Acoustic Offside Detection Signal Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
In football, referees and linesmen face challenges in accurately determining offside situations due to the need for quick visual assessment of player positions and potential misjudgment when the ball is not directly visible, leading to incorrect calls.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates a detection signal when a player kicks the ball, using sound vibrations sensed by a microphone and processed to distinguish from other sounds, allowing referees to focus on player positions without observing the ball, with optional visual and tangible signals to confirm the kick.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the linesman visually tracks the ball and then quickly shifts sight to the player at the moment of kick, then the linesman can attempt to determine offside position, but the position of the player and other players may have changed considerably during the brief observation period, leading to misjudgment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual tracking system with an acoustic detection system. A sound sensor detects the specific sound frequency generated when the ball is kicked, automatically triggering an observable signal. This eliminates the need for the linesman to visually track the ball and rapidly shift focus to players, as the acoustic trigger provides objective timing information without requiring human reaction time or visual assessment during the critical moment of kick execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sound as an intermediary mediator between the ball kick event and the offside determination. Instead of directly observing the ball and players simultaneously, the system uses the acoustic signal of the kick as an intermediate indicator that automatically signals the precise moment of contact. This intermediary sound signal allows the linesman to focus on player positions without needing to track the ball's movement, eliminating the time loss associated with visual tracking and rapid sight shifts.
2Reliability
If the linesman focuses on keeping the ball in sight to determine when it is kicked, then the moment of kick can be detected, but other players may obstruct the sight of the kick and the linesman may misjudge the relative position of players
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the complex mechanical visual tracking system with a simple acoustic detection system. The sound sensor continuously monitors for the specific frequency signature of a ball kick, providing reliable kick detection without requiring the linesman to maintain visual contact with the ball. This acoustic intermediary signal penetrates through obstructions and player formations that would block visual tracking, ensuring reliable kick detection while eliminating the complexity of coordinated visual monitoring of both ball and players.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic sound signal serves as an intermediary that reliably indicates the kick moment without requiring direct visual line-of-sight to the ball. This sound mediator can penetrate through other players and obstructions that would block visual tracking, providing reliable kick detection information to the linesman regardless of the visual obstructions present on the field. The sound signal acts as an independent information channel that is not affected by player positioning or visual blockages.
3Ease of operation
If the linesman relies on subjective visual observation to determine the moment of kick and player positions, then no additional equipment is needed, but human error and misjudgment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the subjective human visual observation system with an objective acoustic detection system. The sound sensor detects the specific frequency characteristics of a ball kick, providing an objective trigger signal that eliminates human subjectivity and error. The observable signal generated upon detecting the characteristic kick sound provides precise timing information that is independent of the linesman's subjective judgment, while the system remains simple in operation as it only requires the linesman to focus on player positions rather than tracking the ball.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system objectively determines the moment of ball contact, reducing human error and enabling accurate offside judgments by providing an observable signal to referees, ensuring correct calls and minimizing misjudgments.
Implementation Method 1
When a player kicks the ball, a sound vibration is generated in the ball. This sound vibration is sensed.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3~5
AI summary
For detecting an offside situation during a soccer game, a referee (in particular a linesman) needs to determine whether an offensive player is behind a line, which line is determined by the last defensive player of the other team and thus moving, at the moment that the ball is kicked. In order for the referee to keep said offensive player in sight, a method and system is provided, wherein an observable signal is generated when the ball is kicked or otherwise touched by a player. Thus, it is prevented that a small time lag occurs between detection of the kick of the ball and detection of the position of the offensive player with respect to the position of the last defensive player.