Patent Application
20240264266
Many sports such, as American football, have rules conditioned upon a ball reaching or not reaching a location, e.g., a plane such as a goal line, a first down, a side line, and the like. Despite tremendous fan interest and television coverage (including review of certain calls by video replay), detection of these events is still performed by sight and is subject to the limitations of camera placement, speed of play, and obscured line of sight (e.g., by other players on a running play into a goal-line stand).
One aspect of the invention provides a system for monitoring athletic equipment. The system includes: a plurality of antennae positioned around edges of a field, wherein each antenna is configured and adapted to read radio frequency identifications (RFID) within a defined zone; an RFID tag attached to an article of athletic equipment; and a computer in communication with each antenna of the plurality of antennae. The computer is preprogramed with a database defining dimensions of the field. The computer is configured and adapted to process a signal from one or more antenna of the plurality of antenna in connection with the database to determine a position of the RFID tag.
This aspect of the invention can have a variety of embodiments. The RFID tag is embedded within a sports ball. The sports ball can be a football. The RFID tag can be integrated into a stamped marking. The RFID tag can be integrated into an adhesive or paint prior to being integrated into the stamped marking.
The computer can be programmed to determine whether any portion of the football crosses a specified demarcation line. The computer can be programmed to receive geometric dimensions of the football and positional information of the RFID with respect to the geometric dimensions of the football.
The database can include a plurality of JSON objects derived from global positioning system (GPS) data of the field.
The system can further include a display including an event dashboard, wherein the computer is configured and adapted to collect and combine data from the plurality of antennae. The system can further include a plurality of remote computing devices attached to a fixed structure on the field. The plurality of remote computing devices can be in electronic communication with each of the plurality of antennae. The plurality of remote computing devices can be configurable to respond to an enrolled RFID tag.
The computer can be configured and adapted to determine an event. The computer is further configured to provide an output signal based on the event.
Another aspect of the invention provides a system for monitoring athletic equipment. The system includes: a plurality of antennae positioned around edges of a field, wherein each antenna is configured and adapted to read radio frequency identifications (RFID) within a defined zone; a plurality of RFID tags attached to a football, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are positioned along a plurality of outer dimensions of the football; and a computer in communication with each antenna of the plurality of antennae. The computer is preprogramed with a database including a plurality of data objects defining dimensions of the field. The computer is configured and adapted to process a signal from one or more antenna of the plurality of antenna in connection with the database to determine a position of the football.
This aspect of the invention can have a variety of embodiments. The plurality of RFID tags can include a primary RFID tag. The primary RFID tag can be located in a central location.
The plurality of RFID tags can include: a first RFID tag located at a first longitudinal end; a second RFID tag located at a second longitudinal end; and a subset of RFID tags located circumferentially around a central portion of the football.
The system can further include an electronic communication device including a display and a graphical user interface (GUI). The display and GUI can be configured and adapted to alert a user when a predefined event occurs. The computer and the electronic communication device can be configured to receive input from an electronically activated handheld whistle. The electronically activated handheld whistle can include a transmitter transmitting an electrically coded signal to start or stop a timekeeping clock and a receiver configured to receive a serialized pulse signal from the timekeeping clock. The handheld whistle can include a vane extending through the sidewall into the housing of the electronic whistle system. The vane can include a pivoting shaft and an optical sensor.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method of monitoring athletic equipment. The method includes: geomapping a plurality of dimensions of a field using a database including satellite information of the field; providing a plurality of antennae around a field, wherein a respective antenna is disposed on each of four pylons along goal lines of the field; providing an RFID tag to a ball; calculating a position of the RFID tag based upon a measured time for a signal to travel between the RFID tag and a respective antenna using trilateration; and converting the position to a location within a grid square along a model of a field.
The present invention is most clearly understood with reference to the following definitions.
As used herein, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. “About” can be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term about.
As used in the specification and claims, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing,” “having,” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, the term “or,” as used herein, is understood to be inclusive.
Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 (as well as fractions thereof unless the context clearly dictates otherwise).
