U.S. patent application number 16/761245 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-12 for sensor-embedded ball and system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Acrodea, Inc.. Invention is credited to Shigeo FUJISAKI, Tsuyoshi ITO, Yoshio KUNIYOSHI, Junya TSUTSUMI.
Application Number | 20200353318 16/761245 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005005416 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-12 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200353318 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSUTSUMI; Junya ; et
al. |
November 12, 2020 |
SENSOR-EMBEDDED BALL AND SYSTEM
Abstract
A ball with a sensor incorporated therein is provided. The ball
includes a first sensor including a multiaxial acceleration sensor,
a first communication unit for wireless transmission of sensor data
detected by the first sensor, and a battery for supplying electric
power to the first sensor and the first communication unit. The
first sensor includes a first multiaxial acceleration sensor housed
at a position intended to be a center of gravity of the ball. Each
of the first communication unit and the battery is arranged at a
position out of the position intended to be a center of
gravity.
Inventors: |
TSUTSUMI; Junya; (Tokyo,
JP) ; ITO; Tsuyoshi; (Tokyo, JP) ; FUJISAKI;
Shigeo; (Tokyo, JP) ; KUNIYOSHI; Yoshio;
(Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Acrodea, Inc. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005005416 |
Appl. No.: |
16/761245 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
November 5, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2018/040973 |
371 Date: |
May 2, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0002 20130101;
A63B 2069/0006 20130101; A63B 43/004 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 43/00 20060101
A63B043/00; A63B 69/00 20060101 A63B069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 2017 |
JP |
JP2017-214077 |
Claims
1. A ball comprising: a first sensor including a multiaxial
acceleration sensor; a first communication unit for wireless
transmission of sensor data detected by the first sensor; and a
battery for supplying electric power to the first sensor and the
first communication unit, wherein the first sensor includes a first
multiaxial acceleration sensor housed at a position intended to be
a center of gravity of the hall, and wherein each of the first
communication unit and the battery is arranged at a position out of
the position intended to be a center of gravity.
2. The ball of claim 1, further comprising a core body forming a
central portion of the ball, wherein the first sensor, the first
communication unit and the battery are incorporated in the core
body.
3. The ball of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes a
plurality of second multiaxial acceleration sensors arranged
adjacent to the first multiaxial acceleration sensor arranged at
the position intended to be a center of gravity.
4. The ball of claim 3, wherein the plurality of second multiaxial
acceleration sensors include a plurality of second multiaxial
acceleration sensors arranged so that the first multiaxial
acceleration sensor is at a body center position thereof.
5. A system comprising a mobile terminal that includes a second
communication unit to be paired with the first communication unit
of the ball according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal
includes: a unit for generating ball movement data of the paired
ball, based on data obtained from the first sensor of the paired
ball via the first communication unit and the second communication
unit; and a first function for using the data from the first sensor
to calculate at least one of acceleration of flight motion, flight
distance, and displacement amount during flight, concerning the
paired ball.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first sensor includes a
plurality of multiaxial acceleration sensors, and wherein the first
function includes a function for using data of at least one of the
plurality of multiaxial acceleration sensors included in the first
sensor to cancel an acceleration component caused by spinning of
the paired ball.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile terminal includes a
unit for using at least one of the acceleration, the flight
distance and the displacement amount to output a pitch type of the
paired ball.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile terminal includes a
simulator for displaying appearance viewed from outside in a state
in which the ball is moving, based on the ball movement data.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile terminal includes a
unit for causing a cloud server to store the ball movement data via
the Internet.
10. A system comprising a ball according to claim 1.
11. A method for monitoring movement of a ball via a mobile
terminal, the ball including a first sensor that includes a first
multiaxial acceleration sensor housed at a position intended to be
a center of gravity of the ball, and a first communication unit for
wireless transmission of sensor data detected by the first sensor,
the mobile terminal including a second communication unit, the
method comprising: pairing the first communication unit of the ball
and the second communication unit of the mobile terminal, and
using, by the mobile terminal, data of the first sensor of the
paired ball obtained via the first communication unit and the
second communication unit to calculate at least one of acceleration
of flight motion, flight distance and displacement amount during
flight, concerning the paired ball.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sensor includes a
plurality of second multiaxial acceleration sensors arranged
adjacent to the first multiaxial acceleration sensor, and wherein
the calculating includes using data of at least one of the
plurality of the multiaxial acceleration sensors included in the
first sensor to cancel an acceleration component caused by spinning
of the paired ball.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising using at least one
of the acceleration, the flight distance and the displacement
amount to determine a pitch type of the paired balls.
