# US 11,998,799 B2 · Methods and systems for improving athletic performance by tracking objects hit or thrown at an electronic display

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- Number: US 11,998,799 B2
- Document ID: US11998799B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/659,841
- Filed: 2022-04-19
- Published: 2022-12-08
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-17
- Assignees: SmartMitt LLC
- Applicants: Fine Road Enterprises LLC
- Inventors: Thomas R. Frenz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998799B2

## CPC

- A63B 24/0021: {Tracking a path or terminating locations}
- A63B 69/0002: {for baseball}
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- G06T 7/20: Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51)
- G06V 20/42: {of sport video content}
- H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources}
- H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
- A63B 2024/0034: {during flight}
- A63B 2069/0006: {for pitching}
- A63B 2220/16: Angular positions
- A63B 2220/806: Video cameras
- G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence
- G06T 2207/30224: Ball; Puck
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to effective, efficient, and economical methods and systems for improving athletic performance by tracking objects typically thrown or hit by athletes. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a unique configuration of technology wherein an electronic display is located at or behind the target and one or more cameras are positioned to observe the target. Once an object is thrown or hit, one or more cameras may observe and track the object. Further, an electronic display may be used to provide targeting information to an athlete and also to determine the athlete's accuracy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for monitoring objects thrown or hit by an athlete, comprising:
an electronic display, wherein the electronic display contains an arrangement of light-emitting devices for displaying targets to the athlete;
one or more cameras, wherein a first set of cameras of the one or more cameras is positioned to observe the electronic display, and a second set of cameras of the one or more cameras is positioned to observe an object thrown or hit toward the electronic display; and
a computer coupled to the electronic display and the one or more cameras, wherein the computer is configured to:
determine, relative to the electronic display, where the object is thrown or hit based on video received from the one or more cameras, and
calculate an effective velocity of the object based on a selected perspective, wherein the selected perspective corresponds to a location of a virtual athlete associated with the electronic display.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the virtual athlete represented by the electronic display corresponds to a location of a camera of the second set of cameras.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to: determine a termination location of the object relative to the targets displayed by the electronic display.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to: select the selected perspective based on a user input or a modifiable sequence of positions.

### Claim 5

A method for monitoring objects thrown or hit by an athlete, the method comprising:
displaying targets to the athlete using an electronic display, wherein the electronic display contains an arrangement of light-emitting devices;
obtaining video from one or more cameras, wherein a first set of cameras of the one or more cameras is positioned to observe the electronic display, and a second set of cameras of the one or more cameras is positioned to observe an object thrown or hit toward the electronic display;
determining, relative to the electronic display, where the object is thrown or hit based on video received from the one or more cameras; and
calculating an effective velocity of the object based on a selected perspective, wherein the selected perspective corresponds to a location of a virtual athlete associated with the electronic display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the location of the virtual athlete represented by the electronic display corresponds to a location of a camera of the second set of cameras.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining a termination location of the object relative to the targets displayed by the electronic display.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising: selecting the selected perspective based on a user input or a modifiable sequence of positions.