Portable Referee Device with Touch-Screen and Accelerometer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for referees in sporting events rely on manual paper-based note-taking, which is inefficient, prone to errors, and time-consuming, requiring manual transcription to digital format post-event.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device with touch-screen displays, a processing unit, and a rechargeable battery, allowing referees to quickly and accurately digitize match events, including scores, warnings, and expulsions, with automated data entry and gesture recognition using accelerometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual paper-based note-taking is used by referees, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and measurement precision of event recording are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The referee device integrates multiple functions into a single portable unit: touch-screen display for event selection, accelerometer for gesture recognition (yellow/red card detection), memory unit for data storage, and wireless communication for data transmission. This multi-functional integration resolves the contradiction by improving productivity through automated recording while consolidating equipment complexity into one device rather than multiple separate tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical paper-based writing system with an electronic touch-screen interface and accelerometer-based gesture recognition. The accelerometer detects specific movements (raising hand for yellow card, raising both hands for red card) and automatically converts them into digital records, eliminating manual writing entirely and significantly improving recording speed and accuracy.
2Reliability
If manual paper-based note-taking is used, then the ease of operation is moderate, but the reliability and measurement precision of event data are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs self-service through automated data capture and processing. The accelerometer automatically detects referee gestures and converts them into structured event data without manual intervention. The processing unit automatically timestamps events, categorizes them by type (goal, warning, expulsion), and stores them in organized formats. This automation improves reliability by eliminating human transcription errors while the structured processing ensures data consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-screen display provides visual feedback to the referee, showing selected events and confirming data entry. The system also provides feedback through the accelerometer by recognizing specific gesture patterns and displaying corresponding event options, ensuring accurate interpretation of referee intentions and improving recording precision.
3Loss of time
If paper-based note-taking is used, then the loss of time for data transcription is minimal during the event, but the loss of time for post-event data transformation is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary digital recording of all events during the match in structured formats, eliminating the need for post-event transcription. Data is captured in real-time with automatic timestamps and categorization, stored in the memory unit during the event, and can be immediately transmitted via wireless communication. This preliminary digital capture resolves the contradiction by eliminating post-event transcription time while using standardized data formats for efficient storage and sharing.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
Data storage device (1) for sporting events, which sporting events include two opposing teams or two opposing players. The device comprises an external box, of parallelepiped shape, which box has a first (100) and a second (101) face arranged on two planes parallel to each other, having a greater surface than the other faces of said box. Furthermore, said device (1) comprises an input/output interface, a processing unit (31), a memory unit (30) and a power supply battery (32). Said input/output interface comprises two touch-screen displays (10, 11) arranged on said first face (100), the two touch-screen displays (10, 11) being configured to display an alphanumeric keypad in order to allow data to be entered by a user into the memory unit (30), each touch-screen display (10, 11) being associated with a team or a player.