Camera-Based Ball Motion Sensing for Baseball Practice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional screen baseball systems using optical sensors are costly, prone to damage, and provide low accuracy in simulating ball motion due to the need for numerous light-emitting and light-receiving sensors, and image-processing-type sensing devices face challenges in rapid and effective processing of large image data.
Innovation Solution
A camera-based sensing device and method that captures images of the ball's motion, extracts a trigger area, and calculates three-dimensional coordinates to generate a ball motion model, enabling accurate and rapid analysis of the ball's movement for baseball practice and game simulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical sensor devices with multiple light-emitting and light-receiving sensors are used to sense ball motion, then measurement precision can be improved, but device complexity and cost increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the ball's motion trajectory and creates a virtual copy of the physical sensing process through image processing. Instead of using multiple physical optical sensors to directly measure ball position, the system captures visual images and digitally extracts motion information, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical sensor system with an image-processing system. Rather than using physical light-emitting and light-receiving sensors to directly detect ball position, the system uses a camera to capture images and then processes these images computationally to extract motion data, substituting physical measurement with digital processing
2Measurement precision
If optical sensor devices with multiple sensors are installed to accurately calculate ball speed and direction, then measurement precision improves, but reliability decreases due to high damage and malfunction risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual sensing mechanism through image processing that copies the function of physical sensors without the physical vulnerability. The camera captures visual information that can be processed to extract ball motion data, eliminating the need for fragile optical sensors in the direct path of the ball
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a camera that can be easily replaced if damaged, rather than using expensive and fragile optical sensor arrays. The camera captures the necessary motion data through image processing, and if the camera fails, it can be simply replaced without replacing entire sensor systems
3Measurement precision
If image-processing-type sensing devices are used to capture and analyze ball motion images, then measurement precision can be improved, but productivity decreases due to large amount of data processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing task into segments by focusing on specific regions of interest (the ball and its trajectory) rather than processing the entire image frame. By extracting only the relevant motion information from captured images, the system reduces processing volume while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary image capture and processing in advance, capturing multiple frames of the ball's motion trajectory and pre-processing these images to extract motion data before the actual measurement is needed. This allows for rapid retrieval and use of motion information
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 allows for precise and swift calculation of motion parameters, enabling accurate simulation and gameplay in various modes, such as offensive and defensive, within a virtual environment.
Implementation Method 1
a camera device for successively capturing images of a moving ball
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an image-processing-type sensing device and sensing method that are capable of acquiring an image of the motion of a pitched ball or a hit ball and analyzing the acquired image in order to calculate an accurate and rapid motion model of the ball, which shows how the ball moves, in a baseball practice apparatus that allows a user to perform a baseball practice or to play a baseball game, whereby it is possible to very accurately and rapidly calculate various kinds of information necessary for conducting the baseball practice or the baseball game, such as motion parameters of the pitched ball or the hit ball, a baseball practice apparatus using the sensing device and the sensing method, and a method of controlling the baseball practice apparatus.