Ball tracker camera

• US 9,498,678 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prosports Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Prosports Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Reasner, Nicholas, Cronin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLEMAN, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US14/798,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20160008662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 348/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/08 Sport
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30221 Sports video; Sports image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30224 Ball; Puck
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

Systems and methods for ball tracking are provided. An identification processor may be coupled to a ball and may generate wireless signals as the ball is moving. At least three triangulation antennas may be distributed at different locations within an event venue. Such triangulation antennas may receive the wireless signals from the identification processor in real-time. Such signals may be used to determine a real-time location of the ball within the event venue. A controller may then adjust a gimbal to point the camera at the determined real-time location of the ball.

Claims

1. A system for ball tracking, the system comprising:

an identification processor coupled to a ball, wherein the identification processor broadcasts wireless signals as the ball is moving;

at least three triangulation antennas distributed at different locations within an event venue, wherein each of the at least three triangulation antennas receive the wireless signals from the identification processor;

a camera controller that;

determines a real-time location of the ball within the event venue based on the wireless signals received by each of the at least three triangulation antennas at the different locations, and

adjusts a camera based on the determined real-time location of the ball, wherein the camera adjustment includes zooming in or zooming out to the determined real-time location of the ball.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic gimbal executed by the processor to adjust the camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera adjustment includes panning across the event venue.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera adjustment includes tilting the camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification processor includes a radio frequency identification tag that uniquely identifies the ball.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification processor includes an amplifier to amplify the wireless signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera controller determines a real-time location of the ball based on triangulation of the wireless signals received from the at least three triangulation antennas.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera controller further determines a path of the ball based on interpolation.

9. A method for ball tracking, the method comprising:

broadcasting wireless signals from a ball as the ball is moving, wherein the wireless signals are broadcast by an identification processor coupled to the ball;

receiving the wireless signals via at least three triangulation antennas distributed at different locations within an event venue;

determining a real-time location of the ball within the event venue based on the wireless signals received by each of the at least three triangulation antennas at the different locations; and

adjusting a camera based on the determined real-time location of the ball, wherein the camera adjustment includes zooming in or zooming out to the determined real-time location of the ball.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the camera comprises adjustment by an automatic gimbal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera adjustment includes panning across the event venue.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera adjustment includes tilting the camera.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the ball is uniquely identified by a radio frequency identification tag.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification processor includes an amplifier to amplify the wireless signals.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the real-time location of the ball is based on triangulation of the wireless signals received from the at least three triangulation antennas.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the real-time location of the ball further comprises determining a path of the ball based on interpolation.