DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A BALL IMPACT IN THE CORNER BETWEEN A WALL AND THE GROUND

Abstract

A device for determining the sequence in which a ball hits a first wall and a second wall, the device includes at least two sensors and a processing unit, the first sensor provides for a first sensor field and the second sensor provides for a second sensor field, the first sensor field is provided at least partly at a first distance from the first wall and at least partly in the playing field, and the second sensor field is provided at least partly at a second distance from the second wall and at least partly in the playing field, whereby the smallest distance between the first sensor field and the second sensor field is not bigger than 150% of the diameter of the ball.

Claims

1. A device for determining the sequence in which a ball hits a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall at least partly delimiting a playing field of a ball sports court, the device comprising: at least a first sensor and a second sensor; a processing unit, whereby the first sensor provides for a first sensor field, and whereby the second sensor provides for a second sensor field, whereby the first sensor field (8,11) is provided at least partly at a first distance from the first wall and at least partly in the playing field, and that the second sensor field is provided at least partly at a second distance from the second wall and at least partly in the playing field, whereby a smallest distance between the first sensor field and the second sensor field is not bigger than 150% of a diameter of the ball.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the smallest distance between the first sensor field and the second sensor field is less than or is equal to the diameter of the ball.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein that a flat strip is located parallel to a relevant wall.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor at least comprise one of the following sensors: optical or motion sensors; pressure sensors; vibration sensors.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise at least one optical sensor which is based on laser technology, whereby a laser line or laser strip is generated.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise at least one pressure sensor which is based on a pressure sensitive conductive plate, whereby a pressure sensitive strip is generated and whereby the first distance between the first wall and the pressure sensor is equal to zero or whereby the second distance between the second wall and the pressure sensor is equal to zero.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor and the second sensor is an optical sensor.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates a different outgoing signal depending on whether the first sensor or the second sensor first generates a detection signal.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates a different outgoing signal based on at least two detection signals, a first signal of the first sensor and a second signal of the second sensor.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit determines a sequence of both signals.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit generates an output in a form of a visual signal or a sound depending on the detected or generated signals.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor perform smart measurements.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit processes error correction or extra measurement parameters.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit comprises software for processing the first signal detected by the first sensor and the second signal detected by the second sensor in one or more outputs, wherein the output can be selected from the group consisting of sound signals, visual signals, statistical information and information based on smart measurements.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first wall and the second wall are walls of the playing field whereby the first wall is a sidewall made of concrete, glass or fencing, and the second wall is a surface of artificial grass, concrete or gravel.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor field is provided at a first distance up to maximum 3 cm from the first wall and the second sensor field line at a second distance up to maximum 3 cm from the second wall.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein that in every corner of the playing field at least two sensors are provided for monitoring the first wall and the second wall wall of a sideline or a baseline of the playing field.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are provided at two diagonally opposite corners of the playing field, whereby in every corner a sensor unit with the first sensor and the second sensor is provided which monitors a sideline and a baseline bordering a relevant corner of the playing field.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the playing field is a padel court and the device may detect a Bola Huevo situation, whereby the first wall is a vertical side or backwall and the second wall is the ground, whereby in every corner of the playing field at least two sensors are provided for monitoring a sideline or a baseline via a first sensor line and a second sensor line two sensor lines, whereby an invalid ball is signalled when the ball first interrupts the first sensor line at a distance from the vertical wall and subsequently the second sensor line at a distance from the ground.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is provided in padel or squash playing fields.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the present disclosure, hereinafter, by way of an example without any limiting nature, embodiments are described of a device according to the present disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a padel court;

[0069] FIG. 2 shows how it is determined whether the ball first hit the wall or the ground;

[0070] FIG. 3A schematically shows a Bola Huevo situation of an incoming ball;

[0071] FIG. 3B schematically shows the Bola Huevo situation in more detail;

[0072] FIG. 4 schematically shows a first Bola Huevo situation of an incoming ball;

[0073] FIG. 5 schematically shows the first Bola Huevo situation of the incoming ball of FIG. 4;

[0074] FIG. 6 schematically shows a second Bola Huevo situation of an incoming ball;

[0075] FIG. 7 schematically shows the second Bola Huevo situation of the incoming ball of FIG. 6;

[0076] FIG. 8 schematically shows an embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure for a padel court;

[0077] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure;

[0078] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a padel court 5 as described in the introduction. FIG. 2 shows how in practice it is determined whether the ball first hit the wall or the ground.

[0080] FIGS. 3-7 schematically show a Bola Huevo situation according to the different phases of an incoming ball.

[0081] FIG. 3A shows a Bola Huevo situation whereby a ball 2 is hit deep to the furthest section of the court 5 and will bounce here, for example on a sideline or a baseline in the corner (intersecting line) 10 between the glass wall 3 and the ground 4.

[0082] An embodiment using sensor lines is shown here by way of simplest form of presentation. However, this example can also be worked out with sensor strips or fields, such embodiment being shown in FIG. 10.

[0083] As also shown in more detail in FIG. 3B, the intersecting line 10 between the vertical wall 3 and the ground 4 is provided with a first sensor line 8 and a second sensor line 9 whereby the first distance d1 between the first sensor line 8 and glass wall 3 is maximum 3 cm and the second distance d2 between the second sensor line 8 and the ground 4 is maximum 3 cm.

[0084] In some embodiments, the smallest distance d3 between the two sensor lines 8, 9 is not bigger than 150% of the diameter of the ball, or not bigger than the diameter of the ball. These limitations also determine the height of the first sensor line 8 relative to the ground and the distance from the second sensor line 9 relative to the vertical wall.

[0085] The distance determinations d1, d2 and d3 are unambiguous for detecting whether a ball is played validly or not on the intersecting lines 10 (or baselines/sidelines) of the field.

[0086] In this example, both sensor lines 8, 9 are provided parallel to the intersecting line 10 between the vertical wall 3 and the ground 4, assuming that the baselines/sidelines which determine the playing field, and more specifically the ball being in/out, are parallel to said intersecting line 10. In a first situation, as shown in FIG. 4, the ball 2 first hits the ground 4. The sensor line 9 is interrupted such that the second sensor 7 generates a first detection signal. Subsequently the ball 2 bounces further to the vertical wall 3, as shown in FIG. 5. The sensor line 8 is now interrupted such that the first sensor 6 generates a second detection signal. Subsequently the ball 2 rebounds into the court 5.

[0087] Based on the first and second detection signal of the sensors, the processing unit determines a sequence in which the ball hit the walls. In this case a positive output signal is generated by the processing unit. This can, for example, result in a green LED lamp lighting up on the level of the net. This is a valid ball and play can simply continue. The green LED shows that the processing unit evaluated a Bola Huevo situation. In another option no output signal follows after a valid ball and play can simply continue.

[0088] In a second situation, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball 2 first hits the glass wall. The sensor line 8 is interrupted such that the first sensor 6 generates a first detection signal. Subsequently the ball 2 bounces further to the ground 4 as shown in FIG. 7. The sensor line 9 is now interrupted such that the second sensor 7 generates a second detection signal. Subsequently the ball 2 bounces back into the court 5. In this case the processing unit will generate a negative output signal.

[0089] In this case a red LED indicator, for example, will light up on the net post or another location which is clearly visible to every player. This is an invalid ball.

[0090] FIG. 8 schematically shows an embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure for a padel court 5.

[0091] In every corner of the padel court 5, two sensors 6, 7 are arranged here, one for the sensor line 8 at a first distance d1 from the glass wall 3 and one for the sensor line 9 at a second distance d2 above the ground 4. The two sensors 6, 7 provide two sensor lines parallel to a baseline or a sideline. In this way the court 5 is fully delimited with sensor lines for detecting Bola Huevo situations.

[0092] Both sensors 6, 7 can be incorporated in one unit if relevant. Thus, four such units are needed for a padel court 5.

[0093] Other arrangements are possible whereby only one unit is used per sensor line whereby it is transmitted by reflection to the relevant baselines and sidelines.

[0094] In yet another embodiment, a third sensor line can be added at approximately 1 m from the ground. This is because during the game it is permitted to retrieve a ball outside the cage, this is the so-called out-of-court play situation. In this case the software is set such that upon interrupting said third line no invalid signals are generated.

[0095] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure whereby the first and second sensor line 8, 9 are replaced by a first and second sensor strip 11, 12. The first sensor strip 11 is provided at a first distance d1 from the first wall or glass wall 3, the second sensor strip 12 is provided at a second distance from the second wall or ground 4. In this example the sensor strips are provided parallel to the walls.

[0096] The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 shows a device according to the present disclosure whereby the first sensor 6 is a pressure sensor to form a sensor strip 11 and whereby the second sensor 7 is an optical sensor to form a sensor line 9.

[0097] The pressure sensor is based on a pressure sensitive conductive plate which is mounted on the first wall 3 as it were.

[0098] The distance d1 between the first wall 3 and the first sensor 6 is equal to zero hereby. The distance d2 between the second wall 4 and the second sensor 7 is between 0 and 3 centimetres, in this case 2 centimetres.

[0099] It is understood that the different types of sensors can all be used in one and the same device.

[0100] Alternatively, the present disclosure can also relate to a device for determining the sequence in which a ball hits a first wall and a second wall, similar to the device as specified in the claims, but whereby the sensors detect vibrations and are provided against the relevant walls or are connected thereto, and whereby the processing unit contains software to distinguish between vibrations of a ball with the wall near the corner and other vibrations, all this to enable the device to be able to determine the sequence of the contacts with the walls near the corner.

[0101] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a device according to the present disclosure as defined by the claims can be realised according to different variants without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.