System for pitching of baseball
The present invention is a system for pitching of baseball to enjoy virtual game, throwing a ball from a mound plate in a pitching room. The system includes a fiber net member placed in the back of the home plate and held a tension by the ceiling, floor, and right and left walls, for flexibly catching the thrown ball and for dropping it on the floor; a plurality of narrow light sources arranged on the ceiling, floor, right wall, or left wall at different positions between the mound and home plate, wherein each light source emits slit light to the opposite side; a video camera arranged on the front wall, for photographing optical images reflected by the thrown ball which in turn passes through the positions corresponding to each light source and for outputting image signal; and a computer for detecting three-dimensional positions of the thrown ball based on the image signal output from the video camera and for outputting detecting signal.
This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2005-276963 filed Sep. 26, 2005 and No. 2005-348257 filed Dec. 1, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for pitching of baseball or softball and, more particularly to a system for enjoying virtual baseball or softball game by throwing a ball in a pitching room.
2. Description of the Related Arts
There are several kinds of systems for enjoying virtual ball game such as baseball or softball. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,731 to Hanabusa et al. discloses a device for catching a ball. The device comprises a flam member, a net member put on the flame member, a mat member disposed the net member having a strike zone, and detection means for detecting the position of the pitched ball collided with or passed through the strike zone. The detection means is, for example, a plurality of photo-sensors mounted in predetermined location of the strike zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,855 to Silin et al. discloses a baseball pitching analyzer having a housing in the form of a cube with a forward face including an opening through which the baseball may pass. Located within the housing is an open rectangular frame mounting a plurality of light emitters and associated light detectors, arranged to form an array or grid of intersecting light beams.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,260 to Stewart et al. discloses a virtual reality baseball training and amusement apparatus, which includes a pair of detection planes, a computer, a video display and simulator monitor, and the like. The detection planes are spaced apart at a distance such that a ball batted through both detection planes would be a fair ball in a real ball. Each includes grid frame having a pair of optical scanners each of which is CCD camera, and a pair of light sources. Each scanner captures images of the ball to determine the coordinate of the ball by the angle and sends it to the computer. The computer calculates the trajectory and velocity of the ball.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,151 to Lowy et al. discloses a baseball simulation system, which includes a computer, a pair of cameras, and the like, and which determines the trajectory of a thrown ball from a baseball throwing device. The cameras capture the images of the thrown ball and detect two-dimensional coordinates of the reference planes. The computer calculates three-dimensional coordinates based on the two-dimensional coordinates and determines the trajectory of the ball.
SUMMERY OF THE INVENTIONThese systems of the related arts detect the position of the ball by using one of two technologies. Also the related Japanese Patents, some of which will be disclosed in the IDS after filing this application, are similar. One technology employs a plurality of the photo-sensors each of which consists of an element emits light beam and an element receives it. Such an arrangement, however, would be difficult to fabricate, because each signal emitter and signal receiver is too distant to right align both optical axes. Therefore, it would be quite difficult to align the optical axes of all photo-sensors without crosstalk. Other employs a plurality of the video cameras which capture the images of the thrown ball. Each of video cameras can only detect the two-dimensional coordinates of the ball, so that it is necessary to calculate the three-dimensional coordinates of the ball based on the two-dimensional coordinates by using a computer, e.g., CPU. Therefore, these systems may require high cost due to the plurality of the video cameras and the high performance computer.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system which will accurately detect positions of a thrown ball, without any signal emitter and signal receiver which need align both optical axes, and to provide a system without a plurality of the video cameras and a high performance computer, i.e., with low cost.
The system according to the present invention includes a pitching room having a space which is enclosed with right and left walls, front and back walls, a ceiling, and a floor. The floor has a mound with a plate from which a player throws a ball and a home plate which defines a strike region. The distance from the plate to the home plate is adaptable to the baseball or softball rules for adults and kids. The pitching room includes a fiber net member placed in the back of the home plate and held a tension by the ceiling, floor, and right and left walls, for flexibly catching the thrown ball and for dropping it on the floor; a plurality of narrow light sources arranged on at least one side of the ceiling, floor, right wall, and left wall at different positions between the mound and home plate, wherein each light source emits slit light to the opposite side; a video camera for photographing optical images reflected by the thrown ball which in turn passes through the positions corresponding to each light source and for outputting image signal; and a computer for detecting three-dimensional positions of the thrown ball based on the image signal output from the video camera and for outputting the detecting signal.
