JP2008086524A - Baseball pitching system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a baseball pitching system capable of providing a sense of participation in an actual baseball game. <P>SOLUTION: Light sources L1-L5 are attached at four positions on a left wall 104 of a pitching room 100. The respective light sources emit a plurality of light beams toward a right wall 103. When a ball pitched from a plate 1 passes the respective positions of the light sources, the reflection light of the ball receiving the light beams is captured by a video camera 31, and the three-dimensional position of the pitched ball is detected based on the captured image and the positions of the light sources which the ball passed. A display device 30 displays the image of a catcher making motions as if to catch the ball according to the detected position of the ball. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pitching system for baseball, and more particularly to a pitching system for throwing a ball from a pitcher's mound toward a home base.

  A baseball batting center, which is a practice facility for a user to hit a ball fired from a ball throwing device with a bat, is widely used. Furthermore, many proposals have been made for devices in a batting center. In contrast, facilities for throwing balls are rarely seen. The reason for this is not clear, but it seems that the batting center hits the player with the same realistic feeling as the actual match despite the machine being the opponent. However, in the case of a system for throwing a ball (hereinafter referred to as “pitching system”), the actual catcher does not catch the ball, and the actual batter does not hit it, so it is as realistic as the actual game. It is presumed that the lack of a feeling is the reason why it is not popular. Certainly the public interest in pitchers is certainly not lower than batters. This is because the leading role in a baseball game is a pitcher, and those who play baseball want to experience the pitcher once standing on the mound.

On the other hand, several proposals have been made for devices relating to pitching.
For example, in a proposed pitching practice device, a shock absorber that absorbs the impact of a ball installed behind the home base, a video device that projects an image on the surface of the shock absorber, and an image of the video device are moved. Alternatively, the operation unit to be lit, the photoelectric device for detecting the position where the thrown ball has passed, the speed gun for measuring the speed of the ball, the determination of the strike ball obtained by the passage position of the photoelectric device, and the speed gun The structure provided with the display apparatus which displays the ball speed to be displayed is described. (See Patent Document 1)
In addition, in a proposed amusement device, a display device in which an impact-resistant transparent plate is arranged in front of the display surface, and a position where a flying object such as a ball or a thrown object reaches the display surface or around the display surface is detected. And a display control means for changing the display contents to be displayed on the display device in accordance with the projectile arrival position detected by the means. (See Patent Document 2)
Further, in a proposed pitching game machine, an image display means for displaying an image as a pitching target, a ball detection means for detecting a ball thrown toward the pitching target displayed by the image display means, and a ball detection means Describes a configuration including image control means for controlling the display image of the image display means based on the ball detected by the player. (See Patent Document 3)
Further, in a proposed virtual game device, in relation to the game, position detecting means for detecting the passing position of the ball, and a reversing action, a catching action on the ball, or Based on the detection means from the storage means for storing the moving picture information of multiple patterns such as escape operation, the projection means for projecting the moving picture information from the storage means on the screen arranged in the moving direction of the ball, and the position detection means And a control means for reading out the moving picture information of the optimum pattern from the storage means, sending the moving picture information to the projection means, and projecting it on the screen. (See Patent Document 4)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-155992 JP 2000-153011 A JP 2002-136629 A JP-A-11-299947

  However, in the other patent documents 1 to 3 except for the above-mentioned patent document 4, there is no configuration that provides a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game. In Patent Document 1, as described in paragraph No. 0022 and FIG. 3, the image position of the mitt is moved by the switch of the operation unit installed in the pitcher's mound, and is described in paragraph No. 0023 and FIG. As shown, the batter image is selected to the left and right, and the standing position is set, but the realism like an actual game is not obtained. In Patent Document 2, as described in Paragraph No. 0042 and FIG. 15, it is designed to compete how to make the batter out according to the position where the ball hits. I can not get a sense of reality. In Patent Document 3, as described in paragraphs 0016 and 0019 and FIG. 1, the projection projector includes a batter, a catcher, an umpire, a missed zone, a throwing win zone, a pitch count, and a strikeout taken. It is configured to generate sound effects such as the hitting sound and cheering of the audience, but in the end, it is a display that only competes for the number of strikeouts, as shown in FIG. You can't get a sense of realism like the game. Therefore, it is difficult to attract many customers even if such a pitching system with a little presence is installed in a batting center or other facilities.

