GB2592608A

GB2592608A - A system and method for determining when a player has been nutmegged

Info

Publication number: GB2592608A
Application number: GB2003050.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fox Michael
Original assignee: Michael Fox Medical Ltd
Current assignee: Michael Fox Medical Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-03
Filing date: 2020-03-03
Publication date: 2021-09-08
Also published as: GB202003050D0

Abstract

There is provided a system for determining when a player has been nutmegged by an object, the system comprising a pair of wearable devices suitable for wearing on the legs/ankles/feet of a player. Each device of the pair of wearable devices comprises a front side comprising a front sensor 10a for detecting when the object is close to the front side, and a back side comprising a back sensor 10b for detecting when the object is close to the back side. The system determines that a player wearing the pair of wearable devices has been nutmegged when the front sensor of a device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object and the back sensor of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object, wherein the detection by the sensors occurs within a predetermined time period. The wearable devices may comprise shin pads 100 and the sensors may detect an RFID tag in a ball. A method for determining when a player has been nutmegged is also provided.

Description

A system and method for determining when a player has been nutmegged

Field of invention

The present inventon relates to a system or method for determining when an object has passed between a pair of devices. In particular, the system or method can be used to determine if a nutmeg has occurred during play.

Background

A nutmeg (otherwise called a tunnel, nut, megs, rnegnuts, panne, or brooksy) is a playing technique used primarily in football, but also in field hockey, ice hockey, and basketball. A nutmeg is when a ball (or puck) is passed between an opponents legs or feet.

Panna is a street football game, originating in the Netherlands, which depends on nutmegs/pannas. In particular, it is a one on one game lasting three minutes, where the player who score the most goals wins. However, if a player manages to panna/nutmeg their opponent, that player will win the game instantly.

Given the speed at which a player may pass a bail between an opponents legs, and because the opponent might be looking elsewhere at the time, the opponent may not even notice that a pannalnutmeg has occurred. Given this, and the fact that, in Parma, a nutmeg/panne results in an instant win, there is a need for a system and method for determining when a nutmeg/panne has occurred,

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a system or method for determining when a player has been nutmegged.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a system for determining when a player has been nutmegged by an object, the system comprising a pair of wearable devices suitable for wearing on the legs/ankles/feet of a player, each device of the pair of wearable devices comprising: a front side comprising a front sensor for detecting when the object is close to the front side; a back side comprising a back sensor for detecting when the object is close to the back side; wherein the system determines that a player wearing the pair of wearable devices has been nutmegged when the front sensor of a device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object and the back sensor of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object, wherein the detection by the sensors occurs within a predetermined time period.

The system may comprise the object.

The system may determine that the player has been nutmegged when both of the front or back sensors detect the object within the predetermined time period.

Each front sensor may comprise an inner front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner front side of the device, and an outer front sensor for detecting when the object is dose to an outer front side of the device. Each back sensor may comprise an inner back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner back side of the device, and an outer back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer back side of the device.

The system may determine that the player has been nutmegged when at least one of the inner front and outer front sensors on one device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object, and at least one of the inner back and outer back sensors of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object.

The pair of wearable devices may comprise means to signal to the player wearing them or to someone observing that the player has been nutmegged.

The means for signalling may comprise one or more of a vibrator, a light and an audio alarm.

The pair of wearable d may comprise shin pads, ankle/leg cuffs, or shoes.

The sensors may be embedded within the pair of wearable devices or are attached to the surface of the devices.

Each sensor may comprise a transmitter and a receiver, and wherein the object that each receiver is configured to detect a passive RFIRFID tag, Each sensor may comprise a receiver, and wherein the object that each receiver is configured to detect is an active RF/RFID tag.

The system may further comprise a second pair of wearable devices, and wherein the first and second pairs of wearable devices are configured to operate on separate frequencies.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for determining when a player has been nutmegged by an object, wherein the player is wearing a pair of wearable devices on their legs/ankles/feet, each of the wearable devices having a front sensor for detecting when the object is close to the front side and a back sensor for detecting when the object is close to the back side. the method comprising: detecting the object with the front sensor of a device of the pair of wearable devices, and detecting the object with the back sensor of the other device of the pair of wearable devices, wherein the detection by the sensors occurs within a prsdeterrnined time period.

The method may comprise detecting the object at both of the front or back sensors within the predetermined time period.

Each front sensor may comprise an inner front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner front side of the device, and an outer front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer front side of the device; and each back sensor may comprise an inner back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner back side of the device, and an outer back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer back side of the device. in this embodiment; the method comprises: determining that the player has been nutmegged when at least one of the inner front and outer front sensors on one device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object, and at least one of the inner back and outer back sensors of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object.

The method may comprise signalling to the player wearing them or to someone observing that the player has been nutmegged The signal may be one or more of a vibration, a light and a sound.

The object may be a ball comprising an RE tag or an RFID taç

Brief description of the drawings

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 shows a shin pad comprising front and back sensors in accordance with an embodiment of the system of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows the foot placement of a player during a game, the effective detection areas of the front and back sensors of a pair of shin pads in accordance with Fig. 1, and a scenario in which a ball is passed between the feet of the player; Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1, and shows a shin pad in accordance with another embodiment of the system of the present invention, where the shin pad has two front and two back sensors; Fig. 4 shows the foot placement of a player during a game, the effective detection areas of the two front and two back sensors of a pair of shin pads in accordance with Fig. 3, and a scenario in which a ball is passed between the feet of the player.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention provides a system for determinino when a player has been nutmegged.

By way of a non-limiting example, the system and method will be described with reference to a football player wearing a pair of shin pads for determining when a football has passed between the shin pads.

With reference to Fig. 1, in one embodiment of a shin pad (100) there is a front sensor (10a) on or within a front side (see the front view of the shin pad in the lefthand drawing) for detecting the presence of a ball within a threshold distance of the front sensor, and a back sensor (10b) on a back side (see he back view of the shin pad in the righthand drawing) for detecting the presence of a ball within a threshold distance of the back sensor. As shown, the back sensor can be attached to a strap across the back of the shin pad, where the strap helps to secure the shin pad to the wearer's leg. The terms "front" and "back" refer to a sensor capable of detecting the ball on the shin side or the calf side of a player's leg, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows the feet of a player, where that player is wearing a pair of shin pads (100) as described with respect to Fig. 1, and is stood with a normal stance. A football is shown pass n between his feet/leas/shin pads with trajectory ET'. As can be seen, the sensors (10a, 10b) of the shin pads have a certain range or effective area (F, B), within which they detect the ball. In this scenario, the ball will be detected by the front sensor (10a) of the right shin pad and the back sensor (10b) of both shin pads. This can be seen by the fact that the trajectory 'T' of the ball passes within the effective area (F) of the front sensor (10a) of the shin pad on the player's right leg, and within the effective area (B) of the back sensors ('10b) for both shin pads. There will be a slight time delay between detection by the front sensor and detection by the back sensors, as the ball travels from in front of the player to behind the piayer. However, the time period between detection by the sensors will be within a threshold time period; such that the system can distinguish the front and back sensors being triggered by the ball passing between the shin pads, versus the ball coming into proximity of those sensors in normal non--nutmeg play as the player's feet and the ball move around.

As will be appreciated, if the trajectory of the ball 'T' were to be angled equidistantly between the feet when the player has the normal stance shown in Fig. 2, then the front (10a) and back (lob) sensors of both shin pads would be activated by the ball, and if the trajectory were to be diagonally down to the right; rather than left, then the inner front sensor on the left shin pad would be activated before the inner back sensors of both were activated. Furthermore, difference stances of the player and trajectories of the bail will Mager different sensor combinations; as will be discussed below.

As shown in Fig. 2, it is preferable that the detection areas (F, B) of the sensors is large enough to provide overlap between the detection areas of the left and right shin pads, such that a nutmeg is not missed due a gap in detection area coverage. There therefore needs to be overlap in the detection areas, for at least the average spacing between a player's outstretched leas/feet.

With reference to Fig. 3, in another embodiment for a shin pad, the shin pad (200) has two front sensors (20a, 20b); as seen in the front view on the left, and two back sensors (20c, 20d), as seen in the back view on the right. In this embodiment, the two back sensors (20c, 20d) are located on sections of the shin pad which curl around the leg towards the back or calf (either because the shin pad has this preformed curve, or due to the shin pad adopting the curved shape when worn). The sensors can be located elsewhere on the shin pad; for example; the back sensors could be located on a strap across the back of a shin pad, as described with respect to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the feet of a player, wearing a pair of shin pads (200) as described with respect to Fig. 3, and stood with a normal stance. A football is shown passing between his feet/legs/shin pads with trajectory 'T''. As can be seen by the circular areas, the sensors of the shin pads have a certain range within which they detect the ball. When the shin pads are worn, the sensors (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) can be referenced with respect to the players legs, and produce effective detection areas referred to as an inner front area (IF), an outer front area (OF), an inner back area (IB) and an outer back area (OB). In this scenario, the ball will be detected by the inner front sensor (IF) of the right hand shin pad and the inner back sensors (IB) of both shin pads. There will be a time delay between detection by the inner front sensor (IF) and detection by the inner back sensors (IB), as the ball travels from in front of the player to behind the player, but the time period between detection by the sensors will be within a threshold time period. As mentioned above, it is preferable to have overlapping detection areas of the left and right shin pads (in this foot pose, overlap between the inner front detection areas (IF), and overlap between the inner back detection areas (IB)).

As will be appreciated, if the trajectory of the ball 'T'' were to be angled equidistantly between the feet when the player has the normal stance shown in Fig. 4, then the front sensor having the inner front (IF) effective area and the back sensors having the inner back effective area (IB) of both shin pads (200) would be activated by the ball. When worn, the two front (10a, 10b) and two back (10c, 10d) sensors can be considered as inner or outer sensors. With reference to the shin pad (200) of Fig. 3, when worn on the left leg, front sensor 20b is a front outer sensor, front sensor 20a is a front inner sensor, back sensor 20c is a back outer sensor, and back sensor 20d is a back inner sensor.

As will be readily appreciated, when playing football, the player's feet will often be a position other than the normal stance shown in Figs. 2 and 4. If the legs are crossed over, then the ball may be detected by one of both of the front outer sensors and one or both of the back outer sensors. If the feet are essentially both pointing forward in a line, with the ball passing behind the heel of one foot and in front of the toe of the other, the back sensor of one shin pad will be triggered along with the front sensor of the other. For example, the trajectory of the ball will trigger the front inner sensor of one pad and the back outer sensor of the other; or the front outer sensor of one pad and the back inner sensor of the other. If the ball were to be perpendicular to the line of the feet, then both back sensors of one shin pad and both front sensors of the other could be triggered.

The sensors (10a, 10b; 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) of the shin pads (100, 200) may be embedded within the shin pads (for example, sitting within lumens or pockets of the shin pads), or may be attached to or stuck on the surface of the shin pad or the strap used to secure it to a player's leg.

in some embodiments; each shin pads may comprise more than two front sensors and more than two back sensors. Furthermore; the number of sensors on the front of a shin pad may differ to the number of sensors on the back.

in one embodiment, the football comprises an RF tag. The RF tag can be embedded or printed within the ball or stuck/attached to the surface of the ball. Preferably it is embedded within the ball to protect the RE tag during play. The shin pad sensors (loa, lob: 20a, 20h, 20c, 20d) are configured to detect when the RF tag comes within their effective areas (F, B; IF, OF, IB, OB).

The RF tag may be active, in which case it transmits a signal which can be picked up by any sensor (10a, lob: 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) within range. Alternatively, the RF tag can be passive. The sensors within range of the passive RF tag transmit signals which will energise the passive RE tag, and they will then receive the altered signals, thus detecting that the RF tag is within their proximity.

The sensors may be configured to pick up signals with directionality; such that the front sensor only picks up signals originating from in front of the shin pad, and the back sensor only picks up signals originating from behind the shin pad, such that the front sensor does not detect an RF tag signal from a ball that is behind the shin pad. This may be achieved through a direction of an antenna, shielding or distance thresholding, or any other suitable means.

in the embodiment where each sensor transmits a signal to a passive RF tag, multiplexing (i.e. separating the signals in frequency, time or with code) can be used to prevent interference between the sensors.

in one embodiment, the sensors of the shin pads can have transmitters, and the RF tag can be active, such that the system can still function to determine a nutmeg if the power (e.g. battery) of one of the shin pads or ball fails.

The shin pads and football (where it comprises an active RE tag) are preferably capable of being recharged, for example via wireless, USB, or mains charging, or motion powered.

The RF tag may be an REID tag, such that a particular ball can be distinguished from other REID tads associated with other balls or players. This may be useful where multiple dames of panna are being played on a given pitch or you want to track the players themselves, where each player wears an RFID tag also. The sensors of a given pair of shin pads can pick up the unique signals from the football REID tag and the REID tag worn by the player who is nutrneggind, such that it is possible to determine who has nutmegged who. This information can be transmitted or downloaded to a computer for processing and displaying to an end user, for example by an app on a phone, such that it is possible for a user to see which players have been nutmegged and by whom.

Although the system has been described above with respect to an RF identification system, it will be understood that other suitable identification systems can be used, for example including optical or ultrasound identification systems.

As well as detecting that a player has been nutmegged, it is preferable to provide an alert to that player, their opponent or a spectator that the player has been nutmegged. The shin pads (100, 200) preferably have a means to alert the wearer or observer to a nutmeg. The alerts can be visual, audio OF tactile; and one or more of these alert types can be used together. For example, a vibrating means in the shin pads, will alert the nutmegged player, and a light and/or sounds display will serve to alert any observer (inciudino the opponent), as well as the player.

A processor on one or both of the shin pads, or remote from the shin pad, receives the sensor detection signals and determines via logic whether a nutmeg has occurred. Once determined it can trigger one or more of the above alerts. The information on the nutmeg event can be transmitted to an electronic device or computer, for example to display the nutmeg event and or player statistics via an app on a phone, or it can be transmitted to another pair of shin pads, for example to alert both players that the game has finished (e.g. by one of the alerts described above).

