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Visual stimulus managementRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Body GarmentsVisual stimulus management description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070016999, Visual stimulus management. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The disclosure pertains to methods of managing visual characteristics of team athletic apparel based on activity-specific situations. BACKGROUND [0002] Visual stimuli produced by apparel and other articles associated with specific activities are generally configured to provide overall visibility, to distinguish one team or group from another (often based on traditional team or group colors), or to provide a pleasing appearance. Frequently the appearance of apparel and other articles is largely dictated by such considerations in combination with considerations of comfort, fit, and safety. For example, sports uniform colors are frequently selected based on traditional team colors such as school or club colors, and have visual characteristics that are customized to provide an appearance that is stylish and up to date. Otherwise, uniform selection is based primarily on player comfort and safety. Many team uniforms are provided in both "home" and "away" versions so that opposing teams having the same team or club colors can be distinguished. [0003] While such traditional uniforms permit identification of home and away teams, and display team colors, the appearance of traditional uniforms provides little if any performance advantage. Visual stimuli provided by such uniforms are largely unrelated to participant performance. As such, traditional apparel can provide comfort and safety, but little else. Accordingly, methods of selecting and managing activity-specific visual stimuli, and apparel and other items and apparatus associated with an activity configured based on such methods are needed. SUMMARY [0004] According to representative examples, articles comprise an activity-specific zone having functional ornamentation situated in the activity-specific zone. In some examples, the functional ornamentation is defined based on luminance contrast or color contrast. If additional examples, the article is an article of team sports apparel and the activity specific zone is associated with a side of the article in an as-worn position. In other representative examples, the functional ornamentation is dynamic functional ornamentation that can include an almost periodic pattern, an interrupted periodic pattern, or a spatially chirped pattern that is defined by a plurality of pattern segments secured to the article. [0005] Team uniform components comprise a zone that includes dynamic ornamentation. In some examples, the zone is an activity-specific zone. In additional examples, the dynamic ornamentation is defined by a plurality of tiles that can be specularly reflective or iridescent. In representative examples, the plurality of tiles is situated on a relatively dark background. In further examples, the dynamic ornamentation includes an almost periodic pattern defined by a plurality of tiles arranged in a spatially chirped pattern or an interrupted periodic pattern. In some examples, the team uniform component is an article of apparel such as a jersey, shorts, pants, skirt, or socks. [0006] Representative methods comprise identifying an activity-specific visual zone, and assigning a visual characteristic to a surface associated with the activity-specific visual zone. In some examples, at least one common angle of view is determined, wherein the activity specific visual zone is associated with the at least one common angle of view. In typical examples, the activity-specific visual zone is associated with a selected team sport. In additional examples, the visual characteristic assigned to the activity-specific visual zone is associated with dynamic functional ornamentation, and can include an almost periodic pattern. [0007] These and other features and advantages are set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a representative method of managing visual stimuli. [0009] FIG. 2 is diagram illustrating a distribution of measured viewing angles of passes directed to teammates in a soccer match. [0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a representative division of a player's body into body segment zones associated with typical distances from which the zone is viewed and relative body segment speed within the body segment zones. [0011] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate body zones associated with visual stimuli for soccer. [0012] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate representative almost periodic patterns. [0013] FIGS. 6A-6G illustrate uniforms that are provided with representative visual stimulus patterns (functional ornamentation) in activity-specific zones. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] The disclosed methods and apparatus should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward novel and non-obvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and subcombinations with one another. Moreover, the methods and apparatus are not limited to any specific aspect or feature, or combinations thereof, nor do the disclosed methods and apparatus require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved. [0015] Although the operations and function of some of the disclosed methods and apparatus are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods and apparatus can be used in conjunction with other methods and apparatus. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like "determine" and "evaluate" to describe the disclosed methods. These terms are high-level abstractions of the actual operations that are performed. The actual operations that correspond to these terms will vary depending on the particular implementation and are readily discernible by one of ordinary skill in the art. [0016] For purposes of this disclosure, the word "including" has the same broad meaning as the word "comprising." In addition, words such as "a" and "an," unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, include the plural as well as the singular. Thus, for example, the requirement of "a feature" is satisfied where one or more of these features are present. In addition, the term "or" includes the conjunctive, the disjunctive and both (a or b thus includes either a or b, as well as a and b). [0017] Some specific examples of visual stimulus management methods and applications thereof are described with respect to a particular activity--soccer. This activity is selected as an example because of its worldwide appeal and familiarity. The methods and applications described herein are applicable to other team sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, rugby, and football. The described methods and applications are also applicable to activities other than sports, including other commercial and recreational activities. Examples of uniforms and other articles of clothing are described, but other items can be configured in a similar manner. [0018] Assignment of a specific visual stimulus to a particular participant zone can be associated with improved perception, and thus improved decision making by a participant's teammate. For example, a visual stimulus can be selected to increase the accuracy of passes between teammates. In some typical examples, visual stimuli configured for peripheral vision are preferred. Various kinds of visual stimuli can be used. For central vision or peripheral vision, luminance contrast and object detail can be used to provide an appropriate visual stimulus. For central vision perception, color characteristics (such as hue or saturation) can be used. A just noticeable color difference is typically associated with dominant wavelength differences of between about 2 nm to 4 nm, but depends on spectral region. Differences in luminance can also be used, with differences of 1-1.5% typically observable for either central or peripheral vision. For central vision, details as small as about 1 arcmin are legible, while details as small as about 0.5 arcsec can be detected. For peripheral vision, details as small as about 10 arcmin are legible, while details as small as about 0.5 arcsec can be detected. Angular spacings of about 0.6 arcmin or greater permit objects to be perceived as separate objects in either central or peripheral vision. Misalignments of objects can be detected that are as small as about 3-5 arcsec ("hyperacuity"). Peripheral vision can detect flicker at rates as high as about 80 Hz-100 Hz, while central vision can detect flicker at rates less than about 20 Hz. In an example, visual stimuli for central vision, ranked in order from most to least sensitive, are lateral motion, luminance contrast, color contrast, and flicker. For peripheral vision, a similar ranking is lateral motion, flicker, luminance contrast, and color contrast. Visual factors are generally interdependent, and can depend on observer adaptation or recent exposure of the observer to a bright object. Visual stimuli can also be affected by environmental conditions such as stadium lighting, hazy or foggy weather, or direct sunlight. Backgrounds such as grass, stadium seating, spectator apparel can also be significant. [0019] An example visual stimulus management method is illustrated in FIG. 1. For a selected activity, a set of activities, or a selected situation in one or more activities, a distribution of common angles of view are identified in a step 100. For example, common angles of view experienced by a passer and a pass receiver in a soccer match can be identified. Such a distribution provides a quantitative assessment of what portions of teammates are visible to each other while passing. The identification of viewing angles can be based on one or more matches or practices using a diverse player group, or using a player group of a particular skill level and experience. For example, common angles of view can be different for relatively inexperienced youth league players and premier league professionals. Particular situations other than routine passing can be selected for common view angle identification, and common view angles can differ for different locations on a soccer pitch as well as for different player positions. Typically, common angles of view are activity specific, and observations of an activity are used to establish activity-specific common view angles. Continue reading about Visual stimulus management... Full patent description for Visual stimulus management Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Visual stimulus management 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. 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