Although the above Patent Document 4 describes an effect that gives a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game, it is not configured to accurately determine the pitched ball. . Similarly, Patent Documents 1 to 3 are not configured to accurately determine the pitched ball. For example, in Patent Document 1, as described in Paragraph No. 0015, a position where a thrown ball has passed is detected by a photosensor of a phototube installed on four sides around a home base, and a strike or ball is detected. It is to judge whether. Also in Patent Document 2, as described in Paragraph No. 0018 and FIG. 3A, a photoelectric sensor in which an optical axis that is narrower than the diameter of the ball runs vertically and horizontally is provided. Further, in Paragraph No. 0019 and FIG. As described, infrared light modulated at different frequencies is emitted from the light emitting portion of the photoelectric sensor for each optical axis. Also in Patent Document 3, as described in Paragraph 0018, a large number of photoelectric switches are arranged in the opening portion of the housing, and the pitched ball passes through the opening portion and shields the light. The position is detected. Also in Patent Document 4, as described in paragraph 0008, the position detection device 4 (position detection means) is provided with a plurality of sets of XY sensors in a substantially rectangular body frame, and the XY sensors This is a precise laser sensor comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part for laser light, and a plurality of sets of laser sensors are arranged in a matrix in the vertical and horizontal directions of the main body.
However, as in Patent Documents 1 to 4, light emission and reception of light beams, such as photosensors of photoelectric tubes, photoelectric sensors, photoelectric switches, and laser sensors (these can all be referred to as “photoelectric switches”). In the ball position detection based on the above, since the ball diameter is about 7.2 cm, the light axis on the light emitting side and the light axis on the light receiving side may coincide with each other at a distance of 1 m or more at intervals of at least 7 cm. is necessary. As in Patent Document 2, even if infrared rays modulated at different frequencies are emitted for each optical axis, if the optical axis on the light emitting side does not match the optical axis on the light receiving side, the thrown ball is accurately determined. I can't do it. However, it is extremely difficult in manufacturing to match the mechanical arrangement axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit with an interval of 1 m or more and further match the optical axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. It is actually impossible. Even if it can be realized, it will take enormous costs and time to develop a manufacturing apparatus and an inspection apparatus for that purpose. For this reason, when determining the ball thrown by the photoelectric switch, only a very rough determination result can be obtained. Therefore, even if a pitching system using photoelectric switches is installed, if only a very rough judgment result is obtained, customer dissatisfaction will increase, eventually turning away from the customer and not being used. it is obvious. That is, even in Patent Document 4, unless the pitched ball can be accurately determined, as a result, it is not possible to realize a configuration that provides a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game. .
In addition, if there are many customers who have booked a pitch, if you have to wait for a long time until the pitching order comes, the mental pain of the customer who waits casually until the time when the pitch is possible increases. It is clear that it will gradually be lost.
Furthermore, recently, not only batting centers but also sports facilities such as table tennis, swimming, and golf tend to be added to stores that provide products and services. However, since the transaction at the store and the use of the sports facility are not effectively linked, there is a problem that it is not possible to develop a sports business that improves sales of goods and services.

The present invention is for solving the above-described conventional problems, and by realizing a pitching system that can provide a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game by accurately determining the pitched ball. By installing it in a batting center and other facilities, it aims to be able to develop a solid sports business that will satisfy and appreciate many customers.
In addition, the present invention can develop a sports business that improves sales of products and services by effectively linking transactions in stores and the use of sports facilities in addition to stores that provide products and services. The purpose is to do so.

The pitching system of the present invention is a pitching system that throws a ball in the direction from the pitcher's mound to the home base in a pitching room that houses the pitcher's mound and the home base.
Imaging means for imaging the home base direction from the pitcher's mound side with a two-dimensional solid-state imaging device (corresponding to the video camera 31 of FIGS. 3, 4 and 15 in the embodiment), the pitcher's mound and the home At a plurality of positions of the pitching room between the base and the base, it is provided on the ceiling side, the floor side, or one wall side, and is spaced at a distance smaller than the diameter of the ball toward the opposite floor side or ceiling side or the other wall side. A light emitting means for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams (corresponding to the light sources L1 to L5 in FIG. 4 in the embodiment) and a mapping of a ball that reflects the irradiation of the light beam emitted from the light emitting means at each position. When the image pickup means picks up an image, it outputs a position detection signal by detecting the three-dimensional position of the pitched ball in the horizontal position, vertical position, and home base direction. (In the embodiment, it corresponds to the computer 21) position detecting means for includes a, a.
In this pitching system, when the pitched ball passes through a predetermined three-dimensional space near the home base, determination means for determining the pitching content of the ball (in the embodiment, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 15) (Corresponding to the computer 21).
In this pitching system, the imaging unit adjusts the spectral characteristic of the imaging signal to be output in accordance with the spectral characteristic of the reflected light of the ball that reflects the irradiation of the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit. In the embodiment, it further includes a ratio circuit 317 in FIG.
In this pitching system, reservation accepting means (in the embodiment, the reservation accepting unit 300 in FIG. 1) accepts a pitching reservation via a wireless communication terminal (in the embodiment, corresponding to the mobile phone 600 in FIG. 1). And a transmission means for predicting the time at which the pitching will end based on the progress of the virtual baseball game in the pitching room and transmitting the predicted end time (in the embodiment, to the system communication unit 41 in FIG. 15). And communication management means (in the embodiment, equivalent to the central management system 200 in FIG. 1) for notifying the reserved wireless communication terminal of the predicted end time transmitted from the transmission means. ing.

  The pitching system of the present invention is provided as a facility of a store that provides goods and services, and detects the position of a ball thrown in the direction of the home base from the pitcher's mound in a pitching room that accommodates the pitcher's mound and the home base. The position detection means for outputting the position detection signal (in the embodiment, it corresponds to the computer 21 of FIGS. 3, 4 and 15) and the ball according to the position detection signal output by the position detection means. Determining means (in the embodiment, corresponding to the computer 21) for determining the pitching contents of the game, and a game progressing means (in the embodiment, for advancing a virtual baseball game according to the pitching contents determined by the determining means) , And the progress of the virtual baseball game by the game progress means is completed In addition, according to the perfect game, no-hit game, sealed game, no-ball game, and more than a predetermined number of strikes, which are excellent pitching results in the virtual baseball game, a discount on the charge for goods or services in the store is given. Charge management means (corresponding to the central management system 200 in FIG. 1 in the embodiment).

According to the pitching system of the present invention, by accurately determining the pitched ball, it is possible to realize a pitching system that provides a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game, and a batting center or other facility. By installing the system in this area, it will be possible to develop a solid sports business that will satisfy and satisfy many customers.
In addition, according to the pitching system of the present invention, the sales of products and services are improved by effectively linking transactions in the stores and the use of sports facilities in the stores that provide the products and services. The effect that the sports business can be developed is obtained.

  The pitching system according to the present invention is installed, for example, in a large store, a batting center, a baseball field, a golf course, a sports gym, or other facilities that provide products or services (services) such as a shopping center or a department store. Hereinafter, the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the pitching system according to the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where the pitching system is installed in a large store that provides products and services.

