Sports simulation system
First Claim
1. A sports simulation system comprising:
- a projectile tracking apparatus comprising a display surface on which a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented, said projectile tracking apparatus capturing and processing images of a projectile tracking region disposed in front of said display surface to detect a launched sports projectile generally continuously from its launch position, throughout its travel through said projectile tracking region and to its contact position with said display surface; and
at least one processing stage receiving image data from said projectile tracking apparatus and determining the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration of the detected launched sports projectile traveling through said projectile tracking region, the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration being used by said at least one processing stage to calculate a trajectory of said launched sports projectile into said visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene, wherein said at least one processing stage uses said calculated trajectory to generate updated image data representing a simulation of the flight path of said launched sports projectile beginning substantially at the display surface contact position and traveling into said visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene following said calculated trajectory so that said simulation represents a realistic continuance of the travel of said sports projectile beyond the display surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sports simulation system includes a projectile tracking apparatus having a display surface on which a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented. The projectile tracking apparatus captures images of a projectile tracking region disposed in front of the display surface to detect a launched projectile traveling through the projectile tracking region towards the display surface. At least one processing stage communicates with the projectile tracking apparatus and is responsive to the image data to determine the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration of a detected projectile traveling through the projectile tracking region. The determined three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration are used by the at least one processing stage to calculate a trajectory of the launched projectile into the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene. Updated image data is generated by the at least one processing stage that includes a simulation of the launched projectile into the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene following the calculated trajectory. A display device coupled to the at least one processing stage receives the image data from the at least one processing stage and presents the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene, including the simulation, on the display surface.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A sports simulation system comprising:
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a projectile tracking apparatus comprising a display surface on which a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented, said projectile tracking apparatus capturing and processing images of a projectile tracking region disposed in front of said display surface to detect a launched sports projectile generally continuously from its launch position, throughout its travel through said projectile tracking region and to its contact position with said display surface; and at least one processing stage receiving image data from said projectile tracking apparatus and determining the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration of the detected launched sports projectile traveling through said projectile tracking region, the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration being used by said at least one processing stage to calculate a trajectory of said launched sports projectile into said visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene, wherein said at least one processing stage uses said calculated trajectory to generate updated image data representing a simulation of the flight path of said launched sports projectile beginning substantially at the display surface contact position and traveling into said visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene following said calculated trajectory so that said simulation represents a realistic continuance of the travel of said sports projectile beyond the display surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A sports simulation system comprising:
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a projectile tracking apparatus for tracking a launched sports projectile, said apparatus comprising;
a frame encompassing a display surface on which a video sequence portraying a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented;
at least one pair of digital cameras mounted on said frame and having fields of view looking across and in front of said display surface that overlap in a generally perpendicular fashion and encompassing a projectile tracking region extending generally between said display surface and a projectile launch area, each of said digital cameras including a first processor for processing image data and generating two-dimensional projectile coordinates generally continuously as the launched sports projectile travels generally from its launch point, through said projectile tracking region to its contact point with said display surface; and
an audio system to broadcast audio accompanying said video sequence;a host processor communicating with said digital cameras and said audio system, said host processor processing the two-dimensional projectile coordinates received from each first processor to determine the velocity and acceleration/deceleration of said projectile and using the determined projectile velocity and acceleration/deceleration to calculate a realistic three-dimensional trajectory of said sports projectile and outputting image data representing said calculated three-dimensional trajectory; and a display unit receiving said image data and presenting said video sequence on said display surface, said video sequence representing a simulation of the flight path of said sports projectile following said calculated trajectory beginning from the contact point of said sports projectile with said display surface so that said simulation represents a realistic continuance of the travel of said sports projectile beyond the display surface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A projectile tracking apparatus for a sports simulation system comprising:
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a frame encompassing a display surface on which a video sequence portraying a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented; at least one pair of digital cameras mounted on said frame and having fields of view looking across and in front of said display surface that overlap in a generally perpendicular fashion and encompassing a projectile tracking region extending between said display surface and a projectile launch area, each of said digital cameras including a processor for processing image data and generating two-dimensional projectile coordinates generally continuously a at least when a sports projectile is launched from said launch area, travels through said projectile tracking region to its contact point with the display surface; a host processor communicating with said digital cameras, said host processor processing the two-dimensional projectile coordinates received from the digital camera processors to determine the velocity and acceleration/deceleration of said sports projectile and using the determined projectile velocity and acceleration/deceleration to calculate a three-dimensional trajectory of said sports projectile and modifying the video sequence so that the video sequence shows the sports projectile traveling into the sports scene beginning from its contact point with the display surface following said calculated three-dimensional trajectory so that said video sequence represents a realistic continuance of the travel of said sports projectile beyond the display surface; and an audio system to broadcast audio accompanying said video sequence. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A golf simulator comprising:
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a display surface on which a golf scene is presented; imaging devices capturing images of a region in front of said display surface; and processing structure receiving image data from said imaging devices and processing said image data to detect a launched golf ball generally continuously from its launch position, throughout its travel through said region and to its contact position with said display surface, said processing structure further processing said image data to determine the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration of the detected launched golf ball traveling through said region, the three-dimensional positions, velocity and deceleration/acceleration being used by said processing structure to calculate a trajectory of said launched golf ball into said golf scene, wherein said processing structure uses said calculated trajectory to generate updated image data representing a simulation of the flight path of said launched golf ball beginning substantially at the display surface contact position and traveling into said golf scene following said calculated trajectory so that said simulation represents a realistic continuance of the travel of said golf ball beyond the display surface. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification