Apparatus and Method for Determining the Spatial Position and Velocity Vector of a Spherical Projectile
First Claim
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1. An apparatus and method for determining the spatial position and 3 dimensional velocity vector of a spherical projectile comprising:
- A means of projecting a plurality of light beam arrays, each array consisting of a plurality of parallel beams of light arranged at known locations and separation distances within a single plane with the separation distance between adjacent beams less than the radius of the sphere, the arrays oriented at a minimum of 2 unique angles;
A means of receiving each beam of light from said projecting means and detecting the obstruction of said beams;
An instrumentation means of recording the time at which each beam is obstructed; and
A means of computing the position and the velocity vector of the projectile using the information obtained from said instrumentation means, the beam location and separation distance from said projecting means and the diameter of the sphere.
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Abstract
A spherical projectile is detected as it passes through an array of planer light beams and associated detectors. The construction of the Apparatus is such that at least 4 planar light beams are obscured by the passing projectile, two parallel beams in one direction and two parallel beams in a second direction. The apparatus records the time at which each affected light beam is obstructed by the passing projectile, The Apparatus than calculates both the spatial position and the 3 dimensional velocity vector of the projectile.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus and method for determining the spatial position and 3 dimensional velocity vector of a spherical projectile comprising:
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A means of projecting a plurality of light beam arrays, each array consisting of a plurality of parallel beams of light arranged at known locations and separation distances within a single plane with the separation distance between adjacent beams less than the radius of the sphere, the arrays oriented at a minimum of 2 unique angles; A means of receiving each beam of light from said projecting means and detecting the obstruction of said beams; An instrumentation means of recording the time at which each beam is obstructed; and A means of computing the position and the velocity vector of the projectile using the information obtained from said instrumentation means, the beam location and separation distance from said projecting means and the diameter of the sphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification