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  Sports simulation systemUSPTO Application #: 20070238539Title: Sports simulation system Abstract: A sports simulation system includes a projectile tracking apparatus having a display surface on which a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented. The projectile tracking apparatus captures images of a projectile tracking region disposed in front of the display surface to detect a launched projectile traveling through the projectile tracking region towards the display surface. A projectile launch area sensing unit captures images of the projectile launch area. At least one processing stage communicates with the projectile tracking apparatus and the projectile launch area sensing unit and is responsive to the data received therefrom to determine the three-dimensional positions, velocity, acceleration and spin of a detected projectile traveling through the projectile tracking region. The determined three-dimensional positions, velocity, acceleration and spin are used by the at least one processing stage to calculate a trajectory of the launched projectile into the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene. Updated image data is generated by the at least one processing stage that includes a simulation of the launched projectile into the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene following the calculated trajectory. A projection unit coupled to the at least one processing stage receives the image data from the at least one processing stage and presents the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene, including the simulation, on the display surface. (end of abstract)
Agent: Baker & Daniels LLP 111 E. Wayne Street - Fort Wayne, IN, US Inventors: Wayne Dawe, Zuqiang Zhao, Todd Richardson USPTO Applicaton #: 20070238539 - Class: 473131 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070238539. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/629,945 filed on Jul. 30, 2003 for an invention entitled "Sports Simulation System" and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/195,017 filed on Aug. 2, 2005 for an invention entitled "Sports Simulation System", the content of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates generally to entertainment systems and in particular to a sports simulation system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]Sports simulation systems designed to simulate sports experiences are well known in the art. In many conventional sports simulation systems, a player propels a sports projectile such as a ball, puck, arrow, dart, etc. at a target image presented on a display screen. The motion of the sports projectile is detected and imaged and an extrapolation of the trajectory of the sports projectile is made. The extrapolated trajectory is then used to determine a sports result. The displayed image is in turn updated to reflect the sports result thereby to provide the player with visual feedback and simulate a sports experience. [0004]The goal of all sports simulation systems is to provide the player with a realistic sports experience. As a result, many variations of sports simulation systems have been considered in attempts to simulate accurately "real-life" sports experiences. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,874 to Arnold et al. discloses a sports simulator having a housing and two arrays of infrared (IR) receivers and emitters positioned in the housing. A launch area is established near one end of the housing. A user can launch an object such as a golf ball located in the launch area and drive the golf ball into the housing through the planes defined by the arrays of IR emitters and against a screen positioned at one end of the housing. A computer is connected to the IR receivers, which detect the passage of the object through the respective planes. Based upon the signals from the IR receivers, the computer uses triangulation techniques to determine the horizontal and vertical position, as well as the velocity of the golf ball. The computer can also determine the spin of the golf ball and cause an image of the golf ball as it would have appeared traveling away from the golfer had it not encountered the screen to be displayed on the screen. [0005]U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,260 to Stewart et al. discloses a baseball training and amusement apparatus that detects the speed and projected flight of a batted baseball. The apparatus includes a ball delivery device, a pair of detection planes, a computer and a video and simulation monitor. The detection planes are parallel to one another and are spaced apart by a distance such that a batted ball passing through the detection planes would be a fair ball in a real baseball game. Each detection plane includes a rigid frame that supports a pair of optical scanners and a pair of light sources. The optical scanners and light sources are positioned at opposite top corners of the rigid frame and are aimed downwardly into the region encompassed by the frame. [0006]During use, the ball delivery apparatus delivers a baseball towards a player positioned in front of the detection planes. When the player strikes the baseball with a bat and the baseball travels through the detection planes, the optical scanners capture images of the baseball. The images are processed to determine the coordinates of the baseball as it passes through each of the detection planes as well as the velocity of the baseball. A simulated trajectory of the baseball is then calculated using the determined coordinate and velocity information. The simulated trajectory information is used to update the graphical images presented on the monitor so that the simulated flight of the batted baseball is displayed to the player thereby to simulate a batting experience. [0007]U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,706 to Treat, Jr. et al. discloses a hunting simulator for in-flight detection of a launched missile such as an arrow. The hunting simulator includes a screen and a projector for projecting a moving target