14. A program to be downloaded into a mobile terminal including a
second communication unit to be paired with a first communication
unit of a ball having a first sensor incorporated therein and
including a multiaxial acceleration sensor and the first
communication unit incorporated therein for wireless transmission
of sensor data detected by the first sensor, the program comprising
instructions that cause the mobile terminal to function as a unit
for using data of the first sensor of the paired ball obtained via
the first communication unit and the second communication unit to
calculate at least one of acceleration of flight motion, flight
distance and displacement amount during flight, concerning the
paired ball.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a system including a ball
with a sensor incorporated therein.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system having a ball with a
first sensor incorporated therein. It includes a triaxial
acceleration sensor or others. The ball includes a first
communication unit for wireless transmission of sensor data
detected by the first sensor. The system also has a mobile
terminal. It includes a second communication unit to be paired with
the first communication unit.
[0003] The mobile terminal includes a unit for acquiring external
information. It indicates environment in which the paired ball
moves alone. And, the terminal also includes a unit for associating
the sensor data of the paired ball, which is obtained via the first
communication unit and the second communication unit, with the
external information to generate ball movement data of the paired
ball.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Document 1: WO 2017/131133 A
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] A system is required which can easily, as well as
accurately, detect and record movement of a ball.
[0006] In order to accurately detect movement of the ball, it is
conceivable to have hardware incorporated therein, which includes a
wide variety of sensors. In addition to the sensors, however, a
control equipment and a battery for making them in operation must
also be incorporated in the ball. They are arranged in
consideration of weight and balance.
Solution to Problem
[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a ball. It includes a
first sensor including a multiaxial acceleration sensor, a first
communication unit for wireless transmission of sensor data
detected by the first sensor, and a battery for supplying electric
power to the first sensor and the first communication unit.
[0008] In this ball, the first sensor includes a first multiaxial
acceleration sensor housed at a position intended to be a center of
gravity of the ball. Each of the first communication unit and the
battery is arranged at a position out of the position intended to
be a center of gravity.
[0009] In a ball or other spinning objects, preferential
arrangement of a battery or other heavy objects at the center of
gravity thereof makes it easy to reduce influence on spinning
performance.
[0010] Accordingly, in a case that an acceleration sensor is
incorporated in the ball, the acceleration sensor is arranged at a
position out of the center of gravity thereof. When die ball spins
during flight, centrifugal force causes acceleration acting as
noise. It is often that the acceleration of the flight motion
cannot be distinguished from the noise.
[0011] The inventors of the present application have found that
this inhibits effective utilization of data of the acceleration
sensor for analysis of movement of the ball during flight.
[0012] The number of rotations and the spinning axis during flight
can be obtained by analyzing data of the multiaxial magnetic
sensor, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. However, it is difficult
even to accurately find out the flight distance without obtaining
the acceleration of the flight motion.
[0013] In the ball of the present invention, the battery and the
first communication unit are displaced from the position intended
to be a center of gravity. And, the multiaxial acceleration sensor
is arranged at the position intended to be a center of gravity.
This enables to suppress influence of the centrifugal force, and
thereby to acquire data including the acceleration of the flight
motion.
[0014] The battery, the circuit board or others can be arranged at
positions dispersed near the position intended to be a center of
gravity, or symmetrical with respect to the position intended to be
a center of gravity. The battery can also be divided into a
plurality of small ones to be arranged in the same manner. One or
more counterweights can be arranged in the same manner. These
enables to suppress influence on spinning performance of the
ball.
[0015] The multiaxial acceleration sensor arranged at the position
intended to be a center of gravity realizes to suppress influence
of the centrifugal force, and thereby to facilitate to obtain the
acceleration of the flight motion from the data of the first
multiaxial acceleration sensor.
[0016] In the ball having a core body which forms a central portion
of the ball and which is made of rubber, cork, polystyrene foam or
others, the first sensor, the first communication unit and the
battery can be incorporated in the core body. Or, they can be
sealed with a mold (or resin).
[0017] The first sensor can include a plurality of second
multiaxial acceleration sensors arranged adjacent to the first
multiaxial acceleration sensor arranged at the position intended to
be a center of gravity.
[0018] In a manufacturing process, the position intended to be a
center of gravity may slightly deviate (or shift) from designed
one.
[0019] In addition, the ball may be slightly deformed during
flight. This may cause the centrifugal force to greatly affect the
data from the first multiaxial acceleration sensor.
[0020] The plurality of second multiaxial acceleration sensors
arranged near the position intended to be a center of gravity
enables to utilize data of the sensor the least affected by the
centrifugal force. Also, obtained simultaneously from a plurality
of acceleration sensors around the center of gravity enables also
to remove a noise component caused by the centrifugal force.
[0021] The plurality of second multiaxial acceleration sensors can
be arranged so that the first multiaxial acceleration sensor is at
a body center position of them.
[0022] The plurality of second multiaxial acceleration sensors can
be arranged at apices of a regular tetrahedron, or arranged at
apices of a regular hexahedron.
