JP7232435B2 - Movement trajectory output system for competition balls - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for positioning a ball or the like used in a sports competition using a satellite positioning system, determining the competition, improving sports skills, and increasing the enjoyment of watching the competition.

Conventionally, in baseball, the speed of the ball thrown by the pitcher was measured with a measuring instrument, but the trajectory of the ball was determined by image analysis and visual measurement by experts. It's here.
Most of the measurement by the machine of the sports competition was done by photography or a laser sensor. For example, in races such as bicycle races, horse races, and 100-meter races, rankings are objectively determined by taking continuous photographs at the finish line. Also, in the same speed competition, the time was measured when the laser light at the finish line was blocked. Image recognition technology based on moving images is also used to determine whether the tennis ball is on the line or is out of the line.

Recently, a wristwatch-type motion sensor for general consumers has appeared, but the information collected is human information.

JP 2016-163627

However, in the conventional technology, information that contributes to the final decision, such as ranking, time, and relationship with the line, is measured by a machine and can be used. It never happened.
Results are important in competitions and sports, but the process of reaching the results is the content that spectators can enjoy. However, although spectators can observe the process exclusively with the naked eye, they cannot observe subtle differences because it is within the range of what the naked eye can do. Sports and competitions are meant to appreciate the very limits of human strength, and if it becomes possible to observe these subtle differences, the appeal of watching sports will increase further, and the athletes themselves will be able to see themselves objectively. It is also possible to help overcome problems by objectively observing.

In addition, final decisions such as ranking, time, strike or ball can be made more precisely.

On the other hand, there is a system for searching for the landing position of a golf ball using a positioning satellite as in Patent Document 1, but it does not output a moving trajectory.

The present invention includes a positioning signal constant receiving unit that constantly receives positioning signals from a satellite positioning system at least in part of the time zone during which a competition is being held, and continuously wirelessly outputs position information based on the received positioning signals. a game ball having a location information wireless output unit;

A position information acquisition unit that continuously acquires the position information that is continuously wirelessly output, a movement trajectory acquisition unit that acquires the movement trajectory of the game ball based on the acquired position information, and outputs the acquired movement trajectory. and a movement trajectory output device having a movement trajectory output unit.

Sports balls include, for example, baseball, billiards, bowling, gateball, lacrosse, dodgeball, kickball, golf, handball, flying disc, ultimate, guts, disc golf, volleyball, Faustball, Indiaca, basketball, water basketball, Netball, Korfball, Portball Soccer, Futsal, Rugby, American Football, Cricket, Softball, Pesäpallo, Tennis, Paddle Tennis, Jeux de Paume (Real Tennis), Table Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Tam Beach, Tamburelli, Tamburello, Includes balls for sports such as speedminton, racquetball, and hi-alai.

Other examples of competition balls include archery and archery competition arrows, competition pucks used in ice hockey, etc., curling stones, badminton competition shuttles, spears for javelin competitions, shot puts for shot put competitions, and discus throws. Discus for competition etc. can be mentioned.

In addition, these competition balls, competition arrows for archery and archery, competition pucks used for ice hockey, curling stones, badminton competition shuttles, javelin competition spears, shot put competition shot puts, discus competition competitions, etc. has a power supply for driving each part (satellite signal reception unit, satellite signal wireless output unit, immediate information generation unit, positioning information wireless output unit). It may be an external radio wave excitation type power source such as an RF tag.
Additionally, these balls and the like may be equipped with miniature microphones, temperature sensors, gravity sensors, etc. to collect additional information. Data from a small microphone, a temperature sensor, a gravity sensor, etc. is also preferably configured to be stored in real time or once and wirelessly output to the outside. Information from small microphones, temperature sensors, gravity sensors, etc. can be used to generate information such as the magnitude of the impact, the impact location of the ball, etc., and the rotation information of the ball, etc. Until these can be used as independent analysis information, after measuring the sensing results, the magnitude of the impact, the location of the impact, the rotation information, etc. It is also possible to make use of it.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the ball or the like is provided with a sensor for detecting the motion state of the person from the hand of the person who touches the ball. They are a pulse sensor, an odor sensor, a blood sugar level sensor, and the like. This also makes it possible to collect the physical information of the players who compete.

According to the present invention, balls that could not be measured by conventional techniques, arrows for archery and archery, pucks for sports such as ice hockey, stones for curling, shuttlecocks for badminton, spears for javelin, and shot put It has become possible to measure the movement trajectories of shot puts, discus throwers, etc. during competition as three-dimensional position information.
This makes it possible to observe the time-positional information of a ball, etc., in a range that cannot be grasped by the naked eye of spectators and referees. Observing yourself objectively can help you discover and overcome problems to improve your athletic ability. Also, if you provide it to the referee, etc., it will be possible to make a final decision more precisely, such as whether it is a strike or a ball.

