BALL WITH INFRARED SENSITIVE SENSORS AND GOAL WITH INFRARED EMITTERS

Abstract: Ball for sports use comprising an enclosure (1) with uniform distribution of one or more portions (4) transparent to infrared rays and in optical communication with one or more sensors (5) sensitive to infrared rays and electrically connected with signalling means (7) fixed to the ball.

Description: Description BALL WITH INFRARED SENSITIVE SENSORS AND GOAL WITH INFRARED EMITTERS 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a sports ball whose position can be automatically determined with millimetric accuracy. The invention also relates to a device used to determine the position of the ball with respect to a defined alignment. 2. State of the art Currently, optical systems are known in which a defined alignment - such as the line that marks the soccer goal - is monitored by several cameras. The cameras shoot and analyse the area near the line and in particular observe the passage of the ball beyond the line in order to determine whether the goal is valid or not. However, these systems do not offer a solution when the ball is covered (for instance when the goalkeeper holds the ball next to the goal line) and are extremely expensive, both for what regards the cameras and the image processing necessary to determine the position of the ball with accuracy. 3. Purpose of the invention The purpose of the present invention is to find a solution to the above inconveniences and offer a ball and a device to detect its position, which can be easily and conveniently installed, although characterised by high accuracy. 4. Summary of the invention This purpose has been achieved with a ball that is at least partially transparent to infrared rays and provided with sensors which are sensitive to infrared rays, as well as with signalling means activated by the reception of the infrared rays. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device consisting in several emitters of infrared rays that are oriented as to define the alignment used to determine the position of the ball. In the case of a soccer goal, the alignment is composed of a continuous field or "gate" of infrared rays projected in the proximity of the goal. The advantages of the present invention mainly consist in the possibility of immediately and accurately determining the position of the ball with respect to the alignment of the emitters. 5. Detailed description of the invention The advantages of the invention appear obvious from the description below and the enclosed drawings, which are intended for illustration purposes, and not with limiting sense, in which: - figure 1 shows a soccer ball according to the invention; - figure 2 is an enlarged view of the ball shown in figure 1 ; - figure 3 is a transversal cross-section of the detail shown in figure 2; - figure 4 is a lateral view of the detail shown in figure 2. With reference to the embodiment shown as an example in the enclosed drawings, the ball according to the present invention is made up of an enclosure (1) obtained by sewing together various hexagonal pieces (2). As shown in figures 3 and 4, some strips (3) are located on the stitching of the pieces (2) which feature an external portion (4) made of material transparent to infrared rays, equipped with several sensors or photodiodes (5) sensitive to infrared rays. The diodes are preferably located inside the portion (4), for instance during the production stage of the strips (3). The sensors (5) are connected by means of wires (6) to an active signalling element (7), preferably located in the centre of the bladder of the ball (1), inside a sheath in diametral position. The wires (6) go through the strips (3), reach the ends of the sheath (8) and continue along it up to the active element. In a preferred form of embodiment, the sheath is located between the bladder valve and the diametrically opposite point with respect to the valve. According to the invention, the transparent strips are uniformly distributed on the entire surface of the ball so that the first point of the ball that enters the alignment defined by the infrared rays is of no relevance. When part of one or more strips (3) is exposed to the infrared rays, the rays are transmitted by the transparent portion (4) of the strip to the sensors (5). The electronic signal produced by the sensors as a result of the exposure to the infrared rays is transmitted in turn through the wires (6) up to the active element (7) which signals the exposure to the infrared rays. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the transparent portions of the ball can be represented by the pieces (2) or part of the pieces (2), or by the entire enclosure (1), in case of balls without sewn pieces. Likewise, in view of its limited weight, the sensitive element can be placed anywhere in the ball, i.e. fixed to the internal surface of the enclosure. Figure 5 shows a device used to create an infrared alignment or "gate" (11). In this case, the alignment is defined by several emitting diodes (9) located in proximity of the perimeter of a goal (10) with vertical orientation with respect to the goal. The mutual distance between the diodes is determined so that the composition of the emitted ray beams covers a surface that corresponds to the entire goal. Preferably, the complete coverage of the goal is guaranteed by the diodes located along each individual side of the goal. This ensures the maximum visibility of the ball in any position and situation during the match. For instance, if the goalkeeper holds the ball, the ball is visible from the diodes (9) located along the lower horizontal line. As an example, to determine the moment in which the ball has completely passed the goal line, the distance of the gate (11) with respect to the goal line is equal to the ball diameter. When a transparent part of the ball (1) reaches the gate (11), the signalling indicates that the ball has effectively passed the goal line. The present invention is described with reference to preferred forms of embodiment. However, it is possible to make equivalent modifications without exiting the protection scope granted by present industrial invention.

Claims: Claims I. Ball for sports use comprising an enclosure (1) with uniform distribution of one or more portions (4) transparent to infrared rays and in optical communication with one or more sensors (5) sensitive to infrared rays and electrically connected with signalling means (7) fixed to the ball. 2. Ball according to claim 1 , characterised in that the enclosure is made up of polygonal pieces (2) sewn together, it being provided that strips (3) with transparent portions (4) are inserted along the stitching. 3. Ball according to claim 2, characterised in that the sensors (5) and the wires (6) are contained inside the transparent portions (4). 4. Ball according to claim 2, characterised in that the signalling element (7) is located in a sheath (8) in diametral position inside the bladder. 5. Ball according to claim 1 , characterised in that the signalling element (7) is fixed to the internal surface of the enclosure (1). 6. Ball according to claim 1 , characterised in that the transparent portions (4) are represented by the pieces (2), or part of the pieces (2). 7. Ball according to claim 1 , characterised in that the transparent portions (4) are represented by the enclosure (1). 8. Infrared device for the detection of the ball passing through a goal (10), characterised in that it is composed of a distribution of infrared emitters (9) located at least along one side of the goal. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the mutual distance of the emitters located at least along one side of the goal is such that the composition of the emitted ray beams covers a surface that corresponds to the entire goal, thus creating a substantially continuous gate of infrared rays (11). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the emitters are located along the four sides of the goal. I I. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the gate is located in parallel position beyond the effective goal line, at a distance equal to the diameter of the ball used.

Inventors: CORNACCHIA RENATO, CORNACCHIA, RENATO
Applicants: B F ELETTROMECCANICA S R L, CORNACCHIA RENATO, B.F. ELETTROMECCANICA S.R.L., CORNACCHIA, RENATO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A63B43
IPC codes: A63B43, A63B63