[0023] The battery, the circuit board and other parts having
relatively large weight (or mass) can be arranged around the
position intended to be a center of gravity, and at apices of a
regular tetrahedron, a regular hexahedron or other regular polygons
with the position intended to be a center of gravity being at a
body center thereof.
[0024] Another aspect of the present invention is a system. It has
a mobile terminal that includes a second communication unit to be
paired with the first communication unit of the above-described
ball.
[0025] The mobile terminal includes a unit for generating ball
movement data of the paired ball based on data of the first sensor
of the paired ball obtained via the first communication unit and
the second communication unit. And, it also includes a first
function for using the data of the first sensor to calculate at
least one of acceleration of flight motion, flight distance, and
displacement amount during flight, concerning the paired ball.
[0026] The data from the acceleration sensor enables to trace
movement of the ball during flight.
[0027] The first sensor can include a multiaxial magnetic sensor
and/or a multiaxial gyro sensor. The mobile terminal can generate
ball movement data including data from these sensors.
[0028] In a case that the first sensor includes a plurality of
multiaxial acceleration sensors, the first function can include a
function for using data of at least one of the plurality of
multiaxial acceleration sensors included in the first sensor to
cancel acceleration component caused by spinning of the paired
ball.
[0029] The mobile terminal can include a unit for using at least
one of the acceleration, the flight distance and the displacement
amount to output a pitch type of the paired ball.
[0030] The mobile terminal can include a simulator for displaying
appearance viewed from outside in a state in which the ball is
moving, based on the ball movement data.
[0031] The mobile terminal can include a unit for causing a cloud
server to store the ball movement data via the Internet.
[0032] Another aspect of the present invention is a method. In it,
movement of a ball is monitored via a mobile terminal.
[0033] In the method, the first communication unit of the ball and
the second communication unit of the mobile terminal are paired.
And, the mobile terminal uses data of the first sensor of the
paired ball, which is obtained via the first communication unit and
the second communication unit, to calculate at least one of
acceleration of flight motion, flight distance and displacement
amount during flight, concerning the paired ball.
[0034] Another aspect of the present invention is a program. It is
intended to be downloaded into a mobile terminal including a second
communication unit to be paired with a first communication unit of
a ball. It has a first sensor incorporated therein and including a
multiaxial acceleration sensor, and the first communication unit
incorporated therein for wireless transmission of sensor data
detected by the first sensor.
[0035] This program includes instructions that cause the mobile
terminal to function as a unit for using data of the first sensor
of the paired ball, which is obtained via the first communication
unit and the second communication unit, to calculate at least one
of acceleration of flight motion, flight distance and displacement
amount during flight, concerning the paired ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system using a
ball with a sensor incorporated therein;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating schematic configuration of the
ball with a sensor incorporated therein;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration of hardware incorporated therein;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating functions
implemented in the mobile terminal to be paired with the ball with
a sensor incorporated therein; and
[0040] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating summarized processes of
an application in the mobile terminal.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
[0041] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates au example of a system
including a ball with a sensor incorporated therein. The system
converts a pitch of a user into data to manage it via a cloud
service.
[0042] This system 1 is a system in which a sensor incorporated in
the ball 10 converts a state of a ball (or pitching) 5 that a user
2 pitches from a mound 3 toward a catcher 4 to data. It is managed
from a cloud 30 via the mobile terminal 20 of the user.
[0043] The cloud 30 includes a computer network 31 such as the
Internet, a server 35 connected to the computer network 31, and an
online coaching system 40 connected to the computer network 31.
[0044] The server (or cloud server) 35 includes a user management
function 36, a storage 37 for accumulating data for each user, a
data management unit 38, and a data analysis unit 39 for performing
ranking tabulation or others.
[0045] The online coaching system 40 includes a simulator 41 for
using the data accumulated for each user in the server 35 to
reproduce pitching of the user. And, it also includes a unit 43 for
providing advice by a coach 42 with respect to the reproduced
pitching of the user via the computer network 31.
[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the ball 10 with a sensor
incorporated therein.
[0047] One example of the ball 10 is a baseball (or a regulation
ball).
[0048] The ball 10 includes a core (or core body) 11 at a center
thereof, which houses a capsule 13 containing hardware inside it
and is made of rubber or cork. It also includes a wound yarn
portion 12a covering around the core 11, in the same manner as a
normal baseball. Further, it includes a leather cover 12b covering
them at the outermost.
[0049] The core 11 includes a spherical capsule 13 made of resin
which houses the hardware. It also includes an elastic layer, e.g.,
a rubber layer 11a, covering the capsule 13.
[0050] The hardware is housed in the capsule 13. It is, in turn,
covered with a material 11a, which is the same as one originally
used for a core of a ball. Thereby, the hardware is housed in the
core 11. This enables to provide a ball 10 that causes no
misalignment of the core, or no large misalignment of the core,
even though it includes a sensor or other hardware.
