WO2023247853A1

WO2023247853A1 - Camera-based detection system

Info

Publication number: WO2023247853A1
Application number: PCT/FR2023/050841
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serge BRUCHEC
Original assignee: Bruchec Serge
Priority date: 2022-06-20
Filing date: 2023-06-12
Publication date: 2023-12-28

Abstract

A goal detection system (1) comprises a camera housing (6) having a tubular casing (7) for containing a detection camera (8) and a bracket (9) pivotally mounted on one end of the tubular casing (7).

Description

CAMERA DETECTION SYSTEM

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of technologies intended for detecting the crossing of a goal line. These technologies are commonly referred to by the Anglo-Saxon term “goal line technology”. They are intended to assist the referee in determining whether, with certainty, a ball has completely crossed the goal line. These technologies are intended for use in ball sports, such as football or handball.

State of the art

Technologies currently exist for detecting the crossing of a goal line. It is known to use stereovision or stereoscopic measurement, which consists of carrying out detection by a plurality of high-speed video cameras capturing images of the goal cages on each side of the field. The cameras are connected to a central computer which continuously determines the position of the ball. If the ball completely crosses the goal line, the central computer transmits a signal to a device worn by the referee, for example in the form of a watch, which device then emits an audible signal. The referee can then immediately validate the goal. With these solutions known from the prior art, the positioning of the cameras is a difficult task and they most often risk being damaged during a football match, in particular when they are positioned in the posts purpose, as is the case with the camera system described in application WO2013083112.

It is also known to create a particular magnetic field at the level of the goal cage, on either side, or on each side of the goal line by burying electric wires carrying current in this area of the playing field and to equip the balloon with a sensor intended to measure this magnetic field. The ball sensor measures the magnetic field especially when the ball enters the goal area and sends data relating to this measurement to a central computer. The latter then determines from this data whether or not the ball has crossed the goal line. If so, the central computer transmits a signal to a device worn by the referee which then emits an audible signal.

It is also known to use a LIDAR for detecting the crossing of a goal line, however such a system described in application FR3067126 does not make it possible to recognize the shape of the object and to be able to determine with certainty that It only has a goal when a ball of a chosen size crosses the said line. However, the use of LIDAR has the disadvantage of having to considerably modify the terrain and having to make trenches to bury them there.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to provide an inexpensive alternative technology that is also affordable for the amateur world.

The invention also aims to propose a system that does not require any modification of the goal cage, and more particularly which is adapted to be integrated directly into the goal cage.

Another object of the invention is to propose a system that does not require any installation of additional equipment in the playing area or any substantial modification thereof. Indeed, to be compatible with standards such as those established by the IFAB®, and in particular the Laws of the Game 2022/23, it is required that the ground playing area is not modified, and it is therefore preferable not to modify the terrain, for example by digging trenches to insert elements or by placing such elements directly on the ground.

Another object of the invention is to propose a system which is insensitive to climatic conditions, to the lighting conditions of the playing field or to the color of the ball.

Another object of the invention is to propose a system which is capable of selectively detecting a complete or partial crossing of the line of goal and which is therefore applicable to ball sports such as football or handball (in which the goal is only validated if the ball has completely crossed the goal line) or other sports requiring only a partial crossing of the goal line.

Another objective of the invention is to be able to integrate a detection system into the net lifting system of a goal cage and to allow the equipment of current football cages without having to completely replace them, that is to say i.e. leaving the posts and the crossbar intact.

More particularly, the invention relates to a goal detection system comprising a camera housing comprising a tubular formwork intended to contain a detection camera and a bracket preferably pivotally mounted on one end of said tubular formwork. Preferably, the tubular formwork includes a detection camera.

Such a configuration of the device according to the present invention makes it possible to easily integrate a camera into a net lifting system of a goal cage, in particular a football goal, and to be able to position the camera as close as possible to at least the one of the two goal posts that support the crossbar.

The bracket allows the simplified mounting of the detection system at the foot of a goal post by being integrated into the goal net lifting system.

The term "net lifting system" in the context of the invention describes the holding elements which allow the net of the goal cage to be stretched, and concerns in particular the tubes, some of which are positioned on the ground at the rear. goal posts and which stretch the net behind the goal line. It is recalled that, conventionally, a goal cage has two side posts which are erected vertically on either side of the goal line, and which support a crossbar, all of the two side posts and the crossbar form the entrance to the goal cage. This entrance to the goal cage opens onto the net placed back and which closes the space of said cage.

The detection system according to the invention makes it possible to easily route the information by wire behind the goal cage, via the net raising system, which allows a fully integrated analysis behind the goal cage. purpose and avoids having to set up a complex communication network around the playing field, as is the case with the detection systems of the prior art.

Preferably, the goal detection system according to the invention comprises connectors intended to be connected to the detection camera comprising cables capable of being integrated into the net lifting device of a football or handball cage, and a box comprising a data processing unit and a wireless communication system, preferably according to the Wifi communication protocol.

