Patent Publication Number: US-2023135276-A1

Title: Game ball tracking system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present general inventive concept relates generally to telemetry, and particularly, to a game ball tracking system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     During sporting events and/or matches, a sports play is sometimes scrutinized when it is too close to call. For example, some uncertain sports plays include whether a football player landed on a specific line on a football field, whether a baseball player caught a ball out of bounds, and/or whether a hockey player hit a puck within a goal before sliding out of a net. These types of events can drastically change an outcome of a sports game. 
     Referees will often spend vast amounts of time reviewing sports plays to determine the validity of a score. Referee reviews are based off of camera footage which can be difficult to analyze given the inconsistencies with the camera angles and/or human opinions. The inaccuracy of the camera footage from the game not only warrants multiple time-consuming reviews, but also makes it hard for the referees to make calls and decisions regarding the play under scrutiny. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a game ball tracking system that automatically determines the accuracy of the sports play. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present general inventive concept provides a game ball tracking system. 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a game ball tracking system, including a game ball, including a body, a plurality of sensor wires disposed within at least a portion of an interior of the body, and a plurality of sensor transceivers disposed on at least a portion of each of the plurality of sensor wires to receive at least one signal identifying a position of the body on a field, a ball tracking assembly disposed on at least a portion of the field to disperse the at least one signal across the field, and a plurality of field transmitters connected to at least a portion of the ball tracking assembly to transmit the at least one signal therefrom. 
     The plurality of sensor wires may be disposed on an interior surface of the body. 
     The ball tracking assembly may include a perimeter tracking wire disposed on at least a portion of a perimeter of the field, a plurality of field tracking wires disposed on at least a portion of the field and extending from a first side toward a second side of the field, and a plurality of goal tracking wires disposed on at least a portion of a first end and a second end of the field. 
     The plurality of sensor transceivers may receive the at least one signal and identify the position of the body in response to at least one of an outer surface of the body contacting the ball tracking assembly and at least one of the plurality of sensor transceivers moving over a boundary of the ball tracking assembly. 
     The game ball tracking system may further include a control unit connected to the game ball, the ball tracking assembly, and the plurality of field transmitters to calculate the position of the body in response to measuring at least one of a surface area of the body, a length of the body, and a size of the body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a plan view of a game ball tracking system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein. 
     List of Components
         Game Ball Tracking System  100     Game Ball  110     Body  111     First End  111   a      Second End  111   b      Sensor Wires  112     Sensor Transceivers  113     Power Source  114     Ball Tracking Assembly  120     Perimeter Tracking Wire  121     Field Tracking Wires  122     Goal Tracking Wires  123     Field Transmitters  130     Control Unit  140         

       FIG.  1    illustrates a plan view of a game ball tracking system  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     The game ball tracking system  100  may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, glass, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto. 
     The game ball tracking system  100  may include a game ball  110 , a ball tracking assembly  120 , a plurality of field transmitters  130 , and a control unit  140 , but is not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the game ball  110  is illustrated to be football. However, the game ball  110  may be a baseball, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, a golf ball, a shuttlecock, a flying disc, a puck, or any other ball used in sports known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto. 
     The game ball  110  may include a body  111 , a plurality of sensor wires  112 , a plurality of sensor transceivers  113 , and a power source  114 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The body  111  may be constructed of any shape corresponding to a sports game, such as football, soccer, baseball, tennis, golf, badminton, and/or hockey. 
     The body  111  may include a first end  111   a  and a second end  111   b , but is not limited thereto. 
     The first end  111   a  may be disposed at an end of the body  111 . The second end  111   b  may be disposed at another end of the body  111  opposite with respect to the first end  111   a.    
