GB2495724A - Fibre optic sports pitch light up - Google Patents

Abstract

A grid of fibre optic elements 1 controlled via a CPU for pre-programmed displays is blended into grass to enable all-weather lighting and display effects with different colours on a playing surface, creating a multi-use (e.g. football, hockey, rugby) area of sports or recreational land. Advertising space for TV and information (e.g. on time, rule infringements or celebrations) for supporters, players and officials – ‘ensuring everyone intended sees’ – may be provided thus.

Description

Piftti Lietit Uo This invention relates to a device for the illuminating of playing surfaces in sport.

In sport the pitch or surface area is boarded by chalk or paint lines to delineate areas of play. Areas that surround the playing surface are used to advertise products and services usually on billboards' or more prevalent recently electric signs' that can display several different running text, display several different signs and can even exist to provide companies a certain time slot for a certain period. This type of signage is more versatile and can Increase potential revenue. Sound systems and scoreboards are used to display public safety information to supporters.

However, the use of these types of signs will always be limited as they are always on the periphery of the pitch. Added to this the broadcasting cameras are constantly moving meaning the effectiveness of the billboards are limited as cameras pan shots etc are edited to effectively show the match action and not adverts. Problems with a standard grass or artificial pitch is no information can be passed on to players, officials and supporters. This can create situations whereby the officials are left to their own devices to effectively convey the laws and rules of the game. With minima! outside input to assist the officials and inform supporters of their actions and the reasons behind them. This lack of effective communication can create problems for officiating and security at sporting ground as supporter unrest turns to anger. In addition to security, safety is also a problem in grounds. Although a sound system is used they are of limited use to people with hearing impairment. Score boards are also used in the event of an emergency but they suffer from the same inherent problems as advertising billboards, they are peripheral to the action and the focus of attention of supporters. The problem with chalk or paint outlines of boundaries is that they can become disturbed by play as participants wear away the lines with boots etc. These lines can also be weathered by elements such as rain. In addition to this these chalk and paint markings are completely inflexible. They ensure that only marking out areas for one sport can be displayed effectively. Other sports are carried out on these multi-use pitches but the markings for the different sports can become confused and untidy.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1-shows the fibre optic light in the torn, of artificial grass. (1) Being the light emerging from the top/tip of the artificial fibre optic grass. (2) The plastic cover that surrounds the fibre optic core, that gives the appearance of grass. (3) The tight travelling down the fibre optic core. (4) is the fibre optic core that carries the light from the light transmitter through to the tip.

Figure 2-shows the layout of the artificial fibre optic grass In relation to that of standard grass or other non illuminated artificial grass. (1) Being the fibre optic grass, (2) being the standard or non illuminated artificial grass. (3) Illustrates the respective size of the fibre optic grass in relation to the standard grass enabling a passive involvement in play. (4) Illustrates the underground network of fibre optic cabling required.

Figure 3-shows the grid referencing scheme for the layout of fibre optics Figure 4-shows they layout of the entire system from the Cpu to Ught transmitter to the sports field. (1) Represents that of preprogrammed instructions, (2) Represents manually inputted instructions, (3) represents that of the input of information from other relevant sources such at broadcast cameras. (4)is the Cpu which computes which fibre optics are needed to be illuminated to achieve the desired effect. (5) Are the light transmitters which send the required illumination to the desired fibre optic grass. (6) is the fibre optic wires that are connected from the light transmitter to the sports pitch (7) through a grid system (figure 3) Figure 5-shows the practical implementation in the sport of American Football. Displaying a moving' 10 yard line. (1) represents the offensive team. (2) the defensive team. (3) is the placement of the ball, (4) the illuminated pitch creating boundary markings, (5) is that of the standard pitch markings.

Figure 6-shows the problem that exists in association football at the moment, that of distance and encroachment (1). (3) shows a practical implantation to solving this problem. Creating (2) the desired distance.

Figure?-shows the advertising and displaying information possibilities (4) created through solving the problem in Figure 6 Figure 8-. shows the ability of the system to relocate' (1) information around the pitch through illuminating different areas Figure 9-shows the practical example of illuminated boundaries on a previously unmarked area of sports or recreational land. Creating an area of land that is truly multi use and multi functional. (1) being a football pitch, (2) a hockey pitch, (3) a rugby pitch and (4) 5 a side football.

