TRACKING BALLS IN SPORTS

• US 20090048039A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catapult Group International Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Catapult Innovations Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: van de Griendt, Igor, Holthouse, Shaun
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/415
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• 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 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 : Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/00 : Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/70 : with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 : Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

A system for tracking balls in sports in which players kick, pass, bounce, strike or carry a ball. The ball is equipped with two beacons pulsing in the 5-10 Hz range at a frequency which is not attenuated by the body of the players. one beacon has a very short range of 40-120 cm and the other has a range of 1-5 metres. A data logger worn by the players includes a clock, location and speed sensors, a receiver for the beacon signals and a micro controller to record the data from all the sensors. The micro controller is able to record whether the player is in possession of the ball or is contesting the ball. The path of the ball from player to player is tracked relative to the playing field. An impact or pressure sensor may be fitted to the players footwear, glove or a bat stick, club or racquet to register a kick or ball strike

Claims

1. A system for tracking balls in a team sport in which players kick, pass, bounce or carry a ball which includes:

a) a ball equipped with a short range beacon emitting periodic signals or a passive or active radio frequency identification device;

b) a data logger worn by the players which includes a clock, a receiver for the signals from the beacon or radio frequency identification device and a micro controller to record the data from all the sensors;

wherein the micro controller is able to record whether the player is in possession of the ball or is contesting the ball.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which two pulsing beacons using two different frequencies are used, the first with a range of 40-120 cm and the second with a range of 1-5 metres so that receipt of signals from both beacons indicates possession of the ball and receipt of a signal from the second beacon indicates that the player is contesting possession of the ball.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the data logger worn by the player includes location sensors for tracking the movements of the players on the playing field.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the location sensors utilize GPS, accelerometers and/or wireless triangulation.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 which further includes a pressure or impact sensor located on the upper of a players footwear in combination with a transmitter that transmits a pulse when the ball is kicked.

6. A ball for use in the system of claim 1 which includes two pulsing beacons using two different frequencies are used, the first with a range of 40-120 cm and the second with a range of 1-5 metres.

7. A pressure or impact sensor in combination with a transmitter for use in the system as claimed in claim 5 adapted to be fitted on the upper of a players footwear.

8. A pressure or impact sensor in combination with a transmitter for use in the system as claimed in claim 5 adapted to be fitted to a players bat, stick or racquet.

9. A system for monitoring kicks in a team sport in which players kick a ball which includes:

c) a pressure or impact sensor in combination with a transmitter fitted on the upper of a players footwear;

d) a data logger worn by the players which includes a clock, a receiver for the signals from said transmitter and a micro controller to record the data from the pressure or impact sensor to record whether the player has kicked the ball.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 in which the data logger worn by the player includes location sensors for tracking the movements of the players on the playing field.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 in which the location sensors utilize GPS, accelerometers and/or wireless triangulation.

12. A system for monitoring ball strikes in a sport in which players strike a ball with a bat, stick, club or racquet which includes:

e) a pressure or impact sensor in combination with a transmitter fitted on the bat, stick, club or racquet or on the hand of the player;

f) a data logger worn by the players which includes a clock, a receiver for the signals from said transmitter and a micro controller to record the data from the pressure or impact sensor to record whether the player has struck the ball.