Self-powered light-emitting football and control method thereof

Abstract

The application provides a self-power-generating light-emitting football and a control method thereof, which realizes complete self-power supply and uniform light emission of the football in the movement process by combining an innovative pendulum-generator kinetic energy conversion mechanism with a light-transmitting structure design, and effectively overcomes the limitation of the prior art on external battery or fluorescent material. The device can continuously convert kinetic energy into electric energy to power the LED lamp through the built-in power generation module when being kicked or hit, ensuring unlimited endurance. The unique movement core structure cooperates with the light-transmitting ball skin and inner container to ensure that the light is soft and uniform, avoiding the problem of dazzling point light source. In addition, the integrated control module and double-insurance switch design realize intelligent energy saving and reliable control, and the modular structure is convenient for production and assembly and later maintenance, so that the football not only meets the night movement lighting demand, but also perfectly maintains the aerodynamic characteristics and touch of the traditional football, and has practicability, economy and excellent user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sporting goods technology, and in particular to a self-generating luminous soccer ball and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing awareness of fitness among the public and the growing popularity of nighttime sports activities, the demand for luminous soccer balls that can be used in low-light environments is increasing. These products not only enhance the fun of sports but also improve safety and visibility during nighttime activities, making it easier for users to track the ball's trajectory and avoid errors or safety hazards caused by poor visibility.

[0003] Currently, most luminous soccer balls on the market rely on two main technological solutions to achieve their luminous function. The first is the built-in battery type, where a rechargeable or dry cell battery is installed inside the soccer ball to power LEDs embedded in its surface or interior. While this solution offers controllable and high-brightness illumination, it has significant drawbacks: limited battery capacity leads to short battery life, requiring frequent charging or battery replacements, impacting the user experience; the built-in battery increases the soccer ball's weight and rigidity, potentially altering its aerodynamics and feel, unsuitable for professional training or matches; and the battery and complex internal circuitry increase product complexity and failure rate. The second type utilizes fluorescent materials, coating or incorporating fluorescent substances into the soccer ball's surface, which absorb ambient light and emit a faint glow for a certain period. This solution requires no power source and has a simple structure. However, its disadvantages are equally prominent: low brightness and short duration of illumination, relying entirely on ambient light for pre-charging, making it almost ineffective in complete darkness; the fluorescent material is easily worn away by friction and scratches, causing its luminous performance to rapidly decay over time, resulting in poor durability; and the limited color and pattern of illumination fail to provide dynamic or high-brightness lighting effects.

[0004] In summary, existing luminous soccer ball technologies cannot achieve continuous, stable, and high-brightness self-illumination without altering the fundamental physical properties of the soccer ball or requiring frequent external intervention. Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a novel luminous soccer ball solution that can efficiently convert the kinetic energy of the soccer ball during motion into electrical energy for illumination, thereby achieving true self-powered operation, long battery life, and maintenance-free characteristics, while maintaining the soccer ball's optimal performance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a self-generating luminous soccer ball and its control method to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: This invention provides a self-generating luminous soccer ball, comprising: The ball skin is made of a light-transmitting material; The inner liner is a sealed shell made of transparent or semi-transparent material, which forms a cavity inside. The shell surface is then covered with gauze or wrapped with yarn to fix its shape and size, strengthen its structure and stability, and make the sphere rounder, more elastic, more durable and airtight. The mechanism, fixed within the accommodating cavity, includes a power generation module, an energy storage module, a lighting module, and a control module; wherein: The power generation module includes a pendulum rotatably mounted on the inner bladder and a micro generator connected to the pendulum in a transmission. When the football moves, the pendulum swings under the action of inertial force and drives the micro generator to rotate and generate electricity. The energy storage module is electrically connected to the power generation module and is used to store the electrical energy generated by the power generation module; The lighting module is electrically connected to the energy storage module and includes multiple LED lights disposed on the mechanism; The control module is electrically connected to the power generation module, energy storage module and lighting module respectively, and is used to manage the storage, distribution and lighting control of electrical energy.

[0007] Preferably, in the power generation module, the pendulum is connected to the input shaft of the micro generator via a gear mechanism, which converts the bidirectional oscillation of the pendulum into the bidirectional rotation of the generator input shaft.