[0051] The capsule 13 houses a sensor (or first sensor) 80 for
detecting movement of the ball 10. It also houses a control board
(or control unit) 17 on which a communication unit or others are
installed. Further, it houses batteries 18a and 18b. They are
configured to be housed at predesigned positions and postures. The
capsule 13 is configured to cooperate with the rubber layer 11a
covering it, so as to make the entire weight and balance almost the
same as those of a normal baseball (or regulation ball).
[0052] The capsule 13 can have a multilayer structure inside it.
This enables to house each of the parts in it at a predetermined
location with a predetermined posture. The inside of the capsule 13
can be sealed with a molding resin or others, after housing
them.
[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic configuration of the hardware
including a sensor 80 housed in the capsule 13.
[0054] The sensor (or first sensor, group of sensors) 80 includes
multiaxial, e.g., triaxial, acceleration sensors 81 and 82a to 82c,
It also includes a multiaxial, e.g., triaxial, gyro sensor 85.
Further, it includes a multiaxial, e.g., triaxial, magnetic sensor
86. And, it also includes a sensor board 88.
[0055] The control board 17 includes a short-range wireless
communication unit (first communication unit, e.g., BLE
(Bluetooth.RTM. Low Energy)) 17a. It also includes a microcomputer
17h for control. Further, it includes a memory 17c.
[0056] The capsule 13 includes a plurality of batteries 18a and 18b
that supply electric power to the above-described hardware. It also
includes a switch 16 for controlling on off of power supply.
[0057] In this example, in order to keep the weight and balance of
the ball 10 with a sensor incorporated therein substantially the
same as that of a conventional ball, the configuration of the
hardware housed in the capsule 13 is simplified as much as
possible. The batteries 18a and 18b are built-in type and
disposable.
[0058] If a function for wirelessly or otherwise indirectly
charging the battery becomes compact and lightweight enough to be
housed within the core 11, it is also possible to provide a
non-disposable type of a ball with a sensor incorporated
therein.
[0059] In this example, the first sensor 80 houses the acceleration
sensors 81 and 82a to 82d, the gyro sensor 85, and the geomagnetic
sensor 86, separately. However, it can house a nine-axis sensor
including a triaxial acceleration sensor, a triaxial gyro sensor,
and a triaxial geomagnetic (or magnetic) sensor. It can also be a
one-chip sensor.
[0060] The sensor 80 is arranged at the center 13c of the interior
of the capsule 13. The center 13c of the capsule 13 is at the
center of the core 11, i.e., the position intended as the center of
gravity 10g of the ball 10.
[0061] The two batteries 18a and 18b and the control board 17 are
arranged around the sensor 80 so that the center 13c of the capsule
13 is a center of mass (or center of gravity).
[0062] For example, the batteries 18a and 18b and the control board
17 as well as a counterweight (not shown) are arranged to abut on
the inner surface of the spherical capsule 13 to form a
substantially regular tetrahedron.
[0063] The arrangement inside the capsule 13 is not limited to
this. Preferably, the sensor 80 is arranged at the center 13c, and
the batteries 18a and 18b and other hardware are arranged so that
balance of their entire weight matches the center 13c.
[0064] Preferably, the moment of inertia further matches.
[0065] The first sensor 80 includes a plurality of triaxial
acceleration sensors 81 and 82a to 82d. The first acceleration
sensor 81 is arranged at the center 13c of the capsule 13, i.e.,
the position intended to be a center of gravity 10g of the ball 10.
The four second acceleration sensors 82a, 82h, 82c and 82d are
arranged around the first acceleration sensor 81 and substantially
adjacent to the first acceleration sensor 81.
[0066] Specifically, the four second acceleration sensors 82a to
82d are arranged at positions of the apices of a regular
tetrahedron, or at positions near them. The first acceleration
sensor 81, i.e., the center 13c is at its body center position.
[0067] In a case that the capsule 13 is housed with respect to the
ball 10 in an intended manner, the center 13c of the capsule 13
coincides with the center of gravity 10g of the ball 10. Thereby,
the first acceleration sensor 81 hardly detects the acceleration
caused by the centrifugal force, even though the ball 10 is
spinning during flight.
[0068] Accordingly, the acceleration for the flight motion of the
ball 10 can be detected.
[0069] Meanwhile, in a case that the capsule 13 is not housed with
respect to the ball 10 in an intended manner, the center 13c of the
capsule 13 is shifted with respect to the center of gravity 10g of
the ball 10. It is likely that the center of gravity log is at a
position between or among the first acceleration sensor 18 and one
or more of the second acceleration sensors 82a to 82d arranged
around it, that the center of gravity 10g is at a position near one
of the second acceleration sensors 82a to 82d, or that the center
of gravity 10g is at a position between or among some of the second
acceleration sensors 82a to 82d.
