Wearable device

Abstract

A wearable device 1 for use by a referee to track game information comprises: a limb attachment portion (not shown in figures) configured in use to be mounted on a limb of a user; and a housing 2 configured in use to be mounted on the limb attachment portion. The housing 2 comprises a recess or cavity to receive a mobile phone and includes a front surface providing an opening 6 in communication with the recess or cavity to provide line of sight to a display on the mobile phone. A rear surface 7 of the housing 2 has an array of LEDs (8, Fig. 3) configured in use to be in communication with and operable by a mobile phone, and in which the array of LEDs (8) are configured in use to provide a plurality of visual signals indicative of referee decisions. The device preferably includes a power source to power the LEDS (8). There may be a yellow LED array and a red LED array to display a yellow or red card.

Description

Sporting referees use a variety of technology and devices in order to communicate with their on field assistant referees and video assistant referee (VAR), to get instant alerts from goal-line technology and to do the more straight forward tasks of time keeping and player communication. This can involve the use of many different systems which can be costly and time consuming. EriaLAa CN114100106 discloses a handheld football match recorder with an infrared distance measurement function, and relates to the technical field of match recorders, the handheld football match recorder comprises a laser range finder body, the top of the laser range finder body is provided with a laser emission source, and the outer side wall of the laser range finder body is provided with a warning lamp, a display screen and keys. According to foe handheld football match recorder with the infrared distance measurement function, through accurate measurement of equipment and reminding of light vibration, football rules are maintained, and a fair match is achieved. According to the handheld football match recorder with the infrared distance measurement function, through a touch screen type match recording system, football referees can be effectively helped to conduct match field management, and equipment of the referees is simplified and optimized. ES2933323 discloses a sports monitoring system, to control incidents of the game or sport. The system comprises a series of portable devices carried by the sport officials, a local server connected to the portable devices and configured to check the indications annotated by the officials. A central server connected to the local server receives the indications for its distribution. GB202219500 discloses a game scoring apparatus, wherein the game scoring apparatus comprises an audio input configured to receive input speech signals. The game scoring apparatus also comprises a processor configured to process digital data and convert the speech signals into data for game scoring information. Furthermore, the game scoring apparatus comprises a physical input interface and a display is configured to display game scoring information. Parameters of the game scoring information can be input using both the audio input and the physical input interface. The game scoring apparatus enables efficient electronic game scoring of a match or fixture through voice recognition and speech input According to the present invention there is provided a wearable device for use by a referee to track game information during a sports game, the device comprising: a limb attachment portion configured in use to be mounted on a limb of a user; and a housing configured in use to be mounted on the limb attachment portion, in which the housing comprises a recess or cavity configured in use to receive a mobile phone, in which the housing comprises a front surface providing an opening in communication with the recess or cavity, and in which the opening is configured in use to provide line of sight to a display on the mobile phone, and in which the housing further comprises a rear surface comprising an array of LEDs configured in use to be in communication with and operable by a mobile phone, and in which foe array of LEDs are configured in use to provide a plurality of visual signals indicative of referee decisions. The sports game may for example be a ball sport such as for example football, rugby, hockey, netball, basketball. In one embodiment, the limb attachment portion is permanently mounted on foe housing. The limb attachment portion is preferably releasably mountable on the housing. The limb attachment portion preferably comprises a first engagement feature for releasably engaging a second engagement feature provided by the housing. The first and second engagement features may comprise complementary male and female connector portions. The first and second engagement features may be hook and loop fasteners. In one embodiment, the first engagement feature and second engagement feature define a twist-lock mechanism. The housing may have any suitable shape and / or dimensions. In one embodiment, the housing has a substantially rectangular cross-section dimensioned to receive a mobile phone. The rear surface of the housing may be transparent. The LEDs may be mounted between the mobile phone and the rear surface of the housing. The rear surface of the housing is transparent to enable the LEDs to be visible therethrough. The LED array may be moveably mounted relative to the rear surface of the housing, such that the LED array is moveable between a first stowed position in which the LED array is located adjacent the rear surface, and a second operable position in which the LED array is moved away from the rear surface to provide for improved visibility of the LED array. For example, the LED array may be hingeabiy mounted to at or adjacent the rear surface of the housing such that movement between the first stowed position and second operable position occurs by rotation. The LED array may be slideably mounted at or adjacent the rear surface of the housing such that movement between the first stowed position and second operable position occurs by sliding. The wearable device may further comprise a power source for powering the LED array. The LED array is preferably arranged in a grid formation. Each LED within the array may be uniformly spaced apart from adjacent LEDs within the array. The LED array is preferably a bicolour LED array. The LED array preferably comprises a first LED array comprising yellow LEDs, and a second LED array comprising red LEDS. Each yellow LED is preferably located adjacent a red LED. The device is preferably operable to illuminate the first LED array or the second LED array as required by the referee, for example on input of instructions into the mobile phone. The LED array is preferably configured in use to be visible over a distance of 100 metres. The device is preferably configured in order to enable illumination of the first LED array, for example to indicate a yellow card being shown, or a second LED array to indicate a red card being shown. The LED array is preferably bright enough to enable to array to be seen by all players and spectators, even in daylight conditions. The limb attachment portion is preferably an arm attachment portion. The wearable device preferably further comprises a mobile phone received within the recess or cavity of a housing, in which the mobile phone comprises a mobile app operable by a user to provide game information. The game information preferably comprises one or more of: team names, team colours, player names, player numbers, (Mayer red / yellow cards, captain, goals, substitutions, video playback or any combination thereof. The wearable device preferably replaces the need for traditional pen and paper scorecards. The wearable device of the present invention preferably enables the referee to quickly input game information as and when required. The device may be configured to preload the device with game information. The device is preferably configured to provide video playback enabling the referee to quickly view the feedback and to make quick and accurate decisions As a result, the device reduces the time taken for the referee to be sent to the pitch side to monitor review footage. By enabling the referee to put in game information in real-time digitally allows for fester decisions and helps to eliminate mistakes. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: finsLDwMaiLfiLEiflum Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective front view of the wearable device according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective rear view of ttie wearable device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of an exploded view of the wearable device of Figure 1. oLFMwss With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the wearable device 1 is configured for use by a referee to track game information during a sports game. The wearable device 1 comprises a limb attachment portion (not shown) configured in use to be mounted on a limb of a user. In the illustrated embodiment, the limb attachment portion is an arm attachment portion however it is to be understood that the limb attachment portion may be configured for attachment to any limb of a user. The limb attachment portion is preferably adjustable so as to be mounted on limbs of varying sizes. The device 1 further comprises a housing 2 configured in use to be mounted (permanently or releasably mounted) on the limb attachment portion. The housing 2 comprises a recess or cavity 3 configured in use to receive a mobile phone 4. The recess or cavity 3 is rectangular in shape and dimensioned to receive the mobile phone 4. The housing 2 comprises a front surface 5 providing an opening or window 6 in communication with the recess or cavity 3. The opening or window 6 is configured in use to provide line of sight to a display on the mobile phone 4. The housing 2 further comprises a rear surface 7 comprising an array of LEDs 8 configured in use to be in communication with and operable by a mobile phone 4. The rear surface 7 is transparent enabling LEDs 8 to be visible therethrough. The array of LEDs 8 are configured in use to provide a plurality of visual signals indicative of referee decisions. The wearable device 1 further comprising a power source 9 for powering the LED array 8. The LED array 8 is arranged in a grid formatton. The LED array 8 is a bicolour LED array. The LED array 8 comprises a first LED array comprising yellow LEDs, and a second LED array comprising red LEDS. Each yellow LED is located adjacent are LED. The LED array 8 is configured in use to be visible over a distance of 100 metres. The mobile phone 4 comprises a mobile app operable by a user to provide game information. The game information comprises one or more of. team names, team colours, player names, player numbers, player red / yellow cards, captain, goals, substitutions, video playback or any combination thereof. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A wearable device for use by a referee to track game informaton during a sports game, the device comprising:a limb attachment portion configured in use to be mounted on a limb of a user; anda housing configured in use to be mounted on the limb attachment portion, in which the housing comprises a recess or cavity configured in use to receive a mobile phone, in which the housing comprises a front surface providing an opening in communication with the recess or cavity, and in which the opening is configured in use to provide line of sight to a display on the mobile phone, and in which the housing further comprises a rear surface comprising an array of LEDs configured in use to be in communication with and operable by a mobile phone, and in which the array of LEDs are configured in use to provide a plurality of visual signals indicative of referee decisions.

