# US 10,864,427 B2 · Information-presentation structure with smoothened impact-sensitive color-changed print area > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,427 B2 - Document ID: US10864427B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/276,621 - Filed: 2019-02-15 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-03 - Applicants: Ronald J. Meetin - Inventors: Ronald J. Meetin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864427B2 ## CPC - A63B 71/0605: {Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration} - A63B 71/00: Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 (starting appliances A63K3/02) - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - G02F 1/13338: {Input devices, e.g. touch panels} - A63B 71/0608: {using mechanical, i.e. non-electrical means} - A63B 71/0619: {Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills} - A63B 2024/0037: {on a target surface or at impact on the ground} - A63B 2024/0043: {Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface} - A63B 2071/0611: {Automatic tennis linesmen, i.e. in-out detectors} - A63B 2071/0625: {Emitting sound, noise or music} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2102/00: Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity {; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like} - A63B 2102/02: Tennis - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2220/13: Relative positions - A63B 2220/80: Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor - A63B 2220/801: Contact switches - A63B 2220/806: Video cameras - A63B 2220/807: Photo cameras - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/74: with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights - A63B 2243/0037: Basketball - A63B 2243/007: American football - G02F 1/133394: {Piezoelectric elements associated with the cells} - G02F 1/155: Electrodes - G02F 2202/32: Photonic crystals - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A variable-color region (106) extends to an exposed surface (102) at a zone (112) and normally appears along it as a principal color. The region responds to an object (104) impacting the zone sufficiently hard at an object-contact area (116) by providing an impact signal identifying a criteria-meeting area (1626) where threshold impact criteria are met. Responsive to the impact signal and possibly to supplemental impact criteria being met, a controller (1622) produces a representation of a print area (118) from a representation of the criteria-meeting area by smoothening its perimeter and provides an initiation signal designating a location in the zone for the print area such that it closely matches the object-contact area. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the region responds to the initiation signal and possibly to a tracking condition being met by temporarily appearing along the print area as changed color materially different from the principal color. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information-presentation (“IP”) structure comprising: an object-impact (“OI”) structure having an exposed surface for being impacted by an object during an activity, the OI structure comprising a variable-color (“VC”) region which extends to the exposed surface at a surface zone having a boundary and normally appears along the surface zone largely as a principal color during the activity, the VC region responding to the object impacting the surface zone at an impact-dependent (“ID”) object-contact (“OC”) area spanning where the object contacts the surface zone by providing a general location-identifying (“LI”) impact signal if the impact meets threshold impact criteria, the LI impact signal identifying an ID threshold criteria-meeting (“CM”) area where the impact meets the threshold impact criteria in the surface zone; and a color-change (“CC”) controller responsive to the LI impact signal, if provided, for (i) producing a representation of an ID print area from a representation of the CM area by at least smoothening its perimeter and (ii) providing a general CC initiation signal which designates a location in the surface zone for the print area such that it at least partly encompasses, at least mostly outwardly conforms largely to, and is largely concentric with the OC area, an ID portion of the VC region responding to the initiation signal, if provided, by temporarily appearing along the print area largely as changed color materially different from the principal color. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An IP structure as in claim 1 wherein the controller also generates a smoothened image of a portion of the boundary closest to the print area and electronically superimposes the smoothened image on the exposed surface at the boundary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An IP structure as in claim 1 wherein the print area is larger than the CM area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An IP structure as in claim 1 wherein the VC region comprises an impact-sensitive (“IS”) component and a CC component, the IS component responding to the impact by providing the LI impact signal if the impact meets the threshold impact criteria, an ID segment of the CC component responding to the initiation signal, if provided by causing the ID portion to temporarily appear along the print area largely as the changed color. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An IP structure as in claim 1 wherein the OI structure is incorporated into a tennis court for which the exposed surface has (a) two opposite baselines, (b) two opposite sidelines extending between the baselines to define inwardly an in-bounds playing area, (c) two opposite servicelines situated between the baselines and extending lengthwise between the sidelines, and (d) a centerline situated between the sidelines and extending lengthwise between the servicelines, a backcourt of the in-bounds area defined by each baseline, the sidelines, and the serviceline closest to that baseline so as to establish two backcourts, the object being a tennis ball, the surface zone comprising VC backcourt area which comprises two VC backcourt area portions respectively partly occupying the backcourts and respectively adjoining the servicelines along largely their entire lengths. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An IP structure as in claim 1 wherein: the VC region is at least partly allocated into a multiplicity of VC cells arranged laterally in a layer, each cell extending to a part of the surface zone, the cells normally appearing along their parts of the surface zone largely as the principal color during the activity, each cell providing a cellular LI impact signal if the impact causes that cell to meet cellular threshold impact criteria and temporarily become a threshold CM cell such that there are multiple threshold CM cells; and the controller responds to the cellular LI impact signals, if provided, by providing the CC initiation signal for defining the print area to consist largely of the parts of the surface zone of a group of CC cells comprising multiple threshold CM cells, each CC cell responding to the CC initiation signal by temporarily appearing along that CC cell's part of the surface zone largely as the changed color. ### Claim 7 An information-presentation (“IP”) structure comprising: an object-impact (“OI”) structure having an exposed surface for being impacted by an object during an activity, the OI structure comprising a variable-color (“VC”) region which extends to the exposed surface at a surface zone having a boundary and normally appears along the surface zone largely as a principal color during the activity, the VC region responding to the object impacting the surface zone at an impact-dependent (“ID”) object-contact (“OC”) area spanning where the object contacts the surface zone by providing a general characteristics-identifying (“CI”) impact signal if the impact meets threshold impact criteria, the CI impact signal identifying an ID threshold criteria-meeting (“CM”) area where the impact meets the threshold impact criteria in the surface zone and general supplemental impact information for the impact; and a color-change (“CC”) controller responsive to the CI impact signal, if provided, for determining whether the supplemental impact information meets supplemental impact criteria and, if so, for (i) producing a representation of an ID print area from a representation of the CM area by at least smoothening its perimeter and (ii) providing a general CC initiation signal which designates a location in the surface zone for the print area such that it at least partly encompasses, at least mostly outwardly conforms largely to, and is largely concentric with the OC area, an ID portion of the VC region responding to the initiation signal, if provided, by temporarily appearing along the print area largely as changed color materially different from the principal color. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein the controller also generates a smoothened image of a portion of the boundary closest to the print area and electronically superimposes the smoothened image on the exposed surface at the boundary. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein the print area is larger than the CM area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein the VC region comprises an impact-sensitive (“IS”) component and a CC component, the IS component responding to the impact by providing the CI impact signal if the impact meets the threshold impact criteria, an ID segment of the CC component responding to the initiation signal, if provided, by causing the ID portion to temporarily appear along the so-adjusted print area largely as the changed color. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein the supplemental impact criteria include size and/or shape criteria for the print area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein (a) the supplemental impact information includes time duration of the object in contact with the OC area and (b) the supplemental impact criteria include OC time duration criteria. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein the OI structure is incorporated into a tennis court for which the exposed surface has (a) two opposite baselines, (b) two opposite sidelines extending between the baselines to define inwardly an in-bounds playing area, (c) two opposite servicelines situated between the baselines and extending lengthwise between the sidelines, and (d) a centerline situated between the sidelines and extending lengthwise between the servicelines, a backcourt of the in-bounds area defined by each baseline, the sidelines, and the serviceline closest to that baseline so as to establish two backcourts, the object being a tennis ball, the surface zone comprising VC backcourt area which comprises two VC backcourt area portions respectively partly occupying the backcourts and respectively adjoining the servicelines along largely their entire lengths. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) An IP structure as in claim 7 wherein: the VC region is at least partly allocated into a multiplicity of VC cells arranged laterally in a layer, each cell extending to a part of the surface zone, the cells normally appearing along their parts of the surface zone largely as the principal color during the activity, each cell providing a cellular CI impact signal if the impact causes that cell to meet cellular threshold impact criteria and temporarily become a threshold CM cell such that there are multiple threshold CM cells, the cellular CI impact signal of each threshold CM cell identifying cellular supplemental impact information of the object impacting the OC area as experienced at that threshold CM cell, the general supplemental impact information comprising the cellular supplemental impact information of the threshold CM cells; and the controller responds to the cellular CI impact signals, if provided, by providing the CC initiation signal for defining the print area to consist largely of the parts of the surface zone of a group of CC cells comprising multiple threshold CM cells if the general supplemental impact information meets the supplemental impact criteria, each CC cell responding to the CC initiation signal, if provided, by temporarily appearing along that cell's part of the surface zone largely as the changed color. ### Claim 15 An information-presentation (“IP”) structure comprising: an object-impact (“OI”) structure having an exposed surface for being impacted by an object during an activity, the OI structure comprising a variable-color (“VC”) region which extends to the exposed surface at a surface zone having a boundary and normally appears along the surface zone largely as a principal color during the activity, the VC region responding to the object impacting the surface zone at an impact-dependent (“ID”) object-contact (“OC”) area spanning where the object contacts the surface zone by providing a general location-identifying (“LI”) impact signal if the impact meets threshold impact criteria, the LI impact signal identifying an ID threshold criteria-meeting (“CM”) area where the impact meets the threshold impact criteria in the surface zone; object-tracking control apparatus for tracking movement of the object over the exposed surface; and a color-change (“CC”) controller responsive to at least the LI impact signal, if provided, (a) for (i) producing a representation of an ID print area from a representation of the CM area by at least smoothening its perimeter and (ii) providing a general CC initiation signal which designates a location in the surface zone for the print area such that it at least partly encompasses, at least mostly outwardly conforms largely to, and is largely concentric with the OC area, an ID portion of the VC region responding to the initiation signal, if provided, by temporarily appearing along the print area largely as changed color materially different from the principal color if the tracked movement indicates that the object is expected to impact the OC area or (b) for providing the initiation signal if the tracked movement indicates that the object impacted, or is expected to impact, the OC area, the ID portion of the VC region then responding to the initiation signal, if provided, by temporarily appearing along the print area largely as the changed color. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An IP structure as in claim 15 wherein the controller also generates a smoothened image of a portion of the boundary closest to the print area and electronically superimposes the smoothened image on the exposed surface at the boundary. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An IP structure as in claim 15 wherein the print area is larger than the CM area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) An IP structure as in claim 15 wherein the VC region comprises an impact-sensitive (“IS”) component and a CC component, the IS component responding to the impact by providing the LI impact signal if the impact meets the threshold impact criteria, an ID segment of the CC component responding to the initiation signal, if provided by causing the ID portion to temporarily appear along the print area largely as the changed color. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) An IP structure as in claim 15 wherein the OI structure is incorporated into a tennis court for which the exposed surface has (a) two opposite baselines, (b) two opposite sidelines extending between the baselines to define inwardly an in-bounds playing area, (c) two opposite servicelines situated between the baselines and extending lengthwise between the sidelines, and (d) a centerline situated between the sidelines and extending lengthwise between the servicelines, a backcourt of the in-bounds area defined by each baseline, the sidelines, and the serviceline closest to that baseline so as to establish two backcourts, the object being a tennis ball, the surface zone comprising VC backcourt area which comprises two VC backcourt area portions respectively partly occupying the backcourts and respectively adjoining the servicelines along largely their entire lengths. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) An IP structure as in claim 15 wherein: the VC region is at least partly allocated into a multiplicity of VC cells arranged laterally in a layer, each cell extending to a part of the surface zone, the cells normally appearing along their parts of the surface zone largely as the principal color during the activity, each cell providing a cellular LI impact signal if the impact causes that cell to meet cellular threshold impact criteria and temporarily become a threshold CM cell such that there are multiple threshold CM cells; and the controller responds to at least the cellular LI impact signals, if provided, of the threshold CM cells by providing the CC initiation signal for defining the print area to consist largely of the parts of the surface zone of a group of CC cells comprising the threshold CM cells, each CC cell responding to the CC initiation signal by temporarily appearing along that CC cell's part of the surface zone largely as the changed color.