Goaltending sensing apparatus and related method of use

Abstract

The invention relates to a method to determine a goaltending while playing basketball. The method begins with sensing if a vibration, pressure or motion change has occurred within an enhanced ball. The second step is to send data from a sensor packet containing one or more sensors via an RF switch to a backboard sensor having a sensory zone and computer having a processor, memory device and RF switch. The third step measures if the enhanced ball was deflected in a downward trajectory through a program contained within the memory device of the computer. The fourth step is to assess whether the enhanced ball would have gone through a rim of a backboard. The final step is to send an alert through an alert display of a goaltending once the computer confirms the downward trajectory and likelihood the enhanced ball would have gone through the rim.

1 . A goaltending system used during a basketball game, comprising:
 an enhanced ball which includes an exterior side and a corresponding interior side, the interior side including two or more sensory devices, one or more RF switches operable with the two or more sensory devices and a power source capable of supplying electricity to the two or more sensory devices and the one or more RF switches;   a backboard sensor that creates a sensory zone capable of measuring the elevation and position of the enhanced ball, the backboard sensor having a processor and memory device; and   an alert display capable of reporting the elevation and position of the enhanced ball.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensory zone is an electro-magnetic filed positioned above a rim and in front of a basketball backboard.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the backboard sensor further includes a plurality of motion sensors placed along the length of the backboard capable of measuring the velocity and trajectory of the enhanced ball.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the backboard sensor further includes an antenna capable of receiving information from the enhanced ball when the enhanced ball is within the sensory zone.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the computer of the backboard sensor further includes a memory device in contact with the processor which maintains one or more programs which determines if the enhanced ball is within the sensory zone.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the program can further denote whether the enhanced ball is in a downward trajectory and if there has been a deflection.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensory devices are positioned and housed within sensor packets positioned along the interior side of the enhanced ball.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the sensory devices include both motion sensors and vibration sensors.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the sensory devices further includes one or more pressure sensors.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the backboard sensor includes a camera array having a track of one or more digital cameras which can pivot in tandem.   
     
     
         11 . The method of detecting a goaltending during a basketball game, comprising the steps of:
 (a) sensing whether there has been a vibration, pressure change or motion change through a sensor packet positioned within an enhanced ball, the enhanced ball having an exterior side and a corresponding interior side, the interior side including two or more sensors within the sensor packet, one or more RF switches and a power source to provide electricity to the two or more sensors and one or more RF switches;   (b) sending data from one or more sensors within the enhanced ball through the one or more RF switches to a backboard sensor, the backboard sensor including a sensory zone and a computer having a processor, memory device and RF switch operable therewith; and   (c) measuring whether the enhanced ball was deflected while in a downward trajectory through a program contained within the memory device of the computer, the program operable to determine whether the enhanced ball was travelling in an upward trajectory with increasing elevation;   (d) using the program operable with the computer to next assess whether the enhanced ball would have potentially gone through a rim of a backboard in which the blackboard sensor was connected; and   (e) sending an alert through an alert display of a goaltending once the computer confirms the downward trajectory and likelihood the enhanced ball would have gone through the rim.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 engaging the computer to run on the program once the backboard sensor determined the ball is within the sensory zone positioned above a rim and in front of a backboard.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 interpolating data from a pressure sensor, motion sensor and vibration sensor located in the interior side of the enhanced ball throughout a range of time to calculate whether the enhanced ball had been shot by a player and is in a downward trajectory.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the backboard sensor further includes a plurality of motion sensors placed along the length of the backboard capable of measuring the velocity and trajectory of the enhanced ball.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the backboard sensor further includes an antenna capable of receiving information from the enhanced ball when the enhanced ball is within the sensory zone.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sensors are positioned and housed within sensor packets positioned along the interior side of the enhanced ball.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the backboard sensor includes a camera array having a track of one or more digital cameras which can pivot in tandem.