# US 2014/0156042 A1 · Trajectory detection and feedback system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156042 A1 - Document ID: US20140156042A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,406 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2001-09-12 - Assignees: Pillar Vision, Inc. - Applicants: Pillar Vision, Inc. - Inventors: Alan W. MARTY; Thomas A. EDWARDS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156042A1 ## CPC - A63B 24/0021: {Tracking a path or terminating locations} - A63B 55/00: Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags - A63B 24/0003: {Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis} - A63B 24/0084: {Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races} - A63B 69/0071: {for basketball} - A63B 69/3614: {using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club} - A63B 69/38: for tennis {(A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence)} - G06V 40/23: {Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training} - A63B 2220/806: Video cameras - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and/or one or more observers in the area. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and/or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store a computer program used by a computer, the computer readable medium comprising: computer code configured to receive sensor information derived from a sensor system that tracks motion of a basketball including the motion of the basketball in free flight; computer code configured to, based upon the sensor information, to generate one or more parameters that characterize the motion of the basketball including, when the motion is a shot towards a basketball hoop, an angle of a trajectory of the shot when the basketball is proximate to the basketball hoop; computer code configured to, based upon the one or more parameters, generate feedback information associated with the motion of the basketball wherein when the motion is the shot towards the basketball hoop, the feedback information is based upon at least the angle; and computer code configured to output the feedback information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes one or more image capture devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes one or more sensors disposed within the basketball. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors are used to determine a rotation rate of the basketball. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors include an accelerometer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes an emitter configured to generate an energy signal and a detector configure to receive a portion of the energy signal reflected from the basketball. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the energy is one an electromagnetic energy signal or an acoustic energy signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising computer code configured to determine a distance from the emitter to the basketball based upon the portion of the energy signal reflected from the basketball. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to receive sensor information derived from the sensor system that tracks motion of a body part of a person interacting with the basketball. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising computer code configured to, based upon the sensor information, to generate one or more parameters that characterize the motion of the body part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising configured code configured to determine the motion of the basketball in three dimensions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising configured code configured to determine a location where a shot was initiated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes one or more sensors worn by a person using the basketball. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is used in conjunction with a ball return mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising wherein the feedback information includes a comparison of the angle to an optimal angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the feedback information includes a comparison of the angle to an optimal angle range. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to determine catch and release times. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to determine whether a first person is generating the motion of the basketball or a second person is generating the motion of the basketball. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to generate a training exercise used to improve a skill associated with playing a game of basketball wherein the motion of the basketball is generated by a person during the training exercise. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer code configured to prescribe the training exercise used by the person. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer code to generate and output instructions used as part of the training exercise. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions specify one or more types of shots or locations where a shot is to be taken. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer code configured to generate a score associated with the training exercise. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer code configured to allow two or more individuals to compete against one another where each of the two or more individuals complete the training exercise as part of a competition. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to output the feedback information on a hand-held computing device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to output the feedback information on a wearable electronic device worn by a person generating the motion of the basketball. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to determine whether the shot is made or missed wherein the feedback information is related to which shots and/or how many shots are made. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the feedback information is formatted to include one or more of a visual component, an audio component or a kinetic component. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer code configured to associate the motion of the basketball with a person interacting with the basketball. ### Claim 30 A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store a computer program used by a computer, the computer readable medium comprising: computer code configured to receive sensor information derived from a sensor system that tracks motion of a basketball including the motion of the basketball in free flight; computer code configured to, based upon the sensor information, to generate one or more parameters that characterize the motion of the basketball including, when the motion is a shot towards a basketball hoop, a rotation of the basketball when the basketball is proximate to the basketball hoop; computer code configured to, based upon the one or more parameters, generate feedback information associated with the motion of the basketball wherein when the motion is the shot towards the basketball hoop, the feedback information is based upon at least the rotation; and computer code configured to output the feedback information.