     The plurality of sensor wires  112  may be disposed within at least a portion of the body  111  and/or connected to an interior surface of the body  111 . In other words, the plurality of sensor wires  112  may be disposed away from a space within an interior of the body  111 . Also, the plurality of sensor wires  112  may extend from the first end  111   a  to the second end  111   b . It is important to note that many balls in sports games use air inflated balls, and thus, the plurality of sensor wires  112  may only contact the interior surface of the body  111  and not suspended within the space of the interior of the body  111 . 
     Furthermore, each of the plurality of sensor wires  112  may be distanced away from each other to maximize contact over an area on the interior surface of the body  111 . Alternatively, the plurality of sensor wires  112  may be embedded within material of the body  111 , such that the plurality of sensor wires  112  may remain hidden despite opening the body  111 . 
     The plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may be disposed on at least a portion of each of the plurality of sensor wires  112 . As such, each of the plurality of sensor wires  112  may have a plurality of sensor transceivers  113  disposed thereon. 
     The power source  114  may include a battery and a solar cell, but is not limited thereto. 
     The power source  114  may be disposed within at least a portion of the body  111 . The power source  114  may provide power to the plurality of sensor wires  112  and/or the plurality of sensor transceivers  113 . Also, the power source  114  may charge the battery in response to the solar cell receive an external light source thereon. 
     The ball tracking assembly  120  may disperse at least one signal across the field  10 . 
     The ball tracking assembly  120  may include a perimeter tracking wire  121 , a plurality of field tracking wires  122 , and a plurality of goal tracking wires  123 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The perimeter tracking wire  121  may be disposed on at least a portion of a perimeter of a field  10 . For example, referring again to  FIG.  1   , the perimeter tracking wire  121  may be disposed on each side of the field  10 , such that the perimeter tracking wire  121  may surround the field  10 . 
     The plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may detect an outer surface of the body  111  in contact with at least a portion of the perimeter tracking wire  121  and/or crossing a threshold of the perimeter tracking wire  121 . More specifically, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may receive a perimeter wire signal dispersed on the perimeter tracking wire  121  in response to the outer surface of the body  111  contacting the perimeter tracking wire  121  and/or at least one of the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  moving over a boundary of the perimeter tracking wire  121 . As such, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may determine a position of the body  111  on the field  10 , such as leaving a boundary of the field  10  (i.e., out of bounds). 
     The plurality of field tracking wires  122  may be disposed on at least a portion of the field  10  and extending from a first side toward a second side of the field  10 . Additionally, the plurality of field tracking wires  122  may be connected to the perimeter tracking wire  121 , such as a first side and/or a second side of the perimeter tracking wire  121  opposite with respect to the first side of the perimeter tracking wire  121 . 
     Each of the plurality of field tracking wires  122  may be distanced from each other. For example, a position of each of the plurality of field tracking wires  122  may correspond to a yard line of the field  10 . 
     The plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may detect the outer surface of the body  111  in contact with at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of field tracking wires  122  and/or crossing a threshold of at least one of the plurality of field tracking wires  122 . More specifically, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may receive a field tracking wire signal dispersed on the plurality of field tracking wires  122  in response to the outer surface of the body  111  contacting at least one of the plurality of field tracking wires  122  and/or at least one of the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  moving over a boundary of at least one of the plurality of field tracking wires  122 . As such, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may identify a position of the body  111  on the field  10 . 
     The plurality of goal tracking wires  123  may be disposed on at least a portion of a first end and/or a second end of the field  10  opposite with respect to the first end of the field  10 . 
     The plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may detect the outer surface of the body  111  in contact with at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of goal tracking wires  123  and/or crossing a threshold of at least one of the plurality of goal tracking wires  123 . More specifically, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may receive a goal tracking wire signal dispersed on the plurality of goal tracking wires  123  in response to the outer surface of the body  111  contacting at least one of the plurality of goal tracking wires  123  and/or at least one of the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  moving over a boundary of at least one of the plurality of goal tracking wires  123 . As such, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may determine a position of the body  111  on the field  10 , such scoring a goal. 