  FIG. 1 shows a pitching system common to the embodiments. In FIG. 1, a pitching room (PR) 100 is a facility for playing a virtual baseball game by throwing a ball, and even a single system can constitute a system, but in the embodiment, eight PR (1) ) To PR (8). The central management center (CMS) 200 communicates commands with the pitching rooms 100, the reservation receiving unit (RCP) 300, and the base station controller (BSC) 400 by wireless communication such as wireless LAN or wired communication using optical fiber. The entire pitching system is managed while transmitting and receiving data. The base station control device 400 controls a plurality of base stations (BS) 500, and between the mobile phone 600 and the central management center 200 in the radio area of each base station 500 (the circle area shown by the dotted line in the figure). Relay communications. The reservation accepting unit 300 accepts a pitching reservation from the customer's mobile phone 600 and transmits it to the central management center 200, and also receives a time when the pitch can be thrown from the central management center 200, and makes the pitching reservation of the customer's mobile phone 600 Notify The customer can confirm the pitchable time notified by the display unit of the mobile phone 600. Therefore, the customer who made the pitching reservation does not need to wait for the turn in line in front of the pitching room 100 and can effectively use the waiting time. The mobile phone 600 may be owned by a customer, or may be lent or transferred from a store.

  The central management center 200 pays for the price of goods or services at the store and discounts the price or virtual baseball game via the mobile phone 600 in which identification information for identifying the customer and the account of the customer at the financial institution is registered. Fee discounts can be made electronically. For example, the central management center 200 responds to a product or service in a store according to a perfect game, a hitless game, a closed game, a no-ball game, or a predetermined number of triple strikes, which are excellent pitching results in a virtual baseball game. In addition to discounting the fee, the fee for the baseball game is discounted according to the sales amount of the goods or services in the store.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of each pitching room 100. The pitching room 100 has a height from the roof (ceiling) 101 to the floor 102 of about 3 m, a width between the right wall 103 and the left wall 104 of about 3 m, and a depth from the front wall 105 to the rear wall 106. It is a box-shaped structure of about 25 m to 30 m, and can be constructed at a low cost by the same construction method as an assembled house (prefab house) or a temporary house, for example. The front wall 105 is provided with a customer door 105a.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, and shows a configuration of the inside of the pitching system 100 as viewed from the left side. The right side of FIG. 3 is the pitcher's mound side for throwing the ball, and the left side is the home side. The height of the ceiling 101 is constant, but the height of the floor 102 is about 35 to 40 cm lower on the home side than on the pitcher's mound side. On the floor 102, the distance from the front edge of the pitcher's mound plate 1 to the rear edge of the home base 2 is about 60 feet 6 inches, which is the official baseball regulations. Below the plate 1 is provided a switch for detecting that the player has put his foot on. In this figure, only one plate 1 is provided, but another plate may be provided near the home base 2 so as to be adapted for young people.

  A computer 21 and a console 22 are provided on the pitcher's mound side. A video camera 31 and a camera angle control unit 32 for adjusting the angle of view of the video camera 31 are attached to a relatively high position of the front wall 105. On the home side, behind the home base 2, a net member 24 that receives the thrown ball and drops it onto the floor 102 is disposed. The net member 24 is a transparent and strong synthetic resin such as glass fiber and polycarbonate, and is fixed to the ceiling 101, the floor 102, and the left and right walls 103 and 104 so as to have a predetermined tension. The net member 24 is disposed at a position where the actual catcher catches the ball. Then, after the pitched ball is received by the net member 24, the tension of the net member 24 is set so that it falls onto the inclined region 102 b between the home base 1 and the net member 24. Although not shown in detail, a hole 102c is formed in the inclined region 102b, and the inclined region 102b is further inclined downward toward the hole 102c. 102c. A ball return device 28 is embedded under the hole 102c. The ball return device 28 includes an inclined cylinder member, a ball detection sensor, a spring, a firing mechanism using a hydraulic pressure, an air pressure, a drive control unit, and the like. The ball returning from the hole 102c is directed in the direction of the pitcher's mound. Return the ball. A large display device 30 is disposed behind the net member 24. The display device 30 is controlled by the computer 21 via a dedicated communication line or a wireless LAN. The image displayed on the display device 30 will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 and shows the configuration of the inside of the pitching room 100 as viewed from above. 4 shows the plate 1, home base 2, computer 21, console 22, video camera 31, camera angle of view control unit 32, mesh member 24, hole 102 c of the floor 102, and display device 30 shown in FIG. The arrangement seen from is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, the video camera 31 is disposed on an extension line of the center line CL connecting the plate 1 and the home base 2.

Light sources L1 to L5 are provided at four locations on the left wall 104 of the pitching room 100, respectively. The distances z (1), z (2), z (3), and z (4) between the position of the mesh member 24 and each of the light sources L1, L2, L3, and L4 are set to the following values in advance. It is registered. The light source L5 is provided immediately before the mesh member 24, and the distance between the position of the mesh member 24 and the light source L5 is substantially zero.
z (1) = 8 m, z (2) = 5 m, z (3) = 2 m, z (4) ≈1.57 m
Here, 1.57 m of z (4) is determined by 43.13 cm (17 inches) of the entire length of the home base 2. A plurality of light beams are emitted from the light sources L 1, L 2, L 3, L 4, and L 5 to the right wall 103, respectively.

  FIG. 5 shows how the light source L1 emits light as viewed from the pitchers mound side. The same applies to the other light sources L2 to L5. The light source L1 has a structure in which 90 red lasers RL1 to RL90 are arranged in the vertical direction (vertical direction). From these 90 red lasers, parallel light beams with a constant interval d are emitted. The diameter of the ball is about 7 cm, but the value of d is smaller than this, in this case 3 cm. Therefore, when the thrown ball passes through the light beam, it is irradiated with two or three light beams. In the example of FIG. 5, the passing ball is irradiated with two light beams. The ball irradiated with the light beam diffuses the light beam on its white surface. As a result, the video camera 31 captures an image of the irregularly reflected red light spot on the surface of the ball.