[0008] Preferably, the gear set mechanism includes a swing arm, which is disposed on both sides of the fourth gear and fixedly connected to the pendulum. The fourth gear meshes with the third gear, the third gear meshes with the second gear, the second gear meshes with the first gear, the first gear is fixedly connected to the input shaft of the micro generator, and the second gear and the third gear are rotatably disposed in the accommodating cavity via a support shaft.

[0009] Preferably, the outer shell is a composite material layer of TPU, translucent TPE, and dense mesh fabric; the inner liner is a spherical shell made of two hemispheres spliced ​​together by transparent PVC.

[0010] Preferably, the movement is a sphere made of transparent material, and the plurality of LED lights are evenly distributed on the equatorial ring and / or meridian strips of the movement sphere.

[0011] Preferably, the control module integrates: A physical push-button switch is used to manually connect or disconnect the power supply circuit of the lighting module; A charging management circuit is connected to the energy storage module and electrically connected to a USB Type-C charging port located on the outside of the soccer ball; A status indicator circuit is used to display the charging status of the energy storage module; A vibration sensor switch is used to detect the stationary state of the football and automatically cut off the power supply circuit of the lighting module after the football has remained stationary for more than a preset time.

[0012] Preferably, the vibration sensor switch and the physical button switch form a double-safety switch connected in series in the power supply circuit of the lighting module, and the lighting module is lit only when both are in the on state.

[0013] Preferably, the mechanism, the power generation module, the energy storage module, the lighting module, and the control module together constitute an independent modular unit, which is fixed to the center of the inner liner's accommodating cavity by means of snap-fit, threaded connection, or adhesive bonding.

[0014] Preferably, the inner liner is provided with an air inlet, and the axis of the air inlet is coaxial with the center of the movement.

[0015] This invention also provides a control method for a self-generating and luminous soccer ball. The method involves a micro-generator driven by a pendulum generating electricity in real time as the soccer ball moves, storing the electrical energy in an energy storage module, and prioritizing power supply to the lighting module. When the energy storage module has sufficient power and the soccer ball is stationary for more than a set threshold, the lighting is automatically turned off by the control module to save energy. Simultaneously, the method supports charging the energy storage module via an external power source through the control module.

[0016] The present invention achieves the following beneficial technical effects compared to the prior art: This invention provides a self-generating luminous soccer ball and its control method. Through an innovative combination of a pendulum-generator kinetic energy conversion mechanism and a light-transmitting structure design, it achieves complete autonomous power supply and uniform light emission during the soccer ball's movement, effectively overcoming the limitations of existing technologies that rely on external batteries or fluorescent materials. This device not only continuously converts kinetic energy into electrical energy to power the LED lights when kicked or slapped, ensuring unlimited power, but its unique core structure, combined with the light-transmitting outer shell and inner bladder, also ensures soft and uniform light transmission, avoiding the glare problem of point light sources. Furthermore, the integrated control module and double-safety switch design achieve intelligent energy saving and reliable control, while the modular construction facilitates production, assembly, and subsequent maintenance. This allows the soccer ball to meet the needs of nighttime sports lighting while perfectly maintaining the aerodynamic characteristics and feel of a traditional soccer ball, combining practicality, economy, and an excellent user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the self-generating and light-emitting soccer ball structure provided by the present invention; Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a self-generating and luminous soccer ball provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the power generation module structure in the self-generating luminous soccer ball provided by the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the LED light distribution in the self-generating luminous soccer ball provided by the present invention; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the self-generating light-emitting soccer ball control circuit provided by the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the self-generating and light-emitting soccer ball mechanism provided by the present invention; Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the power generation principle of the self-generating, light-emitting soccer ball provided by this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first," "second," etc., are merely used to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages). In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention.