Conceptual diagram of a system for outputting the trajectory of a game ball Functional block diagram of the movement trajectory output system for a game ball Conceptual diagram of stadium system

A mode for carrying out the invention will be described.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below. The present invention is by no means limited to these embodiments, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the scope of the invention.
<Embodiment 1>
<Embodiment 1: Overview>

As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment is mainly related to claims 1 to 7, and is a competition-use device capable of outputting (output terminal 0103) the movement trajectory with a positioning signal of a satellite positioning system (positioning satellite 0101). It is a moving trajectory output system of the ball 0102 . This output is coordinate points (positions) on the three-dimensional coordinates of the game ball at predetermined time intervals, or position information that is information that associates time (time) with coordinate points (positions) on the three-dimensional coordinates. Output.

<Embodiment 1 Configuration>

As shown in FIG. 2, the game ball movement trajectory output system of this embodiment includes a game ball 0200A and a movement trajectory output device 0200B. a position information wireless output unit 0202 that outputs information (information indicating a 2D or 3D position, which may be a signal itself from a positioning satellite or a signal including a signal from a positioning satellite; the same shall apply hereinafter) 0200C; , and the movement trajectory output device 0200B includes a position information acquisition unit 0203 that acquires position information 0200C, a movement trajectory acquisition unit 0204, and a movement trajectory (information. There are cases of 2D information and 3D information. (However, the signal itself from the positioning satellite may also be included. Same below.) and a movement locus output unit that outputs 0206. Main terms and configurations will be explained below.

<Description of Embodiment 1 Configuration>

<Description of the premise configuration>
"Positioning satellite" is a satellite used in a satellite positioning system, and multiple positioning satellites (a type of artificial satellite) transmit radio waves to an unspecified number of people on the ground, and a receiver is used to receive them. refers to the positioning system of

A typical function is to know the position of an object on the ground surface or in the air in association with time (time) by receiving radio waves from a positioning satellite system. Typical positioning satellite systems include GPS, GLONASS, Hokuto, Galileo, etc. Japan's quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki will start operating the system with four satellites in 2018, and will succeed the first satellite in 2020. It is decided to operate a seven-satellite system by adding one satellite and three satellites in 2023. GPS, which is currently most used in Japan, has a position measurement error of several meters, but with Michibiki, correction information with an accuracy of 1cm class has already been provided by a private service for all of Japan, and this level of accuracy is possible. Position-time information for the ball etc. is available and sufficient.

<Description of Configuration Provided for Competition Ball>

The "positioning signal constant receiving unit" is configured to be capable of constantly receiving positioning signals from positioning satellites at least in part of the time zone during which the competition is being held. Receiving all the time means not receiving only when the ball stops. The object of the present invention is to output the trajectory of a game ball or the like during a game as three-dimensional data or a three-dimensional image, not to determine the location of the ball. Therefore, it is completely different from the prior art invention for acquiring the position information of the golf ball. It is preferable that the positioning signal is continuously received by a radio signal command from outside the game ball to the positioning signal constant receiving section. Since the ball is a competition ball, the outer surface of the ball must not be unsuitable for competition. there has to be Since the outer surface is the surface that is gripped with a hand or hit with a tool in a game, it would be inconvenient if some parts were exposed. configured to The positioning signal constant receiving section receives signals so that position information can be calculated from the positioning signals, and therefore must be configured to constantly receive signals from a plurality of positioning satellites at the same time.

Part of the reception function of the positioning signal constant reception unit is configured by the antenna. The antenna is of chip type and has a size of several millimeters by several millimeters and a thickness of approximately 1 millimeter. Since a ball rotates on its axis, it may not always be possible to point the antenna in the proper direction. It is conceivable to arrange the receiving surface of the The receiving surface of the antenna does not necessarily have to be a hexahedral arrangement, and may be any number of polyhedrons as long as they can be equally arranged in each direction. A polyhedron obeying Euler's polyhedron theorem is considered. A satellite signal receiving chip is connected to the antenna. Satellite signal receiving chips are becoming smaller, and several millimeter square chips with a thickness of about 1 to 2 millimeters can be used.

The positioning signal continuous reception section delivers the received positioning satellite signals to the positioning information wireless output section. If there are multiple antennas, the signal with the highest reception strength or the lowest noise strength among the antennas is selected. Preferably, it is configured to select and output. For this reason, the positioning signal continuous reception section may have an optimum signal selection means that performs such a function.

