U.S. patent application number 16/529349 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for intelligent sports equipment systems and methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to Helios Hockey, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Helios Hockey, Inc.. Invention is credited to William G. Near.
Application Number | 20200398111 16/529349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004274199 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20200398111/US20200398111A1-20201224-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200398111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Near; William G. |
December 24, 2020 |
INTELLIGENT SPORTS EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Abstract
An intelligent sports equipment system and method for processing
data as a result of different types of events associated with a
puck or ball and generally another piece of sports equipment. The
information associated with each type of event can include
associating player information with the processed data. In one
example a smart hockey puck has embedded electronics for sensing
motion across a plurality of axes, a hockey stick has an associated
RFID tag that can be read by the smart hockey puck, which can
transmit information to a computing device for displaying processed
data.
Inventors: |
Near; William G.;
(Portsmouth, NH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Helios Hockey, Inc. |
Portsmouth |
NH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Helios Hockey, Inc.
Portsmouth
NH
|
Family ID: |
1000004274199 |
Appl. No.: |
16/529349 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62713143 |
Aug 1, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/54 20130101;
A63B 2220/13 20130101; A63B 2220/40 20130101; A63B 2220/833
20130101; A63B 69/0024 20130101; A63B 2220/53 20130101; A63B 43/004
20130101; A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 2024/0028 20130101; A63B
24/0021 20130101; A63B 2071/0694 20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101;
A63B 2102/24 20151001; G06K 7/10297 20130101; A63B 2102/14
20151001; A63B 2102/22 20151001; A63B 67/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00; A63B 71/06 20060101 A63B071/06; A63B 43/00 20060101
A63B043/00; A63B 67/14 20060101 A63B067/14; G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10 |
Claims
1. An intelligent sports system comprising: a puck or ball having
an electronics board embedded therein, wherein the electronics
board includes the following components: a processing unit, a
memory, a plurality of sensors for detecting motion along one or
more axes, and at least one antenna configured to read RFID tags;
and a stick or racket having an RFID tag associated therewith,
wherein the electronics board of the puck or ball can read
information from the RFID tag, and wherein the electronics board is
configured to have an idle state and an active state, wherein
during the idle state only a subset of the components is operating
or at least some of the components are operating in a low power
mode, wherein the electronics board switches from the idle state to
the active state when a triggering event is detected, wherein
during the active state the at least one antenna configured to read
RFID tags is activated to scan for RFID tags, and upon identifying
an RFID tag the electronics board can process motion data
associated with the puck or ball to be associated with a user
associated with the stick or racket having the scanned RFID
tag.
2. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, further comprising a
computing device for receiving and displaying the processed data
associated with the puck or ball.
3. The intelligent sports system of claim 2, further including a
remote or cloud-based server configured to receive, store and
process data received from a computing device.
4. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, wherein the
electronics board further includes a rechargeable power source.
5. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, wherein the triggering
event can be a sudden change in movement of the puck or ball.
6. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, wherein the stick or
racket has a plurality of RFID tags associated therewith.
7. The intelligent sports system of claim 6, wherein the stick is a
hockey stick and the plurality of RFID tags are disposed along a
blade portion of the hockey stick.
8. The intelligent sports system of claim 7, wherein the puck is a
hockey puck, and the electronics board is configured to read the
plurality of RFID tags.
9. The intelligent sports system of claim 8, wherein the
electronics board is further configured to read signal strength of
each of the RFID tags along the blade portion of the hockey stick,
which can be analyzed to determine the portion of the hockey stick
blade the hockey puck made contact with.
10. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, whereupon an event of
the puck or ball coming in close proximity with the stick or racket
triggers the electronics board embedded in the puck or ball to
associate information associated with the RFID tag associated with
the stick or racket data with processed motion data of the puck or
ball.
11. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, further including a
second antenna for transmitting processed motion data wirelessly to
a computing device, and wherein the at least one antenna is
configured to read information from the RFID tag associated with
the stick or racket.
12. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, further including an
identification tag disposed on the stick or racket, wherein the
identification tag provides information associated with the RFID
tag associated with the stick or racket.
13. The intelligent sports system of claim 12, wherein the
identification tag is one of a barcode, a QR code, an alpha-numeric
code, or a wireless transmitter.