on the screen. Electromagnetic radiation emitters are positioned in front of the screen adjacent its opposite top corners and illuminate a plane in front of the screen. Sensors are also positioned adjacent the opposite top corners of the screen and are responsive to the electromagnetic radiation emitters. Retroreflective tape extends along opposite sides of the plane. [0008]During use, when an arrow is launched at the screen and passes through the plane, the sensors detect the presence of the arrow and generate output. The output of the sensors is used to determine the coordinates of the arrow as well as the velocity of the arrow. A simulated trajectory of the arrow is then calculated and the graphical images presented on the screen are updated accordingly to reflect the flight of the launched arrow. In this manner, a hunting experience is simulated. [0009]U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,151 to Lowy et al. discloses a system for determining the trajectory of an object in a sports simulator. The system includes a baseball throwing device to deliver a baseball towards a player area. A projector adjacent the player area presents images on a display screen that is positioned near the ball throwing device and in front of a batter. Video cameras are positioned in front of and on opposite sides of the anticipated trajectory of a hit baseball. [0010]During use when a baseball delivered by the ball throwing device is hit by the batter and passes through the fields of the view of the video cameras, images of the baseball are captured and a streak showing the path of the baseball through the fields of view is determined. The streak is used to simulate the flight of the baseball and to update the image presented on the display screen thereby to simulate a batting experience. [0011]Although the above references show sports simulation systems that capture images of launched projectiles and use the image data to simulate the flights of the launched projectiles, these sports simulation systems fail to provide "true to life" sports experiences as a result of the mechanisms used to track the path of the launched projectiles. As will be appreciated, improved sports simulation systems that provide better and more realistic sports experiences are desired. [0012]It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel sports simulation system and a novel projectile tracking apparatus. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013]Accordingly in one aspect there is provided a sports simulation system comprising: [0014]a projectile tracking apparatus including a display surface on which a visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene is presented, and at least one pair of camera devices capturing images of a projectile tracking region disposed in front of said display surface to detect a launched projectile traveling through said projectile tracking region towards said display surface; [0015]a launch area sensing unit capturing images of a region in which contact with said projectile is made; and [0016]at least one processing stage receiving data from the camera devices and said launch area sensing unit and determining the three-dimensional positions, velocity, acceleration and spin of a detected launched projectile traveling through said projectile tracking region, the three-dimensional positions, velocity, acceleration and spin being used by said at least one processing stage to calculate a trajectory of said launched projectile into said visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene. [0017]In one embodiment, the at least one processing stage also determines the projectile launch angle and uses the determined projectile launch angle during calculation of the trajectory. The at least one processing stage uses the calculated trajectory to generate updated image data including a simulation of the launched projectile into the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene following the calculated trajectory. A projection device is coupled to the at least one processing stage. The projection device receives image data from the at least one processing stage and presents the visually apparent three-dimensional sports scene including the simulation on the display surface. [0018]In one embodiment, the projectile tracking apparatus includes a frame and at least one pair of camera devices mounted on the frame adjacent opposite top corners thereof. The camera devices have overlapping fields of view looking downwardly, across and in front of the display surface and capture images of the projectile tracking region. Each camera device examines captured images to detect pixel clusters resembling a projectile characteristic signature thereby to detect the projectile in the captured images. [0019]In one embodiment, the launch area sensing unit comprises at least one area-scan digital camera capturing images of the region in which contact with the projectile is made. The at least one area-scan camera is disposed above and looks down onto the region. One or more illuminators may be provided to provide suitable light for image capture. Images acquired by the at least one area-scan digital camera are processed by the at least one processing stage to detect the angle at which impact is made with the projectile allowing the spin of the projectile after impact and the projectile launch angle to be accurately determined. The images acquired by the at least one area-scan camera are processed on-board to determine if one or more moving objects are within the images and if so whether the one or more moving objects satisfy specified motion detection parameters. In this manner, only images containing information of interest are sent to the at least one processing stage. [0020]According to another aspect there is provided a sports simulation system comprising: Continue reading... Full patent description for Sports simulation system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sports simulation system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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