Virtual Coin Toss Visualization via Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods do not allow viewers to visually experience or immediately observe the movement and orientation of a coin during a coin toss, limiting engagement and transparency, especially for large audiences in stadiums and television viewers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses sensors to detect the physical movement of a coin, communicates this data to a remote graphical display system, and displays a virtual coin representing the coin's movement and orientation, enabling real-time visualization on large screens or television broadcasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a coin toss is performed traditionally without instrumentation, then the coin toss can be completed quickly and simply, but the movement and orientation of the coin cannot be observed by the viewing audience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical coin that replicates its movement and orientation. Sensors attached to the actual coin capture its spatial data, which is then transmitted to display a virtual coin representation on screens, allowing viewers to see the coin toss from any angle without adding complex observation equipment to the physical toss itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for mechanical observation systems (cameras, lenses, physical viewing positions) with an electronic sensing and digital display system. Accelerometers and gyroscopes on the coin directly measure motion parameters, which are then processed and displayed virtually, substituting complex mechanical observation infrastructure with compact electronic sensors.
2Loss of time
If the coin toss result is announced only after the coin lands, then the process remains simple and quick, but the viewing audience must wait and cannot observe the coin in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual coin copy is updated in real-time during the toss, allowing viewers to observe the coin's movement throughout the entire trajectory. The display system processes sensor data continuously and presents the virtual coin position frame-by-frame, eliminating the waiting time for result announcement while keeping the physical toss process unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares and displays the virtual coin representation in advance, tracking and showing the coin's position throughout its flight path before the actual landing occurs. This preliminary visualization of the coin's trajectory and final position allows viewers to see the complete sequence of events in real-time rather than waiting for the announcement.
3Loss of information
If only the referee and nearby team members can see the coin movement, then the system remains simple, but thousands of stadium and television viewers cannot observe the coin toss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the coin that can be displayed on multiple screens simultaneously throughout the stadium and transmitted to television broadcasts. This virtual representation can be shown to any number of viewers without requiring additional physical viewing positions or increasing the complexity of the actual coin toss mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the coin toss observation from a single physical viewpoint (limited to those near the toss) to a multi-dimensional digital display system. The virtual coin can be displayed on screens at various locations, transmitted electronically to distant viewers, and presented from different virtual angles, effectively adding spatial dimensions to the observation capability without physical expansion.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for graphically displaying a coin toss using sensors to detect the physical movement of a coin or instrumented coin, communication of sensor-derived data to remote graphical display system, display of a virtual coin that represents movement and orientation of the tossed coin. May utilize a sensor system, communication system and display system. Sensor system and part of a wireless communication system may be embedded in a coin shaped housing or may be external to coin. Display system and part of wireless communication system may include a remote or repeater station. Graphical coin movement and orientation may mimic the actual coin being tossed or may be represented as any avatar or other graphical object that represents the coin including celebrity pictures, videos, faces, logos or any other object that may represent a “head” or “tail”. May generate a random number that allows viewers to win a prize.