EP0148917A1 - Amelioration de la visibilite de balles et autres projectiles utilises dans des jeux - Google Patents

Amelioration de la visibilite de balles et autres projectiles utilises dans des jeux

Info

Publication number
EP0148917A1
EP0148917A1 EP19840902716 EP84902716A EP0148917A1 EP 0148917 A1 EP0148917 A1 EP 0148917A1 EP 19840902716 EP19840902716 EP 19840902716 EP 84902716 A EP84902716 A EP 84902716A EP 0148917 A1 EP0148917 A1 EP 0148917A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
projectile
game
camera
light
retroreflective
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19840902716
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Michael Cyril Godin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0148917A1 publication Critical patent/EP0148917A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
    • A63B43/06—Balls with special arrangements with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with improving the visibility of balls and other projectiles used in games,
  • An object of one aspect of this invention is to provide a game projectile which enables the visibility of the projectile to be increased.
  • a game projectile as least a portion of the outer surface- of which is retroreflective.
  • a retroreflective surface is hereby defined as being such that over a substantial range of angles relative to the normal to the surface, a substantial amount of light incident on the surf ce at that angle is reflected back in substantially the same direction as the incident light.
  • retroreflection differs from the reflection provided by, say, a mirror where light is reflected from the surface on the opposite side of the normal to the incident light.
  • the projectile When the projectile is televised, filmed, otherwise reproduced or viewed, using an optical system that includes a light source which is placed so that the angle between itself, the projectile, and the camera or eye, is small, the projectile can reflect increased amounts of light in relation to other objects in the field of view, or different light in terms of colour, intensity or variability.
  • a system for enhancing a game projectile when viewing a game which system employs a retroreflective game projectile according to said one aspect of the invention and further comprises means for projecting light from the viewing location or adjacent thereto towards the projectile, so that light from the projector means is reflected by the projectile back to the viewing location to enhance the projectile.
  • a camera may be located at the viewing location to record the image.
  • Figures 1 to 3 are partial sectional views of three balls each according to the invention.
  • OMPI Figures 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams each of a camera and light projector for use in a system according to the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a portion of a squash ball 1 in cross-section.
  • the rubber wall of the ball is formed with a plurality of recesses, each of which ' --' accommodates a rigid container 2, whose floor contains an area of retroreflective material 3, such as 3M*s Scotchlite High Intensity Reflective Sheeting Type 7610.
  • a lip 4 of -rubber covering the edge, and a little more, of the rigid container 2 ensures that the rubbery physical characteristics of the ball are maintained for play and that the containers 2 are held in position.
  • Adhesives. may be used in addition.
  • the retroreflective material is protected by the rigid containers 2. Rays 5 of light are shown striking the retroreflective material 3 and being returned in the direction of the source, which is the characteristic of this material.
  • FIG. 2 shows a wall portion of another type of ball 1, in cross-section.
  • the wall portion 6 is transparent and the inner surface thereof is formed with an array of cube-corner reflectors.
  • the cube-corner reflectors act together to provide a retroreflective surface. Balls made in this way might retain the aerodynamic qualities of the original.
  • Figure 3 shows a modification to the ball of _ Figure 2 r in which the wall of the ball 1 has an outer layer 7 which is similar to the wall of the ball shown in Figure 2, and an inner layer 8 which is bonded to the inner retroreflective surface 2 of the outer layer 7 and which has a smooth inner surface.
  • the purpose of providing the additional layer 8 is to reduce the stress concentrations between the cube corners when the ball is deformed, and thus increase the life of the ball.
  • the relative refractive indexes of the materials from which the inner and outer layers are made must be chosen so as to cause substantial internal reflection at the cube-corner interface of the two layers, or alternatively a reflective coating may be bonded between the two layers.
  • the corner cube elements, or retroreflective elements must be as small as possible to ensure that the ray ' of light reflected internally is not only reflected back in substantially the same direction,, internally, but also as near as possible in the same position, internally to ensure that it is refracted from the outer surface in substantially the same direction as it entered.
  • Small retroreflectors also have the further advantage that physical distortions.of the ball produce smaller angular distortions of the reflecting surfaces.
  • retroreflective sheet material on the surface of the game projectile or cube corner reflectors below the outer surface
  • other suitable means may be employed to render at least a " portion of the outer surface of the projectile retroreflective.
  • retroreflective beads may be embedded beneath the outer surface of the projectile.
  • a light source on the same optical path as a camera is often obtained, in general photographic work, by using partially reflecting mirrors or beam splitters. This has the disadvantage that light is lost on both the outward and inward journeys.
  • Experiments with a squash ball incorporating 3M Sheeting Type 7610 show that good optical results can be obtained with a light source slightly to one side of the camera lens, without using a beam splitter.
  • Figure 4 shows an arrangement whereby these disadvantages can be minimized.
  • Figure 4 shows an optical arrangement effectively providing a light source in the region of the camera lens, that is not bulky and does not generate much heat in the region of the camera 20.
  • the real light source 22 is shaped and directed by reflector 24, through a heat filter 26, onto a stationery convex fully-reflecting mirror 28, which reshapes and redirects the light.
  • the camera 20 is pointed through a hole 30 in the mirror 28 and can pan and tilt on a suitable mount that takes account of the hole in the mirror.
  • the system shown in Figure 4 is of particular use for filming or televising a game at close quarters, for example squash.
  • the light source 22 and mirrors are arranged to illuminate at least a large part of the squash court.
  • the game of squash is played with a retroreflective squash ball, which reflects light from the source back to the camera 20 to enhance the ball in relation to the remainder of the picture.
  • FIG 5 there is shown a light source and camera arranged particularly for viewing a game from a distance, for example golf, driving.
  • the light source 22, mirror.24 and heat filter 26 are similar to those shown in Figure 4.
  • the mirror 28, however, of the Figure 5 embodiment has two main differences.
  • the mirror 28 in Figure 4 has a larger radius of curvature than the mirror 28 in Figure 4, so that the field of projection is small.
  • the half-angle of the cone of projected light may be, for example, 3h° .
  • the mirror is mounted for universal pivotal movement, that is in an up and down direction and from side to side and a combination of these movements.
  • the arrangement includes a telescopic sight which is also mounted for universal pivotal movement and a half-speed drive mechanism
  • Pivoting movement of the sight 32 by a particular angle about the horizontal axis 36 aligned with light beam from the mirror 24 causes the drive mechanism 34 to pivot the mirror 28 by half that angular amount about the horizontal axis 38 lying in the general plane of the mirror.
  • pivoting of the sight 32 by a particular angle about the vertical axis 4 ⁇ causes the drive mechanism 34 to pivot the mirror 28 by half that amount about the vertical axis 42 passing through the centre of the mirror 28.
  • the drive mechanism may utilise gears, or pulleys and cables, to provide the necessary gearing, or alternatively the mirror 28 may be driven by motors, the orientation of the sight 32 being detected by potenti ⁇ raeters and which provide signals which are used by a control unit to operate the motors.
  • the camera 20 is set up with a wide angle lens so that it sees the whole of a game scene, for example a golf hole from tee to green.
  • the telescopic sight 32 has cross wires which are sighted on a retroreflective golf ball and an operator follows the ball with the sight, when it is ..driven from the tee.
  • the beam of light from the mirror 28 therefore tracks the ball, and the light reflected by the ball back to the camera therefore enhances the image of the ball in relation to its surroundings.
  • the mirrors 28 may also perform other functions such as smoothing out slightly varying intensities of light.
  • the mirrors 28 may also be constructed in a number of sections, each with its own light source, arranged so that each sectionreflects approximately into the same field of view, and different lights may be used, singly, additively or successively.
  • the mirror 28 may be mounted slightly to one side of the camera.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Abstract

Dans le but d'améliorer la visibilité d'une balle ou autre projectile (1) utilisé dans un jeu, au moins une partie de la surface extérieure du projectile est rendue rétro-réflichissante, par exemple en appliquant des éléments (3) en matériau rétro-réfléchissant sur la surface externe ou en appliquant une couche rétro-réflichissante sous la surface. Lorsque le projectile est télévisé, filmé, reproduit ou visionné d'une autre manière quelconque, en utilisant un système optique comprenant une source de lumière qui est placée de telle sorte que l'angle entre elle-même, le projectile et la caméra ou l'oeil, est petit, le projectile peut réfléchir davantage de lumière par rapport à d'autres objets dans le champ de vision, ou une lumière différente quant à sa couleur, son intensité ou sa variabilité.
EP19840902716 1983-07-12 1984-07-04 Amelioration de la visibilite de balles et autres projectiles utilises dans des jeux Withdrawn EP0148917A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8318786 1983-07-12
GB838318786A GB8318786D0 (en) 1983-07-12 1983-07-12 Visibility of balls & c

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0148917A1 true EP0148917A1 (fr) 1985-07-24

Family

ID=10545577

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840902716 Withdrawn EP0148917A1 (fr) 1983-07-12 1984-07-04 Amelioration de la visibilite de balles et autres projectiles utilises dans des jeux

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0148917A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU3103684A (fr)
GB (1) GB8318786D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1985000294A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8322533D0 (en) * 1983-08-22 1983-09-21 Christie D K Retro-reflectors in flexible walls of balls
GB8708395D0 (en) * 1987-04-08 1987-05-13 Dunlop Ltd Retroreflective games balls
FR2638375B1 (fr) * 1988-10-14 1993-03-05 Drouillat Jean Luc Boule a jouer, notamment pour la petanque
NL1029853C2 (nl) * 2005-09-01 2007-03-05 Bouwadvies B B A B V Spelattribuut.

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1154784A (fr) * 1956-07-13 1958-04-16 Luminescence sur fibres naturelles et artificielles et en particulier sur balles de tennis
CH377698A (de) * 1959-09-11 1964-05-15 Hossmann Paul Golfball
DE2055725A1 (de) * 1970-11-12 1972-05-18 Hieber, Oskar, Dr.med., 6200 Wiesbaden Tennisball
US3944738A (en) * 1973-12-11 1976-03-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Method to increase the visibility of game objects during telecasting
US4042236A (en) * 1975-05-21 1977-08-16 Leprevost Dale Alan Tennis game method and apparatus
US4284365A (en) * 1977-02-22 1981-08-18 Hall & Myers Reflective lane marker for roadways
DE3117183A1 (de) * 1981-04-30 1982-11-25 Rüdiger Lothar von Dipl.-Zf.-Ing. 6200 Wiesbaden Reppert Verfahren zur herstellung und anwendung von leuchtbaellen und leuchtenden spielfeldmarkierungslinien

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8500294A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3103684A (en) 1985-02-07
GB8318786D0 (en) 1983-08-10
WO1985000294A1 (fr) 1985-01-31

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Legal Events

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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Effective date: 19850613