CH714137A2 - Method and system for timing a basketball game. - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of timing a basketball game is defined via a timing system (1), which includes a timing device (2) in connection with an optical bullet detector (3) and / or in connection with at least one visual ball detector for detecting a ball (20) in a basketball hoop. The optical bullet detector includes an optical sensor (31) disposed near or on the basketball basket, and the visual sensor includes at least one kinetic camera for detecting movement and depth of the ball in the basketball basket with signal. The method comprises the steps of starting a play count by activating the timing device, sensing by the optical sensor and / or the kinetic camera the passage of the basketball into a ring (10) of the basketball basket, and transmitting at least one detection signal of the passage of the ball in the basketball basket to the timing device to stop playing time.

Description

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method of timing a basketball game.

The invention also relates to a timing system of a basketball game for the implementation of the method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a sports competition, such as a basketball game, it is known to use electronic devices in particular for the detection of a ball entering the basketball hoop. These devices include sensor elements to detect any passage of a ball through the basket, for example from above.

Mention may be made in this respect of patent application WO 2016/057 535 A1, which precisely describes a basketball basket with means for detecting any ball passing through said basket from above. For this detection, the basket net includes a conductive element capable of extending with the net, when the ball enters the basket. The electrical property of this conductive element can change in particular with an increase in its resistivity. This conductive element is connected to a detection circuit. An electrical variation profile of the element when the ball passes through the net can be determined. This conductive element can be a conductive elastomeric material. A communication unit is also provided for the transmission of a detection signal from the detection circuit to a processing station. However, the detection assembly is not intended to stop a timing time when the ball passes through the basket, which is a drawback.

In US patent 5,418,517, an apparatus is described for establishing the score during a basketball game. A pallet is provided under the basketball hoop to detect the entry of the ball. The bending of the pallet controls a switch in order to mainly establish the score in an electronic box with score display. It is planned to determine the different baskets made during the game, and it is also determined a time left by a clock of shots in the basket and the percentage of shots made. However, the device is not intended to stop a timing when the ball passes through the basket, which is a drawback.

The patent FR 2643 824 B1 describes a device for detecting and signaling goals scored in a basketball game. At least one signal transmitter is arranged on the basketball hoop input ring and at least one signal receiver is also positioned opposite the corresponding transmitter on the ring. Without any ball entering the basket, the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter. On the other hand, when a ball enters the basket, an interruption in reception of the signal by the receiver makes it possible to detect the entry of the ball. Interrupting the signal received therefore enables visual or audio information to be activated. However, the detection device is not intended to stop a timing time when the ball passes through the basket, which is a drawback.

[0007] US Patent 6,389,368 B1 describes an apparatus for detecting basketball hitting in order to establish a score and hitting statistics. The device includes a visual detection device placed on the basket fixing panel in connection with a computer processing device. This visual detection device is a multi-pixel sensor for picking up the position of the ball at the start of the shoot and the moment of passing through the basketball hoop and for transmitting signals relating to a difference in light intensities to the processing device for determine the position of the ball and its passage through the basket net. A vibration sensor is also installed on the basketball hoop panel to provide contact information for the ball in the basketball hoop ring. However, the detection device is not intended to stop a timing time when the ball passes through the basket, which is a drawback.

During the timing of a basketball game, and in the interval of time mainly of the last two minutes of play, a player of a team manages to score, that is to say, to score a basket. The top of the ball goes through the basketball hoop and the game ends. Table officials are responsible for making the decision when the game is to be stopped, not the referee. Therefore, even the referee's whistle signal may not be taken into account to stop playing time. During a game, it may still be expected that the game commissioner requires the assistant scorer to add time to the game clock. Under these conditions, the pace of the game is slowed down at a critical moment in the game. It is therefore necessary to find a solution, which guarantees a precise stoppage of play from the moment the ball passes through the ring of the basketball hoop, which is an object of the invention.

Summary of the invention The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the above-mentioned state of the art by proposing a method of timing a basketball game. To do this, at least one optical sensor is arranged near or on the basketball hoop to detect a ball entering the basket during the game to stop playing time. To this end, the invention relates a method of timing a basketball game, which comprises the features defined in independent claim 1.