  FIG. 6 shows the transition of the captured image of the video camera 31 when the pitched ball passes through two light beams p1 and p2 of an arbitrary light source Li (i = 1 to 5). FIG. 6A shows a state where the ball has not yet reached the position of the light source Li, and the light beams p1 and p2 pass through without being blocked. FIG. 6B shows a state in which the center of the ball has almost reached the position of the light source Li, and the light spots r1 and r2 are imaged by irregular reflection of the light beams p1 and p2. FIG. 6C shows a state in which the center of the ball has slightly passed the position of the light source Li, and the light spots r1 and r2 that have moved to the right are imaged. FIG. 6D shows a state in which the center of the ball has further passed through the position of the light source Li, and the light spot r1 further moved in the right direction is imaged, but the light beam p2 passes through without being blocked. FIG. 6E shows a state in which the ball has completely passed the position of the light source Li, and the light beams p1 and p2 pass through without being shielded.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, of the two light spots r1 and r2, the light spot p1 irradiated to the position near the center of the ball is on the left side of the light spot r2. Therefore, in this case, the light spot p1 can be approximated to the position of the left end of the ball. When there are three light spots, the center light spot can be approximated to the position of the left end of the ball. In FIG. 6B, when the left and right positions of the two light spots r1 and r2 are substantially the same, the midpoint of the light spots r1 and r2 can be approximated to the position of the left end of the ball. Therefore, the center position of the ball can be approximated by the approximated position of the left end of the ball and the value of the ball diameter. When a normal customer plays this baseball game, it is sufficient to approximate the center position of the ball only by analyzing the position of the red light spot without processing the captured image of the ball itself.

  In this embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking a pitching system installed in a store that provides products and services as an example, but as described above, the pitching system of the present invention is applied to a baseball field. Sometimes installed. In this case, a professional league player may practice pitching in the pitching room 100 as a customer or a specified user. In such a case, it is necessary to detect the position precisely so as to discriminate the ball-controlling force equivalent to half or more balls. For such precise position detection, special image processing is required. FIG. 7 shows image processing for detecting a highly accurate ball position. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the center of the ball 80 that has been pitched has reached the position of the light beam and two light spots r1 and r2 have been imaged by the irradiation of the two light beams. FIG. 7B shows a state in which the center of the thrown ball 80 has reached the position of the light beam and three light spots r1, r2, and r3 have been imaged by the irradiation of the three light beams. . The image processing of the computer 21 for these images will be described. Assuming that the radius of the ball 80 is D, the position of each light spot exists on the circumference of the radius D with the center coordinate C (x, y) of the ball 80 as the center. The computer 21 executes an algorithm for drawing a circle having a radius D having the same value as the ball 80 with the coordinates of each light spot imaged by the video camera 31 as the center. As a result, in the case of FIG. 7A, two circles q1 and q2 are obtained. Next, two intersections j1 and j2 of the two circles q1 and q2 are obtained. Of the two obtained intersections j1 and j2, the intersection j1 on the right side (the one with the larger x coordinate) is obtained as the center coordinate C (x, y) of the ball 80. In the case of FIG. 7B, three circles q1, q2, and q3 are obtained. Next, two or more intersections j1, j2, j3... Of the three circles q1, q2, q3 are obtained. The rightmost intersection j1 among the obtained intersections j1, j2, j3... Is obtained as the center coordinates C (x, y) of the ball 80.

  As another method, a captured image of a ball whose shape is known is analyzed by normal image processing that has been conventionally performed, and the two-dimensional x-sitting and y-coordinates of the center position are detected. The z coordinate in the depth direction is detected by the light spot of the light beam irradiated at each position of z (1), z (2), z (3), and z (4) shown in FIG. It is also possible to detect the three-dimensional position of the ball.

  In FIG. 4, five light sources L1 to L5 are arranged. However, as the number of light sources is increased, the three-dimensional position of the pitched ball can be detected more finely. For example, when two light sources are arranged at an interval of 1 m between the light sources L1 and L2, and two light sources are arranged at an interval of 1 m between the light sources L2 and L3, the three-dimensional of the ball to be thrown The range of 6 m from the front edge of the home base 2 can be detected at 1 m intervals. If the speed of the ball is 144 km / h like a professional player, the time for the ball to pass a distance of 1 m is 25 msec. Therefore, if a video camera capable of capturing 40 frames or more per second is used, the three-dimensional position of the ball to be thrown can be detected at 1 m intervals.

  Furthermore, if the number of light sources is increased and light sources are arranged at intervals of 10 cm, for example, the fine trajectory of the ball to be thrown can be detected. The ball detection method of the present invention is effective in order for high school students and college students who aim to become professional players and future professional players to improve their own pitching skills by installing the system. The time required for a ball of 144 km / h to pass 10 cm is 2.5 msec. In this case, a video camera capable of imaging 400 frames or more per second is required. This can be easily realized by a commercially available high-speed video camera having an imaging power of 1000 to 3000 frames per second.

  The advantage of the method for detecting the three-dimensional position of the ball to be thrown in this way is that only one video camera is required as compared with the conventional method using two video cameras and a triangulation technique. Triangulation complex image processing is not necessary. An advantage of this method is that an apparatus for receiving a light beam emitted from a red laser used as a light source is not required. For this reason, complicated optical axis alignment between the light emitting side and the light receiving side is unnecessary, and the pitching system can be installed at a low cost.

  The light source that emits the light beam in FIG. 4 is not limited to the red laser. For example, a green laser, a blue laser, or a light emitting diode that emits a thin light beam of visible light such as red, green, and blue may be used. Alternatively, when a video camera having an image sensor that senses infrared rays is used, a laser or a light emitting diode that emits infrared rays may be used as a light source. In any case, it is preferable that the emitted light beams are converged so as not to cross each other until reaching the right wall 103. Further, it is desirable that the spectral characteristic of the emitted light beam matches the spectral characteristic of the color filter of the video camera 31. Furthermore, it is desirable that the color in the pitching room 100 does not include the spectral characteristics of the emitted light beam.

