POSITIONAL TRACKING AND METRIC GATHERING DEVICE INTEGRATED IN A SPORTS PADDLE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/706,311, filed Oct. 11, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE STATEMENT: COMPUTER PROGRAM, SEQUENCE LISTING, OR LARGE TABLES

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STATEMENT OF PRIOR DISCLOSURES

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to a device integrated into a sports paddle or racket which tracks the position of a player or players. In particular, this invention would track the position of the player or players using this device to determine player position on the court in relation to the forward net and/or in relation to other players in the game. Additionally, this invention would allow current users or those learning to play team paddle/racket sports to enhance their skills in positional awareness, teamwork, and strategy. The invention would use micro-electromechanical systems to measure various metrics of the paddle. This invention would be useful in tournament play, to show player location, and to ensure conformity with national rules of the game.

Brief Review of Related Art

The present invention relates generally to paddles, and in particular, a device for determining position of a user or users. The present invention uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) version 5.1 or later enabled devices capable of measuring either Angle of Arrival (AOA) or Angle of Departure (AOD).

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a radiofrequency technology for wireless communications that can be used to detect and track the location of devices. A BLE enabled device is capable of establishing communication with another BLE enabled device. In communicating with each other, the devices may use AOA or AOD. AOA refers to measuring the direction from which a signal arrives and then projecting a line of bearing along the same direction. Using two separate locations calculating AOA allows for position to be determined. For AOA, the angle is determined relative to the receiver. AOD refers to measuring the phase difference in the incoming radio waves with respect to the transmitting antenna array. For AOD, the angle is determined relative to the transmitter. The more receiver antenna and transmitter arrays there are, the more accurate the location.

As an alternative, radio frequency identification (RFID) may be used to detect and track the location of devices. Passive RFID refers to tags which rely on the energy transmitted from a reader to power on and transmit its data. Alternatively, Active RFID uses a tag which is equipped with its own power source, enabling independent broadcasting.

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) is a process technology which combines mechanical and electrical components to sense, control, and actuate on a small scale. The mechanical domains of MEMS include, but are not limited to, force, pressure, velocity, acceleration, and position.

Pickleball has been around for decades. However, only recently that the sport grown so fast. The number of players in the United States grew to 13.6 million in 2023, a 51.8% increase from 2022 and a massive 223.5% since 2020. People of all ages play pickleball in all parts of the country and across the world.

Strategy is involved in pickleball. A player needs to know where to stand in relation to an opponent, where to stand to hit the pickleball, and where to stand to best return the pickleball. Additionally, players need to know where a partner is when playing as a team. Learning positional awareness as a member of a team is crucial to being an effective pickleball team. As such, this goes hand in hand with teamwork and strategy. The position of each team member is crucial to winning a match. Players further need to know their position because, insofar as rules are concerned, first, players must serve from a particular location, and second, volleying is prohibited within a non-volley zone near the net, also known as the kitchen. Further according to the rules, a server's arm must be moving upwards when the ball is struck, the paddle contact with the ball must not be made above waist level, and the head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.

The problem for pickleball players is that it is hard to remember the exact position a player was in relation to an opponent, or a player was in relation to a teammate. This makes gaining positional awareness on the court hard. This further makes it difficult to correct mistakes or learn and grow as a player. The problem further exacerbates ineffective teamwork and strategy.

The present invention solves these problems by allowing a user to learn positional awareness, teamwork, and strategy because this invention would track player positions in relation to opponents or in relation to a teammate in order to learn and grow as a player in the sport.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention tracks the position of a player on a court to allow the player to learn positional awareness, teamwork, and strategy. The present invention would include a transmitter array or receiver located inside of the paddle. This transmitter array or receiver would communicate with multiple other arrays or receiver located around the court. These communications would allow for a graphic user interface, smartphone, tablet, or other device to show paddle position in relation to the court. The present invention would further include a power source, a charging port, and a power switch. In one preferred embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device using Angle of Arrival (AOA); (b) a transmitter antenna in the paddle; (c) a receiver array on the court; (d) an external device to display the information; (e) a power source; (f); a charging port; and (g) a power switch. In another preferred embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device using Angle of Departure (AOD); (b) a receiver antenna in the paddle; (c) a transmitter array on the court; (d) an external device to display the information; (e) a power source; (f); a charging port; and (g) a power switch.