The "position information wireless output unit" continuously wirelessly outputs position information based on the received positioning signal. The received positioning signal is output from the positioning signal constant receiving section, and is acquired. The positional information wireless output unit may use, as the positional information, the positioning signal itself, or a signal obtained by processing the positioning signal after processing the positioning signal. The location information wireless output unit continuously wirelessly outputs the location information, and this continuous includes intermittent transmission at short intervals. The interval is about 1 to 50 times per second, preferably about 5 to 30 times per second, more preferably about 10 to 30 times per second. This is because if the interval is too large, the resolution of the movement trajectory will be insufficient, and if the interval is too small, the center position of the ball before movement will be included in the area of the ball after movement, resulting in an excess of information. Further, the location information wireless output unit may have a holding unit that holds the received positioning signals, batch process the positioning signals collectively for several seconds, and collectively wirelessly output the batch-processed location information. good. The wireless output of the batch-processed position information may be an amount of information sufficient to acquire the trajectory of the ball for several seconds, or an amount of information to acquire the trajectory of the ball for several tens of minutes. If the amount of information is enough to acquire the movement trajectory of the ball for several tens of minutes, it is output according to a wireless command from the outside of the ball, in addition to or instead of continuous wireless output of the position information wireless output unit functions and means provided for Further, the positional information wireless output unit may be configured to add various sensor information (to be described later) and wirelessly output the information.

The transmission antenna of the location information wireless output unit is a flexible belt-shaped, comb-shaped, or spiral-shaped thin antenna that is wound around substantially the entire surface of the inner spherical core member such as a ball or the spherical base member. Deploy. This is to allow transmission over a sufficient distance. However, it should be designed so that it does not interfere with the satellite signal receiving antenna.

A "driving power supply" is included in the ball to provide power to each part of the ball. As described above, it is preferable that the driving power supply is capable of receiving power in a non-contact manner. Coils for contactless power reception (contactless charging) must be placed so as not to interfere with satellite signal receiving antennas and transmitting antennas. Further, it is preferable that information indicating the arrangement direction and arrangement position of the ball or the like at the time of non-contact power reception (non-contact charging) by observing the appearance of the ball or the like is visibly displayed. For example, it is conceivable to draw a circle on the ball and to systematize the circle portion so as to match the spherical depression of the non-contact charging device.

Note that the position information may include information other than the information regarding the position. Examples include the charge rate of the power supply of the game ball, failure information of each part provided in the game ball, failure prediction information, sensing information from various sensors (shock sensor, acceleration sensor, rotation sensor, temperature sensor), etc. is.

<Configuration provided in movement trajectory output device>

The 'position information acquisition unit' continuously acquires the position information continuously wirelessly output from the game ball. The acquired position information is output so as to be used by the movement trajectory acquisition unit.

The 'trajectory acquisition unit' acquires the trajectory of the game ball based on the acquired position information. The trajectory of a game ball is three-dimensional information and is represented by three-dimensional coordinates on the earth. For example, longitude, latitude, height above the ground (or height above the normal surface of the earth).

The 'moving trajectory output unit' outputs the acquired trajectory. This is because the information is output so that it can be used by participants in the competition, spectators of the competition, and the like. The output destination may be a stadium operator's server system, a spectator's mobile terminal, a large stadium screen, a broadcasting device, a recording device, or an Internet browsing system.

<Moving trajectory output system>

As described above, the trajectory output system consists of the game ball and the trajectory output device.
<Embodiment 2>

<Overview of Embodiment 2>

As shown in FIG. 3, Embodiment 2 is a game consisting of a game ball 0302, a game ball movement trajectory output system including a movement trajectory output device 0303, and a game field 0304 on which a game is played with the game ball. field system.

<Embodiment 2 Configuration>

The playing field system of the second embodiment consists of the above-described movement locus output system for the playing balls and a playing field on which the playing balls can be played.
A “playing field” is a soccer field, baseball field, tennis court, or other grounds and their surrounding structures (goals, home run spaces, nets, etc.), basketball floors and goals, badminton floors, nets, table tennis. The table and net, bowling lane and pins, and the three-dimensional area necessary to appreciate the game as a meaningful one, such as these aerial areas.
<Embodiment 3>

<Overview of Embodiment 3>

This embodiment enables the trajectory of a game ball to be viewed in a 3D image of the game field.

