System and method for determining ball movement

• US 9,242,150 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Just Rule, LLC
• Original Assignee: Just Rule, LLC
• Inventors: Gale, Gregory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US14/201,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20140256478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/125 stitchings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• 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 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/085 Closures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/008 Goals for rugby or American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0013 Baseball bases

Abstract

A system for identifying ball movement and position is disclosed. The system includes a ball for use in a sport activity comprising a lace or thread on, or adjacent to, an outer surface of the ball, and a communication element such as a wire or antenna disposed within the lace or thread, the ball'"'"'s communication element being adapted to communicate via a signal received from, or sent to, one or more communication elements, such as a transmitter or receiver, disposed at or near a playing area. The playing area communication elements are adapted to communicate ball position based upon the signals sent and/or received. A processor is provided which is adapted to translate or process information received by the playing area communication elements into position, trajectory and/or movement of the ball. A method of identifying ball movement, trajectory and position and a ball for use with a ball movement and position identification system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A laced ball for use in a sport activity, the ball comprising:

a lace comprising one or more threads, the lace woven into the ball outer surface; and

wherein the one or more threads are a communication element comprising a receiver, processor, transmitter and antenna, and wherein the communication element is adapted to communicate a signal.

2. The ball of claim 1 further including an outer surface, wherein a portion of the lace is disposed on the outer surface, and further wherein the communication element is disposed inside of the portion of the lace which is disposed on the outer surface.

3. The ball of claim 1 further including an outer surface, wherein a portion of the lace is disposed adjacent to the outer surface, and further wherein the communication element is disposed inside of the portion of the lace which is disposed adjacent to the outer surface.

4. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is a wire communication element.

5. The ball of claim 1 wherein the communication element is an electrically conductive element.

6. The ball of claim 1 wherein the lace is comprised of a plurality of thread fibers and at least one of the thread fibers is the communication element.

7. The ball of claim 1 wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a baseball, a football, a soccer ball, a cricket ball, and a volley ball.

8. The ball of claim 1 wherein the signal is an electrical signal.

9. The ball of claim 1 wherein the signal is a magnetic signal.

10. A system for identifying movement and position of balls on, in, within and/or around a sport playing area, the system comprising:

a laced ball for use in a sport activity, wherein the laced ball has an outer surface, a lace comprising one or more threads threads disposed adjacent to the outer surface and comprising a ball communication element which is a receiver, processor, transmitter, and antenna, which communication element is formed of the one or more threads, wherein the ball communication element is adapted to communicate a signal; and

at least one playing area communication element positioned near the playing area, wherein the at least one playing area communication element is adapted to communicate with the ball communication element via the signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one playing area communication element is a receiver adapted to receive the signal from the ball communication element.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the ball includes a radio-frequency identification tag coupled to the ball communication element.

13. A system for identifying movement and position of balls on, in, within and/or around a sport playing area, the system comprising:

a laced ball for use in a sport activity, wherein the ball has an outer surface, a lace disposed adjacent to the outer surface and comprising one or more threads forming a ball communication element comprising a receiver, processor, transmitter, and antenna, wherein the ball communication element is adapted to communicate a signal;

a playing area communication element positioned near the playing area, the playing area communication element adapted to communicate ball position based upon the signal received by the playing area communication element from the ball communication element; and

an additional processor in communication with the ball communication element and laying area communication element, the additional processor adapted to process ball position information received by the playing area communication element into position and movement of the ball.