Trajectory detection and feedback system

• US 9,345,929 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pillar Vision Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pillar Vision Incorporated
• Inventors: Marty, Alan W., Edwards, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/176,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• 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 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training

Abstract

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and/or one or more observers in the area. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and/or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to measure a motion of a basketball in free flight toward a basketball hoop during a basketball shot and to provide sensor data indicative of the measured motion;

a sound projection device; and

an electronic device configured to determine, based on the sensor data, an angle of a trajectory of the basketball when the basketball is proximate to the basketball hoop during the basketball shot, the electronic device further configured to automatically generate, based on the determined angle, feedback information associated with the motion of the basketball during the basketball shot and to automatically output the feedback information in an auditory format via the sound projection device in response to the basketball shot, wherein the feedback information is indicative of the angle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within the basketball.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a wireless interface disposed within the basketball for wirelessly transmitting the sensor data from the basketball.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a housing and a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to generate the feedback information based on the sensor data, and wherein the processor and the sound projection device are enclosed within the housing.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is configured to determine the angle based on an image of the basketball relative to an image of the basketball hoop within at least one image frame captured by the camera.

6. A system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to measure motions of at least one basketball in free flight toward a basketball hoop during a plurality of basketball shots by at least one user toward the basketball hoop during a basketball training session for the at least one user and to provide sensor data indicative of the measured motion, the plurality of basketball shots including a first basketball shot toward the basketball hoop and a second basketball shot toward the basketball hoop, wherein the first basketball shot and the second basketball shot are consecutive during the basketball training session for the at least one user;

a sound projection device; and

an electronic device configured to determine, based on the sensor data, an angle of a trajectory of the basketball when the basketball is proximate to the basketball hoop during the first basketball shot, the electronic device further configured to automatically generate feedback information associated with the motion of the basketball during the first basketball shot and automatically output the feedback information in an auditory format via the sound projection device between the first and second basketball shots in response to the first basketball shot, wherein the feedback information output in the auditory format via the sound projection device between the first and second basketball shots indicates the angle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a camera.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within the basketball.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system further comprises a wireless interface disposed within the basketball for wirelessly transmitting the sensor data from the basketball.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the electronic device has a housing and a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to generate the feedback information based on the sensor data, and wherein the processor and the sound projection device are enclosed within the housing.

23. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is configured to determine the angle based on an image of the basketball relative to an image of the basketball hoop within at least one image frame captured by the camera.

11. A system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to measure a motion of a basketball in free flight toward a basketball hoop during a basketball shot and to provide sensor data indicative of the measured motion;

a sound projection device; and

an electronic device configured to determine, based on the sensor data, an angle of a trajectory of the basketball when the basketball is proximate to the basketball hoop during the basketball shot, the electronic device further configured to generate feedback information, based on the angle, indicating whether the angle is within a predefined range and to automatically output the feedback information in an auditory format via the sound projection device in response to the basketball shot.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a camera.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within the basketball.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a wireless interface disposed within the basketball for wirelessly transmitting the sensor data from the basketball.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic device has a housing and a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to generate the feedback information based on the sensor data, and wherein the processor and the sound projection device are enclosed within the housing.

16. A method, comprising:

measuring with at least one sensor a motion of a basketball in free flight toward a basketball hoop during a first basketball shot;

providing sensor data indicative of the measured motion;

determining, with an electronic device based on the sensor data, an angle of a trajectory of the basketball when the basketball is proximate to the basketball hoop during the first basketball shot;

automatically generating, with the electronic device based on the angle, feedback information associated with the motion of the basketball during the first basketball shot; and

automatically outputting the feedback information in an auditory format with a sound projection device in response to the first basketball shot, wherein the feedback information is indicative of the angle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a camera.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within the basketball.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the sensor data from the basketball.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first basketball shot occurs during a basketball training session for at least one user, wherein the outputting is performed between the first basketball shot and a second basketball shot toward the basketball hoop, and wherein the second basketball shot is consecutive to the first basketball shot during the basketball training session.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining the angle is based on an image of the basketball relative to an image of the basketball hoop within at least one image frame captured by the camera.