[0020] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] The purpose of this invention is to provide a self-generating luminous soccer ball and its control method to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0023] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 The schematic diagram shown is of the structure of the self-generating luminescent soccer ball of the present invention. The soccer ball generally comprises, from the outside in, a ball skin 100, an inner bladder 200, and a mechanism 300 fixedly disposed inside the inner bladder 200. The ball skin 100, as the outermost layer of the soccer ball in contact with the outside world, has an appearance and texture design similar to a traditional soccer ball, but the key difference lies in its use of a composite material with good light transmittance, such as a composite layer of TPU (polyurethane), transparent TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), and dense mesh fabric. This material selection ensures that the soccer ball has sufficient wear resistance, impact resistance, and a good touch, while allowing internal light to effectively penetrate and form a uniform luminescent spherical surface, avoiding localized bright spots or halos.

[0025] Specifically, the inner bladder 200 is located inside the ball skin 100, and its function is similar to that of the inner bladder of a traditional soccer ball, used to maintain the airtightness and basic shape of the ball. In this invention, the inner bladder 200 is made of a transparent material with high light transmittance and good elasticity, such as transparent PVC (polyvinyl chloride), TPU, or silicone. The inner bladder 200 is constructed into a spherical structure with a sealed accommodating cavity, and its formation includes, but is not limited to, the following three embodiments: Example 1: Two pre-formed hemispherical shells are used. The movement is placed between the mating surfaces of the two hemispherical shells. Then, the two hemispherical shells are fixedly connected along the seam by high-frequency heat sealing or bonding process, thereby forming a complete spherical shell and an internal sealed cavity. The shell surface is then covered with gauze or wrapped with yarn to fix its shape and size, strengthen its structure and stability, and make the sphere rounder, more elastic, more durable and airtight. Example 2: A soft shell made of TPU or PVC material is prefabricated to match the shape of the movement. The movement is wrapped and positioned at the geometric center of the soft shell. Then, the openings or seams of the soft shell are sealed by high-frequency heat sealing or bonding process, thus forming a complete spherical shell and an internal sealed cavity. The surface of the shell is then covered with gauze or wrapped with yarn to fix its shape and size, strengthen its structure and stability, and make the sphere rounder, more elastic, more durable and airtight. Example 3: A pre-formed spherical shell with an openable and closable structure is used. The movement is placed into the inner cavity of the spherical shell, and then the opening and closing interface (or splicing surface) of the spherical shell is glued and fixed to close it into a complete spherical shell, thereby forming a sealed accommodating cavity inside. The shell surface is then glued with gauze or wrapped with yarn to fix its shape and size, strengthen its structure and stability, and make the sphere rounder, more elastic, more durable and airtight.

[0026] A standard inflation nozzle is provided on the inner bladder 200 for inflating the soccer ball to maintain its elasticity and performance characteristics. An important design consideration is that the axis of the inflation nozzle is preferably coaxial with the center of the entire inner bladder 200, i.e., the mounting center of the mechanism 300. This coaxial design helps maintain the dynamic balance of the mechanism 300 and its internal components after inflation and during movement, reducing vibration interference and wear caused by eccentricity.

[0027] Furthermore, the mechanism 300 is the core functional component of this invention. As an integrated modular unit, it is fixed to the center of the accommodating cavity of the inner liner 200 via a central support rod or flexible connector. The outer shell of the mechanism 300 is preferably made of transparent or semi-transparent engineering plastic (such as transparent ABS or PC) to allow unobstructed propagation of the internal light source. The mechanism 300 integrates a power generation module, an energy storage module, a lighting module, and a control module.

[0028] The power generation module is responsible for converting the kinetic energy generated during football movement into electrical energy. Specifically, refer to... Figure 3The schematic diagram of the power generation module shown includes a pendulum 301 that can swing about an axis. The pendulum 301 is pivotally mounted on the mechanism frame. When the soccer ball is kicked, rolled, or undergoes any form of speed-changing motion, the pendulum 301 will oscillate back and forth relative to the mechanism housing due to inertia. The oscillating motion of the pendulum 301 is transmitted to the input shaft of the micro-generator 302 via a transmission mechanism.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission mechanism is a gear set mechanism. The swing shaft of the pendulum 301 is connected to a fourth gear 303 via a swing arm or directly. The fourth gear 303 meshes with a third gear 304, the third gear 304 meshes with a second gear 305, and the second gear 305 meshes with a first gear 306 fixed on the input shaft of the micro-generator 302. This multi-stage gear set ingeniously converts and amplifies the low-speed, high-torque bidirectional reciprocating oscillation of the pendulum 301 into high-speed bidirectional rotation of the input shaft of the micro-generator 302, thereby efficiently driving the generator 302 to cut magnetic field lines and generate alternating current. The generated electrical energy is output after preliminary rectification and filtering circuitry.