In additional variations of the preferred embodiments, the BLE device and MEMS sensors are contained in an external device which may be affixed to the handle of an after-market handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features that are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with further objects and advantages, are better understood by reference to the following detailed description read concurrently with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective of the inside of a paddle 1 illustrating a power source 6, MEMS sensors 9, and a BLE transmitter antenna 3 in a handle 2;

FIG. 2 is an overhead perspective of a traditional court including two or more BLE receiving antenna 4;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart describing the first preferred embodiment of the system comprising BLE transmitter antenna 3 and receiving arrays 4;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective of the inside of a paddle 1 illustrating a power source 6, MEMS sensors 9, and a BLE receiver array 4 in a handle 2;

FIG. 5 is an overhead perspective of a traditional court including BLE transmitter antennae 3;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart describing the second preferred embodiment of the system comprising BLE transmitter antennae 3 and a BLE receiving array 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective of a preferred embodiment comprising a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, MEMS sensors 9, and a BLE transmitter antenna 3 located in a handle 2; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective of a preferred embodiment comprising a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, MEMS sensors, and a BLE receiver array 4 located in a handle 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a system to determine the position of a player or players on a court. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system which allows a transmitter array and receiver antenna to communicate position directly to a separate device, such as, for example, a graphic user interface, a smartphone, a tablet, or any other device capable of receiving information.

Definitions

The term “Angle of Arrival” or AOA refers to measuring the direction from which a signal arrives and then projecting a line of bearing along the same direction wherein the angle is determined relative to a receiver.

The term “Angle of Departure” or AOD refers to measuring the phase difference in the incoming radio waves with respect to a transmitting antenna array wherein the angle is determined relative to a transmitter.

The term “Bluetooth Low Energy” or BLE refers to Bluetooth Version 5.1 or later.

The term “Passive Radiofrequency Identification” or Passive RFID refers to tags which rely on the energy transmitted from a reader to power on and transmit its data.

The term “Active Radiofrequency Identification” or Active RFID refers to a tag which is equipped with its own power source thereby enabling independent broadcasting.

The term “Micro-electromechanical systems” or MEMS refers to a process technology which combines mechanical and electrical components to sense, control, and actuate on a small scale thereby measuring parameters, such as force, pressure, velocity, acceleration, and position.

FIG. 1 illustrates an enlarged perspective of the inside of a handle 2 of a paddle 1 further comprising a power source 6, MEMS sensors 9, and a BLE transmitter antenna 3 in a handle 2. The paddle 1 is any well-known pickleball paddle of any size. In this embodiment, the sensor is a BLE transmitter antenna 3 which communicates with receiver arrays 4 on the court 12. The communication in this embodiment is BLE using AOA.

FIG. 2 illustrates an overhead perspective of a court 12 including two BLE receiving arrays 4. However, it should be understood that more than two receiving arrays may be used to enable more precise position determinations. The court 12 illustrated is a regulation court for illustrative purposes. Each receiving array 4 is located in a node 5. The nodes 5 are located at multiple points around the court 12, preferably at the middle of the court on the corners of a net 13. The receiver arrays 4 receive communication from the transmitter antenna 3 in the handle 2 of a paddle 1 via BLE using AOA. In a preferred embodiment, at least two nodes 5 are used and located, preferably, on corners of the net 13.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart describing the first preferred embodiment of the system comprising BLE transmitter antenna 3 and BLE receiving arrays 4. A BLE transmitter antenna 3 sends out a communication signal via BLE using AOA. The BLE transmitter antenna 3, integrated in the handle 2 of the paddle 1, sends out this signal. This signal is received by a BLE receiver array 4 located in the nodes 5 which estimates the AOA of the signal. By using multiple receiver arrays 4 and a transmitter antenna 3, the BLE receiver arrays 4 can determine and triangulate the position of the BLE transmitter antenna 3. This information, a position determination, is then communicated via BLE or other acceptable means of information transfer to an external device 10, such as a graphic user interface, smartphone, tablet, or other device to show paddle position in relation to the court 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged perspective of the inside of a handle 2 of a paddle 1 further comprising a power source 6, MEMS sensors 9, and a BLE receiver array 4. In this embodiment, the BLE receiver array 4 is located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1. The BLE receiver array 4 communicates with the BLE transmitter antennae 3 via BLE using angle of departure (AOD).