Specific steps of the timing process are defined in dependent claims 2 to 5.

An advantage of the timing process is that an optical detection by an optical ball detector in the basket and / or a visual detection by computer processing is provided so as to detect the passage of the ball in the basketball hoop ring in order to provide a detection signal to a timing device to stop playing time. The optical ball detector is at least one optical sensor placed on the basketball hoop or on a basket connection support a basketball board or even on said basketball board to detect the passage of the ball through the basket ring. Visual detection consists of one or more kinetic type cameras (Kinect®) with motion and depth recognition, as well as an integrated infrared system.

Advantageously in a simple design of the timing system, the optical bullet detector comprises at least one optical light sensor and a light source facing the sensor, which can be arranged on a surface of the basket ring. basket or integrated into the basket basket ring. The light source arranged opposite and diametrically opposite the optical sensor provides during the game a light ray picked up by the optical sensor. Passing the ball through the basketball hoop temporarily interrupts the light sensor’s reception. This makes it possible to supply a detection signal following the reception or non-reception of the light ray to the timing device to stop the playing time.

Advantageously to precisely detect the passage of the ball in the basket, the optical sensor of the optical ball detector can be associated with a camera of the kinetic type of the visual detector with computer processing of movement and depth or with a color camera. , an infrared camera or a LIDAR defined device. The LIDAR device is also capable of determining the distance from the sensor to the ball in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. Under these conditions, it is not necessary to use an additional light source placed on the basketball hoop.

Accurate timing of a basketball game is one of the fundamental foundations in modern basketball. The timing system presented connects at least one optical sensor for optical detection and / or visual detection of movement and depth with the timing device and helps improve the quality of the game by removing potential human errors.

Advantageously, there is an ease of mounting and calibration of the ball detector in the basket in conjunction with the timing device. This allows you to provide game interruptions quickly and accurately.

To this end, the invention also relates to a timing system for a basketball game, which comprises the characteristics defined in independent claim 6.

Embodiments of the timing system are defined in dependent claims 7 to 17.

Brief description of the drawings The aims, advantages and characteristics of the method and of the timing system of a basketball game according to the invention will appear better in the following description of at least one non-limiting embodiment illustrated by drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a block diagram of the components of a timing system for a basketball game according to the invention, FIG. 2 schematically represents a three-dimensional view of a basketball hoop with various electronic components for detecting a ball in the basket according to the invention, FIG. 3 schematically shows a side view of a basketball hoop fixed to a panel mounted on a fixing post with an optical ball detector in connection with the timing device of the timing system according to the invention, and FIG. 4 schematically represents a view of the positioning of the kinetic type cameras of the visual device for the detection of movement and depth according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention In the following description, all the elements of a timing system for a basketball game, which are well known to those skilled in the art in this technical field, will only be related to simplified way.

[0021] FIG. 1 represents the different elements of a timing system 1 for timing a basketball game. The timing system essentially comprises a timing device 2, and a ball detector 3, 4. The ball detector can include an optical ball detector 3 for detecting a ball entering a basketball during the game and / or a visual motion and ball depth detector 4. At the start of a basketball game, the timing device 2 is started and a time is counted in the timing device 2, which includes a processing or calculating unit. timing software with an oscillator defining a time base. The optical ball detector 3, which is preferably placed near or on a surface of the basketball hoop ring, can be activated at the start of the game by the timing device 2 or can be activated independently of the timing device 2, by manual control or remote control. The visual movement and ball depth detector 4 can also be activated at the start of the game. As soon as a ball during the game is detected entering the basketball hoop, the ball detector 3, 4 transmits a data or detection signal to the timing device 2 to stop the playing time.

As shown schematically in FIG. 4, it is possible to equip the timing system 1 with the visual bullet detector 4, which comprises one or more cameras 41 of the kinetic type (Kinect®) positioned in different locations for the detection and recognition of the movements of the ball 20 to through the net 11 of the basketball hoop 10. This visual detection is associated with digital processing, which validates the passage of the ball 20 in the basket 10.