14. The intelligent sports system of claim 13, wherein the
identification tag can be scanned by a computing device and
associate the information associated with the identification tag
with a player profile.
15. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, wherein the motion
data sensed includes one or more of direction, velocity,
acceleration, angle, height, and impact force.
16. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag
is a multi-layered label comprising an adhesive layer, a ferrite
layer, a RFID inlay layer, and a cover or padding layer.
17. The intelligent sports system of claim 16, further including an
identification tag disposed on the RFID tag, wherein the
identification tag provides information associated with the RFID
tag.
18. The intelligent sports system of claim 16, further comprising
at least two RFID tags, wherein at least one RFID tag is mounted on
a front portion of the stick and at least one RFID tag is located
on a rear portion of the stick.
19. The intelligent sports system of claim 1, wherein a ferrite
layer is coated around a blade portion of the stick and the RFID
tag is a multi-layered label comprising an adhesive layer, an RFID
inlay layer, and a cover or padding layer.
20. A method for tracking information about a puck or ball having
an embedded electronics board therein in an intelligent sports
system, that further includes one or more sticks or rackets each
having one or more RFID tags positioned about a portion of the
stick or rack, the method comprising: determining that a triggering
event has occurred, using at least one sensor component of the
electronics board; altering the state of the electronics board from
an idle state to an active state based on the triggering event;
activating an RFID scanning system of the electronics board during
the active state, wherein the scanning system is configured to
perform a scan and includes at least one antenna; retrieving tag
data from a scanned RFID tag that is associated with one of the one
or more sticks or rackets; receiving motion data associated with
the puck or ball using one or more sensor components of the
electronics board; and associating the motion data with a user
associated with the stick or racket having the scanned RFID tag,
wherein the motion data includes data from a period of time prior
to and after retrieving tag data from the scanned RFID tag.
21. The method for tracking information about a puck or ball in an
intelligent sports system of claim 20, further including retrieving
scanned tag data from a plurality of RFID tags associated with a
stick or racket.
22. The method for tracking information about a puck or ball in an
intelligent sports system of claim 20, further including the step
of setting the electronics board to an idle state until another
triggering event is detected.
23. The method for tracking information about a puck or ball in an
intelligent sports system of claim 20, wherein detecting a
triggering event comprises detecting at least one of: motion,
acceleration, impact, and change in direction of the puck or
ball.
24. The method for tracking information about a puck or ball in an
intelligent sports system of claim 20, wherein the triggering event
can include a change in motion, acceleration, impact, direction,
such as a pass or shot, or be a timing event, such as a
pre-determined time period or time of day.
25. The method for tracking information about a puck or ball in an
intelligent sports system of claim 22, wherein setting the
electronics board to an idle condition comprises reducing an amount
of power consumed by the electronics board.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/713,143 filed on Aug. 1, 2018; which is
herein incorporated by reference in entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the tracking and
analysis of various information associated with sports such as ice
hockey, field hockey and lacrosse including how a player handles a
puck/ball and a stick.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One of the current ways to track the speed of a hockey puck
is to use a laser or radar gun that is laid out on the ice. These
current methods are limited as to the amount of information that
can be obtained when a player hits a hockey puck and can also be
cumbersome to setup. The present application seeks to advance such
methods and systems to better track information associated with the
speed and handling of a hockey puck by a given player, as well as
analyze said information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present application relates an intelligent sports system
comprising a smart puck or smart ball having an electronics board
embedded therein. The electronics board includes a processing unit,
memory, a plurality of sensors for detecting motion along one or
more axes, and at least one antenna. A smart stick or smart racket
having an RFID tag associated therewith. The electronics board of
the smart puck or smart ball is configured to read information from
the RFID tag and further process motion data associated with the
smart puck or smart ball.
[0005] The intelligent sports system can also include a computing
device, such as a smartphone or tablet, for receiving and
displaying the processed data associated with the smart puck or
smart ball.
[0006] The intelligent sports system can further be configured to
include a remote or cloud-based server that can receive, store and
process received data directly or via the computing device.
[0007] The smart puck or smart ball can include a rechargeable
battery associated with the electronics board that can be charged
using an external charging device.
[0008] The embedded electronics board can measure, process, and
transmit information from a plurality of sensors including
acceleration, velocity, position, orientation, jerk, rotational
velocity, rotational acceleration, rotational position,
temperature, serial number, player identification, and battery
level of the device.
