Panoramic capture system for sports structures

Abstract

A panoramic capture system for sports structures comprising at least one panoramic image capture module (1) housed in a watertight compartment (2) integrated within a structural element (3) of the sports structure.

Description

Panoramic capture system for sports structures OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as the title of this descriptive document states, is an embedded panoramic capture system for sports facilities. It is an innovation that offers advantages previously unknown within current techniques. TECHNICAL SECTOR The present invention falls within the sector of current needs of life, in the subclass of sports, games, events and distractions, especially in material for Physical Education, gymnastics, American Football, Football "All modalities", Rugby, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, swimming, climbing or fencing, ball games, training material and entertainment material, entertainment material specifically in accessories for games or sports that correspond to the classification of indicating devices or for indicating the score, for games or players. Similarly, it falls within the electricity sector, in the subclass of electrical communications technology, especially in image transmission. STATE OF THE ART The present invention arises from the growing need in the sports field to improve the control of the game and referee decisions through a monitoring system that allows a broader and more detailed view of the event. In sports where precise control of plays within the goals is required, existing solutions do not allow a complete panoramic view that covers all relevant areas of the game, limiting the ability to make sound decisions and improve the visual experience for both players and spectators. In everyday use situations, conventional camera systems fail to provide adequate coverage, as they are often limited in terms of viewing capacity or image quality, which does not allow for a comprehensive evaluation of plays in real time. Often, these systems are not capable of providing high-resolution images, or they require constant manual intervention for adjustment or operation, which can cause interruptions during the event. Accordingly, this invention presents a panoramic capture system for sports facilities that offers an innovative solution to overcome the limitations of existing systems. This invention allows for a complete and continuous view of the playing area, providing 360° coverage that facilitates event control and improves decision-making. In this way, both the management of the game and the live broadcast are optimized, without interfering with the rules or invading the space intended for the development of the sport. Currently, there is no known panoramic capture system for sports structures that presents structural and constitutive technical characteristics equal or similar to those described in this descriptive report, as claimed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is the creation of a panoramic capture system for sports structures that provides a notable innovation within its field of application in the current state of the art, the characterizing details that make it possible being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description. The invention relates to a panoramic capture system for sports structures comprising at least one panoramic image capture module housed in a watertight compartment integrated within a sports structural element (3) selected from posts, crossbars or equivalent elements of goals or net supports, said module being arranged so as not to alter the regulatory dimensions of the structural element or interfere with the development of the game. This invention addresses the need for improved real-time monitoring and visualization at sporting events, overcoming the limitations of current systems, which do not fully cover key areas of the goal and are often expensive or bulky. This discreet solution offers a complete panoramic view without interfering with the rules or the playing area, enhancing real-time broadcasting and analysis. The system is useful in a variety of sports, including soccer, American football, rugby, and hockey, by providing a detailed view of plays in the goals. It facilitates decision-making for referees, coaches, and broadcasters, and enhances the viewing experience for spectators. Furthermore, it helps resolve disputes over controversial plays by capturing the action without interrupting the flow of the game. The module is designed to include a panoramic camera, a protective housing, an internal storage system, an internal power supply, and communication capabilities, allowing each of these elements to be configured according to the desired system setup and facilitating integration into various sports facilities. This arrangement ensures that image capture can be adapted to diverse viewing and analysis needs. Likewise, the panoramic camera can have optics configured to obtain a 360° field of view, a high-definition HD, 4K image sensor and an integrated zoom mechanism, either manual or automated by AI, for example based on the recognition of the position of the ball, disc or game element, providing the ability to capture the action of the game or show in detail from multiple perspectives, with control over the resolution and framing. Additionally, the protective casing can be made of a rigid and resistant material, capable of absorbing impacts and vibrations, in order to internally protect the panoramic camera and associated electronic components from possible shocks during the activity. Typically, the internal storage system may comprise a solid-state memory, such as flash memory, with sufficient capacity to allow continuous recording of events for several hours without interruption and to securely store the images captured by the panoramic camera, ensuring that the recorded information can be accessed and retrieved through the media. Similarly, the internal power system may include rechargeable batteries, such as lithium batteries, configured to supply power to the panoramic camera and associated electronic components, and may have a charging port that allows recharging of said batteries by wired connection, guaranteeing continuity of operation between events or during the same event if necessary. Additionally, the media can allow real-time data transmission from the panoramic camera via wired or wireless connection, including Wi-Fi technology, enabling remote configuration, activation, and image retrieval from the capture module, allowing the system to be adapted to different operating environments. Likewise, the watertight compartment can have a shape and size adapted to the geometry of the post or crossbar, and can be designed to fit into said structural element without protruding or interfering with the development of the game, ensuring a discreet and safe integration within the sports structure. Similarly, the watertight compartment can be made of a rigid and resistant material, and may include padded or shock-absorbing internal surfaces configured to absorb impacts and vibrations, protecting the module and associated electronic components from external agents such as rain, snow, dust and shocks, so that the operation of the system is not affected by adverse conditions. Additionally, the watertight compartment may include a removable cover or panel that allows for the installation and maintenance of the module and associated electronic components, facilitating accessibility without compromising the overall protection of the system. Similarly, the watertight compartment may include sealed openings or cable passes that allow data transmission and battery recharging without compromising watertightness, ensuring the continuous functionality of the module even under conditions of exposure to external agents. Regarding system control, the module can be associated with a remote control platform, allowing its activation and configuration individually or jointly with other installed modules, facilitating the coordination and centralized supervision of multiple modules in the same sports structure. Additionally, the remote control platform may include software comprising security mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized access or manipulation of the module, ensuring data integrity and protection against external interference. Finally, the module can be associated with a selected functional designation, for example, between left side, center and right side, allowing through the remote control platform its individual or joint configuration according to the distribution required in the sports structure. In this way, the system allows a distribution and positioning of the capture modules according to the sport, allowing three capture modules to be installed in soccer goals, one in the left corner, one in the right corner and one in the central area of ​​the crossbar, or three modules in American football or rugby scoring structures, one in the central area of ​​the crossbar and one in each corner, and one module in the central area of ​​the upper crossbar for ice hockey goals. Additionally, two modules can be installed in the inner corners of field hockey goals, one module in the central area of ​​the crossbar for water polo goals, and two modules, one on each side post, for volleyball net posts. The panoramic capture system allows for the installation of modules on sports facilities, configured to continuously record images from multiple angles. The modules can be activated individually or together via the remote control platform, adjusting to the required layout depending on the sport or event. The captured images can be transmitted via wired or wireless connections, including Wi-Fi, and securely stored on internal solid-state memory systems. This provides the system with complete coverage of the playing areas, enabling monitoring, analysis, and rebroadcasting of the action without interfering with the sporting activity. EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES To complete the description being made and in order to help in the better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by some figures in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented. Figure 1 represents the panoramic image capture module housed in the watertight compartment, showing the arrangement of the panoramic camera and associated internal components. Figure 2 shows the panoramic capture system installed on a soccer goal, indicating the location of the capture modules in the goal structure. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The panoramic capture system for sports structures comprises at least one panoramic image capture module (1) housed in a watertight compartment (2) integrated within a sports structural element (3), said module (1) being arranged so that it does not alter the regulatory dimensions of the structural element (3) nor interfere with the development of the game. The sports structural element (3) can be a post, a crossbar, a goalpost, or equivalent elements of goals or net supports, or any structure that is a regulatory part of the game or event. That is, the module (1), viewed in plan or profile, is positioned flush with the structural element (3) or partially housed within it. To achieve this, the structural element has a compartment or housing designed to accommodate the panoramic capture system. This ensures that the system does not protrude from the structural element, thus preventing any disruption to the game or sporting event. In a preferred embodiment, the module (1) comprises a panoramic camera (1.1), a protective housing, an internal storage system, an internal power supply system, and communication means. Preferably, the panoramic camera (1.1) comprises optics configured to obtain a 360° field of view, a high-definition image sensor and an integrated zoom mechanism, ensuring the accurate and continuous capture of the action throughout the entire playing area. Preferably, the protective casing is impact-resistant and made of a rigid, high-strength material, configured to absorb shocks and vibrations and internally protect the panoramic camera (1.1) and electronic components. Alternatively, the internal storage system comprises a solid-state memory, such as flash memory, with sufficient capacity to allow continuous recording of events for several hours without interruption and to securely store the images captured by the panoramic camera (1.1). Generally, the internal power system comprises rechargeable batteries, such as lithium batteries, configured to supply power to the panoramic camera (1.1) and associated electronic components, and includes a charging port that allows recharging of said batteries by wired connection, ensuring fast and efficient recharging between events or during the same event if necessary. In another preferred embodiment, the communication media allow real-time data transmission from the panoramic camera (1.1) via wired or wireless connection, including Wi-Fi technology, enabling remote configuration, activation, and image retrieval from the capture module. Preferably, the watertight compartment (2) has a shape and size adapted to the geometry of the post or crossbar, designed to fit into said structural element so that it does not protrude or interfere with the development of the game. Alternatively, the watertight compartment (2) is made of a rigid and resistant material, and comprises padded or shock-absorbing internal surfaces configured to absorb impacts and vibrations, protecting the module (1) and associated electronic components from external agents, including rain, snow, dust and shocks. Preferably, the watertight compartment (2) includes a removable cover or panel that allows for the installation and maintenance of the module (1) and associated electronic components. In another preferred embodiment, the watertight compartment (2) comprises sealed openings or cable passes that allow data transmission and battery recharging without compromising its watertightness. Generally, the module (1) is associated with a remote control platform, allowing its activation and configuration individually or jointly with other installed modules (1). Preferably, the remote control platform comprises software that includes security mechanisms intended to prevent unauthorized access to or manipulation of the module (1). Alternatively, module (1) is associated with a functional designation, such as, in a goal, between the left, center, and right side, allowing for individual or combined configuration via the remote control platform according to the required distribution within the sports structure. In this way, the system allows for the distribution and positioning of the capture modules based on the sport. For example, for soccer goals, three capture modules are installed: one in the left corner, one in the right corner, and one in the center of the crossbar. For American football or rugby goals, three modules are installed: one in the center of the crossbar and one in each corner. For ice hockey goals, one module is installed in the center of the top crossbar. For field hockey goals, two modules are installed, one in each inside corner of the goal.For water polo goals, one module is installed in the central area of ​​the crossbar. For volleyball net posts, two modules are installed, one on each side post. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field may understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it, it being noted that, within its essentiality, it may be put into practice in other modes of embodiment that differ in detail from the one indicated as an example, and which will also achieve the protection sought provided that its fundamental principle is not altered, changed or modified.