     Furthermore, the perimeter tracking wire  121 , the plurality of field tracking wires  122 , and/or the plurality of goal tracking wires  123  may be disposed under a ground surface. In other words, the perimeter tracking wire  121 , the plurality of field tracking wires  122 , and/or the plurality of goal tracking wires  123  may be disposed in a subterranean environment. 
     The plurality of field transmitters  130  may be connected to at least a portion of the perimeter tracking wire  121 , the plurality of field tracking wires  122 , and/or the plurality of goal tracking wires  123 . The plurality of field transmitters  130  may transmit the at least one signal therefrom, such as the perimeter wire signal through the perimeter tracking wire  121 , the field tracking wire signal through the plurality of field tracking wires  122 , and/or the goal tracking wire signal through the plurality of goal tracking wires  123 . Accordingly, the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may determine the position of the body  111  on the field  10  based on the perimeter tracking wire  121 , the plurality of field tracking wires  122 , and/or the plurality of goal tracking wires  123 . As such, the at least one signal may identify the position of the body  111  on the field  10 . 
     The control unit  140  may be a computer. Moreover, the control unit  140  may include a processing unit (or central processing unit, CPU) including electronic circuitry to carry out instructions of a computer program by performing basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions. The control unit  140  may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) that performs arithmetic and logic operations, processor registers that supply operands to the ALU and store the results of ALU operations, and a control unit that fetches instructions from memory and “executes” them by directing the coordinated operations of the ALU, registers and other components. The control unit  140  may also include a microprocessor and a microcontroller. 
     The control unit  140  may be connected to the game ball  110 , the ball tracking assembly  120 , and/or the plurality of field transmitters  130 . The control unit  140  may calculate and/or analyze the position of the body  111  with respect to the field  10  based on the at least one signal transmitted from the plurality of sensor transceivers  113 . As such, the control unit  140  may automatically determine the position of the body  111  in response to the control unit  140  measuring a surface area, a length, and/or a size of the body  111  using the plurality of sensor wires  112  and/or the plurality of sensor transceivers  113 . 
     Therefore, the game ball tracking system  100  may provide precise measurements of the game ball  110  during a sports game, such that referees may avoid reviewing camera footage. Additionally, the game ball tracking system  100  may be more accurate in determining the position of the game ball  110 . 
     The present general inventive concept may include a game ball tracking system  100 , including a game ball  110 , including a body  111 , a plurality of sensor wires  112  disposed within at least a portion of an interior of the body  111 , and a plurality of sensor transceivers  113  disposed on at least a portion of each of the plurality of sensor wires  112  to receive at least one signal identifying a position of the body  111  on a field  10 , a ball tracking assembly  120  disposed on at least a portion of the field  10  to disperse the at least one signal across the field  10 , and a plurality of field transmitters  130  connected to at least a portion of the ball tracking assembly  120  to transmit the at least one signal therefrom. 
     The plurality of sensor wires  112  may be disposed on an interior surface of the body  111 . 
     The ball tracking assembly  120  may include a perimeter tracking wire  121  disposed on at least a portion of a perimeter of the field  10 , a plurality of field tracking wires  122  disposed on at least a portion of the field  10  and extending from a first side toward a second side of the field  10 , and a plurality of goal tracking wires  123  disposed on at least a portion of a first end and a second end of the field  10 . 
     The plurality of sensor transceivers  113  may receive the at least one signal and identify the position of the body  111  in response to at least one of an outer surface of the body  111  contacting the ball tracking assembly  120  and at least one of the plurality of sensor transceivers  113  moving over a boundary of the ball tracking assembly  120 . 
     The game ball tracking system  100  may further include a control unit  140  connected to the game ball  110 , the ball tracking assembly  120 , and the plurality of field transmitters  130  to calculate the position of the body  111  in response to measuring at least one of a surface area of the body  111 , a length of the body  111 , and a size of the body  111 . 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.