EP0267245A1

EP0267245A1 - Ball-game training device

Info

Publication number: EP0267245A1
Application number: EP19870903242
Authority: EP
Inventors: Helmut Egger; Joseph Thayer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-15
Filing date: 1987-05-15
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Also published as: WO1987006848A2; WO1987006848A3; AU7398087A

Abstract

Dispositif d'entraînement au tennis, caractérisé en ce que l'élève doit jouer contre certains objets cibles ou dans des zones cibles. Si l'objet cible est frappé, un signal acoustique ou visuel est émis. Les objets cibles sont reliés à un ordinateur qui choisit un programme spécifique en fonction du niveau de jeu de l'élève. Une machine de lancement des balles, également reliée à l'ordinateur, envoie les balles vers l'élève et indique les différents objets cibles ou zones cibles. L'ordinateur évalue les coups réussis et affiche le résultat sur un tableau de visualisation.Tennis training device, characterized in that the student has to play against certain target objects or in target areas. If the target object is struck, an acoustic or visual signal is emitted. The target objects are connected to a computer which chooses a specific program according to the level of play of the pupil. A ball throwing machine, also connected to the computer, sends the balls to the student and indicates the different target objects or target areas. The computer evaluates the successful moves and displays the result on a display board.

Description

Device for training ball games

The invention relates to a device for training ball games, in particular tennis. It is known among sports and tennis teachers that beginners, especially children and young people, give up learning to play tennis after an initial phase of enthusiasm due to lack of motivation without having learned the game.

The invention seeks to prevent this. It is based on the knowledge that ball training without feedback and success report, such as gaining points, etc., tires very quickly.

It is therefore based on the task of creating a device for training the tennis game which enables beginners, but also advanced and competitive athletes to train shots and moves of the tennis game under practice-like conditions and to train the trainers even in the presence of third parties (teachers and spectators). to motivate.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the device has at least one target body to be played by the person training and the hit registers and / or indicates acoustically or optically.

According to one embodiment, the target body is preferably designed in the form of an elastic, flexible ball which is provided with a base which forms a base.

A device which is in contact with the ball, for example battery-operated, is expediently arranged in the interior of the base. net, which emits an acoustic and / or visual signal when hit. This device can have a sensor that records the vibration of the ball when hit, which is coupled, for example, via an amplifier to a loudspeaker or a visual display unit.

A plurality of such target bodies are preferably provided, which are to be alluded to in a predetermined manner.

The target bodies can have different colors and / or he stents, they can also be provided with labels or pictures on their surface, which can motivate especially young tennis beginners, especially children, so that training becomes varied and the children have fun makes.

The individual target bodies can in particular also be equipped with a display device, e.g. be provided with a lighting device by means of which the target body to be played in each case can be visually highlighted.

Preferably, the target bodies are coupled to a computer which evaluates the hits and corresponding to an input

Program indicates which target bodies or in what sequence the individual target bodies are to be played.

The specification can be made in such a way that the lighting device of the target body to be scanned is briefly switched on. The allusion to a target body can also be made dependent on which target body has been alluded to and hit directly beforehand.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the target bodies are combined in an exercise wall, which accordingly has a plurality of target fields to be played. In this case, a plurality of sensors responding to the impact of a ball are preferably distributed in the surface of the exercise wall and trigger an acoustic and / or optical signal when they respond.

In this case, it is recommended that the different areas, ^"eg individually neben¬ superimposed columns acoustic signals of different pitch or optical signals of different color zuzuord¬ NEN, can be so that represents festge¬ only because of the pitch by the teacher whether the ball in the of he has actually hit certain areas in advance or not, without having to look at the exercise wall with extreme concentration.

For particularly demanding purposes and for advanced users, it is then proposed according to another development of the inventive concept to subdivide the entire wall into columns and rows and to assign a sensor to each individual area, the signals of which differ significantly from the signal from neighboring sensors.

If, according to a suggestion, the acoustic signals are coordinated with one another, for example, according to the tones of a scale, then there is an additional incentive for the player to make audible entire tone sequences or even melodies audible for himself and others with successive hits. This means that a player with a relatively high succession of serves then trains in a concentrated manner and has a sense of achievement compared to an exercise against a simple wall, which means an additional incentive.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the individual service areas can be identified, for example wise through coloring, but also through projection of individual pixels by a projector or a laser, which is controlled depending on a program but also a random generator. The number of correct hits can be evaluated and displayed.

According to another development of the concept of the invention, it is also possible and advantageously to be used to arrange a plurality of sensors in a sandwich-like manner one behind the other, the intermediate layers being selected such that, depending on the speed of the ball's flight, that is to say the player's impact strength, either only the uppermost sensor or also address one or more behind it and emit a corresponding signal.

The sensors lying behind one another can emit an acoustic signal of a uniform pitch, as a result of which the volume of the reproduced signal varies or varies according to the impact strength, but they can also be matched to one another, which then produces double tones that only a particularly strong player can trigger. In any case, the willingness to train of a tennis student but also of a good tennis player becomes one. Human play instinct significantly increased. In addition, viewers or listeners may give an additional incentive due to the interest triggered by the signals.

A wide variety of generally electrically working sensors, such as strain gauges, simple, crossed, tensioned wires, which come into contact with one another and thus form a contact, come into question as sensors to be attached in the surface of the wall.

Semiconductor-based sensors are particularly advantageous, the individual chips made of semiconductor material being suitable for of the current passage already react to slight pressures and in particular deflections. This type of sensors are placed in the wall or placed on the conventional wall, wired accordingly and the entire wall is then covered with a film covering the entire surface, the film being made of a material that has a ball reflecting on it on the back the film passes a corresponding pressure on the sensor.

Such pressure-sensitive semiconductor sensors and similar sensors are available on the market and can be applied in several layers to a stationary wall in the context of the invention without further ado, if necessary also, as explained.

The evaluation of the signals from the different sensors and the conversion into acoustic signals can be implemented directly with commercially available processors without inventive intervention.

Each target field is connected to the computer separately.

According to another development of the inventive concept, the point of impact can be calculated by applying dam materials to the back of the wall and evaluating the transit time of the mechanical impulse generated by the impact. For this purpose, the computer is informed of the acoustically recorded time of impact and the running time of the mechanical impulse in the insulating material triggered by the impact of the ball.

Expediently, a ball throwing machine is also coupled to the computer, which throws the balls to the exerciser, controlled by the computer at a predetermined but changeable speed, height and direction.

Advantageously, a projection device can also be provided, by means of which a game partner and / or predetermined game phases can be projected onto the wall, so that the trainee must react to this partner or to their game positions and game phases. Finally, to measure the speed of the tennis ball, a sensor can be provided with a transmitter that the player wears on the striking hand, the transmitter giving the instant of the stroke to the computer via radio, which in turn is electrically connected to each target body or target field and can determine the speed of the ball.

For example, embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

1 schematically shows a view of a target body in the form of an elastic ball,

2 shows a plurality of target bodies in the form of such balls, each of which is connected to a computer,

3 schematically shows the arrangement of a training wall with fields as individual target bodies,

Fig. 4 the division of a practice wall and

Fig. 5 shows schematically the structure of an exercise wall.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a target body 10, which in the illustrated embodiment consists of an elastic, flexible ball, e.g. a rubber ball that has a diameter of e.g. Can have 30-50 cm. The target body 10 does not need to have a spherical shape, it can have any other desired shape and shape.

The ball 12 is provided with a foot 14 which is expediently formed from a suitable plastic and which is connected to the ball 12 in a suitable manner, for example by gluing, heat sealing or the like. At its lower end, the hollow formed foot 14 a base 16, which consists for example of cement or other heavy material to give the target body 10 sufficient stability.

Inside the foot 14 is a sensor 18 which is suitably connected to the ball, e.g. by gluing or the like, and which picks up the mechanical vibrations of the ball when hit and converts it into an electrical signal which is applied to a loudspeaker 22 via an amplifier 20.

This display device 18, 20, 22 is expediently battery-operated, but it can also be connected to the normal electrical supply network.

In addition to or instead of the acoustic display device, an optical display device can be provided, e.g. a lamp that briefly illuminates the ball when hit.

The surface of the ball 12 can, in particular to motivate ^• practicing children with pictures of animals or the like., Or be provided with fairy tale scenes.,

2 shows a plurality of target bodies, only three target bodies being shown for the sake of simplicity, but of course the number of target bodies can be chosen to be any larger.

The target bodies in turn have the form of balls 24, 26 and 28 made of rubber or of another suitable flexible and elastic plastic material. As already described above, each ball has a foot with a base in order to give it sufficient stability.

Each of the balls 24, 26 and 28 has in its hollow foot the acoustic display device described with reference to FIG. 1, As shown with ball 26, sensor 20 is attached to a handle 32 of the ball. (The ball 26 has the shape of the hopping balls frequently used by children, each provided with two handles).

In addition, or instead of the acoustic display device, as already mentioned above, a visual display device, e.g. in the form of a lamp 30, which is arranged inside the ball 24 and which e.g. when hit, the ball is lit from the inside.

However, as will be explained below, the lamp 30 can also be used to indicate which ball is to be played.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the balls 24, 26 and 28 is connected via a line 42 to a computer 34, which in turn is connected via lines (not specified) with a printer 36 and a visual display device 38, e.g. a display panel or another suitable display device.

A programmer 40 is also connected to the computer 34, via which a program can be entered into the computer 34, which in turn controls the individual target bodies according to this program via the lines 42 and indicates the sequence in which the target bodies are to be played. This can be done in that, as already mentioned, the lamp 30 of the target body or ball to be played is briefly switched on. It is understood that with this type of control the balls 24, 26 and 28 must consist of a translucent material.

Instead of illuminating the target bodies to be displayed by means of a lamp, they can also be illuminated by means of a stroboscope. or a light spot or an image can be projected onto the ball to be played, for example by means of a projection device.

The stroboscope or projection device are then connected to the computer 34 accordingly.

The program can be selected such that the individual target bodies are to be played in the sequence assigned by the program, regardless of whether the individual target bodies are hit or not. However, the program may also be designed so that the target hit body determines the next to playing ^• target body, that is, the target body made outputs a hit signal to the computer 34, which evaluates this signal and then determines it should be play which target body next.

The hits can be printed out by means of the printer 36 and displayed by means of the display device 38. If several students are training, the current status of the game for each student can be read on the display device or display board 38 in this way.

Instead of using a computer, the individual target bodies, i.e. in the example described, the balls 24, 26 and 28 are wirelessly coupled, e.g. by means of ultrasound, infrared devices or radio devices, in which case the target body hit controls the next target body to be scanned, depending on the program. The relevant target body to be played next can then be displayed acoustically or visually.

3 shows a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a training wall 52 on a playing field 56. The training wall 52 carries a plurality of sensors on its surface, as set out. A player 53 is required to play against the wall, and a net 57 can be provided for training the service. If the player is only to train the racket guidance, the net as such can be eliminated. The various directions of impact are shown schematically by arrows.

The response of the individual sensors is monitored in a microprocessor 54 and electrical signals associated with a specific pitch are implemented, which are then made audible in the loudspeaker 55.

4 indicates that an exercise wall 52 can be divided, for example, into eight columns, which are assigned, for example, to the eight heights of a scale. ^" The sensors arranged in the individual columns give the same acoustic signals Pitch so that a player can either "re-enact" simple melodies according to his own ideas or on instructions from the teacher the player himself will also play with much greater concentration, since third parties will also immediately hear if he has not focused on the correct area.

For more demanding training and even demonstration purposes, the entire surface is subdivided into rows and columns - and this is not shown schematically for reasons of clarity - so that individual rectangles are formed, which may have different tonoctaves, half-tones from row to row ne etc. can be assigned. In this way, larger sound sequences can then be generated by concentrated, practiced games. The sequence of the individual tones also stimulates the frequency of strikes, since control is also very easily exercised here by listening and the player also strikes one after the other more quickly in order to trigger the next tone. As already explained, the ball throwing machine is controlled accordingly by the computer.

5 shows schematically in a cut-away side view how the individual sensors 58 can be attached to the surface of a wall in purely spatial terms. The wall itself consists of a rear solid part 52, on the front of which pressure-dependent or strain-dependent semiconductor chips 58 are first applied and wired accordingly. The chips are then covered by a sheet 59 ^'and the film 59 more corresponding chips 10 are mounted and wired, and the surface 51 is then covered with a top covering layer of elastic material, preferably vor¬ a suitably stable plastic film or derglei¬ chen. When a ball hits the surface 51 with a certain force, only the corresponding semiconductor 50 will emit a signal to the microprocessor, while with a stronger impact the corresponding chip 50 and the chip 58 behind it will emit a signal. Each sensor can be connected to the computer by a line connection. However, it is also possible to carry out the impact point using a transit time evaluation in the exercise wall itself or a base plate made of homogeneous material with a defined formwork line and to calculate the impact point using two coordinates.

The calculator is set based on experience. If the student starts training, his name, a training program and the presumed skill level of the student are entered into the computer. The computer uses the ball throwing machine to feed the balls to the student at a given speed and height. Immediately before the ball comes, the target field to be played is given to the pupil optically. If, for example, the student hits the target with nine out of ten balls, the exercise is too easy. The ball throwing machine now receives the command from the computer to, for example, increase the ball sequence and / or to display the target field to be played at short notice. If the pupil hits the target with only five out of ten balls, the exercise is too difficult, the ball sequence and the target are now slowed down via the computer, which makes the exercise easier. The computer and program can now be set so that the computer regulates the speed, the ball sequence, the swirl, the height of the ball and the target specifications so that the student achieves a hit rate of, for example, 80%.

The evaluation can be read on the display device, ie how many hits or errors have occurred in the individual exercises. ^"

During the impact training, the speed of the ball can be measured, for which the pupil carries a small sensor with transmitter on the striking hand, which transmits the instant of the stroke wirelessly to the computer. Since each of the ^' target fields is connected to the computer, this determines the speed of the ball from the time of the impact and the time of the ball hitting the target field, as well as the distance between the player and the target field which has to be entered into the computer beforehand.

The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to train beginners as well as advanced and competitive athletes, children in particular being able to be motivated and receiving an acoustic or visual hit display when a hit occurs. The training of punches and moves can be done depending on the program under practical conditions and situations.

The hits and errors can be evaluated by means of a computer and statements can be made about the skill of the student in forehand and backhand play, also about his reactions to balls with forward twist or those with backward twist, high or deep balls, or fast or arhythmic Passing. One also receives statements about the accuracy and concentration of the student during training.

Using these values and statements, optimal training programs can be set up for ^* every student and, for example, their skill level can be determined.

Instead of a ball throwing machine, several such machines can also be used, all of which are then connected to the computer.

Finally, it is possible to set up a video camera behind or above the student or player, which records the position of the player in the playing field and continuously gives the coordinates of his respective position to the computer, which can then control the ball throwing machine accordingly on the basis of these coordinates.

The invention was essentially explained in connection with the generation of acoustic signals. It is readily apparent that a similar effect can also be achieved by reproducing optical signals, it being possible for the different areas to be assigned different colors. In this case it is also conceivable to leave a color that has been lit up once in order to enable the player to produce color compositions that appear simultaneously. The implementation of the invention is not only possible in connection with target bodies or exercise walls, but can also be used directly for demonstrations and competitions or the like.

The surface can also be arranged horizontally, which can be advantageous for training the service. This can be used not only in connection with tennis, but with all ball games where a ball has to be placed by a player. Squash, golf, but also soccer and handball for training penalties - or seven-meter shooting - are particularly important. In any case, the same effect is achieved that the exerciser is additionally stimulated during training or that a training stand can be demonstrated to an audience with a certain attraction.

Claims

1. Device for training ball games, in particular tennis, characterized in that at least one target body (10) is provided, which is to be played by the trainer, and the hit registers and / or indicates it acoustically or optically.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastic flexible ball (12, 24, 26, 28) is provided as the target body, which is provided with a foot (14) with a base (16).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a sensor (18) is provided for the registration and / or optical or acoustic display of the vibrations generated by the striking ball.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of target bodies (10) and a computer (34) are provided, wherein the individual target bodies are separately connected to the computer for evaluating the individual hits on the respective target bodies (10) to be played .

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the individual target bodies is associated with an acoustic and / or optical display device with which the player can be requested to play this target body.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the target bodies are combined to form a practice wall (52).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that in the surface (51) of the exercise wall (52) distributed a plurality of responsive to the impact of a ball sensors are provided which trigger an acoustic and / or optical signal when activated.

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the individual sensors are assigned acoustic signals differing pitch.

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the individual sensors are arranged in columns and / or rows.

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a respective area of about 10 x 10 cm is assigned a sensor.

11. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the sensor areas are color-coded on the side facing the: player.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a radiation source (projector, video image magnification device, laser) is provided for marking individual target bodies (sensor areas).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the radiation source intermittent individual target bodies (Sensorsberei¬ che), depending on a program or a random generator shines.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that sensors are arranged in the target body seen at different depths from the surface.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that a plurality of sensors are arranged one behind the other.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the consecutive sensors are each assigned the same pitch.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the response of sensors arranged one behind the other can be evaluated as a measure of the impact force of the ball in the form of different loud acoustic signals (tones) or another display.

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, da¬ characterized in that pressure-dependent semiconductors in film or chip form are provided as sensors.

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensors are covered with an elastic film which preferably covers the entire exercise wall evenly and covers the entire exercise wall.

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation arithmetic unit is assigned an evaluation arrangement with a display, for displaying the correctly and / or incorrectly placed balls (hit / miss).

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that with the computer (34) a ball throwing machine (50) for impact-dependent delivery of balls is coupled.

22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor with transmitter is provided for measuring the speed of the ball, which the student wears on the striking hand and by which the evaluation computer (34) transmits the time of the tee-off is.

23. Device according to one of claims 6 to 22, characterized in that a layer of insulating material is applied to the selection of a point of impact on the back of the wall and that the running time of the _» mechanical impulses in this layer is evaluated for exact order.

24. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a registration device for the location of the player, preferably in the form of a video camera equipped with a range finder, is provided for determining the distance of the player from the target body.