[0070] Accordingly, it may be possible to obtain acceleration data
with a little influence of the acceleration of the centrifugal
force from one of the second acceleration sensors 82a to 82d.
[0071] In addition, data obtained from the first acceleration
sensor 81 and one or more second acceleration sensors 82a to 82d
may enable to cancel data related to the acceleration of the
centrifugal force, and thereby to obtain acceleration data
associated with the flight motion.
[0072] The number of the second acceleration sensors 82a to 82d can
be further increased, if a room is within the capsule 13. For
example, they can be arranged at apices of the hexahedron with the
center 13c of the capsule 13 is at a body center position
thereof.
[0073] In this ball 10, the power switch 16 is connected to one of
the acceleration sensors 81 and 82a to 82d. When detecting that the
ball. 10 is thrown up and in a freefall state, it mediates electric
power supply from the batteries 18a and 18h to the control board 17
and the other sensors of the sensor 80. Thereby, a measurement
state is started.
[0074] The motion causing to turn the power switch 16 on is not
limited to freefall. Other sensors can detect other motions, e.g.,
in which the ball 10 is spun, or in which the ball 10 is took and
swung.
[0075] When data indicating that the ball 10 is moving is not
detected from the sensor 80 for a predetermined period of time, the
power switch 16 stops supplying electric power from the batteries
18a and 18b.
[0076] After the measurement is started, the microcomputer 17b
stores data (or sensor data) 51 detected by the sensor 80, e.g.,
the accelerations in the three axial directions, and the angular
velocities in the three axial directions, and the geomagnetisms in
the three axial directions, into the memory 17c at a predetermined
sampling intervals.
[0077] After the measurement is terminated, the microcomputer 17h
outputs the stored sensor data 51 via the wireless communication
unit 17a.
[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates configuration of the mobile terminal
20.
[0079] One example of the mobile terminal 20 is a smartphone. It
includes a short-range wireless communication unit (or second
communication unit, e.g., BLE (Bluetooth.RTM. Low Energy)) 21. It
also includes a data communication unit 22 that sends and receives
data via wireless LAN and/or cellular phone communication networks.
Further, it includes a GPS 23 for positioning latitude and
longitude. And, it includes an electronic compass 24 that can
determine orientation. Also, it includes an acceleration sensor 25.
It further includes a processor 26 that realizes various functions.
And, it includes a memory 27. It also includes a display 28a that
is an input/output unit. Further, it includes a touch sensor 28h.
And, it includes a voice input/output unit 29.
[0080] The processor 26 follows instructions included in an
application program (or APP, program, program product) 60
downloaded into the memory 27, to provide a function as a terminal
for generation of ball movement data, and/or a terminal for
analysis of behavior (or flight status) of the ball.
[0081] The processor 26 follows the program 60 to function as a
unit 61 for pairing the communication unit (or first communication
unit) 17a incorporated in the ball 10 and the communication unit
(or second communication unit) 21 of the mobile terminal 20. It
also functions as a unit 62 for acquiring external information 52
indicating the environment in which the paired ball 10 moves alone.
And, it further functions as a unit 63 for associating the sensor
data 51 of the paired ball 10, which is obtained via the
communication units 17a and 21, with the external information 52 to
generate ball movement data 55 of the paired ball 10.
[0082] The processor 26 further follows instructions included in
the application program 60 to function as a unit 64 for analysis of
the acceleration data of the ball 10. It also functions as a unit
65 for analysis of the spinning of the ball 10. Further, it
functions as a unit 66 for outputting a pitch type based on the
acceleration, an angle of the spinning axis, a ball velocity and
the number of rotations of the ball 10. And, it functions as a
simulator 67 for displaying appearance viewed from outside in a
state in which the ball 10 is moving. Also, it functions as a unit
68 for analyzing a pitching motion. It further functions as a unit
69 for causing the ball movement data 55 made by integrating the
sensor data 51 and the external information 52 to be stored (or
uploaded) into the cloud server 35 via the Internet 31. And, it
functions as a unit 70 for displaying a content supplied from the
cloud server 35.
[0083] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a schematic process (or
method) for activating an application 60, acquiring sensor data 51
from the paired ball 10 via the mobile terminal 20, and generating
hail movement data 55 of the paired ball 10, as well as analyzing
movement of the paired ball 10.
[0084] In Step 101, the ball 10 with a sensor incorporated therein
and a mobile terminal 20 are paired.
[0085] Specifically, the pairing unit 61 of the mobile terminal 20
pairs the first communication unit 17a incorporated in the hall 10
and the second communication unit 21 of the mobile terminal 20.
