MXPA98004299A - Method to reproduce ball sounds during a sports event, and ball for me - Google Patents

Abstract

A method to reproduce the sound environment during a sporting event involving a ball. A device (13) constructed on the ball comprises a radiofrequency transmitter and a microphone, and is located inside the ball by flexible suspension means. A radiofrequency receiver adjacent to the game area is provided to receive signals from the device (13) inside the ball and reproducing an audio signal corresponding to the sound environment perceived by the microphone.

Description

METHOD TO REPRODUCE BALL SOUNDS DURING A SPORTS EVENT, AND BALL FOR THE SAME The present invention is a method for acquiring information about the dynamic situation of a ball and / or the restitution of the sound environment during a sporting event involving a ball, in particular a football or basketball game for the sounding of a -0 stadium or a sports hall, or also for televised or radio broadcasting. Radio or televised reports of football, rugby, andball or basketball games need the permanent intervention of a commentator to transmit to a television viewer or the auditorium the sound environments constituted by the noises of the ball (hits, bounces, etc.), contrary to tennis matches where the impact of the ball on the racket or on the ground contribute in a great way to revive Remote development of changes. It is very difficult to capture the noises of the impacts on a ball of the aforementioned sports due to the dimensions of the terrains on which these sports are practiced, and due to the great mobility of the players. The object of the present invention is to propose a technical solution to this problem allowing the capture of the sounds of the ball and transmit them to a fixed installation * where they can be mixed with the comments or with a general atmosphere captured by the fixed microphones. For this purpose, the invention is more particularly concerned with a method consisting of integrating into the inside of the balloon a device having a radiofrequency emitter and a microphone, said device being placed inside the balloon by means of a flexible suspension means , and in which a radiofrequency receiver is arranged in the vicinity of the pitch to receive the signals 10 transmitted by the device included in the balloon and to restore a corresponding audio signal. This device allows to directly capture noises such as impacts on the ball, and transmit them to a fixed receiver. It allows the use of a microphone with low sensitivity and low bandpass. On the other hand, the device is preferably placed at the level of the center of gravity of the balloon, which avoids the disturbance of both static and dynamic behavior of the ball. According to a preferred embodiment, the microphone 2"0 is a microphone of low sensitivity so that it does not pick up ambient noises (screams of the spectators, wind, etc.), but only the noises of the ball itself (blows on the ball, rebounds, etc.) According to a first variant, the device is activated by an acceleration-sensitive receiver, the circuit and a timer for a predetermined duration after activation, when the balloon is at rest for a time greater than said time. previously determined duration, the environment sound is a priori no interest, and it is possible to interrupt the power supply of the transmitter to increase the autonomy of the device. According to another variant, which optionally completes the previous variant, the device has a switch -} . (-) accessible through the balloon inflation valve. According to a third variant, the device carries a switch that can be activated by means of a radiofrequency signal. The radio receiver consumes significantly less electrical energy than the transmitter, which allows to increase the autonomy --- [- 5 of the device.