[0009] The embedded electronics board can further include wireless
transceivers and communication protocol (i.e. Bluetooth, BLE, RFID,
NFC) to transmit information from the smart puck or smart ball to
another computing device (i.e. mobile device, computer, hockey
stick, charging source), and oppositely, to receive information
from another computing device to the smart puck or smart ball (i.e.
hockey stick, player identification, mobile device, computer,
charging source).
[0010] In one embodiment the electronics board is configured to
have an idle state and an active state. The active state can be
initiated upon movement of the smart puck or smart ball or when in
close proximity to and detecting of the smart stick or smart
racket.
[0011] The smart stick or smart racket can have a plurality of RFID
tags associated therewith and placed in positions along the various
surfaces where interaction with the smart puck or smart ball is
likely to occur. These RFID tags can also be embedded within the
smart stick or smart racket. In one embodiment the smart stick is
smart hockey stick and three RFID tags are placed along the front
portion of the blade portion of the smart hockey stick.
[0012] The smart puck or smart ball can be configured to read each
of the plurality of RFID tags. This reading of RFID tags can also
determine in part the relative portion or position of the smart
stick or smart racket the smart puck or smart ball came in contact
with or near to.
[0013] The event of the smart puck or smart ball coming in close
proximity with the smart stick or smart racket can trigger the
electronics board to associate information associated with the RFID
tag with the stick or racket data along with processed motion data
of the smart puck or smart ball. This information can further be
associated with a player profile for viewing and analysis.
[0014] In some embodiments a second antenna is provided on the
electronics board for transmitting processed motion data wirelessly
to a computing device, while the first antenna is used for reading
information from RFID tags.
[0015] In some embodiments an identification tag can be disposed on
the smart stick or smart racket, wherein the identification tag
provides information associated with the one or more RFID tags
located on or within the smart stick or smart racket. The
identification tag can include a barcode, a QR code, an
alpha-numeric code, a wireless transmitter, such as a Bluetooth
tile or another RFID tag.
[0016] The identification tag can be scanned by a computing device
and associate the information from the identification tag with a
player profile.
[0017] RFID tags can be placed on the front and back portions of
the blade portion of a smart hockey stick.
[0018] The RFID tag can be a multi-layered label comprising an
adhesive layer, a ferrite layer, a RFID inlay layer, and a cover or
padding layer.
[0019] In some embodiments a ferrite layer is coated around a blade
portion of the smart stick and the multi-layered RFID label can be
comprised of an adhesive layer, an RFID inlay layer, and a cover or
padding layer.
[0020] A method for tracking information about a puck or ball in an
intelligent sports system can include the steps of: providing a
puck or ball having an electronics board embedded therein, wherein
the electronics board includes a processing unit, a memory, a
plurality of sensors, and at least one antenna; providing a stick
or racket having an RFID tag associated therewith, wherein the
electronics board of the puck or ball is configured to receive
information from the RFID tag; determining whether the puck or ball
is in close proximity to the RFID tag; and receiving the
information from the RFID tag when it is determined that puck or
ball is in close proximity to the RFID tag;
[0021] This method can further include processing data generated by
any sensor the plurality of sensors or information received from
the RFID tag.
[0022] The method can also include detecting a triggering event by
at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors. The detecting
event can be one of: motion, acceleration, impact, change in
direction of the puck or ball, proximity to stick or racket, or
timing event, such as pre-determined time limit, or time of
day.
[0023] The method can include setting the electronics board to an
idle state until another triggering event is detected.
[0024] The present device and methods can apply to an ice hockey,
field hockey, lacrosse and other sports utilizing a puck or ball
and an additional piece of sports equipment such as a stick or
racket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following description of
particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to
the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a smart hockey puck system;
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of processing data
associated with a smart hockey puck;
[0028] FIGS. 3A-B illustrates a smart hockey puck with embedded
electronic board, sensors, antenna, and transceivers for detecting,
processing information associated with said puck and surrounding
objects;
[0029] FIGS. 3C-D illustrates a block diagram of the embedded
electronic board of FIGS. 3A-B.
