JPH09290037A - Automatic strike judging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately and automatically judge the strike of a ball thrown by a pitcher by installing multiple cameras, photographing the thrown ball, and detecting that the thrown ball passes through a strike zone based on the video signals from them. SOLUTION: When four cameras 1 are installed on the back screen side, for example, two cameras 1 are installed to detect a strike ball passing on the pitcher side on a home base 2, and the other two cameras 1 are installed at the same distance from the center of the home base 2 to detect the strike ball crossing the side face parallel with the batter side on the home base 2. The images of the cameras 1 are compared, and the ball is judged as a strike when its address exists in the strike zone. The high and low portions are determined to meet the baseball rule on the average based on the body pattern of each batter, and they are inputted to an automatic strike judging device in advance for use as the strike judging data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention automatically determines the pitching pitch of a pitcher in a baseball game.
The present invention relates to a method of processing a plurality of video signals by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Strikes and balls in baseball have been judged visually by a referee who is a person.

The height of the strike zone is determined as follows. The upper limit is the horizontal line drawn between the upper part of the shoulder and the upper part of the uniform trousers, and the lower limit is the upper line of the kneecap. This is not the attitude in which the batter waits for the pitch, but the stance at the moment when the batter finishes the backswing and tries to hit. Therefore, the height of the strike zone varies depending on each batter, and it is not judged by the attitude of the batter who forgot the pitch, and when the batter stood near the pitcher or the catcher away from the home base, the pitch when the pitcher passed the batter It is judged not by the height but by the height of the pitch when passing over the home base.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The pitch is 160 km / h
In addition, the judgment of the strike will be judged from the home base and the batter away from the pitch when the pitch passes through the space, because the judgment of the referee is made by a person. Very accurate dynamic vision is required, and the conventional methods have the following problems.

The strike zone is not a visual line drawn in the space, and the height of the strike zone is different for each batter, and there is no mark. The referee must remember from the batter's batting form as an image. It is a strange thing.

Since a pitcher throws a fast ball and a changing ball separately on the course as hits by a batter, there are few pitches that are the same pitch type and continuous on the same course, which increases the difficulty level of the determination, and the same referee makes different determinations even on the same course. There are technical differences among the referees.

Although the judgment of the referee is inaccurate, there are strike zones peculiar to the referee, and there are individual differences and regional differences, so that problems often occur due to the judgment of the referee.

[0008] It was often found that a mistake in the determination of one ball in the game determines the outcome or that the pitcher is struck immediately after the subtle determination and the flow of the game changes. The referee may artificially influence the outcome of the victory or defeat.

Even if the referee makes a strict neutral judgment for both teams and makes an accurate judgment, the players and the spectators will be dissatisfied with the judgment of the boundary between the strike and the ball. In order for baseball to aim for further internationalization, it is necessary to make accurate and stable judgments.

[0010]

The present invention is realized by increasing the speed of a computer, increasing the capacity of memory, advancing cameras, and reducing their costs. Claim 1 of the present invention
Is a system that installs multiple cameras that allow pitches to pass through the strike zone without depending on the person, and the computer automatically determines the strike from the video signals of them to eliminate artificial misjudgment. Is.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, the height of the strike zone of each batter is actually measured according to the rules of baseball, or the baseball rule is determined from the shape of each batter, regardless of whether the strike zone is high or low. The strike zone of each batter is input in advance to the automatic strike determination device and used as data for automatic strike determination before the start of the match.

[0012]

[Operation] The heights of the strike zones of all the members are measured in advance according to the baseball rules and are input to the strike automatic determination device as data together with the team name and the uniform number.
If the member list is submitted before the start of the match, the batting order will be entered into the strike automatic determination device by the uniform number, and the automatic strike determination device will arrange the uniform number and the height data of the strike zone in the battal order.

When the batter enters the bat, the referee or official checks the data of the batter's uniform number and the strike zone with a portable terminal or the like, and if they match the real thing, the strike automatic judging machine makes every pitch, Enter the measurement start immediately before the pitch.

When the ball reaches the strike zone, the automatic strike determination device reports and displays the strike on the umpire or on the scoreboard in the field and stops the automatic measurement.
If there is no report or indication, the referee will declare the batter as foul or half-swing, if it swings, then strike, otherwise as ball.

The referee or staff inputs the next batter and the change with a portable terminal, and the automatic strike determination device advances the strike determination data to the next batter when the next batter is input, and the strike determination when the change is input. Change the data to the batter of the opponent team.

Embodiment 1

In this embodiment, four cameras are installed on the back screen side as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are cameras for detecting a strike ball passing through the pitcher side on the home base. Yes, θ ₁ and θ ₂ are at the same angle, and the installation distance is the same from the home plate base center. 3 and 4 show a camera for detecting a strike ball crossing a side surface parallel to the batter side on the home base, and θ ₃ and θ ₄
Are installed at the same angle and the installation distance is the same from the center of the home plate. (If the installation angle or the distance is different between the left and right cameras, the width of the strike zone will be different for the left and right images, so the image is corrected by the computer 5 so that the strike zone has the same width). Therefore, it is projected on the two-dot chain line that intersects the center line of the camera at right angles.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the strike zone,
As shown in Fig. 7, the width is about 578 mm for the home base (17 inches) and the ball (9 inches around), and the length is 1,200 mm, which is considered to be the maximum value because it depends on each batter. Set. In order to confirm the strike zone address on the video, fix the ball in some space on the four corners of the actual strike zone (there are two formulas in Figures 1, 2 and 2 and 3), The camera is fixed by adjusting the angle and focus of each camera so that the ball appears at the corner address, and this operation is performed as necessary for the purpose of zero correction due to misalignment of the camera.