Since panna is a two person came, a system for detecting a nutmeg will preferably comprise a pair of shin pads (100, 200) for each player, such as those described with reference to Figs. 1-4, and a ball with an RF tag. Each pair of shin pads (100, 200) can be configured to operate on a different frequency, such that there is not interference between the shin pads of the players. In one example, the shin pads are provided with a number of selectable frequencies, so multiple games of panna can be played alongside without interference between the players shin pads. Similarly, by having Li number of selectable frequencies, each player in a larger game of football (e.g. 5 a-side or 11 a-side) can wear a pair of the shin pads to determine nutmegging in a normal football game.

As well as determining whether a player has been nutmegged, the system may determine other information, such as the speed at which the ball has passed between the shin pads, which can be transmitted or downloaded to an electronic device for processing and display, e.g. via an app on a phone.

The method of the present invention will be understood with respect to the above system description. In particular, with respect to Figs. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for determining when a player has been nutmeaged by a football, wherein the player is wearing a pair of shin pads (100) in accordance with Fig. 1. With reference to Fig. 2, and the specific ball trajectory 'T' shown; the method detects that a player has been nutmegged when the football has been detected by the front (10a) sensor on the right shin pad and the back (1013) sensors of both shin pads, where the sensors detect the football within a given time period.

Other aspects of the method will be readily understood from the above system description.

It will be appreciated that the description of the system and method with respect to a pair of shin pads and a football comprising an RF tag is by way of example only. Instead of shin pads, the player could wear any pair of wearable devices which are attached to their legs, ankles or feet, such that the system can determine when an object (which can be a football, basketball, hockey ball, puck etc.) has been passed between the wearable devices. For example; the wearable devices could comprise a band or cuff worn around the ankle or leg, or a pair of shoes.

it will be appreciated that this description is by way of example only; alterations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1, A system for determining when a player has been nutmegged by an object; the system comprising a pair of wearable devices suitable for wearing on the legs/ankles/feet of a player, each device of the pair of wearable devices comprising: a front side comprising a front sensor for detecting when the object is dose to the front side; a back side comprising a back sensor for detecting when the object is close to the back side; wherein the system determines that a player wearing the pair of wearable devices has been nutmegged when the front sensor of a device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object and the back sensor of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object, wherein the detection by the sensors occurs within a predetermined time period.
The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises the object.
3 The system of claim 1 or 2; wherein the system determines that the player has been nutmegged when both of the front OF back sensors detect the object within the predetermined time period.
4. The system at claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each front sensor comprises an inner front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner front side of the device, and an outer front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer front side of the device; and wherein each back sensor comprises an inner back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner back side of the device, and an outer back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer back side of the device.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system determines that the player has been nutmegged when at least one of the inner front and outer front sensors on one device of the pair or wearable devices detects the object, and at least one of the inner back and outer back sensors of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object.
6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the pair of wearable devices comprises means to signal to the player wearing them or to someone observing that the player has been nutmegged.
7 The system of claim 6, wherein the means for signalling comprises one or more of a vibrator, a light and an audio alarm.
8 The system according to any preceding claim, wherein the pair of wearable devices cor ipr ses shin pads, ankle/leg cuffs, or shoes.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensors are embedded within the pair of wearable devices or are attached to the surface of the devices.
10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein each sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver, and wherein the object that each receiver is configured to detect a passive RE/REID tag.
11. The system of any one of claims 1-8, wherein each sensor comprises a receiver, and wherein the object that each receiver is configured to detect is an active RF/RFID tag.
12. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising a second pair of wearable devices, and wherein the first and second pairs of wearable devices are configured to operate on separate frequencies.
13. A method for determining when a player has been nutrnegged by an object, wherein the player is wearing a pair of wearable devices on their legs/ankles/feet, each of the wearable devices having a front sensor for detecting when the object is close to the front side and a back sensor for detecting when the object is close to the back side, the method comprising: detecting the object with the front sensor of a device of the pair of wearable devices, and detecting the object with the back sensor of the other device of the pair of wearable devices, wherein the detection by the sensors occurs within a predetermined time period.
14. The method claim 13, wherein the method comprises detecting the object at both of the front or back sensors within the predetermined time period.
15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein each front sensor comprises an inner front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner front side of the device, and an outer front sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer front side of the device; and wherein each back sensor comprises an inner back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an inner back side of the device, and an outer back sensor for detecting when the object is close to an outer back side of the device, wherein the method comprises: determining that the player has been nutmegaed when at least one of the inner front and outer front sensors on one device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object, and at least one of the inner back and outer back sensors of the other device of the pair of wearable devices detects the object.
16. The method according to one of claims 13-15, further comprising signalling to the player wearing them or to someone observing that the player has been nutmegoed,
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal is one or more of a vibration,a light and a sound.
18. The system of any one of claims 1-12 or the method of any one claims 13-17 wherein the object is a ball comprising an RE tag or an REID tag.