CZ24742U1 - Apparatus for recording and representation of ball drop next to the playing field by making use of cameras - Google Patents

Abstract

This solution involves equipment which uses cameras for recording and displaying impact of the ball around the lines of the playing area. Its substance lies in the equipment consisting of at least two high-speed cameras (1) with a recording rate of at least 500 frames per second for scanning lines of the court (2) and flying ball (3), while camera output (1) is connected with at least one computer (4), equipped with a memory for video recording and an algorithm for image evaluation, while the computers (4) are connected, by wire or wirelessly, with at least one central server (5) for data evaluation, equipped with a memory for video and image storage from the entire playing time from all the computers (4), while the central server's output (5) is connected wirelessly with the display (6) of the umpire, and, by wire or wirelessly, with an outside-broadcasting vehicle (7). Computer (4) is also equipped with an interface for video recording from the camera. The equipment, which serves as a point of reference for tennis chair umpires, can also be used for TV broadcasts.

Description

A device for recording and displaying the impact of a ball around a line of a playing field using cameras

Technical field

A device for recording and displaying the impact of a ball to determine whether the ball was on, before or after the playing field line. The device serves as a reference for tennis judges as well as for television broadcasting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At this point, the ball's flight path estimation and visualization is used using a set of cameras placed around the playing field and a computer that calculates the ball's coordinates along the X, Y, Z axes over time. These coordinates are then used to approximate the impact of the ball on the playing field. The device then processes all the information and displays the referee graphics, but not the physical record of the impact of the ball.

There are several issues with this device:

a) the device does not need to accurately determine the coordinates of the ball from the data obtained, and hence display an arbitrary graphic with a badly determined ball impact. The device estimates the ball's flight coordinates from images that have a certain time interval between them. If, for example, there is a gust of wind between two sensing intervals at the moment of impact, the device may not calculate the ball's coordinates exactly and thus display a poor visualization to the referee;

b) the playing line may not be completely straight, the system will again display an incorrect result;

c) unwanted camera movement may occur, thereby distorting the results of the coordinate calculation algorithm without detecting a system error;

d) the stiffness of the balls may vary with the temperature and the ball manufacturer, thus causing a different flattening of the ball upon impact, which may make it impossible to determine from the calculation whether the ball was good or bad.

There may be a mismatch with this device because the ball has fallen, for example, behind a line that is visible from the ball's imprint on the playing field, but the device has evaluated the ball as good.

The essence of the technical solution

The above problems are eliminated by a device for recording and displaying the impact of the ball around the playing field line using cameras - a camera line referee, displaying a snapshot or video of the impact of the ball on the playing field in real time to the referee or television broadcast vehicle.

The device consists of a system of at least 2 high-speed cameras equipped with a lens with a minimum frequency of 500 frames per second (500 FPS) occupying the individual playing lines of the playing field. The output of each of the high-speed cameras is connected to at least one computer, which evaluates in real time the movements of the ball near the line, determining whether there was an impact before, on or beyond the game line. The computer is equipped with video recording memory and an image evaluation algorithm. Each computer is connected wired or wireless to at least one central server to which real-time image data is transmitted, the central server real-time evaluating the distance of the ball from the line and determining whether it was a good or bad ball. In addition, he can place all the necessary visualizations in the video (ball-to-line distance, ball speed on impact, highlight ball, insert ad, etc.). The scenes thus evaluated are continuously sent to the referee and television broadcasting vehicle, which is wired or wirelessly connected to the output of the central server. Referees can then look at their terminal undistorted shot and avoid disputes, because it is clear from the video where the ball hit exactly.

Overview of the figure in the drawing

The device according to said technical solution is schematically shown in the attached drawing.

- 1 C'Z 24742 Ul

Examples

The device comprises at least a set of 12 high speed cameras for tennis singles. Each of the cameras 1 captures the corresponding hemline 2 and the flight of the ball 3. The output of each high-speed camera 1 with the lens is connected to a computer 4 equipped with video recording memory from the camera 1 and an image evaluation algorithm. The computer 4 is connected wired or wirelessly to the central server 5 equipped with memory for storing video and pictures of the whole game time from all computers 4. From the central server 5, the processed image is then sent to the referee's terminal 6 and to the television broadcasting vehicle 2

Said technical solution is applicable for sports matches. Such as tennis, volleyball, football, hockey, badminton and similar ball games, where it is necessary to watch at high speeds the impact of the ball / ball on the line to see if it was a good or bad ball. These slow motion shots can also be used for television broadcasts, where various impact parameters of the ball that can be of interest to viewers, including advertising, can be placed in the image. This device eliminates the human errors of the Line Judges in determining the position of the ball's impact on the playing field.

Claims (2)

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS A device for recording and displaying the impact of a ball around a playing field line using cameras, characterized in that it comprises a system of at least 2 high-speed cameras (1) with a recording rate of at least 500 frames per second for imaging hemline (2) and a flying ball (3), the camera output (1) being connected to at least one computer (4) equipped with video recording memory and an image evaluation algorithm, the computers (4) being wired or wirelessly connected to the at least one central server (5) ) for evaluating data equipped with a memory for storing video and pictures of all game time from all computers (4), the output of the central server (5) being connected wirelessly to the referee's terminal (6) and wired or wireless to the television broadcasting vehicle (7). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer (4) is further provided with an interface for recording video from the camera.