The timing system 1 may also include an input terminal 6, which is turned on to control the playing time in particular by officials. The timing device is therefore linked to the input terminal for controlling the playing time. However, it can also be imagined that the timing device 2 is integrated in the input terminal 6, which can be placed on a table. game next to the playing field. The timing system 1 may also include one or more remote control devices 5 for wirelessly controlling the timing device by means of a portable object, by a game official, and a unit 7 time control by the action of a whistle of a game referee, which is connected to the timing device. Of course, this time control unit can consist of an electronic referee whistle capable of transmitting a radio frequency signal to the timing device signaling game stoppages.

The optical bullet detector in the basket 3 can be connected by cable or electrical wire or by wireless communication to the timing device 2. The optical bullet detector 3 essentially comprises at least one optical sensor disposed at nearby or on the basketball hoop. This optical sensor can be a light sensor, which is composed of at least one light-receiving diode or a pixel, or an array of light-receiving diodes or pixels. With a visual bullet detector 4, the optical sensor can be a kinetic type camera with computer processing of movement and depth of the bullet.

The optical sensor of the optical ball detector 3 can also be a color camera, an infrared camera or a device defined LIDAR so as to take different images of the ball when it passes through the basketball hoop and be in able to transmit the data signal relating to the images to the timing device 2. This LIDAR device makes it possible to capture the light and its intensity to determine the distance from the sensor to the ball in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. The optical bullet detector in the basket 3 can also include a light source facing a simple optical light sensor as explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The detection signal from the optical ball detector 3 and / or the visual ball detector 4 is preponderant for stopping the playing time when the ball enters the basket compared to the signal for stopping by a whistle of a referee or by a table official.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a simplified embodiment according to a three-dimensional view of a basketball hoop with the optical ball detector 3 and a side view of a basketball hoop fixed to a panel mounted on a fixing post with the optical bullet detector 3 and / or a visual bullet detector 4 shown in fig. 4.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a simplified embodiment according to a three-dimensional view of a set of a basketball hoop fixed to a panel 13, which can be partly transparent. The basketball hoop 13 is also connected by at least one bar 14 to a fixing post 15, which is generally fixed vertically at the edge of the basketball court. A scoreboard 16 with a visual ball detector 4, which is composed of one or more cameras 41 of the kinetic type can be mounted on the post 15. The bar (s) 14 and the post 15 are generally made of material metallic. The cameras 41 can also be placed on the bar 14 and / or on the panel 13. For the correct functioning of the kinetic type cameras, they should preferably be positioned at a distance of less than 3 m from the basketball hoop and arranged to view towards the basketball hoop.

It can be defined that the basketball hoop can be part of the timing system. The optical bullet detector 3 and / or the visual bullet detector 4 are connected to the timing device 2 of the timing system. The dimensions and positioning of the components shown in figs. 2, 3 and 4 are not precisely observed and they can, of course, be arranged in other places according to the invention.

The basketball hoop includes a ring 10 through which the ball 20 must pass from above to score a goal, and a net 11 attached to the inner or outer periphery of the ring 10 to receive the ball entering through the ring . The ball 20 completely crosses the net 11 open downwards. The ring 10 is connected to a basketball board 13 by a connection support 12. The ring 10, the connection support 12 and the panel 13 are made of solid impact-resistant material. The basketball board 13 is further connected by bars 14 to a fixing post 15, which is generally fixed vertically at the edge of the basketball court. The bars 14 and the post 15 are generally made of metallic material. Of course, two basketball hoop sets are placed on each side of the playing field for a basketball game.

The optical bullet detector 3 comprises in particular at least one optical sensor 31 disposed on a surface of the ring or partially integrated in the ring with a visible light receiving portion on or in the ring 10 of the basket of basketball. This optical sensor 31 can be placed in a first position on a surface of the ring or in the ring 10 on the periphery of the ring since the fixing of the ring 10 to the connection support 12. Of course can also be envisaged placing the optical sensor 31 directly on the connection support 12 or also in contact with the basketball hoop 13. In this case, it may be an optical sensor in the form of a camera as indicated above.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the optical sensor 31 of simple design is presented to be fixed near the connection support 12 with its light receiving surface preferably directed towards the center of the ring 10 of the basket. At least one camera of the kinetic type of the visual detector 4, not shown, can also be placed on the basket or the panel holding it.

The optical bullet detector 3 may also include at least one light source 32 disposed on a surface of the ring 10 or partially integrated in the ring. The light source 32 can be placed at a second position on or in the ring 10 on the periphery of the ring since the fixing of the ring 10 to the connection support

12. Preferably, the light source 32 is disposed in a position diametrically opposite the optical sensor 31 on the same surface of the ring and facing said optical sensor 31.

The light source 32 is necessarily dependent on the technology used of the optical sensor 31. This light source 32 can be a light emitting diode for emitting a ray R of defined color, such as in infrared, towards the optical sensor 31 or a source of emission of a laser beam. The optical sensor 31 is thus capable of capturing the light emission generated by the light source if no ball passes through the ring 10 of the basketball hoop.

The visual movement and depth detector 4 can, necessarily or not, be associated with the optical bullet detector 3. The visual detection and its computer processing can independently validate the passage of the ball in the basket by technological type kinetic (Kinect®) associated.

The optical bullet detector 3 comprises an acquisition unit not shown, but which can be integrated into the structure of the optical sensor 31, to receive a light detection signal from the optical sensor. A detection signal processing unit can also be provided in the optical bullet detector 3 and / or in a visual bullet detector 4 or in the timing device 2, or be directly part of the acquisition unit. The processing unit executes algorithms detecting that a ball passes through the ring 10 of the basket. Data communication Data can be carried out from the optical bullet detector 3 in particular from the optical sensor 31 to the timing device 2. Data communication Data can relate to the detection of a ball, which crosses the ring 10 of the basketball basket during the game, to stop the playing time in the timing device 2. The optical ball detector 3 can therefore be connected to the timing device 2 by cable or electric wire passing through the panel 13, the bars 14 and pole 15, or by means of wireless communication by radio frequency signals.

The processing unit can also be located close to the optical sensor 31, in particular on the connection support of the basketball hoop. This processing unit can also be placed directly in the timing device 2, as a part of the timing software.

The optical bullet detector 3 and / or the visual detector 4 for visual recognition by one or more kinetic type cameras aims to detect the moment when the ball 20 enters the ring 10 and the moment or the part upper part of the ball is at or below the ring, and already partly in the net 11. The optical sensor 31 detects light from the light source 32 as long as no object is placed between the sensor optic 31 and the light source 32. On the other hand as soon as the lowest part of the ball 20 enters from above into the ring 10 of the basket, the optical sensor 31 no longer detects the light coming from the light source 32 and informs the processing unit or the timing device.

Thereafter, in order to be able to stop the playing time in the timing device 2, the optical sensor 31 must again detect the ray R of light coming from the light source 32. It again detects the ray R of light once the upper part of the ball 20 is at or below the ring 10 of the basket, where the optical sensor 31 and the light source 32 are located. A detection signal is supplied to the timing device 2 , which takes into account the new light detection of the optical sensor after the start of the non-reception of light in order to stop the playing time. The timing device 2 comprises a timing software, which can detect the instant of the non-reception of the ray R of light by the optical sensor and then the reception again of the ray R of light, to stop the playing time. This means that the ball 20 has entered the ring 10 of the basket and a goal is also counted.

The acquisition unit of the optical bullet detector 3 in connection with the optical sensor 31 can also measure a difference in light intensities in order to be able to detect the reception or non-reception of the ray R of light from the light source. 32 in order to be freed from ambient light. For greater measurement accuracy, provision may also be made to place, at different positions on a surface of the ring 10, several optical sensors 31 and several light sources 32 of different colors. Each optical sensor is opposite and diametrically opposite to a respective light source. Data communication with the timing device 2 is carried out from the optical bullet detector 3 in relation to the detection of each optical sensor 31.