2. Awearable device as claimed in claim 1, in which the limb attachment portion is releasably mountable on the housing.

3. A wearable device as claimed in claim 2, in which the limb attachment portion comprises a first engagement feature for releasably engaging a second engagement feature provided by the housing.

4. A wearable device as claimed in claim 3, in which the first and second engagement features are hook and loop fasteners.

5. A wearable device as claimed in claim 3, in which the first engagement feature and second engagement feature define a twist-lock mechanism,6. Awearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the LED array is moveable mounted relative to the rear surface of the housing, such that the LED array is moveable between a first stowed position in which the LED array is located adjacent the rear surface, and a second operable position in which the LED array is moved away from the rear surface to provide for improved visibility of the LED array.

7. Awearable device as claimed in dam 6, in which the LED array is hingeably mounted to at or adjacent the rear surface of the housing such that movement between the first stowed position and second operable position occurs by rotation.

8. A wearable device a claimed in claim 6, in which the LED array is slideably mounted at or adjacent the rear surface of the housing such that movement between the first stowed position and second operable position occurs by sliding.

9. A wearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a power source for powering the LED array.

10. Awearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the LED array is arranged in a grid formation11. A wearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the LED array is a bicolour LED array.

12. Awearable device as claimed in claim 11, in which the LED array comprises a first LED array comprising yellow LEDs, and a second LED array comprising red LEDS.

13. A wearable device as claimed in claim 12, in which each yellow LED is located adjacent a red LED.

14. Awearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the LED array is configured in use to be visible over a distance of 100 metres.

15. A wearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the limb attachment portion is an arm attachment portion.

16. A wearable device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a mobile phone received within the recess or cavity of a housing, in which the mobile phone comprises a mobile app operable by a user to provide game information.

17. A wearable device as claimed In claim 16, in which the game information comprises one or more of: team names, team colours, player names, player numbers, player red / yellow cards, captain, goals, substitutions, video playback or any combination thereof.

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