An electronic home plate provides assistance to an umpire in determining whether a pitch results in a “strike” or a “ball.” The home plate is implemented with LEDs producing discrete pulses of infrared light beams extending vertically. As a moving ball intersects the pulses, light from the pulses is scattered and incident on photodetectors embedded in the home plate, producing a series of data points. Two stages of light compensation compensate the data points for ambient light, first by applying an offset current to a photodetector through a PNP transistor, and second by subtracting a measurement immediately before a pulse from a measurement during the pulse. A processor then fits the data points to a curve, to compute vertical and lateral positions of the ball, thereby determining whether the pitch passed within a strike zone. Other applications may similarly analyze the trajectory of other projectiles for various purposes.

Embodiments relate to a transmitter and/or a receiver for a system for detecting an event which is triggered by an object crossing a monitored line. The transmitter is configured to successively transmit data packets independently of an occurrence of the event. The receiver is configured to receive successive data packets independently of the occurrence of the event. Each data packet comprises information on a number of events which occurred up to a transmission time of the data packet, wherein the transmission times of successive data packets are each located in a predetermined transmission time period.

Methods and apparatus for staging emulated live performance routine competitions. Various emulation methods and apparatus may allow for live conditions to be emulated even in the absence of actual staged live competition. Live performance routines may be recorded and stored as live performance routine data. Competition judging may be input and stored as competition judging input data. Data transformation processors may transform such data into live performance routine competition conditions emulated data that may emulate live performance routine competition conditions. Data may be aggregated into an emulated live performance routine competition for remote spectator access.

A mouth guard senses impact forces and determines if the forces exceed an impact threshold. If so, the mouth guard notifies the user of the risk for injury by haptic feedback, vibratory feedback, and/or audible feedback. The mouth guard system may also remotely communicate the status of risk and the potential injury. The mouth guard uses a local memory device to store impact thresholds based on personal biometric information obtained from the user and compares the sensed forces relative to those threshold values. The mouth guard and its electrical components on the printed circuit board are custom manufactured for the user such that the mouth guard provides a comfortable and reliable fit, while ensuring exceptional performance.

The present invention relates to a power measuring device capable of obtaining accurate measurement values corresponding to changes in the state or environment of a target to be struck, and in variable striking conditions, such as being struck in a state in which movement of the target occurs, and the like. To this end, the present invention includes an air pocket group (11g) configured such that air pockets (11) are respectively formed in regions leading to a score according to striking in a target when the power measuring device (10) corresponding to variable striking conditions is installed on a target used in a fighting exercise; a piping tubes (12) formed to transmit pressure to a pressure sensor (13a) on the other side according to a change in volume on the air pocket (11) to increase the efficiency of score determination, by measuring a power at the time of strike by determining a strength (power) of the strike with an impulsive force applied to the air pocket (11); and a check valve (12a) formed in each piping tube (12) connecting each air pocket (11) at a front end of the pressure sensor (13a) to prevent air discharged when the air pocket (11) corresponding to a target point is struck from flowing to another air pocket (11) through the piping tube (12) connected to the pressure sensor (13a).

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a basketball backboard. The basketball backboard includes a display screen, a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor data regarding a shot attempt of a user, imaging devices configured to generate image data of the shot attempt, a speaker, and a control unit. The control unit can receive (i) the sensor data from the plurality of sensors and (ii) the image data from the imaging devices. Based on the received sensor data, the control unit can determine whether the shot attempt was successful. Based on the received image data and whether the shot attempt was successful, the control unit can generate analytics that indicate characteristics of the user and the shot attempt and recommendations for improving the shot attempt for subsequent shot attempts. The control unit can provide output data representing the analytics.

The present invention comprises a unique system and method for providing adaptable ball delivery and tracking, including appropriate sensor hardware, interactive gameplay user interfaces and point of sales systems. The system and method of the present invention are especially relevant to baseball and softball as, among other components, the system comprises a vertical, ground-up soft toss ball delivery mechanism, automated player and ball-tracking devices, and ball-collection and transport systems. The ball collection and return components eliminate the need for “fielders” and enable the creation of the first “batting range”. The vertical, ground-up soft-toss pitch machine further enables the first multi-story batting facility with player batting bays that open onto a sports field. Further, certain embodiments of the present invention integrate hitting screens, augmented reality display and simultaneous coordination of gameplay and communication between players, regardless of the players' physical location.

Embodiments relate to a concept for determining a transit of a movable object through a detection area within a detection plane. At least one exciter antenna provides an exciting electromagnetic field. The exciting electromagnetic field or at least one spatial component thereof has a field strength above a field strength threshold in the detection area. The exciting electromagnetic field is capable of exciting the movable object to emit an electromagnetic response signal comprising information on a position of the movable object. At least one sensor antenna comprising a magnetic core receives the electromagnetic response signal. The at least one magnetic core is positioned in a region of the exciting electromagnetic field where the field strength of the exciting electromagnetic field or the at least one spatial component thereof is below the field strength threshold.

An apparatus for developing goal scoring skills is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a goal, and a three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure is configured to replicate a human goalkeeper to improve a training experience for a user. The apparatus is useful for developing and improving goal scoring skills, and preferably, for developing and improving hockey goal scoring skills.

A basketball system is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the system includes a rotatable hoop assembly with a hoop and backboard mounted to a support and rotatable around a vertical axis of rotation to change an angle of the hoop and the backboard relative to a particular geo-position. The system may include a programmable display device that presents a display on a surface based at least in part on the angle of the hoop and the backboard and control logic that sends commands to change the angle of the hoop and backboard relative to the particular geo-position. In some embodiments, a rebounding system is included with a ball guide that directs balls to the particular geo-position before and after a change to the angle of the hoop and the backboard.