[0086] This establishes unique correspondence between the specific
ball 10 and the specific mobile terminal 20. Thereby, the external
information 52 input into the paired mobile terminal 20 is
associated with the sensor data 51 of the paired ball 10 in a
one-to-one manner.
[0087] One mobile terminal 20 can be paired with a plurality of
balls 10. In that case, a ball 10 to be pitched is selected from
the paired balls 10, in Step 102.
[0088] Once the pairing sets one-to-one relationship between the
mobile terminal 20 and the ball 10, external information 52
indicating the environment in which the ball 10 moves alone is
acquired, in Step 103.
[0089] The unit 62 for acquiring external information acquires a
pitching distance, a pitching direction, and position information
(or latitude and longitude), as the external information 52 from
the screen of the mobile terminal 20, a GPS 23 or others.
[0090] The position information concerning the pitching can
indicate a position of pitching (or a mound). It can indicate a
position of catching (or a home base). Or, it can indicate a
position between them. It can indicate even a position that does
not significantly away from the flight path of the ball 10.
[0091] The "pitching direction" can be automatically acquired by
the unit 62 using the electronic compass 24 of the mobile terminal
20 to display orientation in which the mobile terminal 20 is
facing, and by matching the direction of the mobile terminal 20 and
the pitching direction.
[0092] After the external information 52 is set to the mobile
terminal 20, the "start pitching" button displayed on the mobile
terminal 20 is clicked, in Step 104.
[0093] This operation causes to send a command for starting to
acquire the sensor data 51 and to store them into the memory 16c,
from the mobile terminal 20 to the paired ball 10 via the second
communication unit 21 and the first communication unit 17a.
[0094] After the pitching is over, the user 2 clicks the "pitching
finished" displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 20, in
Step 105.
[0095] This operation causes to send a command for terminating the
acquisition of the sensor data 51, from the mobile terminal 20 to
the paired ball 10 via the second communication unit 21 and the
first communication unit 17a.
[0096] At the same time, a command is sent for sending the sensor
data 51 stored in the memory 16c to the mobile terminal 20. The
generating unit 63, which is a function implemented by the
application program 60 into the mobile terminal 20, acquires the
sensor data 51 from the ball 10.
[0097] Hereinafter, the function implemented by the application
program (or program product) 60 will be described as a function of
the mobile terminal 20.
[0098] In Step 106, the generating unit 63 of the mobile terminal
20 associates the sensor data 51 acquired from the ball 10 and the
external information 52 input into the mobile terminal 20 to
generate ball movement data (or movement data) 55 of the paired
ball 10.
[0099] The sensor data 51 includes acceleration data in three axial
directions, gyro (or angular velocity) data in three axial
directions, and geomagnetic data in three axial directions.
[0100] The external information 52 includes a pitching distance
that the ball 10 moves, i.e., a distance from the mound 3 to the
catcher 4, a pitching direction, and latitude and longitude
information.
[0101] The ball movement data 55 can include the sensor data 51 as
raw data, or as platinized or standardized data using the external
information 52.
[0102] The sensor data 51 is information (or internal information)
that can be acquired by the sensor 80 inside the ball 10. It is
information necessary to reproduce movement of the ball 10
itself.
[0103] In order to reproduce the movement of the ball 10 with
respect to the outside world, it is desirable to be able to acquire
information such as a pitching distance, a pitching direction, and
latitude and longitude information.
[0104] Meanwhile, in the hall 10 of the present example, the
acceleration, which is a vector quantity, concerning the motion of
the center of gravity of the ball as a mass point can be measured
with eliminating influence of spinning. This enables to accurately
find out the acceleration of the flight motion, which is
acceleration as a vector quantity including the direction.
[0105] Thus, it is possible to use the acceleration to find out a
flight distance, and/or to find out transition of the flight motion
(or displacement amount which is a vector quantity including
direction and amount).
[0106] Also, information of the geomagnetism can be acquired with
the geomagnetic sensor 86 incorporated in the ball 10.
[0107] Thus, it can be reproduced from the sensor data 51 how the
ball 10 is moving with respect to the outside world.
[0108] In addition, verification of the information obtained by the
sensor 80 of the ball 10 with the information obtained by the
mobile terminal 20, and complementation of information not obtained
by the sensor 80 of the ball 10 by some condition with the
information obtained by the terminal 20 is important for evaluating
the information and ensuring stability of the system 1.
[0109] In Step 107, the uploading unit 69 of the mobile terminal 20
uploads the movement data 55 to the cloud server 35 via the data
communication unit 22.
[0110] The movement data 55 of this example includes the external
information 52 for analyzing the pitching, and raw data (or
RawData) which is the sensor data 51 as it is acquired from the
sensor 80.
[0111] Accordingly, uploading the movement data 55 to the cloud
server 35 enables to analyze the movement data 55 in a variety of
manners, and to utilize the moving data 55 for a wide variety of
applications.