Concept To weave (Figure 1) Fibre optic lights (and or) LED's into grass sporting surfaces to allow for them to be lit from below.

Allowing for assistance in ruling the games (Figure 5,6,), advertising (Figure 7,8), emergency information and light displays. Allowing lights to be used during play for information to be passed on to officials, players and spectators. Also to be used for illuminating markings for boundaries enabling surfaces to be multi use. Changing from a sporting pitch of one function to another function through moving markers and game boundaries (figure 9) How It Works. -As shown in (figure 1) each light would be covered in an artificial grass with only the light source emanating mainly at the top. Disguised as real grass by the covering of the fibre optic fibre with a high impact and elastic synthetic material as close to texture and size of real grass as possible(flgure 1) This synthetic grass will be passive in play, i.e. it will not interfere with the roll of a ball or create a uneven surface as it resemble real grass and is spread evenly. This illuminated grass would henceforth blend into with the authentic grass. Each blade or patch of lights would protrude at equal distances (Figure 2) enabling their positions to be mapped accurately through a grid system (Figure 3). This grid system (Figure 3) enables a computer system (CPU) to display pre programmed commands at the push of a button, through manually imputed controls or through other input such as broadcast cameras. This is as each tight would have its own unique grid reference point enabling it to be located by a programme to control it. In addition to this lighting effects could be tracked in conjunction with cameras to achieve the desired effect. (Figure 4) The CPU sends a command to the light transmitter boxes, these boxes then send the light to the required fibre optic lights to create the illumination.

This would enable lighting and effects shown as examples here.

Example of use -Free Kick -Soccer Assisting The Rules.

As you can see in (Figure 6) the players marked with a square are defending and have encroached.

They are 7 yards away from the ball kicker and not the required 10 yards away-This puts the attacker at a disadvantage and impedes his chances.

The lights have illuminated 10 yards radius around the ball in play. This is done by the CPU calculating the balls relative distance through broadcast cameras. Then sending a signal to the Light transmitter boxes which then in turn send light to the required fibre optics. This enables the referee, the players and the spectators to dearly see the distance that should be observed. This could be replicated for any sport that requires distance-In the example (figure 5) you can see the possible implications for other sports the example given is American Football. Here a distance of 10 yards is required in order to continue progress and pOssession of the ball: Currently each 10 yards are marked on thepitch with chalk or paint, this ----means that spectators await decisions from the officials to see if a 1st down has been achieved. This new system would allow a moving 10 yard line' ensuring; spectators, players and officials can clearly see the required distance needed to continue play and if it has been achieved. A similar effect could prove to be very beneficial in association football in relation to offside with the lights tracking the last defender.

yisiflg On the awarding of the free kick, the lights have illuminated the required distance for players. This has effectively created a blank canvas, this space could be used as a digital billboard for teams or organisations to bring in much needed funds (figure 7). In addition adverts could be tracked by TV cameras as the location of the ball and the game action means the advert could move around the pitch to ensure it is always picked up by the cameras (figure 8) Change Of Use This system also allows for marking out boundaries for games and sports to create multi-use surfaces. In (figure 9) you can see examples of how the same area of recreation land can be transformed into different sporting and exercise facilities. At the press of a button an unmarked pitch can become a field hockey pitch, then a five-a-side pitch, and then a rugby pitch etc the possibilities are endless. The most important thing is that the system is future proof enabling multi-use for recreational ground with the lights being controlled through a CPU (figure 4) and an open source programme to enable the owner to template whatever markings or boundaries they would require.

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Information The lights could be commanded to display information; to players, official5 and spectators. Anything from emergency information, safety instructions too time remaining or substitutes names and numbers. All it would require is the CPU being given the command to display the message, then the signal being sent to the respective light transmitters which would illuminate the required fibre optic lights to create an on pitch informative billboard.

Displays The lights could be able to change colours If desired through the light transmitter (figure 4) onto the pitch to ensure in play special effects. for example a player has been cautioned for an offence in association football the playing surface coffid become illuminated yellow. In addition to this; at the end of play, after an event such as a goal or during an anthem sequences of lights could be programmed to increase or reflect in game atmosphere or emotions.