. According to another variant still, the power supply circuit of the radio frequency transmitter carries an activation circuit sensitive to the level of the signal given by the microphone, which supplies said emitter only when said signal passes a threshold value, the supply circuit of the emitter has a timer for a previously determined duration after an activation. The invention also relates to a balloon having in its inflated volume a device constituted by ^ 5 a microphone, a low frequency circuit that gives a modulation signal # to a radio frequency transmitter and a power supply. According to a first variant, it has a bladder having an elastic tubular sleeve that extends substantially according to a diagonal towards the inside of which said device is disposed. According to a particular embodiment, the sleeve has perforated walls in which it communicates with the inflation valve of the bladder. IQ According to an example of use, the device has a switch accessible through the sleeve by means of a rod that passes through the inflation valve. According to another variant embodiment, the bladder has elastic suspensions that extend substantially radially between the inner wall and the device. The invention will be better understood by reading the description of an example of non-limiting use, which refers to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 represents a schematic view of the device integrated into the balloon; Figure 2 represents a sectional view of a balloon according to the invention; Figure 3 represents the synoptic of a device according to the invention; 25 Figure 4 represents the synoptic of the ija electronics; Figure 5 represents the chronogram of the received signal; Figure 1 represents a schematic view of the f > device integrated in the ball. It has a piezoelectric microphone (1) that gives a pre-amplified signal through a low frequency circuit (2). The signal given by this low frequency circuit (2) ensures the frequency modulation of a high frequency circuit (3) that works ÍQ with VIF band from 140 to 180 -Mhz, with an emission power of around 5m that gives it a range of approximately 200 meters. The power supply of the low frequency (2) and high frequency (3) circuits is ensured by a lithium battery (4) . A switch (5) allows to extend the device when the ball is stored. This switch is for example accessible with a rod that passes through the inflation valve of the balloon. It can also be constituted by an electronic switch controlled by radio. The consumption of a receiver is much lower than the consumption of the transmitter, a switch so controlled by radio i 2Q allows to significantly prolong the life of the battery (5). The device has a detection circuit (6) that activates the power supply of the high frequency circuit (3) when the signal given by the low frequency circuit passes a threshold value, also transiently - A timer l high frequency circuit (3) for a predetermined duration, for example 10 seconds, after a pulse coming from the circuit (6) to avoid a cut signal transmission. Figure 2 represents a sectional view of a balloon having such a device. It is constituted in a known manner by a cover (8) made for example by stitching a plurality of polygonal pieces cut out of a * Multiple layer material. Inside this cover (8) there is a latex bladder (9) for example, which communicates with the outside by means of a valve (10). Inside the bladder (9) there is provided a sleeve (11) constituted by a latex conduit whose wall is perforated to let the air pass at the moment of inflation of the ball. This sleeve is welded at the level of its front ends (12), (13) on the inner wall of the bladder (9) * and extends substantially according to a diameter of the balloon. In the middle of this sleeve (11) the radio emitting device (13) is placed. The radio transmitting device (13) is maintained by elastic deformation of the sleeve (11). It is placed sensibly in the center of the ball, in the middle of the sleeve (11) so that its weight does not disturb the static or dynamic behavior of the ball. It can be replaced by the inflation hole of the bladder. The radio transmitting device (13) can be inserted * into the sleeve (11) with the help of a piston having an interior section complementary to one of the front ends of the device. This piston has a length greater than the radius of the balloon. The device is put in place on an end of the piston that serves to push it into the middle of the sleeve (11). To facilitate the placement of the device, the piston has an outer ring that limits the displacement towards the interior of the balloon. When the device (13) reaches the middle of the sleeve (11), the piston is removed, the device is blocked by the sleeve (11). The invention is described in the foregoing by way of non-limiting example. The expert may make different variants without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the suspension of the device on the ball may carried out by means equivalent to the perforated sleeve, for example by an undrilled sleeve or an elastic strap. In the case of a smooth sleeve, the pressure exerted on the walls of the sleeve contribute to the locking of the device in its centered position. 20 In the case of a brace, the device is suspended by an assembly of ligatures converging towards the center of the balloon, one end of the ligatures is fixed on the inner wall of the bladder or the balloon, and the other end of the the ligatures are fixed on the device.

The invention also relates to a reception station for the use of the method according to the invention. This station has means to reproduce a satisfactory sound from the received modulated signal. The sound picked up by the microphone is not always exploitable, due to -5 phenomena of resonance, of distortion due to the implantation in the core of the ball, of strong intensity, etc. To solve these problems, a solution consists in treating the signal by means of a temporary filtering. ÍQ Figure 3 represents the synoptic of a device according to the invention. The part implanted in the balloon has a micro-transmitter (20) and a low-frequency modulation circuit (21) linked to a microphone (22). A battery (23) ensures electrical power 15. The fixed part has a receiver (24), an electronic treatment circuit (25) and a mixing table (26) that gives a low frequency signal. Figure 4 represents the synoptic of the treatment electronics 20 of the fixed station. It is composed of an analog / digital converter, (27) that receives the demodulated audio signal that comes from the high frequency receiver. The digitized signal is exploited by a microcalculator (28) which performs a threshold setting and gives an activation or deactivation signal to an audio switch (29).

* The demodulated audio signal emitted from the high frequency receiver digitized by the analogue digital converter (27) provides the microcalculator (28) with a numerical value corresponding to the amplitude of the audio signal. 5 This value is compared with a setpoint value corresponding to a trigger threshold. If the value of the signal coming from the analog / digital converter (27) is lower than the set value, the micro-calculator blocks the audio switch (29). The microcalculator (28) then launches a new cycle analog / digital conversion and again compares the signal provided by the digital analog converter (27) with the setpoint value. The cycle restarts whenever the value of the converted audio signal is lower than the setpoint value. When the signal provided by the digital analog converter lp (27) is higher than the setpoint value, the micro-calculator (28) activates the audio switch (29) for a short duration T with respect to the reverberation duration, of the order of 10. milliseconds Advantageously, this duration can be adjusted by steps of a 2p millisecond to optimize the output signal. With the issuance of the duration period T during which the audio switch is activated, the microcalculator (28) again locks the audio switch (29) for a duration of the order of magnitude of the duration of the reverb, either from the order ^ 5 from 200 to 500 milliseconds. This delay is also adjustable.