For a fuller understanding of the nature and desired objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring athletic equipment. Although described herein in the context of American football, embodiments of the invention can be applied to a variety of sports. For example, the RFID tags can be placed in (or on) basketballs, baseballs, softballs, kickballs, rugby balls, hand balls, polo balls, water-polo, volleyballs, tennis balls, shuttlecocks, racquetballs, squash balls, table-tennis balls, hockey pucks, soccer balls, lacrosse balls, field-hockey balls, golf balls, cricket balls, racecar bumpers, boat (e.g., racing shell) hulls, and the like.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure can be best described in connection with the various drawings. Referring now to
System 100 is also illustrated including a computer 118. Computer 118 is illustrated in communication with each antenna 102 of the plurality of antennae 102. Computer 118 can be a computer network system, a singular computing device, and the like. Computer 118 can be preprogramed with a database defining the dimensions of field 108. Computer 118 can be configured and adapted to process a signal from one or more antenna 102 of the plurality of antennae 102 in connection with the database to determine a position (i.e., with respect to the dimensions of field 108) and/or time data associated with an RFID tag 110. Such positional information is useful to collect statistical information and/or aid referees in determining when certain events are satisfied or triggered (e.g., when a ball crosses a line such that a touchdown occurs or the ball is out of bounds). Such information is also useful in determining the location of forward progress; when the ball changes direction; the location of the ball before, during, or after a call (e.g., out of bounds call, first down call, while the ball is under pile of players, etc.); possession decisions of complete or incomplete pass (e.g., boundary, ground, etc.); correlated location with a video or the game clock; the automatic yard marker (and 10 yard first down set up); the location in a fumble scramble; the location in the air (e.g., over goal posts, punts, etc.); relocation of ball after incomplete passes, call back regarding a penalty, downing a ball, or a quarter change; occurrences of out of bounds, illegal motions, or a point of a player as related to certain penalties; where cameras should be directed in connection with the ball path; and other information which may aid referees to make more accurate calls and determinations.
System 100 can include a display (e.g., attached to computer 118, in communication with computer 118, etc.). The display can include an event dashboard (see GUI of
In certain embodiments, system 100 can include a plurality of remote computing devices attached to a fixed structure (e.g., a pylon, a goal post, a stud, etc.) on the field. The plurality of remote computing devices can be in electronic communication with each of the plurality of antennae. The plurality of remote computing devices can be configured to respond to an enrolled RFID tag.
In certain embodiments, each antenna 102 can include a remote computing device. Such remove computing devices can be small single-board computers (SBCs), such as a RASPBERRY PI® 3B computer. Each antenna can be configured to communicate with each other directly (e.g., using respective transceivers) or indirectly (e.g., using computer 118).
Although the RFID tag 110 is illustrated on a football, the invention is not so limited. RFID tag 110 can be disposed on, attached to, or embedded within various articles of athletic equipment (e.g., protective athletic equipment, helmets, jerseys, headbands, cleats, etc.).
Referring now to
Computer 118 and electronic communication device can be configured to receive input from an electronically activated handheld whistle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,799,785. The electronically activated handheld whistle can include a transmitter (e.g., transmitting an electrically coded signal to start or stop a timekeeping clock) and a receiver (e.g., configured to receive a serialized pulse signal from the timekeeping clock). The handheld whistle can include a vane extending through the sidewall into a housing of the electronic whistle system and wherein the vane includes a pivoting shaft and an optical sensor.
At Step 402, a plurality of antennae are provided around a field, wherein a respective antenna is disposed on each of four pylons along goal lines of the field. In certain embodiments, antennae can be provided in the back corners of the endzones (i.e., the distalmost portion of the endzone with respect to the center of the field). In certain other embodiments, antennae are not provided in the back corners of the endzones. In one example, RFID and/or RASPBERRY PI® antennas can be embedded in goal pylons to capture “smart labels” or RFID tags attached to a football.
At Step 404, an RFID tag (or “smart label”) is provided to (e.g., within or on) a ball. RFID tags (or “smart labels”) can be ultra-thin RFID tags that are small and thin enough to be laminated between layers of paper or plastic. Such RFID tags can be low cost, consumable labels (or stickers, tickets and documents) with an integral read/write memory which can be embedded into a football. Certain active or passive RFID tags can be used to build an accurate real-time location system (RTLS).
At Step 406, a position of the RFID tag is calculated based upon a measured time for a signal to travel between the RFID tag and a respective antenna (e.g., using trilateration, triangulation, etc.). At this step (or before this step), an antenna (or microcontroller of an antenna) provides data through an SPI protocol. An electromagnetic field (e.g., 900 Mhz) is created and used to communicate with RFID tags. Certain scripts (e.g., PYTHON® scripts) can be used to interact with (e.g., read or write) an RFID chip. Real-time data can be exported from RASPBERRY PI® devices to generate a timestamp of events.
At Step 408, the position is converted to a location within a grid square along a model of a field. Graphics of positions and/or events of the ball on the field can be generated and displayed.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.
The entire contents of all patents, published patent applications, and other references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 11,000,751 (entitled: “GAME BALL LOCATING SYSTEM”) and U.S. Pat. No. 10,799,785 (entitled: “EWHISTLE”) are incorporated herein by reference.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/483,159, filed Feb. 3, 2023. The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63483159 | Feb 2023 | US |
