Digital racquet sports training court

Abstract

Provided herein is a modular sports-court simulator and methods that deliver interactive racquet-sport training, fitness and entertainment in a compact footprint. The system includes: (i) an impact-resilient screen configured to receive projected imagery and to drop a struck ball into a collection zone; (ii) at least one projector that casts selectable visual targets onto the screen; (iii) an optical sensor array directed toward the screen to detect ball-impact location and trajectory; (iv) a ball-receptor surface disposed in front of and below the screen, the surface guiding each rebounding ball into a ball-launching device; (v) the ball-launching device, which stores multiple balls and propels them toward the user; and (vi) a processor in electronic communication with the sensor array, projector and launching device. The processor registers target hits, updates scoring feedback, automatically relocates projected targets, and synchronizes launch parameters, thereby creating a continuous, closed-loop play experience for single or multiple users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular device comprising:
 a screen having a surface, wherein the surface is resilient such that a racquet sports ball that strikes the surface drops to within about 0-180 cm from the surface;   one or more projectors that project one or more visual targets on the screen surface, wherein one or more visual target areas is positioned for the racquet sports ball to strike;   one or more sensors or array of sensors in contact with or directed toward the surface that detects when the racquet sports ball strikes the surface within the one or more visual target areas;   a ball launching device for the racquet sports ball positioned to lob or shoot the racquet sports ball in a direction that is generally away from the screen;   a ball receptor positioned in front of and below the screen surface; and   wherein the device is operable to display the one or more visual target areas at a location on the surface where it is desired that a user directs the racquet sports ball, and the visual return indicator is operable to display a launching target indicating a particular location within a practice area;   wherein the ball launching device is triggered to lob or shoot the racquet sports ball to a position where the user is capable of strike the racquet sports ball toward the screen; and   wherein a processor in electronic communication with the one or more sensors or array of sensors detects when the racquet sports ball strikes within the location, and in one instance then repositions the one or more visual target areas to a new location.   
     
     
         2 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a sheet of vinyl, plastic, fabric, cloth, rubber, plastic, foam, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, leather, a flexible polymer material, a film, or a composite material. 
     
     
         3 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the ball receptor is within approximately 0 cm to 180 cm of the screen and having a downward slope toward a ball-launching device, the ball receptor being coupled to the ball-launching device so that any racquet-sport ball falling into the ball receptor is then guided into the ball-launching device ball reservoir to be subsequently fired by the ball-launching device. 
     
     
         4 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings of the ball receptor are positioned in the middle, sides, or back of the ball receptor surface. 
     
     
         5 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball launching device comprises a fixed or an adjustable barrel and a ball propulsion mechanism for propelling a ball through the barrel, wherein the barrel is fixed or adjustable to direct delivery of the ball to the user, and wherein the barrel is tiltable along its vertical axis, by a vertical tilt angle, tiltable along its horizontal axis, by a horizontal tilt angle, or both. 
     
     
         6 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball launching device is arranged to lob or fire the ball at one or more speeds, one or more rotations, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor at least one of:
 is in a device selected from a tablet, smartphone, or other mobile controller, controls and synchronizes the ball launching device, sensors, and game parameters in real time; or   wirelessly synchronizes the smart ball-launching device with the sensors and manages all game parameters: player names, running count of successful strikes on each projected target, session duration, points awarded per strike, and time remaining in a session.   
     
     
         8 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein screen resiliency is selected such that a ball that strikes the screen will drop within about 1 to 36, 1 to 30, 1 to 24, 1 to 18, 1 to 16, or 1 to 12 inches from the screen. 
     
     
         9 . The modular device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a timer operable to measure a duration between a time of display of a target at a location on the surface at a predetermined location for the user to strike the screen with the racquet sports ball, and the time when a racquet sports ball is detected hitting the surface. 
     
     
         10 . The modular device of  claim 1 , further comprising a ball collector area adjacent to the ball receptor wherein the device ball collector area that is angled toward the ball receptor and an opening in communication with an input to the ball receptor. 
     
