Billiard Table Lighting Non-Central Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional billiard table lighting fails to provide uniform illumination, which is essential for accurate automated image analysis of ball movement and location, and is not cost-effective or easily integrated with video recording and audio systems.
Innovation Solution
A billiard table top lighting apparatus that provides substantially uniform lighting by non-centrally placing lights, eliminating the need for central overhead lighting, and integrates cameras, motion sensors, microphones, and computing devices to enable automated game play recording, video merging, and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional central overhead lighting is used, then the lighting structure is simple and familiar, but the illumination uniformity across the table surface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single central light source into multiple separate light sources positioned at different locations around the table. Each light source illuminates a specific zone, and together they provide uniform coverage across the entire table surface, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple light sources with additional functional components (cameras, sensors, microphones) into an integrated lighting apparatus. This merging approach maintains structural simplicity while achieving uniform illumination and adding automated game play monitoring capabilities.
2Ease of manufacture
If centralized lighting is used, then the lighting system is easy to install, but the suitability for automated image analysis deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions light sources at specific locations around the table rather than using a single central source. Each light source is strategically placed to optimize illumination for specific zones, ensuring that areas critical for image analysis (ball positions, movement paths) receive adequate and uniform lighting while maintaining ease of installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate systems for lighting, video recording, and audio recording are used, then each system can be optimized independently, but the overall system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates lighting, video recording, audio recording, and sensor systems into a single unified apparatus. The lighting structure serves as the platform for mounting cameras, microphones, and sensors, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to optimize each function independently through modular component design.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing uniform illumination, capturing video, recording audio, detecting motion, and enabling automated game play monitoring. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate systems needed while maintaining optimization flexibility through modular architecture.
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
The solution achieves uniform illumination with a low coefficient of variation, enabling accurate automated image analysis and efficient ball tracking, while also providing integrated recording and control features at a lower cost and with greater ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The lighting apparatus includes a frame configured to support one or more lights spaced a distance Z above the billiard table surface. The one or more lights include a light source or sources mounted in the frame in a configuration to provide substantially uniform illumination of the billiard table surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A billiard table top lighting apparatus provides substantially uniform lighting across the surface of a billiard table surface. In one form, the lighting apparatus includes a frame supporting lights that are non-centrally placed such that no lights are supported above a middle portion of the billiard table surface. So configured, the frame can have an attractive profile and further mount additional items above the billiard table surface to enable a variety of other features. For example, the frame may support one or more cameras, one or more motion sensors, one or more microphones, and/or one or more computing devices to enable any of a variety of innovative features. Such features could include automatic game play recording from one or more perspectives, merged video track storage for replay, review, and analysis, automatic lighting and dimming control, control of the apparatus from any mobile device, and the like.