[0030] The energy storage module, typically a rechargeable lithium battery (e.g., with a capacity of 200mAh), is electrically connected to the output of the power generation module 300 to store the electrical energy generated by the power generation. The energy storage module forms the energy pool for the entire system, ensuring that the lighting system can continue to operate even when the football is briefly still or not moving vigorously.

[0031] The lighting module is connected to the output of the energy storage module and consists of multiple LEDs 307. (Reference) Figure 4 The diagram shows the LED light distribution. These LEDs 307 are evenly arranged in a specific geometric pattern on the surface of the spherical outer shell of the movement 300. For example, one group of LEDs can be evenly distributed circumferentially along the "equator" of the movement shell, while another group can be distributed along two mutually perpendicular "meridians," thus achieving near-perfect illumination from the inside of the movement outwards. The light passes through the transparent outer shell of the movement, the transparent inner liner 200, and the translucent ball skin 100, ultimately creating a very soft and uniform luminous effect when viewed from the outside of the soccer ball, avoiding the glare and discomfort caused by direct light from a point light source.

[0032] The control module is responsible for coordinating and managing all electrical energy and signals. (Reference) Figure 5The control circuit diagram shown integrates multiple functional units. At its core is a charging management chip, responsible for receiving electrical energy from the power generation module 300 or input via an external USB Type-C charging interface 308, and charging the energy storage module safely and efficiently. The charging status is indicated by an indicator light (e.g., an LED), flashing during charging and remaining constantly lit when fully charged. The control module also includes a physical push-button switch, typically designed as a waterproof microswitch, cleverly concealed either outside the ball's skin or hidden in the seam, allowing the user to manually turn the lighting function on or off. Furthermore, the control module contains a vibration sensor switch (such as a ball switch or a MEMS accelerometer). This vibration sensor switch continuously monitors the vibration state of the soccer ball. When it detects that the soccer ball has remained stationary for more than a preset time (e.g., 10 minutes), the vibration sensor switch automatically disconnects the power supply circuit to the lighting module 307, achieving automatic energy saving. Importantly, the physical push-button switch and the vibration sensor switch are connected in series in the circuit to form a "double-safety" switch. This means that the lighting module 307 will only illuminate when the user manually turns on the physical button switch and the football is in motion (or stationary before the timeout period). This design ensures that the user has complete control over the lighting while preventing unnecessary power consumption when the football is idle due to forgetting to turn off the switch. The control module is connected to the power generation, energy storage, and lighting units on the mechanism 300 via a pluggable connector. This modular design greatly facilitates production assembly, testing, and subsequent maintenance and upgrades.

[0033] The principle behind the power generation of a soccer ball is: Please refer to... Figure 7 After power-on, RB0 outputs a valid high level, and the LED lights up for 5 minutes before turning off. When the vibration switch is triggered, the LED lights up again for 5 minutes before turning off. If the vibration switch is triggered during the LED's operation, the 5-minute timer restarts. After the LED turns off, it enters standby mode. RB3 is grounded first, and then power-on enters TEST MODEL mode. At this time, a vibration switch will illuminate the LED for 1 second. After power-off, disconnecting RB3 and powering on again will return to normal operating mode.

[0034] The working process and control method of the self-generating and luminous soccer ball of this invention are as follows: Before use, the user can turn on the lighting function via a physical button switch. When the soccer ball is kicked, passed, or bounced during movement, its internal pendulum 301 swings continuously due to inertia, driving the micro generator 302 to continuously generate electricity through a gear set. The generated electrical energy is processed by the charging management circuit of the control module and prioritizes powering the LED light 307 of the lighting module 307 to make it illuminate. Excess electrical energy is stored in the lithium battery of the energy storage module. Therefore, as long as the soccer ball is in an active state, it can achieve a self-sustaining power supply lighting effect of "lighting while moving, with more reliable lighting as the movement intensifies". When the soccer ball is left still for a period of time (e.g., 10 minutes), the vibration sensor switch automatically activates, cutting off the lighting power to save energy. At this time, even if the physical button switch is in the on state, the light will not turn on. When it is needed to be used again, simply move or kick the soccer ball slightly, and the vibration sensor switch will detect the vibration and reconnect the circuit, and the LED light will immediately resume illumination. In addition, in extreme cases of long-term storage or insufficient power generation, users can also use an external power source to charge the energy storage module inside the football via the exposed USB Type-C interface 308, ensuring the reliability of use.