The present invention will provide a system for a player to enjoy virtual baseball or softball game, by accurately detecting the three-dimensional positions of the ball thrown from the mound without the plurality of the photo-sensors, the plurality of the video cameras, and a high performance computer, and by judging the trajectory of the ball which passes over the home plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESA better understanding of the present invention will be obtained when the following detailed description of preferred embodiments are considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
FIGS. 9 to 11 show a catcher's picture catching a ball;
Further, in
The computer 21 is operatively connected to the consol 22, device 30, camera 31, camera controller 32 and the like, and systematically controls them in order to progress the virtual baseball or softball game. The computer 21 receives the signal from the consol 22 in which the user inputs commands indicating the game condition through the switches. Also, the computer 21 sends the device 30 control signal by which the picture on the screen is selected. Further, the computer 21 sends the camera controller 32 control signal by which the angle of view of the camera 31 is set. Consequently, the computer 21 can obtain the image signal of the thrown ball photographed by the camera 31, from the preferable angle of view.
In
In
Consequently, the center of the diameter of the semicircle shown in
In
After the ball is stopped and dropped, the computer 21 judges the thrown ball based on its trajectory including speed, particularly the trajectory in a three-dimensional space over the home plate 2. According to the baseball rules, the strike region is the space having the top and bottom planes of the same as the home plate 2 and the height between the nee and elbow of the batter's picture displayed. That is, the computer 21 allow thrown ball to judge with at least two light sources L8 and L9. However, it is preferable to enjoy the virtual baseball game by arranging other light sources L1 to L7, because the catcher's picture 25m2 moves in response to the flying ball passing through the position corresponding to L1 to L7.
With viewing from the mound, as shown in
The catcher's picture 25m2 in
When the ball is stopped by the net member 24, the catcher's picture 25m2 moves as if catching the ball. FIGS. 9 to 11 show the catcher's picture 25m2 catching the ball 80. Further, the catcher's picture 25m2 moves in response to the position of the ball being dropped (not shown). As described above, the ball dropped on the sloped area 102b is routed to the hollow 102c by gravity.
As shown in
The system telecom 41 communicates with the CMS 200 in
If Step 102 is “NO”; that is, the access does not indicate a reservation for the pitching game, the computer 21 determines whether the access is “predicted end time of the current game” (Step 109). If Step 109 is “YES”, the computer 21 estimates the end time based on the current score stored in the RAM 44 as shown in
Accordingly, the CMS 200 determines at least one pitching room 100 which has sent the shortest end time, and determines whether the time is shorter than a threshold time, e.g., 5 minutes. When the time is shorter than the threshold time, CMS 200 accesses the mobile phone of the next user reserving game, and sends data indicating the threshold time and the pitching room number.
The computer 21 searches the switches of the console 22 (Step 205), and sets one class according to the user selection (Step 206). Then, the computer 21 sends the class data to the device 30 and causes the device 30 to display the initial picture on the screen 24 (Step 207). The initial picture indicates the class selected by the user, and the rules of this game: a maximum interval time of throwing ball (e.g., 15 seconds); ejection rules (game over) for many giving runs, headhunting or bean balls, or wild pitches; a premium which is changeable to goods or service, for an excellent game such as a perfect game, a no hitter, a shut out, and which stores in the mobile phone of the excellent user.
The computer 21 determines whether the start switch is changed to “ON” (Step 208). If Step 208 is “YES”, the computer 21 determines whether the ball is provided to the user (pitcher), by detecting that the sensor of the ball holder changes from “ON” to “OFF” (Step 209). If Step 209 is “YES”, the computer 21 sets the flag STF to “1”, i.e., “playing” (Step 210), and directs the device 30 to display the pitching guide pictures as shown in
If Step 213 is “YES”, the computer 21 detects the 3-dimensional position of the flying ball (Step 216), sends the detected position to the video display device 30 (Step 217), and directs the device 30 to display the picture directing a target of the ball shown in
If Step 222 is “YES” (ball arrives at the net member), the computer 21 judges the thrown ball (Step 223), and directs the device 30 to display the judgment (Step 224). For example, the device 30 displays the catcher's picture, such as
Next, the computer 21 stores the judged data, such as “strike”, “ball”, “hit”, “swing out”, “wild pitch”, and the like, into the RAM 44 (Step 225). And, the computer 21 controls the sound system 46 creating sound such as the catching sound caused by a virtual mitt and umpire's judging voice such as “strike” or “ball”, e.g., or hitting sound caused by a virtual bat (Step 226). Next, the computer 21 controls the device 28 returning the ball toward the mound (Step 227), and more directs the device 30 to display the catcher's picture returning the ball in response to the trajectory of the ball as shown in
Next, the computer 21 determines whether the game is over (Step 228). If Step 228 is “NO”, the computer 21 returns in
If Step 228 is “YES”, i.e., game over, the computer 21 sends the data stored in the RAM 44 to the CMS 200 (Step 230) via the system telecom 41, resets the flag STF to “0” (Step 231), and returns Step 101 in
The video camera 31, in order to output the image signal to the computer 21 as soon as possible, includes at least one color image sensor and an electronic circuit which drives the image sensor and an electronic circuit which processes the image signal photographed by the image sensor.
