the computing device for displaying the shooting statistics generated by the computing device.

34. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the detection device is a charge coupled device.

35. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the detection device is configured for mounting to a portion of the basketball goal.

36. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the portion of the basketball goal is a rim of the basketball goal.

37. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the computing device is configured to analyze a time period over which the shooting statistics are kept.

38. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein the computing device is configured to use the time period to process the shooting statistics.

39. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 38, further comprising a coupling device for connecting the computing device with a second basketball score-keeping apparatus.

40. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 39, wherein the coupling device includes a coupling to a telecommunications network.

41. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, further comprising a vibration sensor for detecting whether the basketball strikes a rigid portion of the basketball goal.

42. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein the vibration sensor is an accelerometer.

43. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, further comprising a verification sensor for detecting whether the basketball passes through a rim of the basketball goal.

44. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein the verification sensor is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and a mechanical switch assembly.

45. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the shooting statistics are selected from the group consisting of shooting percentage, shots attempted, shots made, field goal percentage, length of time of shooting session, consecutive goals made, three point shots made and locations of shots attempted.

46. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing variations in the levels of ambient light.

47. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 46, wherein the computing device is configured for comparing the variations in the levels of ambient light to a signature of the basketball to determine if an object passing through the generally horizontal detection plane is the basketball.

48. A basketball score-keeping apparatus for detecting and tracking shooting statistics of a player shooting a basketball at a basketball goal comprising:

a detection device for detecting a first location at which the basketball passes through a generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball is launched, for detecting a second location at which the basketball passes through the generally horizontal detection plane as the basketball descends, for detecting motion above the generally horizontal detection plane, and for generating output signals representative thereof; and

a computing device coupled with and responsive to the detection device for analyzing the output signals and for generating data corresponding to the shooting statistics of the player,

wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing levels of ambient light in an area above the generally horizontal detection plane.

49. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein the computing device is configured for analyzing variations in the levels of ambient light.

50. A basketball score-keeping apparatus as recited in claim 49, wherein the computing device is configured for comparing the variations in the levels of ambient light to ranges of values to determine a type of motion that has occurred in the area above the generally horizontal detection plane.