[0030] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate the arrangement of RFID tags across
the blade portion of a hockey stick;
[0031] FIGS. 5A-D illustrate various embodiments of applying or
embedding RFID tags and associated layers in or about the blade
portion of a hockey stick;
[0032] FIGS. 6A-E illustrate a hockey player utilizing a hockey
stick with RFID tags and a smart hockey puck, with detection and
analysis being monitored and processed at various positions;
[0033] FIGS. 7A-B illustrate a ball with embedded electronics for
use in other sports such as field hockey or lacrosse;
[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates a lacrosse stick with an embedded RFID
tag for registration with the smart ball of FIGS. 7A-B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] As noted in the background section, one of the purposes of
the present embodiments is to provide intelligent sports equipment
systems and methods that function like real sports equipment and
can process data in real-time, without the need for bulky or
cumbersome techniques, such as placing a radar or laser gun in a
certain part of a hockey rink to determine the speed of the hockey
puck. Such previous methods are limited in the amount of
information that is provided and the scope about which information
can be provided. For example, it is not feasible to place radar or
laser gun on the ice rink during live action as multiple players
are constantly skating around, and thus triggering or crossing the
radar or laser gun fields making it very difficult to determine
whether the puck or player crossed over. It is one thing to track
the speed of a hockey puck from a single player shooting on goal,
but in order to track that in live action using current technology
is difficult. This applies to other sports such as field hockey and
lacrosse, but the applications can be implemented beyond these
mentioned types of sports games. Thus, the present systems and
methods were developed to solve these and other problems in current
tracking and analysis technology.
[0036] For purposes of the embodiments described herein the term
processing with respect to the electronic boards and circuitry can
include: running calculations on data, recording data, logging
data, analyzing data, and receiving or transmitting data. The term
RFID tags can be interchanged with RFID chips, RFID transceivers,
and RFID transmitters. The terms puck or ball are meant to be a
subset of a variety of sports equipment, for example ball can refer
a number of types and styles of balls used in sports. The terms
stick or racket are also meant to be a subset of a variety of
sports equipment, for example stick can refer to hockey stick,
field hockey stick, lacrosse stick, baseball bat, and so forth.
[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a smart hockey puck
system 10 which is comprised of hockey stick 12 having associated
RFID transceiver(s), smart hockey puck 14, computing device 16, and
remote or cloud-based server 18. One or more RFID tags can be
attached to a portion of the blade of hockey stick 12. This allows
for certain amount of wireless communication 20 between the hockey
stick 12 and the smart hockey puck 14. For example, when the smart
hockey puck 14 comes within proximity of or contact with the hockey
stick, the smart hockey puck can register that it is within a
certain proximity of a particular hockey stick. As further shown in
FIG. 1, smart hockey puck 14 can also wirelessly communicate 22
with a computing device 16, such as a smartphone, tablet,
smartwatch, laptop, desktop and the like. Depending on computing
power, data and so forth, the computing device 16 can transfer via
network 50 information to be processed on a remote server or
cloud-based server 18. Resulting and historical information can
then be relayed back to the computing device 16 and displayed in
various formats for further analysis. Such information can be
valuable for players, coaches, scouts and so forth.
[0038] As mentioned above, the registering event can trigger a
processing event in the smart hockey puck 14, which information can
be relayed through computing device 16 to be processed and stored
in the cloud 18 for later retrieval by computing device 16. For
example, if player #99 associated with a unique-identified hockey
stick stops the smart hockey puck, the smart hockey puck 14 can
record that player #99 has just stopped the smart hockey puck or
alternatively can register that the next set of actions associated
with the smart hockey puck 14 are to be associated with player #99
and trigger the smart hockey puck to record and associate the next
set of actions (data) with player #99's profile. If after player
#99 stops the smart hockey puck, he/she then takes a slapshot, the
impact, speed, timing, rotation, direction and other recordable
data associated with the smart hockey puck can then be processed
and associated with player #99's profile. If the smart hockey puck
is then recovered by player #88, who is associated with another
unique-identified hockey stick, the smart hockey puck can then
register and begin processing the next set of data to be associated
with player #88's profile. This example extends to other
interactions between smart hockey puck 14 and hockey stick 12
including shooting, stickhandling, passing and so forth.
[0039] There are multiple actions that can trigger data associated
with the smart hockey puck to be processed. FIG. 2 illustrates one
method having a set of triggering events and the associated
processing of data as a result of the triggering event. The flow
chart shown illustrates the smart hockey puck initially in an idle
state. The idle state can be a low-power or sleep state where only
a limited number of sensors or transmitters are operating until a
triggering event occurs, often used to conserve battery life, which
upon triggering can turn on additional sensors and transmitters
associated with the smart hockey puck. In this flow chart, when
motion is detected the smart hockey puck changes from an idle state
to an active state, where data is processed. This processed data
can be used to calculated performance metrics, be recorded,
transmitted or alternatively can simply be tracked until another
triggering event occurs. Further in the flow chart a decision box
illustrates whether an RFID scan is to occur. In other words,
should the smart hockey puck begin scanning for nearby RFID tags or
should the smart hockey puck simply continue processing data. If a
RFID scanning event is triggered and a nearby RFID tag is detected,
then data processing can now be associated with the information
associated with that RFID tag as mentioned above, which can include
data processing before and/or after the RFID scanning event. At the
end of the data processing the smart hockey puck can return again
to an idle state, waiting for a new triggering event to occur.
[0040] The smart hockey puck can operate in a variety of modes, as
one skilled in the art upon reading these embodiments can
appreciate. For example, the smart hockey puck can always be
processing data, or it can process data upon the triggering of
certain events such as detecting motion or detecting a nearby RFID
tag. The smart hockey puck can be remotely operated from another
wireless computing device or operate on rules associated with time,
which could also be considered triggering events. Such rules could
include powering down or refusing to log before/after a certain
time. Going idle between events after a pre-determined period of
time has passed, such as 2, 3, 5, or 10 seconds or longer has
passed.
[0041] FIGS. 3A-B illustrate the smart hockey puck with an embedded
electronics board 24 disposed inside thereof. The electronics board
24 can include an RFID antenna 26 and various electronic components
28. The antenna 26 as shown, is in a circular pattern, which
enables for omnidirectional signals to be emitted and received. The
electronic components 28 can include: batteries, accelerometers,
wireless transceivers ((i.e. Bluetooth, BLE, RFID, NFC, GPS),
gyroscope sensors, magnetometer sensors, IMUs, processing chips,
microcontrollers, memory, charging ICs, magnets, and other various
components to enable the intercommunication and functionality
between the various sensors, processing and memory components,
power conditioning and charging, as well as transmitting and
receiving information to and from the smart hockey puck.
[0042] FIG. 3C illustrates one embodiment of a block diagram 300A
of the electronics board 24, which includes CPU 310 having internal
memory, RFID block 330 (including an RFID interface), sensor array
345, power management block 370, and optional antenna 340. In the
configuration with the optional antenna, information received by
the sensor array and RFID block could be recorded to memory in CPU
310 and later transmitted via the antenna of the RFID block 330.
Power can be supplied to the sensor array 345, CPU 310 and RFID
block 330.
[0043] FIG. 3D illustrates another embodiment of a block diagram
300B of the electronics board 24. Block diagram 300B includes a CPU
or processor 310 having internal memory, and an optional separate
memory 320 unit which can communicate with CPU 310, which receives
power from the power management block 370, receives data from
sensor array 345 and is connected with antenna 340, as well as RFID
block 330, which can include reader and/or writer functions and an
antenna. Antenna 340 can be used to communicate with computing
device 16 directly. As discussed above in the electronic components
28 the sensors in the sensor array 345 can include many of the same
types of sensors including motion sensors (i.e. MEMS) and
temperature sensors. The number of sensors is not limited to one or
two, but can be as many as desired and the lists provided are meant
to be exemplary and not exhaustive. The wireless block 360 can be
integrated into the CPU 310, which includes hardware and firmware
protocols to allow various types of wireless communication
including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Thus, enabling the smart hockey puck
to communicate to an external computing device 16 or even the cloud
server 18. The power management block 370 can include a power
source, such as a battery, power management controls and charging
controls for both conductive and wireless charging.
[0044] It should be noted that the embodiments herein can utilize
both wireless charging and DC charging, where the conductive
portions (not shown) are formed on an outer surface of the smart
hockey puck, or a port (not shown) is formed for a wired charging
method.