It may be provided for the timing system 1 to combine or not a visual detection by kinetic type cameras (Kinect®) by motion and depth detection to detect the passage of the ball in the ring from the basket.

It should also be noted that, in the case of wireless communication of data or commands with the timing device 2, the optical bullet detector 3 and / or the visual bullet detector 4 can be activated by the timing device 2 at any time before or during playing time.

It should also be noted that a calibration step of the optical ball detector 3 and / or the visual ball detector 4 can be provided after the installation of the timing system and before the start of the time counting. timing device clearance 2. Calibration is necessary if only an optical sensor, such as a camera or a LIDAR device or a visual detection system by at least one kinetic type camera ( Kinect®). The calibration steps are on the one hand the detection of the edge of the ring via the shape adaptation and on the other hand the detection of the volume on the basis of the detected shape. Regarding the operating time, there is an object detection, such as the ball, with the presence in the detected volume, and a shape recognition to ensure the accuracy of the detected object, which passes through the basket ring. As noted above, information from multiple optical sensors combining various technologies can be used to improve measurement accuracy, as well as one or more kinetic type cameras (Kinect®) for visual detection.

From the description which has just been made, several variants of the method and of the timing system of a basketball game can be devised by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. The optical light sensor may include two light receiving surfaces arranged vertically on top of each other so as to differentiate the direction in which a ball passes through the basketball during the game. If an optical sensor and a light source are used, the latter can emit a light beam intermittently or by flash. Several optical sensors and several light sources can be placed on an upper and / or lower surface of the basketball hoop to also allow the direction of the ball to pass through the basketball hoop. Visual movement detection can be combined or used independently of optical detection to detect the passage of the ball in the basket.

Claims (17)