<Embodiment 3 Configuration>

Embodiment 3 is an embodiment based on Embodiment 2. The game ball movement trajectory output system of Embodiment 2 further includes a game field 3D data storage unit, a 3D image acquisition unit, and a 3D image output unit. It is a stadium system that has

<Description of Embodiment 3 Configuration>

The 'playing field 3D data holding unit' is configured to hold 3D data of the playing field including information representing the meaning of the game in relation to the position of the playing ball during play. The 3D data of the competition field is VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), MR (Mixed Reality), SR (Alternative Reality) It is preferable that the data be capable of constructing one or more of Substitutional Reality (sa). This data may include dynamic data of the current stadium captured with a 3D camera and rendered into 3D data. In order to dynamically acquire the 3D data of the stadium from the 3D cameras, it is preferable to install a plurality of 3D cameras on the stadium so that the competition field of the stadium can be viewed from above. Also, the competition field 3D data may include 3D data of competition participants. The 3D data of the competitors may be synthetic data or actual data.

The "3D image acquisition unit" uses the 3D data of the game field and the movement trajectory output from the movement trajectory output device, based on the 3D data consisting of the game field and the game ball moving in the game field. It is configured to acquire 3D images. Also, this 3D data may be stored in a 3D data storage means, and a 3D image may be acquired (composed) and output in response to a request.

The '3D image output unit' is configured to output the acquired 3D image. If the 3D image output unit has viewpoint information independent output means capable of outputting a 3D image in accordance with viewpoint information from the server operator or the terminal user, then images with realistic sensation can be used. Also, the 3D image can be played back in slow motion, fast-forwarded, or still image, and it is preferable that the viewpoint position can be moved according to the viewer's request during each playback.
<Embodiment 4>

<Overview of Embodiment 4>

This embodiment is based on Embodiments 2 and 3, and the playing field is a plate-like surface (e.g., the surface of a table tennis table), a floor surface (e.g., the periphery of a table tennis table, a basketball floor, a bowling lane), or the ground. (For example, the ground of a baseball stadium), and the position information acquisition unit includes an antenna for receiving a position information signal output from the position information wireless output unit of the game ball under the plate surface, floor surface, or ground. A stadium system with antenna means.

<Embodiment 4 Configuration>

A game ball basically moves on the game field, but if an antenna is installed on the game field, it becomes an obstacle to the game. On the other hand, it is also conceivable to place it in a position where the competition feel can be seen. However, since the power that can be used by a game ball is not so large, it would be better if weak radio waves from the game ball could be reliably received. Therefore, the antenna and antenna peripheral members are arranged under the competition field so as not to interfere with the competition. This is because, even if the strength of the radio wave transmitted from the game ball is relatively weak, the radio wave can be received satisfactorily. If the competition field is large, antennas can be divided into several blocks and multiple antennas can be arranged.

<Description of Embodiment 4 Configuration>
The "playing field" is the area on which the ball is played and possibly the adjacent area. In this embodiment, an antenna is installed under the competition field. Therefore, a baseball field, a soccer field, an American football field, a rugby field, a tennis court, or the like, which is provided in the open air, is constructed so as not to have a metal structure such as a drainage system.
"Antenna means" includes the antenna itself. In addition to the antenna itself, it may further include a circuit for amplifying the signal received by the antenna, a transmission circuit for the amplified signal, a circuit for switching active antennas when a plurality of antennas are arranged, and the like.
The "antenna" must be excellent in impact resistance, water resistance, and heat resistance, and a thin antenna covered with plastic or the like that is flexible and has low water vapor permeability is suitable.
"Antenna coating materials" include PE polyethylene, which has excellent formability, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, and water resistance, as well as slidability, mechanical properties, electrical properties, chemical resistance, impact resistance, Excellent PET polyethylene terephthalate, aramid sheet and aramid pulp are suitable.

<Embodiment 5>

This embodiment is based on Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 4, and the 3D image output unit of the game ball movement trajectory output system includes VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), MR (mixed reality), SR ( a stadium system having a virtual output means which is any one or more output means of an alternative reality).

For example, in some cases, it is better to use CG instead of live action in order to allow viewers to view the moving trajectory of a game ball with a sense of realism. Also, when displaying a 3D space including the player in the trajectory of the ball, it is better to display not only the trajectory of the ball but also the movement and expression of the player's body in 3D. However, there are cases where it is difficult to display the movements of the actual athletes in 3D from all viewpoints, so it is conceivable to mix the athletes with CG and the competition field with actual images. Since the competition field is usually static, the live-action information is acquired and retained while there is no one on the competition field. Also, the image of the game ball may be a photographed image or a CG image.
<Embodiments 6, 7, 8>

In the above-described embodiment, a game ball is used. A moving trajectory output system according to Embodiment 1, which is any one of the discus for discus throwing games, is proposed.

