Patent Publication Number: US-4647969-A

Title: Instant T.V. penalty flag alert system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of signalling devices, and, more specifically, to systems for transmitting the occurrence of an event upon a playing field, such as football, to a television viewing audience. 
     At the present state of the art, a sports announcer is not immediately aware of penalties called upon the playing field. This is due, in large measure, to the practice of the announcer observing the same video display that a viewer sees. As a result, the announcer and the viewers often observe a playing sequence long after a penalty has been called and the outcome of the play has been moot. This causes the viewer to become irate and causes the announcer to appear ill-informed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an instant television penalty flag alert system which superimposes a video flag upon the television image that the viewer sees. 
     Another object is to provide an instant television penalty flag alert system with transmitters that can be held by a number of spotters surrounding a playing field, so that each spotter can activate a hand held transmitter as soon as a predetermined event, such as a penalty is observed. 
     A yet further object is to provide an instant television penalty flag alert system with a receiver that detects the transmitted signal and superimposes a video flag upon the video images being received from television cameras which are observing the play. 
     Yet another object is to provide an instant television penalty flag alert system in which different spotters can be identified by differences in their transmitted signals. 
     A still further purpose is to provide an instant television penalty flag alert system in which the identification of each spotter is made a part of the video flag so that a viewer is able to determine which spotter has signalled an observation. 
     Yet still further purpose is to provide an instant television penalty flag alert system in which the spotter may signal the location of the predetermined event, such as a penalty, by inputting that information into a transmitter. This information is made an integral part of the video flag so that a viewer may determine, for example, that a penalty has been called at the 50 yard line. 
     In our efforts to inform the handicapped, a still additional further purpose is to aid deaf viewers as to the penalty situation which are occurring. 
     A yet additional purpose is where large assemblages of people are gathered watching it may be difficult to sometime hear the comments of the sports announcer, naturally the instant invention also aids over coming this problem. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a playing field with television cameras and transmitter equipped spotters in place. 
     FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of the transmitting and receiving equipment depicted in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a television set illustrating the video image a viewer might see such as two players fighting over the ball together with a superimposed video penalty flag. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, the playing field 12 (typically a football field) is surrounded by television cameras 14,16,18,20, and 22. Cameramen located at each camera view different parts of the play or view the same play but at different angles. Video images from television cameras 14,16,18,20, and 22 are transmitted along transmission lines 24,26,28,30, and 32 respectively to control panel 34, located inside a mobile control center 36. Each of the video images is viewed on a monitor, such as typical monitor 38 contained in monitor console 40 shown in FIG. 2. An operator, using control panel 34, watches the images from all the monitors and selects the one image to be transmitted to the viewing public. Although five cameras and sixteen monitors are shown, it is understood that any number of cameras and monitors may be used. 
     A penalty, or any other predetermined event, may occur anywhere on playing field 12. Therefore, spotters observe all areas of play and are equipped with transmitters at 42,44, 46, and 48 respectively. Each transmitter emits electromagnetic radiation which are typically radio waves. A receiver 50 detects the signals from each transmitter and generates a video flag which is superimposed upon all of the images appearing on video monitor console 40. Whenever any of transmitter 42,44,46, or 48 are activated a video flag, such as video flag 52 on monitor 38, appears. This video flag may appear in any desired area of the video display, such as the upper left hand corner as illustrated. 
     The home viewer sees a video image of the play 56 along with video flag 58 on home television 54. Although four transmitters are shown, it is understood that varying numbers of transmitters will be used according to the game being played. 
     In some instances it is necessary to ascertain which spotter has reported the event or penalty. In these cases, each transmitter may be coded according to frequency. Each transmitter operates on a different frequency. Alternatively, coding may be accomplished by modulating each transmitted signal differently. Modulation modes include amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, pulse width modulation, and any other modulation mode. This information may be transmitted to the control panel operator, to the announcer, to the audience, or to any combination to the aforesaid. 
     If the position of the penalty call is desired, each transmitter may be equipped with alpha-numeric inputting so that, for example, a spotter may enter the number 10 if the penalty has occurred on the 10 yard line. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and the details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.