[0112] In addition, if analysis methods are improved, this will
enable to reanalyze the movement data 55 in the improved
methods.
[0113] In this mobile terminal 20, in addition to uploading the
movement data 55, the pitching can be evaluated in situ in Step
108, based on the information obtained from the sensor data 51 and
the external information 52.
[0114] The pitching can be analyzed and evaluated based on the
movement data 55 including the sensor data 51 and the external
information 52, and accumulated in the memory 27. The pitching can
be analyzed and evaluated based on the sensor data 51 and the
external information 52 obtained at that time.
[0115] The evaluating step 108 includes a step 108a for analyzing
acceleration, a step 108b for analyzing spin, and a step 108c for
finding out pitch type.
[0116] In the analyzing step 108a of acceleration, the unit 64 for
analyzing acceleration evaluates and analyzes the data of the
acceleration sensors 81 and 82a to 82d included in the sensor data
51.
[0117] In a case that noise (or ripple) is determined as small,
which is caused by the centrifugal force and included in the data
of the first acceleration sensor 81 arranged at the position
intended as the center of gravity 10g of the ball 10, enough not to
affect obtaining data of the acceleration caused by air resistance
during flight or others, the data of the acceleration is used to
find out transition of velocity with respect to the flight distance
of the ball 10 during flight.
[0118] In a case that the acceleration data includes acceleration
data in a direction in which the flight motion changes, the data is
integrated to find out displacement (or displacement amount) of the
flight motion.
[0119] On the other hand, in a case that the unit 64 for analyzing
acceleration determines that noise (or ripple) is large, which is
caused by the centrifugal force and included in the data of the
first acceleration sensor 81, it evaluates data of the second
acceleration sensors 82a to 82d.
[0120] The unit 64 either employs the data of the acceleration
sensor with the smallest noise of the plurality of acceleration
sensors 82a to 82d, or uses the data of the plurality of
acceleration sensors to perform a process for canceling noise (or
acceleration component) caused by the centrifugal force. Thereby,
it generates acceleration data of the flight motion of the hall
10.
[0121] In Step 108b for analyzing spin, the unit 65 for analyzing
spin finds out to what extent (or how many times) the ball 10 has
spun in the movement period.
[0122] Specifically, it calculates the number of rotations Pr based
on the number of oscillations of the geomagnetic data of the sensor
data 51.
[0123] In a case that the ball 10 spins perpendicular to the
geomagnetism, the number of rotations Pr cannot be acquired.
However, the case hardly occurs when the target is a ball pitched
by a pitcher.
[0124] In step 108c for finding out a pitch type, the unit 66 for
finding out a pitch type finds out what angle the spinning axis of
the ball 10 has with respect to the horizontal plane and the
travelling direction of the ball 10.
[0125] In addition, it refers to the acceleration transition and
the displacement amount during flight of the ball 10 to find out
the pitch type.
[0126] For example, it is enabled that a displacement amount at
hand of the catcher expresses how degree the ball has curved
leftward, rightward, upward, or downward in comparison with
freefall motion under vacuum, after the ball is released from the
hand of the pitcher until the ball reaches the catcher.
[0127] In addition, since the acceleration in the flight direction
of the ball 10 can also be measured, the deceleration of the ball
or others can also be calculated. Thereby, transition of velocity
including "initial velocity" and "final velocity" can also be
observed.
[0128] Accurate measurement of the acceleration of the flight
motion enables to know the velocity of the ball during flight.
Thereby, the flying distance and velocity of the balls 10 can be
measured without external input of the flying distance.
[0129] Thus, the velocity can be measured for a free distance.
[0130] The method described in Patent Document 1 can be used for
finding out the magnetic dip from the geomagnetic sensor 86 or the
position information included in the external information 52,
analyzing the data of the geomagnetic sensor 86, and finding out
the number of rotations and the direction of the spinning axis.
[0131] The pitch type determination unit 66 uses the ball velocity
Pv, the number of rotations Pr, and the angle of the spinning axis
to identify a pitching type of the pitched ball 10.
[0132] In Step 108 for evaluating the pitching, the evaluation is
not limited for the latest pitching. The evaluation can also be
performed for a pitching accumulated in the mobile terminal 20.
Further, the evaluation can also be performed for a past pitching
in the same manner as described above by downloading data of the
pitching from the cloud server 35.
[0133] In addition, in Step 109, the simulator 67 simulates and
displays movement of the ball 10 viewed from outside based on the
ball movement data 55.
[0134] Further, in Step 110, the unit 68 for analyzing the pitching
motion can utilize information of the sensor data 51 before the
ball 10 is released, to evaluate the pitching motion.
[0135] The application 60 (or mobile terminal 20) further includes
a unit 70 for supplying content.
[0136] This unit 70 provides a result of analysis of the movement
data 55 for each user collected in the cloud server 35, a result of
ranking tabulation for all users, a result of comparison with the
pitching of the professional baseball player, or others, via the
mobile terminal 20 to the user 2.
[0137] In a case that the ball is intended to spin at high speed,
the maximum number of rotations is expected to be about 3500 rpm,
e.g., in a regulation ball applicable for professional baseball.
Considering the measurement range of the current acceleration
sensor, the error of the acceleration sensor 81 from the center of
gravity 10g is needed to be set to about 1 mm or less.
[0138] In a case that the size of the acceleration sensor is about
2 mm, it is difficult to arrange the plurality of acceleration
sensors in or around the area intend to be the center of gravity
10g.
[0139] In a case that the acceleration sensor 81 is arranged at the
center of gravity 10g but there is a small displacement, the
centrifugal force is detected when the ball 10 is spinning.
However, when it falls within the measurement range of the
acceleration sensor 81, the centrifugal force can be canceled by
numerical processing.
[0140] In addition, it is also important to realize the same
physical properties as the ball core of an actual regulation ball
in the professional baseball.
[0141] Therefore, it is important that the acceleration sensor 81
is placed to the center of gravity 10g, the center of gravity 10g
and the center 13c of the core 11 coincides, the moments of inertia
of the hardware within the capsule 13 and the capsule 13 itself
around the center of gravity 10g are equal in all axes, and the
mass of the core 11 including the capsule 13 is equal to the
regulated value (currently 20g).
[0142] Desirably, hardness, elasticity, damping rate of the
vibration, and other properties of the core 11 are the same as
those of the regulation ball of the professional baseball
specification, or within the regulated range.
[0143] Therefore, it is preferable to consider that the circuit
board 88 with the acceleration sensor 81 installed is arranged on
the plane passing through the center of gravity 10g, the
component-side face of the circuit board 88 (a face on which the
acceleration sensor is arranged) faces toward the cell 18a or 18b
to be arranged as closely to the center of gravity 10g as possible,
or the circuit board 88 is provided with a hole for installing the
acceleration sensor 81 therein to be arranged as close to the
center of gravity 10g as possible, only the acceleration sensor 81
is arranged on a flexible circuit board to be arranged as close to
the center of gravity 10g as possible, and so on.
[0144] A sensor device may be provided with the gyro sensor 85
and/or the geomagnetic sensor 86 as a sensor other than the
acceleration sensor 81. What is needed to be designed to be
arranged at the center of gravity 10g is not the center of the
sensor device, but the acceleration sensor 81 within the sensor
device.
[0145] The number of the batteries can also be one. In that case,
it is preferable to arrange the battery out of a range in which it
interferes with the acceleration sensor 81, but as close to the
center of gravity 10g as possible, so as to reduce the moment of
inertia around the center of gravity.
[0146] In a case that two batteries 18a and 18b are used, it is
preferable to sandwich the acceleration sensor 81, which is
arranged at the center of gravity 10g, between them. Thereby, they
are arranged as close to the center of gravity 10g as possible, so
as to reduce the moment of inertia around the center of
gravity.
[0147] Further, it is preferable to adjust the thickness of the
outer shell rubber Ha covering the outside of the capsule casing 13
in three dimensions by moldings, so as to balance of the moment of
inertia around the center of gravity 10g.
[0148] Further, it is also possible to adjust the wall thickness of
the capsule casing 13 in three dimensions within a range in which
its strength is not affected, so as to balance the moment of
inertia.
[0149] It is also preferable to arrange one or more counterweights
so that the moment of inertia around the center of gravity is
equal.
[0150] In a case that the ball is allowed to adjust the center of
gravity after manufacture by repositioning the position of the core
11, by arranging the counterweight, by repositioning the position
of the counterweight, or otherwise, the position of the center of
gravity can be adjusted by spinning the ball and verifying the
output of the acceleration sensor 81 arranged at the position
intended to be a center of gravity 10g.
[0151] In addition, in a case that the ball is allowed to adjust
the position of the capsule 13, which houses the acceleration
sensor or other hardware, the position of the capsule 13 can be
finely adjusted by spinning the ball and verifying the output of
the acceleration sensor 81 arranged at the position intended to be
a center of gravity 10g.
[0152] The above example is described for a baseball with a sensor
incorporated therein. However, it should be noted that the baseball
can be hard or soft, also may be a softball.
[0153] In addition, the present invention can be applied by
incorporating a sensor at the center (or the center of gravity) of
a ball for cricket, a ball for bowling, a golf ball, a football, a
volleyball, or a ball for other sports, in a golf ball, it can be
used for training of putting, in which the impact applied to the
ball is low, for example.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0154] 10: Ball.
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