For example, if the velocity of the ball, which is thrown by a professional “heat” pitcher, is 99 mile/hour, the time when it passes through 3 feet, i.e., one span between two light sources, is about 20.7 milliseconds. The velocity of the ball thrown by a normal player is very slower than the former. Accordingly, it is sufficient that the camera 31 may output the image signal of one frame during 20 milliseconds. This is realized by using a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor without any problems, however; the CMOS sensor is preferable for this purpose.
The CMOS sensor can independently output the different color image signals, such as primary-colors, i.e., red, green, and blue, or subtractive primaries, i.e., yellow, magenta, and cyan, so that the camera 31 with the CMOS sensor can clearly recognize the optical color images reflected by the thrown ball and output the image signal with high speed.
The light sources L1 to L9 may be arranged on the right wall 103 or the ceiling 101. With arranging on the ceiling 101, the light sources emit horizontal slit lights to the opposite floor 102.
Each of the light sources L1 to L9 may emit different color light such as red, green, and blue colors, depending upon the own position. For example, each color of L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, and L9 is red, green, blue, red, blue, green, green, red, and red. In this case, the SUM circuit 318 in
In addition, the CMOS sensor can photograph a part of one frame based on the “X-Y address scanning” which is well known techniques.
In another embodiment according to the present invention, a robot is placed on the floor 102 at the back of the home plate 2 instead of the net member 24.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments and configurations outline above, it is evident that the embodiments and configurations described above are indicative of additional alternative embodiments and configurations and combinations of design parameter values, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art having benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the split and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A system for pitching of baseball comprising:
- a pitching room having a space which is enclosed with right and left walls, front and back walls, a ceiling, and a floor having a mound from which a player will throw a ball and a home plate by which the thrown ball will be judged depending upon its trajectory, wherein the distance between the mound and home plate is adaptable for the baseball or softball rule for adults and kids;
- a fiber net member placed in the back of the home plate and held a tension by the ceiling, floor, and right and left walls, for flexibly catching the thrown ball and for dropping it on the floor;
- a plurality of narrow light sources arranged on at least one side of the ceiling, floor, right wall, and left wall at different positions between the mound and home plate, wherein each light source emits slit light to the opposite side;
- a video camera for photographing optical images reflected by the thrown ball which in turn passes through the positions corresponding to each light source and for outputting image signal; and
- a computer for detecting three-dimensional positions of the thrown ball based on the image signal output from the video camera and for outputting the detecting signal.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each light source emits a specific color light by which the video camera can clearly recognize the optical images reflected by the thrown ball and can output the image signal with high speed.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the video camera has a CMOS image sensor which outputs the color image signal having the color spectrum substantially corresponding to that of the specific color light emitted by each light source.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources emit different color lights depending upon each longitudinal position.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the video camera has a CMOS image sensor which outputs the color image signal having the color spectrum substantially corresponding to that of the specific color light emitted by each light source.
6. The system according to claim 2, wherein each light source has an optical filter only passing the specific color light.
7. The system according to claim 4, wherein each light source has an optical filter only passing the specific color light.
8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a video display device placed at the back of the fiber net member for displaying a catcher's picture moving in response to the detecting signal output from the computer, as if to catch the thrown ball.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer judges the ball passed through three dimensions above the home plate based on the detecting signal, and provides the progress of the virtual baseball game based on the judgment.
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a slope formed on the floor where the fiber net member drops the ball thereon; and a device for setting the ball which is routed by gravity on the slope and for throwing back the ball toward the pitcher.
11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a robot instead of the fiber net member, the robot comprising:
- a pivotable base which is jointed to the floor and through which the power and signal are supplied;
- a body including a receiver for receiving the detecting signal output from the computer and a controller for processing the detecting signal received by the receiver;
- a left arm which is jointed to the body through an actuator and which has an elbow actuator, a wrist actuator, and a hand with a mitt device including a shock absorber; and
- a right arm which is jointed to the body through an actuator and which has an elbow actuator, a wrist actuator, and a hand with finger actuators for indicating to request a type of the next ball;
- wherein the controller controls all actuators so as to catch the thrown ball with the mitt device based on processing the detecting signal, then to throw it back with the right hand toward the player.
12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising: a head which is jointed to the body and which has a display for indicating to request the same type of the next ball as indicated by the finger actuators.
13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a wireless communication device for receiving a reservation to play game from a customer's mobile phone, and for transmitting information on timing for playing to the mobile phone.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is installed in a store providing merchandise and/or service, and further comprising:
- a management device for discounting a playing fee to a person based on purchase price to the person, and discount selling price to a person based on excellent pitching game by the person.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the fee for the provided merchandise and/or service is paid through the electronic cash via the mobile phone using for pitching game.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 17, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 29, 2007
Inventor: Shoich Ono (Tokorozawa)
Application Number: 11/487,538
International Classification: A63B 69/00 (20060101);