claims 1. Method for timing a basketball game with a timing system (1) comprising a timing device (2) in connection with at least one optical ball detector (3) and / or in connection with at least one detector ball display (4) for detecting a ball (20) in a basketball hoop, the optical ball detector (3) comprising at least one optical sensor (31), which is arranged near or on the basketball hoop, and the visual ball detector (4) comprising one or more kinetic type cameras (41) for detecting the movement and the depth of the ball in the basketball hoop, the method comprising the steps consisting in: - start a game time counting by activating the timing device (2), - sensing by the optical sensor (31) the passage of the basketball ball (20) in a ring (10) of the basketball hoop from above the basket, and / or visually detecting by means of at least one camera (41 ) kinetic type the movement of the basketball (20) passing through the ring (10) of the basketball hoop by computer processing, and - transmit at least one detection signal for the passage of the ball (20) in the basketball hoop of the optical ball detector (3) and / or the visual detector (4) to the timing device (2) to stop a time of Game. 2. Timing method according to claim 1, wherein the optical ball detector (3) comprises the optical sensor (31), which is a color camera or an infrared camera, the optical sensor (31) comprising a unit of acquisition of the images taken by the camera to provide a data signal relating to the images taken, and for which a processing unit is provided in the optical bullet detector (3) and / or in the visual bullet device (4), or in the timing device (2) for processing the data signal, characterized in that the processing unit processes the data signal by means of timing software to determine the moment when the ball passes through a ring ( 10) from the basketball hoop to stop playing time. 3. Timing method according to claim 2, characterized in that there is provided a step of calibrating the optical ball detector (3) and / or the visual ball detector (4) before the counting of playing time begins. of the timing device (2), and in that the calibration consists in detecting an edge of the ring (10) of the basketball hoop as a function of the shape of the basket and in detecting the volume of the basketball hoop on the basis of the shape detected. 4. A timing method according to claim 1, wherein the optical bullet detector (3) comprises at least one optical sensor (31) and at least one light source (32) intended to provide a ray of light (R) in direction of the optical sensor (31), the optical sensor (31) and the light source (32) being arranged at a ring (10) of the basketball hoop with the light source (32) facing the optical sensor (31) in a diametrically opposite position, characterized in that the optical sensor (31) detects the entry of the ball (20) into the ring (10) of the basketball hoop by non-reception of the light signal ( R) and provides a detection signal for the timing device (2) for stopping the playing time. 5. Timing method according to claim 4, characterized in that the optical sensor further detects the moment when the ball is at or below the ring (10) of the basketball hoop by receiving the light signal (R) following the non-reception of the light signal from the light source so as to supply a detection signal to the timing device (2) for stopping the playing time. 6. Timing system (1) for implementing the timing process of a basketball game according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the timing system (1) comprises a timing device (2) in connection with at least one optical ball detector (3) and / or in connection with at least one visual ball detector (4) for detecting a ball (20) in a basketball hoop, the optical ball detector (3) comprising at least one optical sensor (31), which is arranged near or on the basketball hoop, and the visual ball detector (4) comprising one or more kinetic type cameras (41) for detecting the movement and depth of the ball in the basketball hoop, and in that the optical ball detector (3) and / or the visual ball detector (4) are intended to transmit at least one signal for detecting the passage of the ball (20) in the basketball hoop (10, 11) has u timing device (2) so as to stop playing time. 7. timing system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the optical sensor (31) is intended to capture the passage of the basketball ball (20) in a ring (10) of the basketball hoop from above of the basket for transmission of the detection signal to the timing device (2) to stop the playing time. 8. timing system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the optical sensor (31) is a color camera or an infrared camera, in that the optical sensor (31) comprises an image acquisition unit taken by the camera intended to provide a data signal relating to the images taken, and in that a processing unit is provided in the optical bullet detector (3) and / or in the visual bullet detector (4) or in the timing device (2) for processing the data signal, the processing unit being intended to process the data signal by means of timing software to determine the moment when the ball passes through a ring (10) of the basketball hoop to stop playing time. 9. timing system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the optical bullet detector (3) comprises at least one optical sensor (31) and at least one light source (32) intended to provide a radius of light (R) towards the optical sensor (31), in that the optical sensor (31) and the light source (32) are configured to be placed at a ring (10) of the basketball hoop with the light source (32) facing the optical sensor (31) in a diametrically opposite position, characterized in that the optical sensor (31) is configured to detect an entry of the ball (20) in the ring (10) of the basketball hoop by not receiving the light signal (R) and for providing a detection signal for the timing device (2) for stopping the playing time. 10. Timing system (1) according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the optical sensor (31) is intended to be placed in a first position on the ring (10) of the basketball hoop or on a support for connecting (12) the basketball hoop to a basketball hoop (13) or on the basketball hoop (13). 11. timing system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the light source (32) is intended to be placed in a second position on a surface of the ring (10) identical to a surface of the optical sensor placement ring (10), in that the first optical sensor placement position (31) is in the direction of the connection support (12) of the basketball hoop, while the second placement position of the light source (32) is a position on the surface of the ring diametrically opposite to the first position for placing the optical sensor (31). 12. Timing system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the optical bullet detector (3) comprises several optical sensors (31) intended to be placed at different positions on a surface of the ring (10), and several light sources (32), in that each optical sensor (31) is intended to be placed on the ring (10) facing and diametrically opposite to a respective light source (32), which is configured to provide a ray of light (R) towards the corresponding optical sensor (31). 13. Timing system (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the optical bullet detector (3) is configured to transmit a detection signal from each optical sensor (31) to a processing unit in the optical detector of ball (3) for transfer to the timing device (2), or in the timing device (2) to determine a timeout. 14. Timing system (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that each light source (32) is a light emitting diode or a source of emission of a laser beam. 15. Timing system (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the light ray (R) generated by each light source (32) is of different color. 16. Timing system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the optical sensor (31) comprises at least one photo-receiving diode or an array of photo-receiving diodes. 17. A timing system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the visual bullet detector (4), which comprises one or more cameras (41) of kinetic type, is configured to transmit at least one detection signal from each camera (41) has a processing unit in the visual ball detector (4) for transfer to the timing device (2), or in the timing device (2) to determine a game stoppage.