More preferably, said goal detection system comprises two camera boxes each having a detection camera which boxes are mounted behind a goal line, that is to say on the ground in the goal cage, and at the foot of each side post, in a configuration where the camera lenses point opposite each other parallel to the axis of the goal line YY', and in a direction ZZ' distant from 0 to 22 cm from the axis of the goal line YY', preferably 5 to 17 cm, advantageously 7 to 15 cm, or even 9 to 13 cm. The inventors demonstrated that such positioning and sizing of the system made it possible to obtain the best results in terms of detection of a soccer ball at the moment of its penetration into the enclosure of the goal cage. Preferably, the field of view of the cameras is between 100 and 130°.

Preferably, the goal detection system according to the present invention comprises two electronic cards, an output PCB connected to the tubular formwork, and a connection PCB designed to be connected to the camera. The presence of such electronic cards facilitates the internal connection to the tubular formwork, to respect the maximum dimensions authorized by the standards for the net lifting system.

The present invention also relates to a net lifting device comprising a goal cage net, a first and a second bar for fixing the goal cage net to the ground and a detection system as presented previously in the context of the invention, the camera boxes being integrated into the ground fixing bars of the net. The goal net extends from the opening between the posts and the crossbar, behind the goal line at the foot of the said posts.

Preferably, the first and second bars for fixing the goal net to the ground include waiting tubes mounted to replace said camera boxes. In this configuration, waiting tubes are positioned in place of the goal detection systems, which allows the possibility of playing without equipping the goals with the camera and thus not risking damaging them when their use is not necessary.

Preferably, two elbow tubes and a rear tube, connected perpendicularly to the first and second ground fixing bars by the two elbow tubes, are integrated into the net lifting device according to the invention. This makes it possible to have a continuous tubular network linked to the camera detection system, or the waiting tubes, and to be able to effectively tension the net and/or guide cables for a wired connection to a processing unit. images behind the football goal.

Preferably, the net lifting device according to the invention comprises at least one rear connection, and the rear tube is made up of at least two removable tube parts connected by at least one rear connection. Such a configuration is advantageous since it favors the exit of the cables from the net lifting device towards a processing unit. The present invention also relates to a goal cage comprising two side posts, a crossbar fixed to the two posts at each of its ends, a net, and a net lifting device according to the present invention, for tensioning the net integrated into said device relief behind the goal line while allowing control of goal scoring in the cage during a match.

The present invention also relates to an image processing method implementing the goal detection system according to the present invention comprising a camera, comprising the steps of:

- capture of images taken at goal level by the camera;

- analysis by the continuous data processing unit to detect a balloon and

- the implementation of an algorithm to determine whether the ball has crossed the goal line.

Other characteristics and advantages may still appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the embodiments below, illustrated by the appended figures, given for illustrative purposes.

Brief description of the figures

- Figure 1a is a perspective view of a goal cage equipped with the goal detection system according to the invention;

- Figure 1 b represents a top view of the goal cage without the net and with only the lower part of the net lifting device, equipped with the goal detection system according to the invention;

- Figure 2 represents an exploded view of a camera housing of the goal detection system according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the goal detection system according to the invention with the camera housing and with its bracket for fixing it to a side (goal) post, and which is connected to a fixing bar to the floor of the net lifting device;

- Figure 4 is a schematic view from above of the goal detection system according to the invention integrated into a goal cage; - Figure 5 represents a schematic view of the same mode as that shown in Figure 4, but seen from the front of the goal cage, and a box shows a detail of the system by observing from the side in the goal cage and towards the base of one of the two side posts of the cage.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention will be more particularly described in the context of football without it being possible to see any limitation of the scope of the patent to this sport.

According to the invention, it is proposed to detect the crossing of the goal line of a goal cage by means of one or more cameras associated with each other in an advantageous embodiment, where the optical axes of the cameras are combined . Classically, a soccer goal includes a set consisting of two side posts and the crossbar on which it rests, and which extends vertically above the goal line.

Figure 1 represents an overall perspective and exploded view of a goal detection system 1 according to the invention which must be mounted on a football field in a goal cage 2 equipped with a net 3. The goal cage 2 also includes two side posts 4a and 4b and a crossbar 5 supported by the two posts.

The goal detection system 1 comprises a camera housing 6 comprising a tubular formwork 7 intended to contain a detection camera 8 and a bracket 9 pivotally mounted on one end of said tubular formwork.

The tubular formwork 7 can be composed of a tubular casing 7a and a facade 7b mounted by riveting on the casing and having a recess 10 provided for the passage of the lens of the detection camera 8.

The detection system 1 also includes connectivity made up of electrical cable or for the transfer of computer data by wire. The cables are integrated into a net lifting device 11 of a goal cage. The detection system 1 also includes a box 12 comprising a data processing unit 13 and possibly a wireless communication system (see Figure 4). In a preferred embodiment, the detection system 1 comprises two camera boxes 6a and 6b, each integrating a detection camera 8 in accordance with the above. The two camera boxes 6a and 6b are placed such that the cameras are facing each other just behind the goal line. More particularly, the two camera boxes 6a and 6b are placed in the net lifting device 11 comprising the net 3 of the goal cage, and are an integral part of the ground fixing bars 16 and 17 of the net lifting device 11, being placed just behind the side posts 4a and 4b of the goal.

