Sensor activated ball and sport accessory with computer functionalities

Abstract

A ball or sport accessory allows players to interact using a variety of computing functions; combines one or more sensors, displays, cameras, projectors, memory, hardware, processors or other components capable of providing computer functionality; allows users to record and share images and video, to receive live directions from coaches or other players, to understand or correct mistakes by replaying videos instantaneously, or to undertake other computing activity without the need of additional devices; allows users to listen to music or to watch two or three dimensional movie or television files; and/or functions as a cell phone. The ball or sport accessory may allow users to play video games, view holograms, project images or videos, and download websites and/or third party applications. The sport accessory may determine whether the user has sustained an impact that may cause a concussion, or whether the user may suffer a sunstroke.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 581,898, filed on Dec. 30, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to balls, athletic equipment, and sports accessories, and specifically sensor activated balls, athletic equipment and sports accessories.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Many recreational or athletic activities require balls and other sport accessories, such as bats, helmets, basketball hoops, etc. But conventional balls or sport accessories typically are drab and dull, failing to stimulate the players' senses. For example, conventional balls and sport accessories do not display images or play sounds when a player catches or touches them. The lack of interactivity of conventional balls and sport accessories is particularly noticeable when a user is ex...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]According to an embodiment of the present invention, a novel ball for use in sport activities includes a ball skin, a display that may be attached to the ball skin, one or more sensors that may be located on either the ball skin or the display, and electronic components that are within the ball skin. The display of the ball may be activated when one or more sensors are activated. The ball may include computer functionality.

[0011]In some embodiments, the sensors may sense touch, sound, light, image or heat. In some embodiments, the ball may include one or more cameras, projectors, speakers, or microphones that may be activated by the sensors. The display of the ball may be composed of flexible materials, such as OLED, AMOLED or PMOLED materials. The display of the ball may be a touchscreen that may display images, videos, emails, articles, web pages, touchscreen keyboards, menus, interactive panels or social network pages. The electronic components may include a processor, a memory, a power supply, an accelometer, a gyroscope, a Wi-Fi chip, a Wi-Fi antenna, an USB dock, a power supply, a speaker controller chip, a touchscreen controller chip, a camera sensor chip and lens, a projector sensor chip and lens, a microphone, a holographic image sensor, a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, a video recorder, a projector, a fan, and a cooling pad. The electronic components may include software instructions for executing at least one of music players, web browsers, e-mail access, text messaging, onscreen keyboards, voice dialing, Bluetooth capabilities, character recognition, synchronization of multiple email accounts, synchronization of desktop or laptop computers or other devices, voice recording, GPS, Microsoft Office (MS) compatible applications, social networking functionality, multi-player connectivity, multi-application execution capability, software applications, Wi-Fi, 2G/3G/4G connectivity, menus allowing the navigation of different applications, multimedia applications, digital camera access applications, Internet television display, Internet radio, touch holograms and kinetic technology.

[0012]According to another embodiment of the present invention, a novel sport accessory for use in sport activities includes a shell, a display that may be attached to the shell, one or more sensors that may be located on either the shell or the display, and electronic components that are within the shell of the sport accessory. The display may be activated when one or more sensors are activated. The sport accessory may include computer functionality.

[0013]In some embodiments, the sensors may sense touch, sound, light, image or heat. In some embodiments, the sport accessory may include one or more cameras, projectors, speakers, or microphones that may be activated by the sensors. The display of the sport accessory may be composed of flexible materials, such as OLED, AMOLED or PMOLED materi

Problems solved by technology

But conventional balls or sport accessories typically are drab and dull, failing to stimulate the players' senses.

For example, conventional balls and sport accessories do not display images or play sounds when a player catches or touches them.

The lack of interactivity of conventional balls and sport accessories is particularly noticeable when a user is exercising alone, without anyone with which to interact.

U.S. Publication No. 2010/0313334 discloses a sports cap with a display that may be touch activated, however the sports cap is not a durable ball or sport accessory that players may use to engage in athletic or recreational activity.

U.S. Publication No. 2009/0029808 discloses a basketball board with a display and a pressure type sensor, but does not disclose that the display provides computer functionality, such as mobile web browsing, social networking and/or voice calling.

Conventional touch activated devices do not have the design or durability to be used during physical athletic activities.

For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,082,578 and 7,755,605 discuss devices that are used to activate a display screen; however these devices are not designed for athletic activity.

These touch activated devices are similar to control devices, such as a computer mouse, that are used to manipulate graphical objects on user interfaces, and are not durable enough to withstand sport activities.

Additionally, conventional balls or sport accessories lack computer functionality.

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