When viewed from the front, the size and number of pixels of the image are 2.89 mm × 200 in the horizontal direction and 5 mm × 240 in the vertical direction (actually, since there is an angle, the width and pixels of the strike zone are set). Is a product of sin θ and appears narrower) 1 pixel is 1 of the DRAM of 6 in FIG.
Equivalent to a bit. The pixel address of the image corresponds to the address of the DRAM, and the maximum strike zone addresses 0 to 47,999 of the image correspond to the maximum strike zone addresses 0 to 47,999 of the DRAM.

However, since the image of only one camera may be projected in the strike zone even when the pitch is not on the home base, the images of FIGS. 1 and 2 are compared, and the images of FIGS. 3 and 4 are compared. The images are compared, and if the ball address matches within the strike zone, it is determined to be a strike. This is because the cameras in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 have angles, and therefore, before or after passing the strike zone. The image and the address of the ball on the DRAM differ between the left and right cameras. That is, the fact that the addresses of the balls in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 match means that the pitch has reached the strike zone.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the strike is determined at two timings. Therefore, a pitching gouging the side of the home base parallel to the batter side is not detected as a strike. , It seems that such a pitch is not possible in reality, because the traveling direction must be changed twice.

As shown in FIG. 5, the detection error when the pitch reaches the strike zone is that the pixel size in the lateral direction is 2.89 mm × sin θ in this embodiment, so the pitch is on the side closer to the pitcher of the home base. When moving 1 pixel laterally, the pitching distance is 2.89 mm x sin θ / cos θ, and the mounting position of the camera 1 is 1 from the center of the back screen.
If 0m is 100m from the center of the home base, cos
Since θ is 0.1 and sin θ is 0.995, 28.75m
Therefore, the accuracy of detecting the pitching direction is ± 14.4m.
m.

The horizontal synchronization of the image processing of this embodiment is NTS.
Since it is less than the number of horizontal pixels of C, it is about 25 μs. For vertical synchronization, since there are 240 vertical pixels, 25 μs × 2.
With 40 shots, it will be 6,000 μs, that is, the pitch will proceed for 6 ms on one screen. Further, since the pitch is a high-speed moving object, the camera 1 uses a high-speed electronic shutter to prevent image shift.

Therefore, since the pair of cameras misses the pitch during this period, in this embodiment, the strike ball passing the pitcher side of the home base is detected as shown in FIGS.
Eight pairs of cameras are installed in each of the cameras of FIGS. 3 and 4 for detecting a strike ball crossing the side of the base of FIG.

In the timing chart of FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 8, an external synchronizing pulse is given to 8 pairs of cameras at a period of 6 ms to the pair of cameras, and at 750 μs intervals so that images are continuously displayed, so that one screen is processed. If 8 images are taken within a time of 6 ms, the missed pitch is up to 750 μs. The distance traveled by the ball during this time is 31 mm at a speed of 150 km / h, that is, the error caused by the missed image capture is ± 16 m.
m.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a pair of cameras. A signal processing circuit 7 separates a sync signal from a composite signal from the CCD camera 1 to extract a video signal and a computer so that the ball on the home base can be identified. By binarizing, the output of the AD converter is represented by 1 bit per pixel by binarizing. When the measurement start is input to the DRAM 6, the data from the CRi camera is written from the head address of the DRAM Ri, and the data from the CLi camera is written to the DRAM Li.

One screen is 240 × 200 as shown in FIG.
It becomes 48,000 bits, and about 30 screens are stored in DRAM in 16Mbit memory. These circuits are independent for each pair of cameras, and the CCD camera 1 is externally synchronized at the same timing, so that pitches at the same point are displayed.

According to the rules of baseball, the upper limit is the horizontal line drawn at the midpoint between the upper part of the shoulder and the upper part of the uniform trousers at the moment when the player tries to hit after finishing the backswing, and the lower line is the upper line of the kneecap. The height of the strike zone is measured in advance, and the team name and uniform number are entered in the strike automatic judgment machine. Alternatively, the strike zone is averaged according to the height, or a group of those is entered in advance in the strike automatic judging machine together with the team name and the uniform number.

Alternatively, the actual measurement of the height of the strike zone is performed by the computer itself or a person marking the height of the strike zone on the image with a mouse or the like by an image of a batting practice or a swing and converting it into an actual height.

If the starting members are submitted before the start of the match, the batting order is entered in the strike automatic judging machine, and the automatic strike judging machine arranges the strike zone data in the order of the batting order, and the current batter's high / low data itself or about 10 kinds. Grouped into and output simplified high and low data to the strike display device.