FIG. 5 illustrates an overhead perspective of a court 12 including two BLE transmitting antennae 3. However, it should be understood that more than two transmitting arrays may be used to enable more precise position determinations. The court 12 illustrated is a regulation court for illustrative purposes. Each transmitting antenna 3 is located in a node 5. The nodes 5 are located at multiple points around the court 12, preferably at the middle of the court on the corners of the net 13. The BLE transmitting antennae 3 located at the nodes 5 communicate with BLE receiving arrays 4 in the paddle 1 via BLE using AOD.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart describing the second preferred embodiment of the system comprising BLE transmitter antennae 3 in the nodes 5 and BLE receiving arrays 4 located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1. The BLE transmitter antennae 3 send out communication signals via BLE using AOD. This signal is received by BLE receiving arrays 4 located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1 which estimates the AOD of the signal. By using multiple transmitter antennae 3, the receiver array 4 can estimate the distance from each transmitter antennae 3 to triangulate the receiver array 4 position. This information, a position determination, is then communicated via BLE or other acceptable means of information transfer to a graphic user interface, smartphone, tablet, or other device to show paddle position in relation to the court 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged perspective of a preferred embodiment comprising a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, MEMS sensors 9, and a BLE transmitter antenna 3 located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1. The paddle 1 is a standard pickleball paddle. In this embodiment, the BLE transmitter antenna 3 is located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1. The BLE transmitter antenna 3 communicates with BLE receiver array 4 via BLE using AOA. The MEMS sensor 9 communicates various metrics, including but not limited to, force, acceleration, swing speed, angle of paddle face, and distance between partners or between a player and the net. The power source 6 is used to power the MEMS sensor 9 and the BLE transmitter antenna 3. The power switch 7 is integrated as a means to switch power to the power source 6 on and off. The charging port 8 is integrated as a means to charge the power source 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged perspective of a preferred embodiment comprising a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, a MEMS sensor 9, and a BLE receiver array 4 located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1. The paddle 1 is a standard pickleball paddle. In this embodiment, the BLE receiver array 4 is located in the handle 2 of the paddle 1. The BLE receiver array 4 receives communication from the BLE transmitter antennae 3 located in the nodes 5 using AOD. The MEMS sensor 9 communicates various metrics, including but not limited to, force, acceleration, swing speed, angle of paddle face, and distance between partners or between a player and the net 13.

Example 1

Positional Tracking and Metric Gathering Device Integrated in or Encompassing Sports Paddle

In a first preferred embodiment, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, a system for positional tracking and metric gathering device integrated in a paddle comprises a paddle 1, a paddle handle 2, a BLE transmitter antenna 3, a BLE receiving array 4, a node 5, a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, a micro-electromechanical system sensor 9. The system, an external device 10, a court 12, and a net 13 are provided for. Referring to FIG. 7, the handle 2 of the paddle 1 further comprises the BLE transmitter antenna 3, a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, and a MEMS sensor 9. Referring to FIG. 2, two BLE receiver arrays 4 are located in nodes 5 located at the middle of the court 12 on the corner of the net 13. The system is powered on by pressing the power switch 7. Referring to FIG. 3, as a user moves about the court, the BLE transmitter antenna 3 located in the handle 2 paddle 1 sends out communication signals. The BLE receiving arrays 4 located in the nodes 5 receive these communication signals and estimate AOA of the signal. This communication received is used to estimate distance from each array thereby triangulating the position of a user. Further, this position estimate is sent to an external device 10, such as a GUI device, to display the location on a virtual court.

Example 2

In a second preferred embodiment, referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, a system for positional tracking and metric gathering device integrated in a paddle comprises a paddle 1, a paddle handle 2, a BLE transmitter antenna 3, a BLE receiving array 4, a node 5, a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, a micro-electromechanical system sensor 9. The system, an external device 10, a court 12, and a net 13 are provided for. Referring to FIG. 8, the handle 2 of the paddle 1 further comprises the BLE receiving array 4, a power source 6, a power switch 7, a charging port 8, and a MEMS sensor 9. Referring to FIG. 5, two BLE transmitter antennae 3 are located in nodes 5 located at the middle of the court 12 on the corner of the net 13. The system is powered on by pressing the power switch 7. Referring to FIG. 6, As a user moves about the court, the BLE transmitter antennae 3 located in the nodes 5 sends out communication signals. The BLE receiving array 4 in the handle 2 of the paddle 1 receive these communication signals. The BLE receiving array 4 estimates the AOD of each signal and is used in conjunction with the distance estimate from each transmitter to triangulate the BLE receiver array 4 position. Further, this position estimate is sent to an external device 10, such as a GUI device, to display the location on a virtual court.

Equivalents

While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

All references, patents and patent applications disclosed herein are incorporated by reference with respect to the subject matter for which each is cited, which in some cases may encompass the entirety of the document.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, e.g., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, e.g., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to “A” only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to “B” only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both “A and B” (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, e.g., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (e.g., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, e.g., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively. It should be appreciated that embodiments described in this document using an open-ended transitional phrase (e.g., “comprising”) are also contemplated, in alternative embodiments, as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the feature described by the open-ended transitional phrase. For example, if the disclosure describes “a composition comprising A and B,” the disclosure also contemplates the alternative embodiments “a composition consisting of A and B” and “a composition consisting essentially of A and B.”