Broadcast-ready table sports system

A system comprising:

• a movable object;
• a detection region including a playing surface for supporting the movable object;
• a plurality of cameras spaced apart from one another about the detection region, each of the plurality of cameras configured to capture a field of view of the detection region;
• and
• a table having a tabletop defining the playing surface, the table further comprising:
• first and second end walls spaced apart from one another;
• and
• first and second side walls spaced apart from one another and extending between and interconnecting the first and second end walls at corners of the table, such that the playing surface is defined between the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls;
• wherein:
• the table includes a game rod passing through the first and second side walls and having a rotatable paddle member affixed thereto between the first and second side walls;
• and
• the table further comprises a plurality of legs, each of the plurality of legs including one of the plurality of cameras positioned so as to capture a field of view including at least a hand of a player contacting the game rod.

A system comprising:

• a movable object;
• a detection region including a playing surface for supporting the movable object;
• a plurality of cameras spaced apart from one another about the detection region, each of the plurality of cameras configured to capture a field of view of the detection region;
• wherein:
• the playing surface is at least partially transparent;
• and
• at least one of the plurality of cameras is located below the playing surface and is positioned so as to capture a field of view of the playing surface from below the playing surface.

A system comprising:

• a movable object;
• a detection region including a playing surface for supporting the movable object;
• a plurality of cameras spaced apart from one another about the detection region, each of the plurality of cameras configured to capture a field of view of the detection region;
• and
• a controller spaced apart from the movable object, the controller configured to determine the position of the movable object on the playing surface;
• wherein:
• at least one of the plurality of cameras is a tracking camera configured to track movement of the movable object on the playing surface and wherein the controller is configured to cause the tracking camera to continuously capture a field of view of the movable object;
• and
• the movable object includes an indicia on an exterior surface thereof and the tracking camera is configured to track movement of the movable object on the playing surface by tracking movement of the indicia.

A system comprising:

• a movable object;
• a detection region including a playing surface for supporting the movable object;
• a plurality of cameras spaced apart from one another about the detection region, each of the plurality of cameras configured to capture a field of view of the detection region;
• a controller spaced apart from the movable object, the controller configured to determine the position of the movable object on the playing surface;
• and
• a plurality of transmitters spaced apart from one another and from the movable object, each of the plurality of transmitters configured to send a signal that at least partially traverses the detection region
• wherein:
• the movable object includes a sensor configured to receive the signal from each of the plurality of transmitters;
• the controller is configured to determine the position of the movable object on the playing surface based on the signal from each of the plurality of transmitters;
• and
• at least one of the plurality of cameras is a tracking camera configured to track movement of the movable object on the playing surface and wherein the controller is configured to cause the tracking camera to continuously capture a field of view of the movable object.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a controller, an output from each of a plurality of cameras spaced apart from one another about a detection region including a table having a tabletop defining a playing surface for supporting a movable object, each of the plurality of cameras configured to capture a field of view of the detection region;
• and
• determining, at the controller, a first position of the movable object on the playing surface;
• in response to determining the first position of the movable object, selecting a first one of the outputs from the plurality of cameras, the selected first one of the outputs providing a field of view of the movable object at the first position;
• determining, at the controller, a second position of the movable object on the playing surface, the second position being different from the first position;
• and
• in response to determining the second position of the movable object, selecting a second one of the outputs from the plurality of cameras, the selected second one of the outputs being different than the selected first one of the outputs and providing a field of view of the movable object at the second position.