Ball and entertainment system

• US 9,227,112 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sachiko Muromura
• Original Assignee: Sachiko Muromura
• Inventors: Izuta, Osamu, Koike, Hideki, Kodama, Sachiko
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/488,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20150133024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Abstract

Implementation including an outputter (11) following a control to output a signal, a microphone (10) for acquisition of sound from inside a ball (1a), a determiner (121) working in accordance with a level of sound acquired through the microphone (10) to determine a state of the ball (1a), and a control processor (122) working in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner (121) to generate a signal to output through the outputter (11).

Claims

1. A ball including an outputter for producing at least one of a visual or sound output, the ball, comprising:

a light reflection sensor internal of the ball, configured to detect a level of reflection of light that is emitted from a light emitter in the ball and reflected from around the ball;

a determiner configured to work in accordance with the level of reflection of light through the light reflection sensor, to determine a state of the ball;

a control processor configured to work in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner, to generate a signal to output through the outputter to produce at least one of a visual or sound display;

a battery configured to use for operation of the light reflection sensor, the determiner, and the control processor and

a layer configured to be made transparent or translucent and cover the light reflection sensor, the determiner, the control processor, and a battery to serve as a ball.

2. The ball according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a microphone configured for acquisition of sound from inside the ball, an acceleration sensor configured to detect a level of acceleration developed with a motion of the ball, or a gyro sensor configured for acquisition of a level of angular speed developed with a motion of the ball, wherein

the determiner is configured to work further in accordance with at least one of the sound, the level of acceleration or the level of angular speed, to determine a state of the ball.

3. The ball according to claim 1, wherein

the outputter comprises a set of light emitting elements disposed internally of the ball and configured for emission of light, or a speaker configured to output sounds, and

the control processor is configured to work in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner, to cause a change in at least one of color, luminance, and blinking rate of light emitted from the set of light emitting elements, or to work in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner, to determine a pattern and a sound volume of sounds to be output from the speaker, and cause to output sounds as determined.

4. The ball of claim 1, further including a light emitter disposed internally in the ball.

5. An entertainment system including a ball, an output device for producing at least one of a visual or sound output in accordance with a state of the ball, and a control device adapted for control of signal output at the output device, wherein

the ball comprises:

a light reflection sensor internal of the ball, configured to detect a level of reflection of light that is emitted from a light emitter in the ball and reflected from around the ball;

a first communicator configured to transmit the level of reflection of light detected at the light reflection sensor to the control device;

a second communicator configured to receive the level of reflection of light, and work in accordance with the level of reflection of light, to transmit to the output device a control signal to control the signal output;

a determiner configured to work in accordance with the level of reflection of light received at the second communicator, to determine a state of the ball;

a generator configured to work in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner, to generate a signal outputted to the second communicator for control of the output device to produce at least one of a visual or sound display;

a battery configured to use for operation of the light reflection sensor, the first communicator, the second communicator, the determiner, and the generator; and

a layer configured to be made transparent or translucent and cover the light reflection sensor, the first communicator, the second communicator, the determiner, the generator, and the battery to serve as a ball.

6. The entertainment system according to claim 5, wherein

the ball further comprises at least one of a microphone configured for acquisition of sound from inside the ball, an acceleration sensor configured to detect a level of acceleration developed with a motion of the ball or a gyro sensor configured to detect a level of angular speed developed with a motion of the ball,

the first communicator of the ball is configured to transmit at least one of the sound, the level of acceleration or the level of angular speed to the control device in addition to the level of reflection,

the second communicator of the control device is configured to receive at least one of the sound, the level of acceleration or the level of angular speed from the ball in addition to the level of reflection, and

the determiner of the control device is configured to work further in accordance with at least one of the sound, the level of acceleration or the level of angular speed to determine the state of the ball.

7. The entertainment system according to claim 5, wherein

the output device is external of the ball and comprises a set of light emitting elements configured for emission of light or a speaker configured to output sounds, and

the generator of the control device is configured to generate a signal to cause a change in at least one of color, luminance, and blinking rate of light emitted from the set of light emitting elements based on the determination result of the determiner, or to generate a signal containing a pattern and a sound volume of sounds to be output from the speaker based on the determination result of the determiner.