Alternatively, from Embodiment 2, in which any one of a competition arrow, competition puck, curling competition stone, badminton competition shuttle, javelin competition javelin, shot put competition shot put, and discus competition discus is used instead of the competition ball. A stadium system as any one of Embodiment 5 is proposed. We also propose a competition method and a competition performance method using the above-mentioned stadium system.
<Other Embodiment 1>

Also, the antenna of the stadium is configured to transmit a control signal for controlling each part arranged on the ball, and the balls are configured so that each part arranged on the ball is controlled according to the control signal. It is also conceivable to For example, the protocol of signals transmitted from balls, redundancy, request for retransmission of signals, adjustment of signal output, change of frequency band used, drive command of backup functions, and the like.

This is because the communication environment is easily affected by the weather and the surrounding environment, especially in the case of outdoor stadiums. Weather and surrounding environment include temperature, humidity, wetness of balls, dirtiness of balls, wetness of stadium floor/ground, type and quantity of materials composing the floor/ground, and other types of surroundings. and the like.
<Other Embodiment 2>

According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire 3D data of the trajectory of a game ball. It is conceivable to apply this 3D data not only for viewing purposes but also for video games. In some video games, the name of the actual team and the actual players are made into CG, but for example, the ball thrown by the pitcher exists as data created in the computer, and the actual data is not used. do not have. Therefore, by using the movement trajectory of the game ball acquired by the present invention without playing a video game, the player can enjoy a video game with a realistic feeling. This applies not only to baseball, but also to other sports such as soccer, tennis, and golf.

0101 positioning satellite 0102 game ball (having features of the present invention)
0103 Movement trajectory output device 0200A Functional block portion of game ball 0200B Functional block portion of movement trajectory output device 0200C Position information 0201 Positioning signal constant reception unit 0202 Position information wireless output unit 0203 Position information acquisition unit 0204 Movement trajectory acquisition unit 0205 Movement trajectory Output unit 0206 Money amount comparison unit 0512 Movement trajectory

Claims (5)

A game ball movement trajectory output system comprising a game ball and a movement trajectory output device,
The competition ball is
Antennas that can receive positioning signals from positioning satellites at all times, at least part of the time the competition is taking place, are arranged so that the receiving surfaces of the antennas form a polyhedron that is equal in each direction near its center. When a plurality of chip-type antennas are arranged and the same signal is received by a plurality of chip-type antennas, the optimum signal selection is to select the one with the highest reception strength, or to select the noise related to the positioning error. a positioning signal continuous reception unit configured to be selected by an optimum signal selection means that measures the strength of the signal and selects or outputs the signal with the lowest strength;
a location information wireless output unit that continuously wirelessly outputs location information based on the received positioning signal;
a drive power supply having a coil for contactless charging that drives each part;
is stored inside, and
Information indicating the arrangement direction and/or arrangement position of the game ball is visibly displayed on the surface of the game ball when the drive power source is charged in a non-contact manner, and the outer surface of the game ball. The movement trajectory output device is configured so that no electronic parts are exposed,
a position information acquisition unit that continuously acquires the position information that is continuously wirelessly output from the competition ball;
a movement trajectory acquisition unit that acquires the movement trajectory of the game ball based on the acquired position information;
a movement trajectory output unit that outputs the acquired movement trajectory;
a movement trajectory output device having
A movement trajectory output system for a game ball consisting of: A game ball movement trajectory output system according to claim 1, a game field for playing with the game ball of the game ball movement trajectory output system according to claim 1,
A stadium system consisting of: The moving trajectory output system of the ball for competition is
a competition field 3D data holding unit that holds 3D data of the competition field including information on the position of the competition field;
a 3D image acquisition unit that acquires a 3D image consisting of a game field and a game ball moving within the game field using the game field 3D data and the movement trajectory output from the movement trajectory output device;
a 3D image output unit that outputs the acquired 3D image;
3. The stadium system of claim 2, further comprising: The playing field includes a board surface, a floor surface, or the ground surface, and the position information acquisition unit of the moving trajectory output device detects the position output from the position information wireless output unit of the game ball under this board surface, floor surface, or ground surface. 4. A stadium system according to claim 2 or claim 3, comprising antenna means including an antenna for receiving information signals. 3 or 4, wherein the 3D image output unit has virtual output means which is one or more output means of VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), MR (mixed reality), and SR (alternative reality). 5. The stadium system according to 4.

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