The automatic strike determining device sets the strike zone as follows. The address of the DRAM 6 is 600 to 45 in the strike zone depending on the batter's high and low data.
It is decided for the video data from all the cameras like 999. If the data of the batter input to the strike automatic determination device matches the current batter, the ball referee or staff member
Enter the measurement start for each ball,

DRAM of image data from CCD camera 1
6 is written by the DMA method, and the computer 5 is read by the DRAM 6 by the program method. The data of the left and right cameras, that is, the same bits at the same address of the DRAM Ri and the DRAM Li are compared. If it has a shape, it becomes a strike. If the background of the ball at the time of image processing is a strike zone, there is a catcher mitt and it is relatively easy to detect the ball.

The display of strike is as shown in FIG.
If even one of the eight computers 5 detects a strike, it becomes a strike, or if the batter fouls or misses and makes a half swing, it becomes a strike depending on the judgment of the referee. Press the switch.

When the referee confirms the strike zone data of the batter and inputs the measurement start, the computer 5 clears the DRAM 6 and outputs the measurement command signal to the external synchronizing circuit. Each camera 1 inputs the external synchronizing signal. Then, a composite signal is output, and the DRAM 6 is passed through the signal processing circuit 7 and the A / D conversion circuit at the timing of the vertical synchronizing signal.
Is written from the top address of the computer, the computer 5 inputs the measurement start signal, and 6 ms later, the DRAM Ri and the DRAM
The contents are compared from the leading address of Li, and if the ball is at the same bit at the same address, a strike is output and the measurement start signal is turned off to protect the image. When the referee inputs the next batter, the measurement start signal is turned off.

In this embodiment, a total of 32 cameras are used, but if the computer 5 and the camera 1 etc. are faster, the number of cameras can be reduced and the detection accuracy can be improved. The above method is also possible, and the binarization of the video signal can be performed by quantization of 8 gradations or the like. In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the description, the simplest example is given from various configurations. It was made into a composition.

[0035]

[Effects of the Invention] Since there is no technical difference or individual difference due to the referee and accurate strike judgment is made, the player can fully exercise his or her skill without fear of misjudgment.

Trouble and win / loss due to misjudgment or delicate judgment are not influenced, and interest in the game is further increased.

It seems that the sense of unfairness toward the ball court will disappear and that the internationalization of baseball will proceed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing how a camera is installed on the light side of a back screen, and the lateral width of a strike zone of a pitch passing through a side of a pitcher on the home base appears on the camera.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a camera is installed on the left side of the back screen, and the lateral width of the strike zone of a pitch that has passed the pitcher side on the home base appears on the camera.

[Fig. 3] A camera is installed on the light side of the back screen, and in addition to a part of the width of the strike zone in Fig. 1, the width of the strike zone of the pitch that passes through the side parallel to the batter side on the home base It is a figure showing how it looks like.

FIG. 4 shows that the camera is installed on the left side of the back screen, and in addition to a part of the width of the strike zone in FIG. 2, the width of the strike zone of the pitch passing through the side parallel to the batter side on the home base It is a figure showing how it looks like.

[Fig. 5] When the ball moves laterally by one pixel in the video signal, the pitch is
It is the figure which showed advancing only by the size / cos (theta) showing 1 pixel.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the maximum strike zone and is a diagram showing pixels of a video signal and addresses of a DRAM.

7 is a diagram showing the lateral width of the strike zone, which corresponds to the lateral width of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of an external synchronization signal input to the camera, showing that the same external synchronization signal is input to a pair of left and right cameras installed at the same angle. The circuit diagram is a pitcher side on the home base. A circuit diagram for detecting a pitching ball passing through a side and a circuit diagram for detecting a pitching ball passing through a side parallel to the batter side on the home base are provided.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of an external synchronization signal, 1
It is shown that one camera displays an image at a cycle of 6 ms.
This shows that the cameras can continuously capture the image.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a video signal,
It is a figure of a pair of cameras. The video signals from the left and right cameras are binarized and converted into digital signals and written in the DRAM 6 in order to make it easier for the computer to discriminate the pitch. The computer reads the left and right pitch data and compares them, and the pitch has the same address and the same bit. Check if exists.

FIG. 11: When a strike is detected by a computer, the signals are input to the strike display device by ORing with the strike signals of all computers, while the batter swings,
When the ball judge judges a foul or the like, a manual signal from the judge is also ORed and displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CCD camera 2 Home base 3 Ball 4 External synchronization device for CCD camera 5 Strike determination computer 6 DRAM video memory 7 Video signal separation signal processing circuit 8 Computer operation display device 9 Strike display device 10 Ball trial

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for automatically determining a strike when a baseball strike is determined by installing a plurality of cameras, photographing the throw, detecting the throwing of the throw through a strike zone based on the video signals of the cameras. . 2. When determining the high and low parts of a baseball strike, the high and low parts of the strike zone of each batter are actually measured according to the rules of the baseball, or the height of the batter's body shape is averaged to meet the baseball rules. The part is determined and input in advance to the automatic strike determination device according to claim 1 to be used as data for strike determination.