8. The entertainment system according to claim 5, wherein

the output device includes both a first output device installed on the ball and a second output device installed external of the ball.

9. The entertainment system according to claim 5, further comprising an infrared detector external of the ball and configured to detect infrared light to transmit a result of detection to the control device, wherein

the ball further comprises an infrared element set configured to output infrared light for detection by said infrared detector, and

the generator of the control device is configured to use a result of detection of infrared light received from the infrared detector to generate a control signal indicating the position of the ball.

10. The entertainment system according to claim 5, wherein the output device is a projection device disposed externally of the ball and configured to project image or light.

11. An entertainment system including a ball, a projection device adapted to output a signal in accordance with a state of the ball, and a control device adapted for control of signal output at the projection device, wherein

the ball comprises:

a sensor configured for acquisition of information regarding a state of the ball, the sensor including at least one of a light reflection sensor, a microphone, an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor;

a first communicator configured to transmit the information acquired by the sensor to the control device;

a battery configured to use for operation of the sensor and the first communicator; and

a layer configured to cover the sensor, the first communicator, and the battery to serve as a ball;

wherein

the projection device is installed externally of the ball and comprises an imaging and lighting device configured to project image or light in response to a determined sate of the ball; and

wherein

the control device comprises;

a second communicator configured to receive the information acquired by the sensor and transmitted from the ball, and work in accordance with the received information to transmit to the projection device a control signal to control the projected image or light;

a determiner configured to work in accordance with the information acquired by the sensor and received at the second communicator, to determine a state of the ball; and

a generator configured to work in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner, to generate a control signal for control of the projection device, and to output the control signal to the second communicator.

12. The entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein when the sensor includes a light reflection sensor, the ball includes a light emitter disposed internally of the ball and the light reflection sensor is configured for acquisition of a level of reflection of light that is emitted from the light emitter in the ball and reflected from around the ball, wherein when the sensor includes a microphone, the microphone is configured for acquisition of sound from inside the ball, wherein when the sensor includes an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor is configured for acquisition of a level of acceleration developed with a motion of the ball and wherein when the sensor includes a gyro sensor, the gyro sensor is configured for acquisition of a level of angular speed developed with a motion of the ball.

13. The entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein the imaging and lighting device projects an image or emits light on the prescribed area where the ball is used.

14. The entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein

the projection device further comprises at least one of a set of light emitting elements configured for emission of light, or a speaker configured to output sounds installed external of the ball and

the generator of the control device is configured to generate a signal to cause a change in at least one of color, luminance, and blinking rate of light emitted from the set of light emitting elements based on the determination result of the determiner, or to generate a control signal to operate the speaker based on the determination result of the determiner.

15. The entertainment system according to claim 11, further comprising an infrared detector external of the ball and configured to detect infrared light to transmit a result of detection to the control device, wherein

the ball further comprises an infrared element set configured to output infrared light for detection by said infrared detector, and

the generator of the control device is configured to use a result of detection of infrared light received from the infrared detector to generate a control signal indicating the position of the ball.

16. An entertainment system including a ball, an output device for producing at least one of visual or sound output in accordance with a state of the ball, and a control device adapted for control of signal output at the output device, wherein

the ball comprises:

a light reflection sensor internal of the ball configured to detect a level of reflection of light that is emitted from a light emitter in the ball and reflected from around the ball;

a first communicator including a communication interface configured for wireless transmission to transmit a signal representing the level of reflection of light detected at the light reflection sensor to the control device;

a battery configured to use for operation of the light reflection sensor and the first communicator and

a layer configured to be made transparent or translucent and cover the light reflection sensor, the first communicator, and the battery to serve as a ball;

the control device comprises;

a second communicator including a communication interface configured for wireless communication to receive the signal representing the level of reflection of light, and work in accordance with the level of light reflection of light, to wirelessly transmit to the output device a control signal to control the signal output at the output device;

a determiner configured to work in accordance with the signal representing the level of reflection of light received at the second communicator to determine a state of the ball; and

a generator configured to work in accordance with a result of determination at the determiner, to generate a signal outputted to the second communicator for control of the output device to produce at least one of a visual or sound display.