Method, System and Apparatus for the Automatic Collection and Delivery of Spherical Game Elements

• US 20130210556A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foxtenn Bgreen, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Foxtenn Bgreen, S.L.
• Inventors: Vilar, Javier Simn, Minguez, Fernando Gonzlez
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/431
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2047/022 Autonomous machines which find their own way around the playing surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/021 for picking-up automatically, e.g. by apparatus moving over the playing surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/025 Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18

Abstract

An automatic collection method for collecting one or more spherical game elements that may be struck by a striking element is disclosed. In an implementation, the method comprises acquiring a sequence of images or data from an opto-electric detection system of at least one surveillance area of a gaming area, analyzing at least part of said images or data to detect the presence of at least one spherical game element in said surveillance area, wherein the analysis includes a detection of one or both of a deceleration of the at least one spherical game element or the trajectory of the at least one said spherical game element, including an initial trajectory thereof following a strike to the at least one spherical element by the striking device, wherein the detection determines whether the at least one spherical element is going to remain inside the gaming area or is going to travel outside the gaming area, upon detecting that the at least one spherical element will travel outside the gaming area, moving a collection apparatus for the at least one spherical game element to the location of said at least one spherical game element, and collecting the at least one detected spherical game element.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An automatic collection method for collecting one or more spherical game elements that may be struck by a striking element, the method comprising:

acquiring a sequence of images or data from an opto-electric detection system of at least one surveillance area of a gaming area;

analyzing at least part of said images or data to detect the presence of at least one spherical game element in said surveillance area, wherein the analysis includes a detection of one or both of a deceleration of the at least one spherical game element or the trajectory of the at least one said spherical game element, including an initial trajectory thereof following a strike to the at least one spherical element by the striking device, wherein the detection determines whether the at least one spherical element is going to remain inside the gaming area or is going to travel outside the gaming area;

upon detecting that the at least one spherical element will travel outside the gaming area, moving a collection apparatus for the at least one spherical game element to the location of said at least one spherical game element; and

collecting the at least one detected spherical game element.

17. An automatic collection method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

delivering one of the at least one spherical elements to a position within the gaming area via an apparatus selected from the group consisting of the collection apparatus or an auxiliary apparatus separate therefrom.

18. An automatic collection method according to claim 17, wherein the delivering step is triggered upon a manual request such as vocal request, gestural request, wireless request, a signaling device request or a combination thereof.

19. An automatic collection method according to claim 16, wherein the collection apparatus may be situated in one, some or all of the following positions:

(i) at the gaming area, (ii) close to the gaming area, or (3) after the spherical element delivery, the collection apparatus moves to the gaming area utilizing statistical calculations of a game or of a series of games previously played by one or more players and establish that a greater number of spherical game elements will impact or fall.

20. An automatic collection method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the method incorporates at least two collection apparatuses, the method comprising:

operating the at least two collection apparatuses in one or both of a complementary and synchronized way;

performing the collection or delivery of the at least one spherical elements using the at least two collection apparatuses;

moving the at least two collection apparatuses in one or both of a coordinated and synchronous way;

optimizing the delivery time of a spherical element following its collection to a player; and

moving a first one of said apparatuses towards a collection zone while substantially contemporaneously moving a second one of said apparatuses to perform a collection or delivery of on of the at least one spherical elements, wherein the collection of a spherical element is calculated using the trajectory of the spherical element or statistically.

21. An automatic collection method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of analyzing includes the following steps:

detecting objects in said surveillance area to determine location and velocity thereof;

the collection apparatus avoiding the detected objects and maintain a safe distance therefrom but arriving to the location of a spherical game element having a foreseen area of impact.

22. An automatic collection method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the detecting step further comprises:

detecting the presence of a plurality of spherical game elements to be collected in said surveillance area; and

calculating an optimal itinerary, in time and distance, for collecting the plurality of spherical game elements by said at least two collection apparatuses.

23. An automatic collection method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the delivering step comprises:

launching one of the at least one spherical element to a pre-determined height and to a pre-determined location such that the one of the at least one spherical element bounces, wherein the pre-determined height and location may be based upon particular player characteristics such that the launch thereof may be adapted to people with disabilities or physical deficiencies.

24. A system for the automatic collection of one or more spherical game elements in a surveillance area having a gaming area, wherein the one or more game elements may be a ball such as a tennis ball, the system comprising:

an opto-electric detection and acquisition system adapted to acquire image sequences or detect data about the surveillance area;

a first movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatus;

a second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatus in communication with the first movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatus; and

control means for analyzing and processing said image sequences or data to identify the presence of at least one spherical game element in said surveillance area and for sending control commands to one or both of the first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses so that the apparatuses operate in one or both of a complimentary and synchronous manner to collect the one or more spherical game elements,

wherein each of said first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses include a spherical game element delivery device operable upon a player request.

25. A system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses are comprise at least one image acquisition device selected from the group consisting of a CCD camera and a video camera, and wherein the first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses are arranged to cover different areas of the gaming area in a complimentary manner.

26. A system as set forth in claim 25, further comprising:

a fixed camera directed at the gaming area communicating visual information collected thereby to the control means, wherein the first and second movable automatic spherical game element collection apparatuses include at least one mobile camera and communicate visual information therefrom to the control means, and wherein one of the at least one mobile camera is rotatable and programmed to acquire player movements.

27. A system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the control means includes a first electronic system separate from the spherical game element collection apparatuses and a second electronic system carried by one of said apparatuses, and wherein the first electronic system and the second electronic system are communicably interrelated via wireless communication.

28. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein at least one of said electronic systems includes a memory where historical data concerning the operation of the system as a whole are registered, including images and statistical information.

29. A movable apparatus for the automatic collection of spherical game elements comprising:

an autonomous power supply means such as a rechargeable type battery;

image acquisition means for acquiring image sequences of at least one area of surveillance;

control means connected to the image acquisition means for receiving the acquired sequences of images, for processing at least part of the sequences of images to detect the presence and position of at least one spherical game element in the surveillance area, for sending a control command to move the apparatus to the position of said detected spherical game element, which is at and for instructing the apparatus to collect the detected spherical game element; and

interaction means for interacting with a player to perform a controlled delivery of a collected spherical element to a player, or to locate a spherical element in response to a command given by said player.

30. A moveable apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the interaction means recognition system for recognizing and interpreting commands selected from the group consisting of:

speech, gestures, luminous signals, wave signals or a combination thereof, and wherein the apparatus further comprises;

an audio system to selectively emit sounds, phrases, and or music based on the operating status of the apparatus.