  FIG. 8 shows a determination image displayed on the screen 25 of the display device 30. The displayed image is composed of a center image 25s1, a right batter image 25s2, a left batter image 25s3, and other images 25s4 for determining the ball to be thrown. The image 25s1 is divided into seven horizontal sections and nine vertical sections, and characters having contents corresponding to the positions of the pitched balls are displayed. These characters include S for strike, 1B for single hit (1 strike), 2B for 2 strike, 3B for 3 strike, HR for home run, and F for foul ball. All sections where no characters are displayed are judged as balls. In FIG. 8, the right batter image 25m1 is displayed in the right batter image 25s2. If the ball is thrown in the range of the right batter image 25m1, it will be judged as a dead ball, but especially in the face part, a BUZZ range showing a dangerous ball will be displayed, and if the ball is thrown in this range, it will be exited It is determined and the game is over. The range in which the WP characters are displayed is determined to be a wild pitch and affects the game progress. In the case of FIG. 8, the range of the left batter image 25s3 is also a wild pitch, but when the left batter image is displayed in this range, the right batter image 25s2 is changed to the wild pitch range. .

  Each time the ball is thrown, the characters in the center image 25s1 change. In addition, the body shape including the left and right positions and height of the batter image 25m1 displayed by the struggle or strikeout changes. 3 and 4, the player can change the image displayed on the screen 25 of the display device 30 to high-level (advanced class described later) contents. In the case of a high level, a discount privilege for a product or service provided by the store is given.

  FIG. 9 shows the high level image. The cross hatched portion in FIG. 9 represents the mesh member 24. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, since the mesh member 24 is disposed in front of the display device 30, strictly speaking, the mesh of the mesh member 24 overlaps the displayed image, but the transparent polycarbonate is used. Due to the bright light of the image from behind the mesh member 24 made of resin fibers or the like, the mesh member 24 becomes almost inconspicuous from the pitcher mound separated by 18 m or more. In the case of FIG. 8, since the image is displayed on the entire screen 25 of the display device 30, the mesh of the mesh member 24 is inconspicuous, but in the case of FIG. 9, the left and right sides of the screen 25 of the display device 30 and Since no image is displayed in a part of the upper portion, the mesh is conspicuous in the region 24a, and the mesh is not conspicuous in the region 24b in which other images are displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a catcher image 25m2 is displayed together with a batter image 25m1 on the screen of the display device. An umpire image may be displayed behind the catcher image 25m2. The catcher image 25m2 is a moving movie like an actual catcher. Before the ball is thrown, the ball to be thrown is instructed. After the ball is thrown, the position of the ball detected by the computer 21 In response, it moves as if to catch the ball, and then moves to return the ball to the pitcher's mound. 10 to 14 show images 25m2 of the catcher of various aspects.

  FIG. 10 shows an image indicating a ball to be thrown. In addition to the mitt image 25m3, an image 25m4 indicating the position of the ball to be thrown, and a right hand image 25m5 indicating the type of ball to be thrown, such as straight, curve, slider, and fork ball, are displayed. Note that the range of the image 25m4 corresponds to one of the 64 divided sections of the image 25s1 illustrated in FIG. Before displaying this high-level image, the screen of FIG. 8 may be displayed. In that case, the correspondence between the ball type to be thrown and the image of the right hand image 25m5 is displayed in the area 25s4 of FIG.

  11 to 13 show various aspects of the catcher image 25m2 when the pitched ball 80 is received by the net member. As shown in these drawings, since the player seems to catch the pitched ball 80 in the mitt image 25m3, the player can have a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game. Since the position of the flying ball is finally detected when the light beam p emitted from the light source L4 in FIG. 4 passes, it is received by the net member when the ball changes greatly thereafter. There is a difference between the position of the ball and the position of the mitt image 25m3, but this actually increases the sense of presence.

  The ball received by the net member falls to the floor, but the batter image 25m1 and the catcher image 25m2 continue to operate in this case. That is, when the ball matches the content instructed in the image of FIG. 10, the image of the catcher 25m2 for catching the ball is displayed together with the image 25m1 of the batter for idling. Further, the mitt image 25m3 is moved downward in accordance with the fall of the captured (looked) ball, and the right hand image 25m5 moves as if the ball is taken out from the mitt image 25m3. On the other hand, if the ball deviates from the content indicated in the image of FIG. 10, the batter image 25m1 hitting the ball according to the position of the ball or the batter image 25m1 seeing off the ball thrown into the “ball” section The image 25m2 of the catcher who hesitates it is displayed. When the ball is hit, a fielder image, a spectator image, and the like are displayed according to the characters of the divided sections of the image 25s1 shown in FIG. 8 corresponding to the position of the pitched ball. In either case, the ball actually falls to the floor. 8 and 9, since the floor below the display device has an inclined area 102b, the ball falling on the floor rolls on the inclined area 102b by gravity and enters the hole 102c. Thereafter, the ball is stored in the ball return device 28 embedded under the hole 102c. During this period, an umpire image, a spectator image, a scoreboard image, etc. according to the pitching result are displayed as appropriate, and the umpire declaration sound, the spectator sound, etc. are appropriately pronounced.

  After various images corresponding to the pitching result are displayed and sound is generated, the ball is returned from the pitching device 28 in the direction of the pitcher's mound. FIG. 14 shows an image 25m2 of the catcher that moves according to the return ball. In FIG. 14, the right hand image 25m5 of the catcher image 25m2 also moves in synchronization with the position of the actual ball 80 returned from the ball return device 28. Therefore, when viewed from the pitcher's mound player, it feels as if the ball 80 is returned by the catcher image 25m2, so that a realistic feeling reminiscent of an actual baseball game is obtained.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in the pitching room 100. In FIG. 15, a computer 21 composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like is connected via a system bus to the console 22, display device 30, video camera 31, camera angle-of-view control unit 32 shown in FIGS. And a system communication unit 41 that is connected to the ball return device 28 and performs wireless communication with the central management system 200 shown in FIG. 1, a mobile communication unit 42 that performs wireless communication with the customer's mobile phone 600 in the pitching room 100, and FIG. 4, the light source control unit 43 that controls the light sources L1 to L4 shown in FIG. 5, the RAM 44 that is the work memory of the computer 21, the sound device 45 that produces the sound of the declaration of umpires, the sound of the audience, and the pitching room 100 Door 105a antenna and open / close switch, sensor of ball receiving section of console 21, switch of plate 1, return ball Connected to the sensor interface 46 for detecting the state of a switch, and a sensor location 28, to control the system while exchanging data and commands between these units. Further, the display device 30 is connected to the DVD device 47 that records the image data shown in FIGS. 8 to 14, and the image data corresponding to the command from the computer 21 is read and displayed.

  FIG. 16 shows the contents of data stored in the RAM 44 of FIG. FIG. 16A shows data indicating the scores of both teams. The score of the opponent team changes according to the pitching content of the player, but the score of the own team also changes at the same time. If the pitch is good, the team gets a lot of points, and if the pitch is bad, the points are low. FIG. 16B is data showing a determination result that changes for each pitch. In addition to strike (S), ball (B), outcount (O), number of strikeouts (K), foreball (WK), it consists of data such as hit (H1, H2, H3), home run (HR), etc. Is done. FIG. 16C shows classes set by the player on the console 2, and one of an elementary class (1), an intermediate class (2), an advanced class (3), and a special class (4) is set. For example, assuming that the determination image shown in FIG. 8 is an intermediate class, the number of strike (S) sections increases in the beginner class, and decreases in the advanced class. The special class is a class for professional players or equivalent players to perform pitching training, and is not used in this embodiment. FIG. 16D shows data indicating the speed of the ball. FIG. 16E shows data indicating the quality of the ball course. FIG. 16F illustrates data indicating the determination result. FIG. 16G shows data indicating the sphere of the ball. The speed of the ball, the quality of the course of the ball, the determination result, and the data of the ball's ball power are displayed in the area 25s4 in FIG. 8 for each pitch, and the next determination image changes accordingly.

  The ball's power is determined by the movement of the light beam p of the light source L5 and the net member 24. The pitched ball is received by the net member 24 after passing through the light source L5. The net member 24 moves by being pulled backward according to the momentum of the ball, that is, the product of the mass and acceleration of the ball. After the movement of the mesh member 24 to the rear is stopped, the mesh member 24 is pulled in the reverse direction by the tension, and pushes the ball back forward. As a result, the ball again passes through the light source L5 and falls on the floor 102. If the time when the ball first passes the light source L5 is t1, and the time when the ball passes the light source L5 again is t2, then the pitch of the pitched ball is calculated as a value corresponding to the time difference of (t2−t1). The

17 to 19 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the pitching system executed by the computer 21.
In FIG. 17, when there is an access from the central management system (CMS) 200 via the system communication unit 41 (step S101), whether the access is a pitching reservation (step S102) or the end time is predicted. It is determined whether the request is a request (step S109). If the reservation is a pitching reservation, the mobile phone 600 ID (customer identification information) of the reserved customer is received (step S103) and stored in the RAM 44 (step S104). Then, a pitching determination process is executed (step S106). On the other hand, if the access from the central management system 200 is an end time prediction request, the end time is calculated based on the current game progress (step S110) and transmitted to the central management system 200 (step S111).

  18 and 19 show the pitching determination process. When the customer's mobile phone 600 requests pitching from the antenna of the door 105a (step S202), it is determined whether or not the ID of the mobile phone 600 is registered in the RAM 44 (step S203). If yes, the door 105a is unlocked (step S204). Next, a customer operation on the console 21 is detected (step S205), and one of an elementary class, an intermediate class, and an advanced class is set (step S206). This setting makes the customer a player. Next, an initial screen is displayed (step S207), the game start switch is turned on (step S208), and when the sensor of the ball housing portion provided in the console 22 is detected (ball distribution) ( In step S209), the guide images shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are displayed (step S229). When the player steps on the plate 1 and the switch is turned on (step S211), if the ball is thrown within a predetermined time (for example, about 10 seconds to 15 seconds) (steps S212 to 215), the position of the ball is detected. (Step S216), the detected position is transmitted to the display device 30 (Step S217), and the display of the image is instructed (Step S218).

  In FIG. 19, the display device 30 is controlled so as to display an image according to the position of the pitched ball (steps S219 to S221). When the ball reaches the net member 24 (step S222), the ball is determined (step S223), and the determination result is displayed (step S224). Further, the determination result is stored in the RAM 44 (step S225), and the sound device 45 is controlled to generate a sound corresponding to the determination result (step S226). Then, the ball is returned by the ball return device 28 (step S227).

  Thereafter, the next guide image corresponding to the determination result is displayed (step S229 in FIG. 18). Then, until the match is over, the process from step S229 to step S227 is repeated to determine the ball to be thrown. When the game is over (step S128), the game result in the RAM 44 is transmitted to the central management system 200 via the system communication unit 41 (step S230).

  The central management system 200 manages eight pitching rooms 100, for example, requests each pitching room 100 to predict the end time every 5 minutes, and the end time of any pitching room 100 is 10 minutes of the current time. Or, 15 minutes before, a customer who has made a reservation earlier is extracted from the reserved customer list waiting for the reservation, and an e-mail indicating that the pitching time is approaching is transmitted to the mobile phone 600 of the customer.

  The central management system 200 performs a discount on a charge for a product or service in a store according to a complete game, a hitless game, a sealed game, a no-ball game, a predetermined number of triple strikes or the like, which are excellent pitching results. For example, a discount of 10,000 yen for a complete game, 5,000 yen for a hitless game, 3,000 yen for a sealed game, 1,000 yen for a no-ball game, and 10 yen for each strikeout. In addition, the baseball game fee is discounted according to the sales amount of goods or services in the store. For example, a baseball game is discounted twice for sales of 10,000 yen, and a baseball game is discounted for sales of 5,000 yen. Furthermore, points corresponding to excellent pitching results are recorded, and premiums and other premiums are provided to high-order customers every predetermined period (for example, three months). Therefore, the transaction at the store and the use of the sports facility can be effectively linked.

  The image sensor of the video camera 31 in the pitching room 100 may be either a CCD or a CMOS, but a CMOS image sensor is preferred. This is because the CMOS image sensor can selectively read out arbitrary pixels by the XY address method. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a part of the internal configuration of the MOS image sensor. The horizontal shift register 311 outputs a horizontal pulse signal that drives pixels in the horizontal direction (X direction). The vertical shift register 312 outputs a vertical pulse signal that drives pixels in the vertical direction (Y direction). The FET switch group 313 selects a specific pixel column from the pixel columns arranged in the vertical direction according to the horizontal pulse signal from the horizontal shift register 311. Each pixel is composed of color filters, photodiodes, and FET switches of primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). For example, as shown in the pixel 314, light of a specific wavelength that has passed through the blue color filter B is photoelectrically converted by a photodiode, and then passed through an FET switch that is turned on by a vertical pulse signal applied to the gate. Reading is performed via the FET switch 313 which is turned on by the pulse signal. The FET switch group 313 is configured to independently output a red system image signal (Rout), a green system image signal (Gout), and a blue system image signal (Bout).

FIG. 21 is a circuit for extracting image signals of each system, and FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing the extraction process. In FIG. 21, the red image signal Rin, the green image signal Gin, and the blue image signal Bin output from the CMOS image sensor share the white image signal W, respectively, as shown in FIG. Is included. The AND circuit 315 of FIG. 21 calculates the product of the three systems of image signals, and extracts the white system of image signals W. Next, an image signal of each system is input to one terminal of three subtraction circuits (SUB) 316, and an image signal W of a white system that is an output from the AND circuit 315 is input to the other terminal of all the subtraction circuits 316. input. Further, the three ratio signals Ratio, Ratio, and Ratio having values defined by the following equations are input from the ratio circuit (RATIO) 317 to the control terminal of each subtraction circuit 316.
0 ≦ Ratio, Grati, Brati ≦ 1
Ratio + Graatio + Bratio = 1

  As a result, the red signal Rout, the green signal Gout, and the blue signal Bout multiplied by the value of the ratio signal are respectively output from the three subtraction circuits 316 and input to the synthesis circuit (SUM) 318. The From the synthesizing circuit 318, these three systems of signals are synthesized and input to the next stage circuit (for example, an amplifier circuit, an A / D conversion circuit, etc.). Then, the final imaging signal is supplied from the video camera 31 to the computer 21.

21 are determined by a feedback signal (Feed Back) input to the ratio circuit 317. The ratio, ratio, and ratio values in FIG. When the pitching system is introduced, the feedback signal is subjected to color matching adjustment so that the balls are irradiated with the light beams of the light sources L1 to L5 and only the reflected light is output from the CMOS image sensor. For example, when the spectral characteristics of the reflected light of the ball due to the irradiation of the light beams of the light sources L1 to L5 coincide with the spectral characteristics of the red color filter of the CMOS image sensor, the values of the ratio signals of the three systems are as follows: become that way.
Ratio = 1, Ratio = 0, Bration = 0
If the spectral characteristics of the reflected light of the ball do not match the spectral characteristics of the red color filter of the CMOS image sensor, the ratio signal values of the three systems are set in accordance with the spectral characteristics of the reflected light of the ball. Accordingly, since the video camera 31 extracts only the reflected light of the ball and supplies it to the computer 21, the computer 21 easily performs the image processing shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 for detecting the center position of the ball. be able to.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the pitched ball is not received by the net member, but is caught by a robot disposed behind the home base.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a robot 270 that catches a ball. The robot 270 returns the caught ball to the pitcher's mound. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the ball return device 28 as in the first embodiment is not provided. Further, the display device 30 is not provided. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the second embodiment will be described with appropriate reference to the drawing of the first embodiment.

  Since this robot 270 does not have a moving mechanism, it does not walk like a general humanoid robot. Furthermore, it does not have a sensor such as a camera and artificial intelligence, and operates under the control of the computer 21 in FIG. That is, although the robot 270 has a humanoid shape, the robot 270 actually has the same configuration as an industrial robot used in FA (Factory Automation). In FIG. 23, portions M1 to M10 corresponding to the respective joints are link mechanisms having three degrees of freedom of pitch (front-rear rotation), yaw (horizontal rotation), and roll (left-right rotation). It is a link mechanism with a degree of freedom. A mitt 271 is attached to a portion corresponding to the left hand. In addition, a display unit 272 is provided in a portion corresponding to the head, and an antenna and a control unit (not shown) for receiving a radio signal are provided. The base M11 is provided with a connector (not shown) for supplying electric power to the robot 270, and is connected to the floor by the connector. Furthermore, the robot 270 can move from the floor by removing the connector of the base M11. Therefore, the pitching room of the first embodiment having the net member and the display device and the pitching room of the second embodiment having the robot 270 can be changed from each other.

  When the CPU 21 sequentially transmits a three-dimensional position signal of the ball detected by the video camera 31 to the robot 270 by a wireless signal, the control unit of the robot 270 converts the position signal into a drive signal for each link mechanism and catches the ball. The preparatory operation is started, and finally the ball is caught by the mitt 271. After catching the ball, the ball caught by the portion corresponding to the right hand is taken out from the mitt 271 and returned to the pitcher's mound. Further, before the pitching, the CPU 21 controls the mitt 271 to instruct the course of the ball to be pitched, and instructs the display unit 272 the type of the ball to be pitched (in the case of FIG. 23, “curve”). To do. Regarding the instruction of the ball type, instead of the display unit 272 or in combination with the display unit 272, an instruction of the ball type, that is, a sign may be issued depending on the shape of the part corresponding to the finger of the right hand.

  The movement of the robot 270 when catching the ball is almost the same as the image of the catcher of the display device shown in FIGS. For example, the posture of the robot 270 shown in FIG. 23 is the same as the image shown in FIG. Further, when catching a ball whose course has greatly deviated, the pedestal M11 is horizontally rotated and caught as shown in the image of FIG. For balls that are too big off course, it doesn't matter if you can't catch them. Rather, if you can't catch the ball, you can get a sense of realism like an actual baseball game.

  In addition, the structure in each said embodiment is only an example of this invention. Other embodiments that can be conceived by engineers having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present invention based on the above embodiments are also included in the present invention. That is, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and viewpoint of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the pitching system is installed in a large store. However, in the case of installation in a batting center, a baseball field, and other leisure facilities, depending on the installation location and customer layer Various embodiments are possible. In places where many children gather, it is better to use a robot that mimics the appearance of a real professional player or a prominent anime rather than the robot shown in FIG.

The figure which shows the structure of the pitching system in each embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the external appearance of the pitching room of FIG. The side view which shows the inside of the pitching room along the YY line of FIG. The top view which shows the inside of the pitching room along the XX line of FIG. The figure which shows the structure of the light source of FIG. The figure which shows a mode that the light beam of the light source of FIG. 6 is irradiated to a ball | bowl. The figure which shows the image process which detects the position of a ball | bowl by the reflected light of the light source of FIG. The figure which shows the determination image displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which shows the image of the catcher and batter displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which shows the image of the catcher displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which shows the image of the catcher displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which shows the image of the catcher displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which shows the image of the catcher displayed on a display apparatus. The figure which shows the image of the catcher displayed on a display apparatus. The block diagram which shows the system of the pitching room of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the data stored in RAM of FIG. The flowchart performed by the computer of FIG. The flowchart of the determination process of FIG. The flowchart of the determination process following FIG. The figure which shows the CMOS image sensor of a video camera. The circuit diagram which extracts the color signal of a video camera. The figure which shows the image processing of FIG. 21 typically. The figure which shows the robot in 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Pitching room 101 Ceiling 102 Floor 103,104 Wall 1 Plate 2 Home base 21 Computer 22 Console 24 Net member 28 Ball return device 30 Display device 31 Video camera L1-L5 Light source 200 Central management system 300 Reservation reception part 600 Cellular phone

Claims (9)

In a pitching room accommodating a pitcher's mound and a home base, a pitching system for throwing a ball from the pitcher's mound toward the home base,
Imaging means for imaging the direction of the home base from the pitcher's mound side with a two-dimensional solid-state imaging device;
At a plurality of positions of the pitching room between the pitcher's mound and the home base, it is provided on the ceiling side, the floor side, or one wall side, and faces the opposite floor side, the ceiling side, or the other wall side. A light emitting means for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams having a smaller interval than the diameter of the ball;
When the imaging means captures a mapping of a ball that reflects the irradiation of the light beam emitted from the light emitting means at each position, the three-dimensional dimensions of the pitched ball's horizontal position, vertical position, and home base direction Position detecting means for detecting the position of the output and outputting a position detection signal;
A pitching system characterized by comprising:   2. The pitching system according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines a content of the pitch of the pitched ball when the pitched ball has passed through a predetermined three-dimensional space in the vicinity of the home base.   The imaging unit further includes a spectral characteristic adjusting unit that adjusts a spectral characteristic of an imaging signal to be output in accordance with a spectral characteristic of reflected light of a ball that reflects irradiation of a light beam emitted from the light emitting unit. The pitching system according to claim 1.   A robot that catches a ball thrown from the pitcher's mound behind the home base and returns the caught ball to the pitcher's mound in response to a position detection signal output from the position detecting means. The pitching system according to claim 1, further comprising:   5. The pitching system according to claim 4, wherein the robot clearly indicates a catching position or a catching position and a ball type of a ball to be thrown prior to throwing. Reservation accepting means for accepting a pitching reservation via a wireless communication terminal;
Transmitting means for predicting the time at which the pitching ends based on the progress of the virtual baseball game in the pitching room and transmitting the predicted end time;
A communication management means for notifying the scheduled wireless communication terminal of the estimated end time transmitted from the transmission means;
The pitching system according to claim 1, further comprising: It is set up as a store facility that provides products and services, and in the pitching room that houses the pitcher's mound and home base, it detects the position of the ball thrown from the pitcher's mound to the home base and outputs a position detection signal Position detecting means for
Determining means for determining the pitching content of the ball according to the position detection signal output by the position detecting means;
According to the pitch content determined by the determination means, a game progress means for advancing a virtual baseball game,
When the progress of the virtual baseball game by the game progress means is completed, a perfect game, no hit game, a sealed game, a no-ball game, a triple number of more than a predetermined number, etc., which are excellent pitching results in the virtual baseball game According to the charge management means for discounting the charge for the goods or services in the store;
A pitching system characterized by comprising:   8. The pitching system according to claim 7, wherein the fee management means discounts a fee for a virtual baseball game in the pitching room according to the sales amount of goods or services in the store. The fee management means includes payment of a fee for a product or service and discount of the fee in the store or the virtual baseball game via a wireless communication terminal in which identification information for identifying the account of the customer and a financial institution is registered. The pitching system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the discount of the fee is performed by electronic trading.