Projected score area calculator and method of use

• US 7,487,045 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Vieira
• Original Assignee: William Vieira
• Inventors: Vieira, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem; Michael P
• Application Number:
  US11/308,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 702 1- 4, 702/144, 702/181, 735/10
• US Class Current: 702/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/22 transferred to the indicator by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

A device and system for measuring variables relative to a moving object on or over a geographic area, collecting such motion data, collecting environmental data including environmental conditions in the geographic area, collecting field data including data relating to the geographic area, and using the motion data, the environmental data, and the field data to calculate a score factor which defines where on the geographic area the moving object could have been moved from to land in a desired location and transmitting that extracted data to and through a variety of media including a portable device with a display, a personal computer, a broadcasting network or other storage device or system and using that extracted data for entertainment and educational purposes.

Claims

1. A projected score area calculator comprising:

a sensing unit comprising a plurality of sensors in communication with a plurality of transmitters, wherein the plurality of sensors is disposed in a first moving object and the plurality of transmitters is disposed in a geographic area in which the first moving object is in motion, and further wherein the sensors and transmitters generate motion data relating to a movement of the first moving object, wherein the first moving object starts the movement at a point A and stops the movement at a point B;

an environmental detection unit comprising elements for collecting environmental data relating to the environmental conditions in the geographic area in which the first moving object is in motion; and

a calculating unit having preprogrammed therein field data which defines the geographic area, wherein the calculating unit integrates the motion data, the environmental data, and the field data to extract a score factor which defines where in the geographic area a second moving object, when subjected to the same motion data and environmental data as the first moving object, should be positioned in the geographic area such that the second moving object would land at a desired location in the geographic area, wherein the desired location is different from the point B.

2. The projected score area calculator of claim 1, wherein the environmental detection unit is disposed within the sensing unit.

3. The projected score area calculator of claim 2, wherein the environmental detection unit comprises at least one of a barometer, a hygrometer, and a gyroscope.

4. The projected score area calculator of claim 1, wherein the environmental detection unit is disposed within the calculating unit.

5. The projected score area calculator of claim 4, wherein the environmental detection unit comprises at least one of a barometer, a hygrometer, and a gyroscope.

6. The projected score area calculator of claim 1, wherein the first moving object and the second moving object comprises a football, the geographic area comprises a football field, the field data relates to a layout of the football field, and the desired location comprises an area between two field goal posts.

7. The projected score area calculator of claim 6, wherein transmitters from the plurality of transmitters are disposed along a perimeter of the football field and on the field goal posts.

8. A system for projecting a score area comprising:

a score area calculator comprising;

a sensing unit comprising a plurality of sensors in communication with a plurality of transmitters, wherein the plurality of sensors is disposed in a first moving object and the plurality of transmitters is disposed in a geographic area in which the first moving object is in motion, and further wherein the sensors and transmitters generate motion data relating to a movement of the first moving object, wherein the first moving object starts the movement at a point A and stops the movement at a point B;

an environmental detection unit comprising elements for collecting environmental data relating to the environmental conditions in the geographic area in which the first moving object is in motion; and

a calculating unit having preprogrammed therein field data which defines the geographic area, wherein the calculating unit integrates the motion data, the environmental data, and the field data to extract a score factor which defines where in the geographic area a second moving object, when subjected to the same motion data and environmental data as the first moving object, would land at a desired location in the geographic area, wherein the desired location is different from the point B; and

a transmitter for transmitting the score factor over media.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the media comprises at least one of a personal data assistant, a personal computer, a computer network, a handheld apparatus and a wireless connection device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first moving object and the second moving object comprises a football, the geographic area comprises a football field, the field data relates to a layout of the football field, and the desired location comprises an area between two field goal posts.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein transmitters from the plurality of transmitters are disposed along a perimeter of the football field and on the field goal posts.

12. The projected score area calculator of claim 8, wherein the environmental detection unit is disposed within the sensing unit.

13. The projected score area calculator of claim 8, wherein the environmental detection unit is disposed within the calculating unit.

14. A method for determining where in a geographic area a first moving object ought to be positioned so that the first moving object will land at a desired location within the geographic location, wherein the method comprises:

setting the first moving object in motion and then stopping the motion so that the first moving object stops at a point A within the geographic area;

collecting motion data relating to the movement of the first moving object when the first moving object is in motion;

collecting environmental data relating to the environmental conditions present in the geographic area in which the first moving object is in motion;

collecting field data relating to the geographic area; and

deriving a score factor based on the motion data, the environmental data, and the field data, wherein the score factor indicates where in the geographic area the first moving object, when subjected to the motion data, the environmental data, and the field data, ought to have been positioned when setting the first moving object in motion in the geographic location such that the first moving object would have landed in a desired location, wherein the desired location is different from the point A.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein collecting motion data is accomplished via communication between a plurality of sensors disposed within the moving object and a plurality of transmitters disposed on and/or within the geographic area.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein collecting environmental data comprises use of at least one of a barometer, a hygrometer, and a gyroscope.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

collecting the motion data is accomplished via communication between a plurality of sensors disposed within the moving object and a plurality of transmitters disposed on and/or within the geographic area; and

collecting the field data is accomplished by preprogramming data relating to the dimensions and layout of the geographical area into a calculating unit; and

deriving the score factor is accomplished by transmitting the motion data to the calculating unit such that the calculating unit calculates the score factor taking into consideration the motion data, the environmental data, and the field data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting the score factor to a display located on the calculating unit, a personal data assistant, a personal computer, a computer network, a handheld apparatus, or a wireless connection device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the geographic area comprises a football field, the field data comprises data relating to a layout of the football field, the first moving object comprises a football, and the desired location comprises an area between two field goal posts.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitters from the plurality of transmitters are disposed along a perimeter of the football field and on the field goal posts.