Instrumented Sports Paraphernalia System

摘要

The present invention is a system for measuring and displaying the pressure of conventional American-style footballs in real time to game officials and spectators continuously. In one preferred embodiment, at least one pressure transducer device is disposed inside the football. The pressure transducer is an electrical oscillator. The frequency of oscillation is a known mathematical function of the bladder pressure. At least one pressure readout device is positioned externally to the football at the outside of the cover-liner. The pressure readout device wirelessly stimulates the pressure transducer device to oscillate. The pressure readout device reads the frequency of oscillation and calculates the value of the pressure. In another preferred embodiment, the value of the football's pressure is measured by physical contact with a Durometer. Both embodiments display the pressure to game officials locally; and transmit the value of the football's pressure to spectators remotely.

主权项

1. A system for determining the pressure of a conventional American-style football in real time;
wherein the conventional American-style football is comprised of a bladder and a cover-liner; and wherein said system is comprised of:
at least one pressure transducer device comprised of an electrical oscillator carried inside the football; and
configured for sensing the football's pressure by electrically oscillating at a resonant frequency wherein the value of said resonant frequency of oscillation is a first known mathematical function of the football's pressure;andconfigured for receiving electrical stimulus from a pressure readout device to induce said pressure transducer device to electrically oscillate; andconfigured for wirelessly coupling its electrical oscillation frequencies into said pressure readout device; andat least one said pressure readout device
configured for wirelessly stimulating the pressure transducer device to electrically oscillate at its resonant frequency; andconfigured for wirelessly coupling the electrical oscillation frequencies of the pressure transducer device into the pressure readout device; andconfigured for calculating the value of the football's pressure from the resonant frequency using said first known mathematical function; anda test stand comprised of a rigid material; and
configured for rigidly mounting and aligning the football and the pressure transducer device and the pressure readout device with respect to one another to stably facilitate the measurement of the football's pressure.