Rfid-based location identification in athletic equipment and athletic playing fields

Abstract

A system for determining a position of one or more pieces of athletic equipment on an athletic playing surface is provided. The system includes one or more pieces of athletic equipment each including therein an RFID chip, the RFID chip comprising an electronic circuit configured to produce and transmit an RF signal. The system also includes an array of sensors positioned on or in proximity to the athletic playing surface and configured to receive RF signals from the RFID chip of each of the one or more pieces of athletic equipment. The system also includes a processing system operably connected to the array of sensors to receive data from the array of sensors, the processing system programmed to process the data from the array of sensors to determine a position of each of the one or more pieces of athletic equipment on the athletic playing surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for determining a position of one or more pieces of athletic equipment on an athletic playing surface, the system comprising:
 one or more pieces of athletic equipment each including therein a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, the RFID chip comprising an electronic circuit configured to produce and transmit an radio-frequency (RF) signal;   an array of sensors positioned on or in proximity to the athletic playing surface and configured to receive RF signals from the RFID chip of each of the one or more pieces of athletic equipment; and   a processing system operably connected to the array of sensors to receive data from the array of sensors, the processing system programmed to process the data from the array of sensors to determine a position of each of the one or more pieces of athletic equipment on the athletic playing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is further programmed to process the data from the array of sensors to track movement of each of the one or more pieces of athletic equipment on the athletic playing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more pieces of athletic equipment comprises shoes worn by players competing on the athletic playing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the RFID chip in the shoe comprises RFID chips embedded in the shoe in a top-front portion of the shoe, a heel of the shoe, and in an outer edge of the shoe, so as to enable positional determination of a player's toes, heel, and sidefoot on the athletic playing surface relative to an out-of-bounds line. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more pieces of athletic equipment comprises kneepads worn by players competing on the athletic playing surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the RFID chip in the kneepads enable determination of a vertical positioning of the kneepads relative to the athletic playing surface, so as to enable determination of when a player's knee contacts the athletic playing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more pieces of athletic equipment comprises one of a football, basketball, volleyball, soccer ball, baseball, softball, lacrosse ball, tennis ball, hockey puck, or rugby ball. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein, when the one or more pieces of athletic equipment comprises a football or rugby ball, the RFID chip comprises RFID chips embedded in the football or rugby ball at locations generally corresponding to ends of the football or rugby ball and each of four sides of the football or rugby ball, so as to enable determining of the position of each end and surface of the football or rugby ball on the athletic playing surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the athletic playing surface comprises one of a football field and a rugby field that includes goal posts thereon, and wherein the RFID chips in the football or rugby ball, and the interaction thereof with the array of sensors, enable the processing system to determine when the football or rugby ball passes through the goal posts during a kick. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a weight of the RFID chip is less than 1 ounce, and wherein the weight and a size of the RFID chip does not affect performance of the ball or puck during use. 
     
     
         11 . A wearable location tag system comprising:
 a wearable article comprising a shoe or kneepad worn by a football player; and   one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) chips incorporated into the wearable article and configured to produce and transmit an radio-frequency (RF) signal therefrom;   wherein each of the one or more RFID chips comprises an electronic circuit that includes:
 a processor configured to store data, instructions, and programs thereon, including timing instructions for generating RF signals to be transmitted; and 
 a transceiver and antenna operably connected to the processor to send and receive RF signals to exchange information and data with one or more remote outside sensors incorporated into a football field; and 
   wherein interaction of the one or more RFID chips with the one or more remote outside sensors enables determination of a position of the wearable article on the football field.   
     
     
         12 . The wearable location tag system of  claim 11  wherein, when the wearable article is a shoe, the interaction of the one or more RFID chips with the one or more remote outside sensors enables positional determination of a shoe's toe, heel, and sidefoot on the football field relative to an out-of-bounds line. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable location tag system of  claim 11  wherein, when the wearable article is a kneepad, the interaction of the one or more RFID chips with the one or more remote outside sensors enables determination of a vertical positioning of the kneepad relative to the football field, so as to enable determination of when the kneepad contacts the football field. 
     
     
         14 . An athletic ball comprising:
 an outer layer; and   one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) chips embedded in the athletic ball under the outer layer and configured to produce and transmit an radio-frequency (RF) signal therefrom;   wherein each of the one or more RFID chips comprises an electronic circuit that includes:
 a processor configured to store data, instructions, and programs thereon, including timing instructions for generating RF signals to be transmitted; and 
 a transceiver and antenna operably connected to the processor to send and receive RF signals to exchange information and data with one or more remote outside sensors incorporated into an athletic playing surface; and 
   wherein interaction of the one or more RFID chips with the one or more remote outside sensors enables determination of a position of the athletic ball on the athletic playing surface.   
     
     
         15 . The athletic ball of  claim 14  wherein the athletic ball comprises one of a football, basketball, volleyball, soccer ball, baseball, softball, lacrosse ball, tennis ball, hockey puck, or rugby ball. 
     
     
         16 . The athletic ball of  claim 14  wherein interaction of the one or more RFID chips with the one or more remote outside sensors enables positional determination of the athletic ball relative to an out-of-bounds line or other boundary line on the athletic playing surface.