     
         11 . A racquet sports device comprising:
 providing a sports court system comprising:
 a screen having a surface, wherein the surface is resilient such that a racquet sports ball with that strikes the surface, drops to within about 0-180 cm from the surface; 
 one or more projectors that project one or more visual targets on the surface of the screen, wherein one or more visual target areas is a positioned for the user to direct the racquet sports ball to strike; 
 one or more sensors or an array of sensors in contact with or directed toward the surface that detects when the racquet sports ball strikes the surface within the one or more visual target areas; 
 a ball launching device for the racquet sports ball positioned to lob or shoot the racquet sports ball in a direction that is generally away from the screen; and 
 a ball receptor positioned in front of, and below, the screen surface and comprising an area that is within about 0 and 180 cm from the surface, wherein a ball receptor surface is angled down and toward connected to the ball launching device such that a racquet sports ball that enters an opening of the ball launching device; 
   launching or propelling a racquet sports ball from the ball launching device is triggered to lob or shoot the racquet sports ball to a position where the user can strike the racquet sports ball toward the screen;   providing an area in which a user is capable of striking the racquet sports ball, wherein a projector displays the one or more visual target areas at a location on the surface where it is desired that a user direct the racquet sports ball, and a visual return indicator that is operable to display a launching target indicating a particular location within the court; and   wherein a processor in electronic communication with the one or more sensors or array of sensors detects when the racquet sports ball strikes within the one or more visual target areas and then repositions the one or more visual target areas to a new location.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a surface of the ball receptor is within approximately 0 cm to 180 cm of the screen and having a downward slope toward a ball-launching device, the ball receptor being coupled to the ball-launching device so that any racquet-sport ball dropping into the opening of the ball receptor is guided into the ball-launching device reservoir of balls to be subsequently fired by the ball-launching device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the surface comprises a sheet of vinyl, plastic, fabric, cloth, rubber, plastic, foam, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, leather, a flexible polymer material, a film, or a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ball receptor is positioned in the middle, sides, or back of the ball receptor surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ball launching device comprises a fixed or an adjustable barrel and a ball propulsion mechanism for propelling a ball through the barrel, wherein the barrel is fixed or adjustable to direct delivery of the ball to the user, and wherein the barrel is tiltable along its vertical axis, by a vertical tilt angle, tiltable along its horizontal axis, by a horizontal tilt angle, or both. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ball launching device is arranged to lob or fire the ball at one or more speeds, one or more rotations, or both. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is at least one of:
 is in a device selected from a tablet, smartphone, or other mobile controller, controls and synchronizes the ball launching device, sensors, and game parameters in real time; or   wirelessly synchronizes the smart ball-launching device with the sensors and manages all game parameters: player names, running count of successful strikes on each projected target, session duration, points awarded per strike, and time remaining in a session.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein screen resiliency is selected such that a ball that strikes the screen will drop within about 1 to 36, 1 to 30, 1 to 24, 1 to 18, 1 to 16, or 1 to 12 inches from the screen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sports court system comprises a timer operable to measure a duration between the time of display of the target at a location on the first surface where it is desired that the user propel a ball, and the time when a ball is detected hitting the first surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the racquet sports ball includes a ball receptor to store the one or more racquet sports balls in communication with the ball launching device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising a ball collector area adjacent to the ball receptor wherein the device ball collector area is angled toward the ball receptor and an opening in communication with the ball receptor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising one or more additional stations for: practicing side to side contact with a ball, practicing contact with a ball after it contacts the floor and bounces upward, side-by-side running, forward and rearward running, and rotating between the one or more additional stations in one or more timed routines. 
     
     
         23 . A device comprising:
 a screen having a surface, wherein the surface is resilient such that a racquet sports ball with that strikes the surface, drops to within about 0-180 cm from the surface;   one or more projectors that project one or more visual targets on the surface of the screen, wherein one or more visual target areas is a positioned for the racquet sports ball to strike;   one or more sensors or an array of sensors in contact with or directed toward the surface that detects when the racquet sports ball strikes the surface within the one or more visual target areas;   a ball launching device for the racquet sports ball positioned to lob or shoot the racquet sports ball in a direction that is generally away from the screen; and   a ball receptor positioned in front of, and below, the surface and comprising an area that is within about 0 and 180 cm from the surface, wherein a ball receptor surface is angled down and toward connected to the ball launching device such that a racquet sports ball that enters the is directed into a pool of racquet sports balls to be fired by the ball launching device; and   wherein the device is operable to display the one or more visual target areas at a location on the surface where it is desired that a user contacts the racquet sports ball, and a visual return indicator is operable to display a launching target indicating a particular location within a practice area;   wherein the ball launching device is triggered to lob or shoot the racquet sports ball to a position where the user can strike the racquet sports ball toward the screen; and   wherein a processor in electronic communication with the one or more sensors or array of sensors detects when the racquet sports ball strikes at a location on the screen and then repositions the one or more visual target areas to a new location on the screen.   
     
     
         24 . A modular sports-technology system, the system comprising:
 (a) an impact-resistant simulator screen configured to display a digital court for racquet-sport play or arcade-style target games;   (b) an integrated sensor array operatively coupled to the impact-resistant simulator screen for detecting ball-impact location and trajectory, the integrated sensor array being in three-way communication with:   (i) one or more screen sensors,   (ii) one or more projectors,   (iii) one or more ball launching devices,   (iv) a ball receptor assembly, and   (v) a wireless control processor that synchronizes and adjusts one or more ball feed parameters to the ball launching device;   (c) a control processor that coordinates the integrated sensor array, the ball launching device, and a user interface, wherein the user interface enables single-user or multi-user sessions for at least one of: training, fitness, or entertainment; and   (d) a modular support structure that houses and aligns the impact-resistant simulator screen, integrated sensor array, projector, ball receptor assembly, and the ball launching device.   
     
     
         25 . The modular sports-technology system of  claim 24 , wherein the modular support structure is pre-fabricated with interlocking panels and tool-less or low-tool fasteners. 
     
     
         26 . The modular sports-technology system of  claim 24 , wherein one or more screen sensors comprise an optical sensor array. 
     
     
         27 . The modular sports-technology system of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more ball launching devices are gravity-fed. 
     
     
         28 . The modular sports-technology system of  claim 24 , wherein the control processor synchronizes the one or more screen sensors and one or more ball launching devices to deliver continuous play. 
     
     
         29 . The modular sports-technology system of  claim 24 , wherein the system occupies less than fifty square feet, and is adapted for installation in fitness clubs, entertainment centers, hotels, schools, or residences. 
     
     
         30 . The modular sports-technology system of  claim 24 , wherein the processor maintains real-time user performance metrics, cloud-based content updates, remote diagnostics support training, fitness, and entertainment modes for single or multiple users.