Figure 5 represents the chronogram of the received signal. The curve (30) designates the evolution of the audio signal in time, and the lower curve (31) the state of the audio switch (29). 5 The advantage of this treatment is to suppress the vibratory modes proper to the ball, conserving the riches of the information provided by the on-board micro-transmitter. On the other hand, the intensity of the sounds and the dynamics of the signal are restored correctly. ^ 0 The signal is then treated by a bandpass filter centered on a frequency of the order of 1000 i hertz so that it rebalances the tonality of the sound emitted by the ball. The invention can of course be subject to various variations without thereby departing from the protection framework. k

Claims (17)

# CLAIMS

1. Procedure for the acquisition of information on the dynamic situation of a ball and / or the 5 restitution of a sound environment during the sports manifestation related to a ball sport, characterized in that a device (13) that has a radiofrequency transmitter and a receiver such as an accelerometer, is integrated into the ball. * Shock receiver or a microphone, said receiver gives a signal IQ modulation of the emitter, said device (13) is placed inside the balloon by a means of suspension • flexible and in which a receiver is arranged in the vicinity of the pitch to receive the modulated radio-frequency signals transmitted by the device (13) included in the 15 ball.

2. Method according to claim 1 % characterized in that the device 13 is activated by a receiver sensitive to accelerations, the power supply circuit of the emitter has a timer during a 2Q duration previously determined after activation. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (13) has a switch accessible through the inflation valve of the balloon. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device # (13) has a switch that can be activated by a radiofrequency signal. 5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit of 5 power supply of the radio frequency transmitter has an activation circuit sensitive to the level of the given signal by which it feeds said emitter only when said signal passes a threshold value i, the power supply circuit of the emitter has a * timer for a predetermined duration after a 10 activation. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said signal transmitted by the device directs a bank of sounds suitable for restoring an audio signal corresponding to a sound environment. 7. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (13) is activated by a sensor responsive to accelerations, the supply circuit of the emitter has a timer for a predetermined duration after activation. 20 8. Ball for the acquisition of information on the dynamic situation of a ball and / or the restitution of the sound environment during a sporting event characterized in that it has in its inflated volume, sensibly centered with respect to the center of gravity of the ball. 25 ball, a device (13) consisting of a microphone, a # low frequency circuit that gives a modulation signal to a radio frequency transmitter and a power source that uses the procedure. 9. The balloon according to claim 8, characterized in that it has a bladder (9) that has an elastic tubular sleeve (11) that extends substantially diagonally to the inside of which said device (13) is disposed. 10. The ball according to claim 8 or 9 | t characterized in that the sleeve (11) has perforated walls ip and communicates with the inflation valve of the bladder (9). The balloon according to any of claims 10, characterized in that the bladder (9) has elastic suspensions that extend substantially radially between the inner wall and the device (13). 12. Ball according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the bladder (9) has elastic suspensions that extend substantially radially between the inner wall and the device (13). 1

3. The ball according to any of claims 2p from 8 to 12, characterized in that the microphone has a low sensitivity so as not to pick up more than the noises coming from the ball, excluding external noises. 1

4. Fixed station for the acquisition of information on the dynamic situation of a ball and / or the The restitution of the sound environment during a sports manifestation related to a ball sport employing the procedure, characterized in that it has a receiver (24), an electronic treatment circuit (25) and a mixing table (26) that gives a signal of low frequency. Fixed station according to claim 14, characterized in that it also has a processing circuit having a digital analog converter (27) that receives the demodulated audio signal coming from the high frequency receiver, the numbered signal is exploited by a microcalculator lp (28) which performs a threshold setting and gives an activation or deactivation signal to an audio switch (29). Fixed station according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the analog / digital converter (27) lf provides the micro-calculator (28) with a numerical value corresponding to the amplitude of the audio signal, this value is compared with a value of setpoint corresponding to a trigger threshold. Fixed station according to claim 16 2 characterized in that the micro-calculator blocks the audio switch (9) while the value of the converted audio signal is lower than the set value and because the micro-calculator (28) activates the audio switch ( 29) for a short duration T with respect to the duration of 2ß reverberation. according to claim 17 or 20, characterized in that the micro-calculator (28) again blocks the audio switch (29) for a duration of the order of magnitude of the duration of the reverberation, with the emission of the 5 period of duration T during which the audio switch is activated. 19. Fixed station according to claim 18, characterized in that it has a band-pass filter centered fc on a frequency of the order of 1000 hertz to treat the % Q output audio signal. A method to reproduce the sound environment during a sporting event involving a ball. A device (13) constructed in the ball comprises a radiofrequency transmitter and a microphone, and is located inside the ball by flexible suspension means. A radio frequency receiver adjacent to the game area is provided to receive signals from the device (13) inside of the ball and by reproducing an audio signal corresponding to the sound environment perceived by the microphone. * * * * *