Patent ID: 9616311
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: A63B

Claim:
1. A method for simulating a sports activity using at least one processor, the method comprising: accelerating a sports object from a launch area towards a screen; triggering a shutter of a camera directed at said launch area; illuminating said launch area with a pulsed infrared light; capturing with said camera multiple images on a single frame of said launch area while the sports object is accelerated from the launch area; sensing passage of said sports object through a first plane located between said launch area and said screen; generating a first signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said first plane; sensing passage of said object through a second plane located between said first plane and said screen; generating a second signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said second plane; using said processor to determine one or more components of rotational velocity of said sports object based on one or more of said images captured with said camera; using said processor to determine one or more components of translational velocity of said sports object based on said first and second signals; using said processor to compute a future trajectory of said sports object based at least in part on said one or more components of rotational velocity and said one or more components of translational velocity; and displaying the future trajectory of said sports object on the screen.