More advantageously, the camera boxes 6a and 6b are mounted behind a goal line YY' at the feet of each side post 4a and 4b, in a configuration where the camera lenses point facing each other parallel to the axis of the goal line YY', and in a direction ZZ' distant from 0 to 22 cm, or even 5 to 17 cm, and in particular 11 cm, from the axis of the goal line YY'.

Holding tubes are used to replace camera boxes 6a and 6b to prevent them from being damaged between matches.

In a preferred embodiment, the net lifting device 11 comprises three tubular ground parts, containing the ground fixing bars 16 and 17 integrating the camera housings 6a and 6b and a rear tube 18 joined to the two fixing bars on the ground 16 and 17 by elbow tubes 19a and 19b. The rear tube 18 is in two removable tube parts connected by at least one rear connector 20. Such a configuration facilitates the assembly of the net lift and makes it possible to easily pass the bundles of cables and/or electrical wires for the connections connecting the camera to a processing unit. According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the camera housing 6 comprises the tubular formwork 7 comprising: the tubular casing 7a on which the facade 7b is mounted by screwing with four rivets; and a tubular casing cap 21 to laterally close the formwork. The facade 7b includes the recess 10 provided for the passage of the lens of a camera, and an O-ring 22 which guarantees sealing at the level of the recess. Two electronic cards, one of which named output PCB 23 is attached to the cap of the tubular casing 21. The other electronic card is a connection PCB 24 to the camera. The two PCB cards 23 and 24 are connected by a tablecloth, which includes a set of fine cables and which are arranged on the same plane presenting the finesse sought for connection in small spaces.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the goal detection system 1 comprises two camera boxes 6a and 6b each equipped with a detection camera 8; and a connection is connected to each detection camera 8. This connection includes cables integrated into the net lifting device 11 of a football or handball goal cage 1. The goal detection system 1 also includes the box 12 comprising the data processing unit 13 and a wireless communication system according to the standard Wifi® communication protocol. According to an advantageous embodiment, the box also integrates a detection camera.

In this goal detection system, the camera positioning devices 1 are mounted in the goal cage 2 and just behind the goal line, more particularly at the foot of each side post 4a and 4b, in a configuration where the objectives of the goals cameras point facing each other parallel to the axis of the goal line YY', and in a direction ZZ' distant 11 cm from the axis of the goal line YY'. The field of view of the cameras is 115° (see figures 4 and 5). The goal detection system is shown in Figure 5 integrated into a football goal cage 2 comprising a first side post 4a, a second side post 4b and the crossbar 5, as well as the ground fixing bars 16 or 17 integrating the camera boxes 6a or 6b.

The invention is described in the above by way of example. It is understood that the person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention, for example by combining the different characteristics above taken alone or in combination, without departing from the scope of the invention. .

Claims

1. Goal detection system (1) comprising a camera housing (6) comprising a tubular formwork (7) intended to contain a detection camera (8) and a bracket (9) pivotally mounted on one end of said tubular formwork ( 7).

2. Goal detection system (1) according to claim 1, comprising connectors intended to be connected to the detection camera (8) comprising cables capable of being integrated into the net lifting device (11) a football or handball goal, and a box (12) comprising a data processing unit (13) and possibly a wireless communication system.

3. Goal detection system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said system comprises two camera boxes (6a and 6b) each having a detection camera (8) which camera boxes are mounted behind a goal line at the foot of each side post (4a and 4b), in a configuration where the camera lenses point facing each other parallel to the axis of the goal line YY', and in a direction ZZ' distant from 0 to 22 cm from the axis of the goal line YY'.

4. Goal detection system according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the detection system comprises two electronic cards, an output PCB card (23) connected to the tubular formwork (7), and a connection PCB card (24) intended to be connected to the camera.

5. Net lifting device (11) comprising a goal cage net (3), and comprising a first and a second ground fixing bar (16 and 17) of the net (3) of the goal cage and a detection system according to one of the preceding claims, the camera box(es) (6, 6a and 6b) being integrated into the ground fixing bar(s) (16 and 17) of the net (3).

6. Net lifting device (11) according to claim 5, wherein the first and second ground fixing bars (16 and 17) of the goal cage net comprise waiting tubes mounted to replace said housings. camera (6a and 6b).

7. Net lifting device (11) according to one of claims 5 or 6, comprising two bent tubes (19a and 19b) and a rear tube (18) connected perpendicularly to the first and second fixing bars (16). and 17) to the ground by the two elbow tubes (19a and 19b).

8. Net lifting device (11) according to claim 7, comprising at least one rear connection (20), and the rear tube (18) being in at least two removable tube parts connected by at least one rear connection (20). ).

9. Goal cage (2) comprising two side posts (4a and 4b), a crossbar (5) fixed to the two posts at each of its ends, a net (3), and a net lifting device (11) according to one of claims 5 to 8, to tension the net (3) integrated in said lifting device behind the goal line.

10. Image processing method implementing the goal detection system according to one of claims 2 to 4 comprising a camera (8), and comprising the steps of:

- capture of images taken at goal level by the camera (8);

- analysis by the data processing unit (13) continuously to detect the passage of a ball and