Impact-Sensitive Color-Changing Information Structure for Sports Line Calling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current line-calling systems in sports, such as tennis, face challenges in accurately determining whether a ball is 'in' or 'out' due to limitations in existing technologies like Hawk-Eye, which can be distracting and prone to errors, and other systems like piezochromic materials that are affected by environmental factors and player interference.
Innovation Solution
An information-presentation structure that temporarily changes color upon impact, using a variable-color region with an impact-dependent portion that emits light to clearly indicate the location of an object's impact, enhancing visibility and accuracy in line calls by reducing the need for challenges and minimizing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Hawk-Eye system is used for line calling, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and distraction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the line-calling function from complex electronic systems like Hawk-Eye and implements it through a simple piezoelectric material layer embedded in the court surface. The material directly converts impact forces into visible color changes, eliminating the need for cameras, processors, and displays while maintaining high measurement precision for ball trajectory and impact location detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric material layer performs the line-calling function autonomously by directly responding to ball impacts with immediate color changes. The system requires no external power sources, control systems, or human intervention beyond the natural play of the sport, making it self-sufficient and eliminating the complexity of electronic monitoring systems.
2Ease of operation
If piezochromic materials are used for line calling, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to environmental factors and player interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies piezoelectric material specifically in localized regions where ball impacts occur, such as along boundary lines and service lines. This localized application ensures that color changes only occur at relevant impact zones, preventing false readings from player movements or environmental factors in other areas while maintaining reliability at critical decision points.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric material is pre-installed and calibrated within the court surface before play begins. The material's threshold response characteristics are predetermined, allowing it to reliably distinguish between legitimate ball impacts and other disturbances. This preliminary setup ensures consistent and reliable operation throughout the match without requiring adjustment or calibration during play.
3Device complexity
If traditional line calling methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and speed of line calls deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes piezoelectric materials that undergo color changes in response to applied pressure from ball impacts. This optical response provides immediate, unambiguous visual indication of impact location and trajectory, enabling officials to make precise line calls quickly without complex electronic systems. The color change intensity and position directly correspond to the impact characteristics, maintaining high measurement precision.
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 significantly improves the accuracy and speed of line calls, allowing players and officials to readily determine if a ball is 'in' or 'out' with high precision, reducing delays and player distraction, and can be applied to various sports and activities.
Implementation Method 1
an impact-dependent portion of the variable-color region temporarily emits light... if the impact meets threshold impact criteria
Data Source
AI summary
A variable-color region (106) of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112) and normally appears along it as a principal color. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the variable-color region responds to an object (104) impacting the zone at an object-contact area (116) by temporarily emitting light suitable for forming color different from the principal color if the impact meets threshold impact criteria such that the impact-dependent portion temporarily appears along a print area (118) of the zone as changed color materially different from the principal color. The print area closely matches the object-contact area in size, shape, and location. Use of light emission to produce the temporary color change is advantageous because the changed color can be virtually any possible visible color.