Claims

1. A panoramic capture system for sports structures comprising at least one panoramic image capture module (1) housed in a watertight compartment (2) integrated within a structural element (3) of the sports structure.

2. A panoramic capture system for sports structures according to claim 1, characterized in that the module (1) comprises a panoramic camera (1.1), a protective housing, an internal storage system, an internal power supply system, and communication means.

3. A panoramic capture system for sports structures according to claim 2, characterized in that the panoramic camera (1.1) comprises a 360° viewing lens and an integrated zoom mechanism.

4. A panoramic capture system for sports structures according to claim 2, characterized in that the internal storage system comprises a solid-state memory. 5.A panoramic capture system for sports structures, according to claim 2, characterized in that the internal power supply system comprises rechargeable batteries and a charging port via wired connection.

6. A panoramic capture system for sports structures, according to claim 2, characterized in that the communication media uses a wireless connection.

7. A panoramic capture system for sports structures, according to claim 1, characterized in that the watertight compartment (2) comprises padded or shock-absorbing internal surfaces.

8. A panoramic capture system for sports structures, according to claim 1, characterized in that the watertight compartment (2) includes a removable lid or panel.

9. A panoramic capture system for sports structures, according to claim 1, characterized in that the watertight compartment (2) comprises sealed openings or cable passes-throughs. 10.Panoramic capture system for sports structures, according to claim 1, characterized in that the module (1), viewed in plan or profile, is arranged flush with the structural element (3) or partially housed within it.