[0035] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above description. For example, the gear transmission mechanism can be a planetary gear set or other forms of mechanical speed-increasing mechanism; the color, quantity, and distribution pattern of the LED lights can be varied according to design requirements; the energy storage module can use supercapacitors or other energy storage elements; the delay threshold of the vibration sensing switch can be adjusted by a simple circuit in the control module. These variations and substitutions based on the same inventive concept should all be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0036] This invention has illustrated its principles and implementation methods using specific examples. The descriptions of these embodiments are merely illustrative of the method and its core ideas; furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made to the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the principles of this invention. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Claims

1. A self-generating luminous soccer ball, characterized in that, include: The ball skin is made of a light-transmitting material; The inner liner is a sealed shell made of transparent or translucent material, which forms an accommodating cavity inside; The mechanism, fixed within the accommodating cavity, includes a power generation module, an energy storage module, a lighting module, and a control module; wherein: The power generation module includes a pendulum rotatably mounted on the inner bladder and a micro generator connected to the pendulum in a transmission. When the football moves, the pendulum swings under the action of inertial force and drives the micro generator to rotate and generate electricity. The energy storage module is electrically connected to the power generation module and is used to store the electrical energy generated by the power generation module; The lighting module is electrically connected to the energy storage module and includes multiple LED lights disposed on the mechanism; The control module is electrically connected to the power generation module, energy storage module and lighting module respectively, and is used to manage the storage, distribution and lighting control of electrical energy.

2. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the power generation module, the pendulum is connected to the input shaft of the micro generator through a gear mechanism, which converts the bidirectional oscillation of the pendulum into the bidirectional rotation of the generator input shaft.

3. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 2, characterized in that, The gear set mechanism includes a swing arm, which is disposed on both sides of the fourth gear and fixedly connected to the pendulum. The fourth gear meshes with the third gear, the third gear meshes with the second gear, the second gear meshes with the first gear, the first gear is fixedly connected to the input shaft of the micro generator, and the second gear and the third gear are rotatably disposed in the accommodating cavity through a support shaft.

4. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell is a composite material layer of TPU, translucent TPE, and dense mesh fabric; the inner liner is a spherical shell made of two hemispheres spliced ​​together by transparent PVC.

5. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movement is a sphere made of transparent material, and the multiple LED lights are evenly distributed on the equatorial ring and / or meridian band of the movement sphere.

6. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module integrates: A physical push-button switch is used to manually connect or disconnect the power supply circuit of the lighting module; A charging management circuit is connected to the energy storage module and electrically connected to a USB Type-C charging port located outside the soccer ball. A status indicator circuit is used to display the charging status of the energy storage module; A vibration sensor switch is used to detect the stationary state of the football and automatically cut off the power supply circuit of the lighting module after the football has remained stationary for more than a preset time.

7. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vibration sensor switch and the physical button switch form a double-safety switch connected in series in the power supply circuit of the lighting module. The lighting module is lit only when both are in the on state.

8. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mechanism, the power generation module, the energy storage module, the lighting module, and the control module together constitute an independent modular unit, which is fixed to the center of the inner liner cavity by means of snap-fit, threaded connection, or adhesive.

9. The self-generating luminous soccer ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner is provided with an air inlet, and the axis of the air inlet is coaxial with the center of the movement.

10. A control method for a self-generating luminous soccer ball as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The micro generator driven by the pendulum generates electricity in real time during the movement of the football and stores the electrical energy in the energy storage module, which prioritizes powering the lighting module. When the energy storage module has sufficient power and the football is stationary for more than a set threshold, the lighting is automatically turned off by the control module to save energy. At the same time, the energy storage module can be charged by an external power source via the control module.

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