Strike zone detector
First Claim
1. A device for detecting the location of a projectile as at a certain instant in time comprising:
- A. a first plurality of light emitting sources fixed along a first vertical panel;
B. a first plurality of photo detectors fixed along a second vertical panel;
said first and second vertical panels being substantially parallel to each other such that each individual light emitting source from said first plurality of light emitting sources may be focused directly upon a corresponding individual photo detector from said first plurality of photo detectors such that when each of said individual light emitting sources is focused directly upon said individual photo detector, said each individual photo detector when turned on forms a first plurality of parallel light beams;
C. a second plurality of light emitting sources fixed along a first horizontal panel;
D. a second plurality of photo detectors fixed along a second horizontal panel;
said first and second horizontal panels being substantially parallel to each other such that each individual light emitting source from said second plurality of light emitting sources may be focused directly upon a corresponding individual photo detector from said second plurality of photo detectors such that when each of said individual light emitting sources is focused directly upon said individual photo detector, said each individual photo detector when turned on forms a second plurality of parallel light beams;
E. a power source coupled to said first and second plurality of light emitting sources;
F. a locator circuit coupled to said first and second plurality of photo detectors comprising;
i. a first logic gate comprising a plurality of input signals and an output signal such that said output signal changes when at least one of said first plurality of photo detectors and when at least one of said second plurality of photo detectors are turned off if a projectile passes perpendicularly through said first and second plurality of parallel light beams such that said output signal of said first logic gate is coupled to a strike indicator that indicates a projectile has passed through said first and second plurality of parallel light beams when said output signal changes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a device that enables a baseball pitcher to accurately measure both the location and speed of a baseball. The device consists of a frame with embedded laser diodes and corresponding photo detectors in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Certain photo detectors correspond to a typical strike zone which may be varied. When a baseball is thrown through the frame, the baseball breaks the path of at least one of the light beams from the laser diodes in the vertical and sometimes the horizontal direction. The resulting interruption of the path of light generates a signal that indicates not only whether a ball or a strike has been thrown, but the speed of the pitch is calculated as well.
9 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A device for detecting the location of a projectile as at a certain instant in time comprising:
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A. a first plurality of light emitting sources fixed along a first vertical panel;
B. a first plurality of photo detectors fixed along a second vertical panel;
said first and second vertical panels being substantially parallel to each other such that each individual light emitting source from said first plurality of light emitting sources may be focused directly upon a corresponding individual photo detector from said first plurality of photo detectors such that when each of said individual light emitting sources is focused directly upon said individual photo detector, said each individual photo detector when turned on forms a first plurality of parallel light beams;
C. a second plurality of light emitting sources fixed along a first horizontal panel;
D. a second plurality of photo detectors fixed along a second horizontal panel;
said first and second horizontal panels being substantially parallel to each other such that each individual light emitting source from said second plurality of light emitting sources may be focused directly upon a corresponding individual photo detector from said second plurality of photo detectors such that when each of said individual light emitting sources is focused directly upon said individual photo detector, said each individual photo detector when turned on forms a second plurality of parallel light beams;
E. a power source coupled to said first and second plurality of light emitting sources;
F. a locator circuit coupled to said first and second plurality of photo detectors comprising;
i. a first logic gate comprising a plurality of input signals and an output signal such that said output signal changes when at least one of said first plurality of photo detectors and when at least one of said second plurality of photo detectors are turned off if a projectile passes perpendicularly through said first and second plurality of parallel light beams such that said output signal of said first logic gate is coupled to a strike indicator that indicates a projectile has passed through said first and second plurality of parallel light beams when said output signal changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification