The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 18, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2002
Ingrid Birgitta Carlbom, Summit, NJ (US);
Agata Opalach, Grenoble, FR;
James Edward West, Plainfield, NJ (US);
Ingrid Birgitta Carlbom, Summit, NJ (US);
Agata Opalach, Grenoble, FR;
James Edward West, Plainfield, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking an object using one or more video cameras together with a plurality of microphones and/or geophones, whereby accurate tracking of the object can be obtained even when the object changes directions as a result of an impact. A tennis ball may be tracked during a tennis match. Prior to and after an impact, the ball is tracked with the use of video cameras, illustratively in accordance with the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,007. Then, the position of the ball at racket or ground impact is accurately determined by measuring the acoustical waves generated by the ball hitting the racket and/or either the acoustic waves or the elastic (Rayleigh) waves generated by the ball hitting the ground, respectively. Tracking then advantageously continues with use of the video cameras.