Method and an Apparatus For Determining a Parameter of a Path of a Sports Ball on the Basis of a Launch Position Thereof

Abstract

A method of estimating a parameter of a sports ball in flight which parameter is estimated on the basis of a determined or measured position of launch thereof. The launch position may be determined using path information relating to the flight path of the ball or an element used for launching the ball. Optionally, optical data, such as image data, and/or sound may be used for determining the launch position.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method of determining a parameter of a path of a sports ball, the method comprising:
 receiving, using a CW Doppler Radar, electromagnetic radiation emitted from or reflected by the sports ball when in flight, and   determining the parameter on the basis of information received from the Radar, the method being characterized by determining, on the basis of received electromagnetic radiation emitted from or reflected by the sports ball, a position from which the sports ball was launched,   
       wherein the determining step comprises determining the parameter also on the basis of the determined launch position of the sports ball. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the determination of the launch position comprises determining information relating to an angle between a predetermined coordinate system and the launch position. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the angle information determination comprising providing image data relating to the coordinate system and the launch position and determining the angle information on the basis of the image data. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the angle information determination comprises providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball at launch and determining the angle information from the path information. 
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the angle information determination comprises providing, form the received radiation, information relating to a path of an element used for launching the ball and determining the angle information from the path information. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the angle information determination comprises providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball while in flight and determining the angle information from the path information and an estimate of the path at a point in time of launch. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the determination of the launch position comprises determining a information relating to a distance from a radiation receiver to the launch position. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the determination of the distance information comprises:
 determining, from the received electromagnetic radiation, a velocity at a number of consecutive points in time,   estimating a point in time of launch as a first point in time of non-zero velocity,   determining launch using audio detection, and   determining the distance from a difference in the determined points in time of non-zero velocity and audio detection.   
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises optically viewing the ball and determining the launch using audio detection, the distance information determination determining the distance information from a difference in points in time of detection of the launch by the optical system and the sound detection system. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises providing an image of the ball at the launch position and determining the distance information by an extent of the ball in the image. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises determining angle information according to any of claims  3 - 6 , and wherein the distance information is determined on the basis of the angle information determined and a predetermined height difference between a means for receiving the radiation and the launch position. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises providing a stereo image pair of the ball at the launch position and determining the launch position from an angular displacement of the ball in the two images. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises determining an intensity of emitted/reflected radiation at least substantially at the point in time of launch and determining the distance information from the determined intensity. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises emitting radiation of at least two wavelengths toward the ball and determining the distance information from the received radiation. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the distance information determination comprises emitting radiation comprising a phase and/or frequency modulated signal and determining the distance information from the received radiation. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the launch position determination comprises estimating a point in time of launch. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the launch time estimation comprises providing a plurality of images of the launch position and determining the launch time by a difference being present between two images. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the launch time estimation comprises providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball at launch and determining the launch time from the path information. 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the launch time estimation comprises providing, form the received radiation, information relating to a path of an element used for launching the ball and determining the launch time from the path information. 
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the launch time estimation comprises providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball while in flight and determining the launch time from the path information and an estimate of the path at a point in time of launch. 
     
     
         63 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the launch time estimation comprises estimating the point in time of launch on the basis of a predetermined audio parameter determined from sound detected at launch. 
     
     
         64 . An apparatus of determining a parameter of a path of a sports ball, the apparatus comprising:
 a CW Doppler radar for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted from or reflected by the sports ball when in flight, and   means for determining the parameter on the basis of information received from the radar,   
       the apparatus being characterized by means for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted from or reflected by the sports ball and, from the received radiation, determining a position from which the sports ball was launched, 
       wherein the means for determining the parameter are adapted to determine the parameter also on the basis of the determined launch position of the sports ball. 
     
     
         65 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the means for determining the launch position comprise means for determining information relating to an angle between a predetermined axis of the receiving means and the launch position. 
     
     
         66 . An apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the angle information determining means comprise means for providing image data relating to the axis and the launch position, the angle information determining means being adapted to determine the angle information on the basis of the image data. 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the angle information determining means comprise means for providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball at launch, the information determining means being adapted to determine the angle information from the path information. 
     
     
         68 . An apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the angle information determining means comprise means for providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of an element used for launching the ball, the information determining means being adapted to determine the angle information from the path information. 
     
     
         69 . An apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the angle information determining means comprise means for providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball while in flight, the angle information determining means being adapted to provide estimate of the path at a point in time of launch and to determine the angle information from the estimate and the path information. 
     
     
         70 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the means for determining the launch position comprise means for determining information relating to a distance from the radiation receiver to the launch position. 
     
     
         71 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise:
 means for determining, from the received electromagnetic radiation, a velocity at a number of consecutive points in time,   means for estimating a point in time of launch as a first point in time of non-zero velocity,   means for determining launch using audio detection, and   means for determining the distance from a difference in the determined points in time of non-zero velocity and audio detection.   
     
     
         72 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means for optically viewing the ball and means for detecting the launch on the basis of received audio information, the distance information determining means being adapted to determine the distance information from a difference in points in time of detection of the launch by the optical system and the sound detection system. 
     
     
         73 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means for providing an image of the ball at the launch position, the distance information determining means being adapted to determine the distance information by an extent of the ball in the image. 
     
     
         74 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means for determining angle information according to any of claims  3 - 6 , and wherein the distance information determining means are adapted to determine the distance information on the basis of the angle information determined and a predetermined height difference between the receiving means and the launch position. 
     
     
         75 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means providing a stereo image pair of the ball at the launch position, the distance information determining means being adapted to determine the launch position from an angular displacement of the ball in the two images. 
     
     
         76 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means for determining an intensity of emitted/reflected radiation at least substantially at the point in time of launch, the distance information determining means being adapted to determine the distance information from the determined intensity. 
     
     
         77 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means for emitting radiation of at least two wavelengths toward the ball, the distance information determining means being adapted to determine the distance information from the received radiation. 
     
     
         78 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the distance information determining means comprise means for emitting radiation comprising a phase and/or frequency modulated signal, the distance information determining means being adapted to determine the distance information from the received radiation. 
     
     
         79 . An apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein the launch position determination means comprise means for estimating a point in time of launch. 
     
     
         80 . An apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein the launch time estimating means comprise means for providing a plurality of images of the launch position, the launch time estimating means being adapted to determine the launch time by a difference being present between two images. 
     
     
         81 . An apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein the launch time estimating means comprise means for providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball at launch, the launch time estimating means being adapted to determine the launch time from the path information. 
     
     
         82 . An apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein the launch time estimating means comprise means for providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of an element used for launching the ball, the launch time estimating means being adapted to determine the launch time from the path information. 
     
     
         83 . An apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein the launch time estimating means comprise means for providing, from the received radiation, information relating to a path of the ball while in flight, the launch time estimating means being adapted to determine the launch time from the path information and an estimate of the path at a point in time of launch. 
     
     
         84 . An apparatus according to  claim 79 , wherein the launch time estimating means comprise means for detecting sound and means for determining the point in time of launch by identifying a predetermined parameter in the detected sound.