Practice aid system

Abstract

A practice aid system includes: a practice aid device; a hoop sensor system, including first and second pairs of an optical transmitter and receiver, which are mountable on a rim of a basketball hoop; an intelligent ball, including an inflatable ball body, a ball control unit, a ball light source; an intelligent shoe, including a shoe body, a shoe control unit, a motion sensor, a vibrator, and a shoe light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A practice aid system, comprising:
 a) a practice aid device; and   b) a hoop sensor system, including:
 a first sensor pair, comprising:
 a first optical transmitter, which is configured to be mounted on a first side of a hoop rim of a basketball hoop; and 
 a first optical receiver, which is configured to be mounted on a second side of the hoop rim, such that the first and second sides are first opposing sides of the hoop rim,
 such that the first optical receiver receives a first optical emission from the first optical transmitter when there is no blockage of a first opening between the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver, and 
 such that the first optical receiver is configured to detect a first blockage of the first opening when the first optical emission is not received; and 
 
 
 a second sensor pair, comprising:
 a second optical transmitter, which is configured to be mounted on a third side of the hoop rim; and 
 a second optical receiver, which is configured to be mounted on a fourth side of the hoop rim, such that the third and fourth sides are second opposing sides of the hoop rim,
 such that the second optical receiver receives a second optical emission from the second optical transmitter when there is no blockage of a second opening between the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver, and 
 such that the second optical receiver detects a second blockage of the second opening when the second optical emission is not received; 
 
 
 wherein the practice aid device is configured to register a score when the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair detect simultaneous first and second blockages of respectively the first and second openings. 
   
     
     
         2 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , wherein the practice aid device is configured to be mounted on a forearm of a user. 
     
     
         3 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor pair is configured to be perpendicularly mounted on the hoop rim relative to the first sensor pair. 
     
     
         4 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , wherein the hoop sensor system further comprises:
 a mounting structure;   wherein the first optical transmitter is mounted on a first side of the mounting structure;   wherein the first optical receiver is mounted on a second side of the mounting structure;   wherein the second optical transmitter is mounted on a third side of the mounting structure; and   wherein the second optical receiver is mounted on a fourth side of the mounting structure.   
     
     
         5 . The practice aid system of  claim 4 , wherein the mounting structure is a ring-shaped mounting ring. 
     
     
         6 . The practice aid system of  claim 4 , wherein the second sensor pair is perpendicularly mounted on the mounting structure relative to the first sensor pair. 
     
     
         7 . The practice aid system of  claim 4 , wherein the practice aid system further comprises the basketball hoop, which comprises the hoop rim;
 wherein the mounting structure is connected to the hoop rim, such that the mounting structure is mounted under the hoop rim.   
     
     
         8 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intelligent ball, comprising:
 an inflatable ball body; 
 a ball control unit; and 
 a ball light source, such that the ball light source is mounted to the inflatable ball body; 
 wherein the ball control unit is connected to the ball light source such that the ball control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the ball light source, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The practice aid system of  claim 8 , wherein the ball light source is mounted inside the inflatable ball body, and wherein the inflatable ball body is at least semi-transparent. 
     
     
         10 . The practice aid system of  claim 8 , wherein the ball light source comprises a light emitting diode assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a motion sensor, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the motion sensor, such that the shoe control unit is configured to receive motion information from the motion sensor, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a vibrator, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the vibrator, such that the shoe control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the vibrator, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The practice aid system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a shoe light source, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the shoe light source, such that the shoe control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the shoe light source, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         14 . A practice aid system, comprising:
 a) a practice aid device, which is configured to be mounted on a forearm of a user; and   b) an intelligent ball, comprising:
 an inflatable ball body; 
 a ball control unit; and 
 a ball light source, such that the ball light source is mounted to the inflatable ball body; 
 wherein the ball control unit is connected to the ball light source such that the ball control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the ball light source, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The practice aid system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a hoop sensor system, including:
 a first sensor pair, comprising:
 a first optical transmitter, which is configured to be mounted on a first side of a hoop rim of a basketball hoop; and 
 a first optical receiver, which is configured to be mounted on a second side of the hoop rim, such that the first and second sides are opposing sides of the hoop rim,
 such that the first optical receiver receives a first optical emission from the first optical transmitter when there is no blockage of a first opening between the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver, and 
 such that the first optical receiver is configured to detect a first blockage of the first opening when the first optical emission is not received; and 
 
 
 a second sensor pair, comprising:
 a second optical transmitter, which is configured to be mounted on a third side of the hoop rim; and 
 a second optical receiver, which is configured to be mounted on a fourth side of the hoop rim, such that the third and fourth sides are opposing sides of the hoop rim,
 such that the second optical receiver receives a second optical emission from the second optical transmitter when there is no blockage of a second opening between the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver, and 
 such that the second optical receiver detects a second blockage of the second opening when the second optical emission is not received; 
 
 
 wherein the second sensor pair is configured to be perpendicularly mounted on the hoop rim relative to the first sensor pair; and 
 wherein the practice aid device is configured to register a score when the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair detect simultaneous first and second blockages of respectively the first and second openings. 
   
     
     
         16 . The practice aid system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure;   wherein the first optical transmitter is mounted on a first side of the mounting structure;   wherein the first optical receiver is mounted on a second side of the mounting structure, such that the first and second sides are opposing sides of the mounting structure;   wherein the second optical transmitter is mounted on a third side of the mounting structure; and   wherein the second optical receiver is mounted on a fourth side of the mounting structure.   
     
     
         17 . The practice aid system of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting structure is a ring-shaped mounting ring. 
     
     
         18 . The practice aid system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a motion sensor, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the motion sensor, such that the shoe control unit is configured to receive motion information from the motion sensor, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The practice aid system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a vibrator, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the vibrator, such that the shoe control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the vibrator, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The practice aid system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a shoe light source, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the shoe light source, such that the shoe control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the shoe light source, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         21 . A practice aid system, comprising:
 a) a practice aid device, which is configured to be mounted on a forearm of a user; and   b) an intelligent shoe, comprising:
 a shoe body; 
 a shoe control unit, which is mounted to the shoe body; and 
 a shoe light source, which is mounted to the shoe body; 
 wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the shoe light source, such that the shoe control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the shoe light source, in communication with the practice aid device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The practice aid system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a hoop sensor system, including:
 a first sensor pair, comprising:
 a first optical transmitter, which is configured to be mounted on a first side of a hoop rim of a basketball hoop; and 
 a first optical receiver, which is configured to be mounted on a second side of the hoop rim, such that the first and second sides are opposing sides of the hoop rim,
 such that the first optical receiver receives a first optical emission from the first optical transmitter when there is no blockage of a first opening between the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver, and 
 such that the first optical receiver is configured to detect a first blockage of the first opening when the first optical emission is not received; and 
 
 
 a second sensor pair, comprising:
 a second optical transmitter, which is configured to be mounted on a third side of the hoop rim; and 
 a second optical receiver, which is configured to be mounted on a fourth side of the hoop rim, such that the third and fourth sides are opposing sides of the hoop rim,
 such that the second optical receiver receives a second optical emission from the second optical transmitter when there is no blockage of a second opening between the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver, and 
 such that the second optical receiver detects a second blockage of the second opening when the second optical emission is not received; 
 
 
 wherein the second sensor pair is configured to be perpendicularly mounted on the hoop rim relative to the first sensor pair; and 
 wherein the practice aid device is configured to register a score when the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair detect simultaneous first and second blockages of respectively the first and second openings. 
   
     
     
         23 . The practice aid system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure;   wherein the first optical transmitter is mounted on a first side of the mounting structure;   wherein the first optical receiver is mounted on a second side of the mounting structure, such that the first and second sides are opposing sides of the mounting structure;   wherein the second optical transmitter is mounted on a third side of the mounting structure; and   wherein the second optical receiver is mounted on a fourth side of the mounting structure.   
     
     
         24 . The practice aid system of  claim 23 , wherein the mounting structure is a ring-shaped mounting ring. 
     
     
         25 . The practice aid system of  claim 21 , wherein the intelligent shoe further comprises:
 a motion sensor, which is mounted to the shoe body;   wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the motion sensor, such that the shoe control unit is configured to receive motion information from the motion sensor, in communication with the practice aid device.   
     
     
         26 . The practice aid system of  claim 25 , wherein the intelligent shoe further comprises:
 a vibrator, which is mounted to the shoe body;   wherein the shoe control unit is connected to the vibrator, such that the shoe control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the vibrator, in communication with the practice aid device.   
     
     
         27 . The practice aid system of  claim 25 , wherein the shoe control unit is configured to calibrate a position of the intelligent shoe, by successively positioning the intelligent shoe in four corners of a playing field. 
     
     
         28 . The practice aid system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an intelligent ball, comprising:
 an inflatable ball body; 
 a ball control unit; and 
 a ball light source, such that the ball light source is mounted to the inflatable ball body; 
 wherein the ball control unit is connected to the ball light source such that the ball control unit is configured to control switching on and switching off the ball light source, in communication with the practice aid device.