[0045] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate an arrangement 400 of RFID tags 410
across the blade portion 420 of a hockey stick 430. In FIG. 4A
three RFID tags 410 are spaced across the surface of hockey blade
portion 420. As the smart hockey puck approaches and gets within
proximity it can read one or more of the RFID tags 410. In some
embodiments, the signal strength (as well as which RFID tags) were
read can determine which portion of the hockey blade the hockey
puck made contact with. This kind of information can help with
training purposes. FIG. 4B illustrates an adhesive-backed label 440
or sticker with integrated RFID tags to help them stay in place and
provide a protective covering for the RFID tags 410. Traditional
hockey tape 450 can be wrapped around the blade portion 420 and
cover the adhesive cover 440. It should be noted the RFID tags 410
can be of several varieties including passive, battery-assisted
passive and active, which include transponders and beacons. The
frequencies that these RFID tags operate include low frequency
(LF), high frequency (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF). The
limitations and uses of each type are understood by those in the
art. The embodiments described herein can utilize the various types
as well. For example, if the RFID tag is an active transponder,
then the smart hockey puck can operate in a read mode. If the RFID
tag is a passive version, then the smart hockey puck can emit a
signal that powers the RFID tag in order to send a response that is
then received by the smart hockey puck.
[0046] An identification tag 480 can be placed at various positions
on the hockey stick 430 including part of the adhesive-backed label
or sticker 440. The identification tag could be a barcode, QR code,
alphanumeric code, wireless transmitter and so forth. The purpose
of the identification code is to provide a means for quickly
identifying a given hockey stick with a player or rather player
profile. For example, a player profile can be created and viewed on
computing device 16, which could have a QR code reader. The
computing device 16, such as a smartphone or tablet, could be used
to scan the QR code where the information associated with that QR
code, such as the information associated with each of the RFID
tags, can now be input into the player profile. As that player uses
that hockey stick and interacts with a smart hockey puck, the
system can then match the appropriate data with the player's
profile. In this manner, a hockey stick could be used by multiple
players and the information sorted by scanning the QR code before
each player uses the hockey stick. It should readily be recognized
from this example how other types of identification tags could be
used in a similar manner to achieve the same purpose, which is to
associate the correct information with the appropriate player or
player profile.
[0047] For clarity it should also be understood that a hockey stick
associated with a particular hockey player could interact with
multiple smart hockey pucks. Thus, data associated with multiple
smart hockey pucks could be received into the particular hockey
player's profile for viewing and analysis. For example, a training
scenario could exist where the particular hockey player is
practicing slapshots on goal, and hits 30-40 smart hockey pucks at
the goal. The data from each of these smart hockey pucks would be
associated with the particular hockey player using the same hockey
stick and received into the player profile.
[0048] FIGS. 5A-D are illustrations of additional embodiments of
attaching and/or embedding RFID tags onto a hockey stick. For
example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a cross-sectional view of hockey
blade portion 520 is shown and a multi-layered label 530 comprised
of adhesive layer 532, ferrite layer 534, RFID inlay layer 536, and
cover or padding layer 538. The multi-layer label 530 can be
attached to one or both the front and back portions of the hockey
blade. A slightly different configuration is shown in FIG. 5B where
a ferrite layer is coated around the hockey blade portion 520
leaving the multi-layer label 531 with three layers: adhesive layer
532, RFID inlay layer 536, and the cover or padding layer 538. In
yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5C, the RFID inlay 536 is
disposed or embedded in the hockey blade portion 540. It should be
noted the RFID inlay includes an antenna and integrated circuit
(IC). A variant to this is found in FIG. 5D where an RFID IC 560 is
embedded in a hockey blade portion 550 and where hockey blade
portion 550 is formed of a material(s) configured to act as an
antenna for the RFID IC 560.
[0049] Hockey stick and blades in particular, can be made from a
variety of materials. One type of material used could be certain
blends of carbon fiber. Certain types of Carbon Fiber can be very
conductive and as a result cause interference with RFID tags. For
this reason, it may be necessary to provide a ferrite layer, so as
to minimize the interference from the blade material, so that the
RFID tag(s) placed thereon can receive and transmit optimally. This
interference can come in the form of radiation absorption,
electrical conductivity, electromagnetic field interference and so
forth. Though embodiments shown in FIGS. 5A-D could also be
modified with these principles in mind to include additional
adhesive layers, additional layers configured to optimally assist
with receiving and directing signals, additional protective layers
to for the critical components, such as the RFID IC, antenna or
power source, and additional cover layers for aesthetic purposes.
Other materials used include wood, laminates, epoxy, Kevlar,
plastics, and so forth, with each type of material having its own
set of insulative or conductive properties, thus the need for a
multi-layered label 530, 531, or other version to be optimized
accordingly.
[0050] FIGS. 6A-E illustrate a hockey player 630 utilizing a smart
hockey system 600 including a hockey stick 610 with RFID tag(s) and
a smart hockey puck 620. Where the system 600 is configured to
process and analyze the smart hockey puck 620 at various positions
and in relationship to the hockey stick 610. In FIG. 6A, the smart
hockey puck is traveling towards the hockey player 630. The speed,
direction and angle of this can be recorded by the smart hockey
puck. In FIG. 6B the smart hockey puck comes into contact or close
proximity of the hockey stick 610, such that the smart hockey puck
620 can read the RFID tag(s) associated with hockey stick 610.
Prior or future data processed from the sensors associated with
smart hockey puck 620 can be processed and associated with the
information associated with the RFID tag(s) of hockey stick 610,
such as the player stopping the puck. FIG. 6C illustrates the
hockey player 630 winding up to hit the smart hockey puck. FIG. 6D
illustrates the hockey player 630 striking the smart hockey puck
with hockey stick 610 where impact information can be processed
along with the information shown in FIG. 6E where the smart hockey
puck is sent in a new direction, at a new speed and angle.
[0051] One of the ways to associate the RFID tags with a player is
to input into a player profile the information associated with each
of the RFID tags. For example, a QR code could be placed on the
hockey stick and have information associated with respect to each
of the RFID tags. The QR code could be scanned and that information
imported into the player's profile.
[0052] The above examples and embodiments have primarily dealt with
the sport of ice hockey. However, and as mentioned, the solutions
provided herein can be applied to other sports as well. FIGS. 7A-B
illustrate various views of a smart ball 700 that has an embedded
circuit board 720 provided therein. Similar to above, the embedded
circuit board 720 can have a plurality of antennae, sensors, power,
microprocessors and so forth as previously discussed. The smart
ball 700 can be used with smart lacrosse stick 800 with an
associated RFID tag 820 disposed thereon (or alternatively embedded
therein). Similar to the hockey example, the smart ball 700 can
register the RFID tag 820, which can be associated with player and
player profile where processed data can be received from the smart
ball entered and analyzed using a computing device and/or a
cloud-based or remote server. The smart ball could be used in field
hockey, polo, golf, tennis, bowling, and a variety of other
sports.
[0053] It should also be readily understood that RFID chips, tags,
or sensors can be placed in other places. For example, an RFID tag
can be placed in the glove of a goalie, on the goal itself, on a
player's clothing. Several chips or tags can be placed along the
baseline of a rink, stadium or field, and as the puck makes contact
or gets close to the baseline boards around the rink information
can be read, stored and later transmitted from the puck or ball.
Usually the RFID tag(s) are placed in a spot where the ball or puck
or going to come in contact with another piece of sports
equipment.
[0054] As mentioned, the computing device 16 can include a software
application that is configured to process and display raw or
processed data from the smart hockey puck or smart ball. Some of
the information can be received in a pre-processed state based on a
particular sensed event. The computing device 16 can be also be in
communication either wirelessly or directly networked to a remote
server 18, which can be configured to access multiple databases,
store additional information, and have additional processing
capabilities. In this manner, the computing device 16 can be used
as a means to transfer information via network 50 to the remote
server 18 for analysis and receive the analyzed information to be
displayed to a user via computing device 16.
[0055] It will be appreciated that the system 10 can include
computer instructions located on a non-transitory computer-readable
medium or memory which can be stored locally (on 16 and 24), or
remotely (on 18) at a network location. Processing circuitry can
then be utilized either locally, remotely, or both to process the
sensed data associated with the hockey puck 14 in order to optimize
for size, cost and battery life.
[0056] It should also be understood that although the preferred
embodiments utilize wireless means to communicate data from the
smart puck or ball to a computing device, this can be done via a
direct connection as well, where ports are integrated into the puck
or ball for the purpose of transferring data.
[0057] While the principles of the invention have been described
herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that
this description is made only by way of example and not as a
limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are
contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition
to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein.
Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art
are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *