Device for monitoring relative point of impact of an object in flight proximal a reference line on a surface
First Claim
1. Device for monitoring the relative point of impact with a surface of an object in flight proximal a reference line on said surface, comprising:
- means for forming one or more planes of radiated energy, said one or more planes being pre-positioned with respect to a reference line on a surface,means for detecting relative elevation of an object in flight at two successive points in time based on intersection of at least one plane of radiated energy by the object and for generating data representative of the relative elevation of the object at each point in time, andmeans for generating a signal indicative of whether the point of surface impact of the object is to one side of said reference line or the other based on the difference in said elevation.
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Abstract
A device for monitoring the relative point of impact of an object in flight proximal a reference line on a surface. The reference line may be imaginary or it may be visually perceptible. In a preferred application, the reference line is the outer edge of a game court boundary stripe such as the service box stripe or the base line stripe on a tennis court. At least one plane of radiated energy, preferably light beams, is pre-positioned with respect to the reference line. Detectors, preferably photodetectors, provide data signals indicative of the relative elevation of the object at two successive points in time based on intersection of at least one plane of radiated energy by the object. A programmed microcomputer determines whether the point of surface impact is to one side or another of the reference line, or coincident with the reference line, based on the data signals. The microcomputer commands an annunciator to provide an audible or visual indication of the determination.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Device for monitoring the relative point of impact with a surface of an object in flight proximal a reference line on said surface, comprising:
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means for forming one or more planes of radiated energy, said one or more planes being pre-positioned with respect to a reference line on a surface, means for detecting relative elevation of an object in flight at two successive points in time based on intersection of at least one plane of radiated energy by the object and for generating data representative of the relative elevation of the object at each point in time, and means for generating a signal indicative of whether the point of surface impact of the object is to one side of said reference line or the other based on the difference in said elevation. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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2. Device for monitoring relative point of impact with a surface of an object in flight proximal a reference line on said surface, comprising:
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means for forming one plane of radiated energy, said plane be pre-positioned with respect to a reference line on a surface, means for detecting relative elevation of an object in flight at two successive points in time based on intersection of said plane of radiated energy by the object and for generating data representative of the relative elevation of the object at each point in time, and means for generating a signal indicative of whether the point of surface impact of the object is to one side of said reference line or the other based on the difference in said elevations. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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3. Device for monitoring the relative point of impact with a surface of an object in flight proximal a reference line on said surface, comprising:
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means for forming at least two non-intersecting planes of radiated energy, said planes being pre-positioned so as to straddle a reference line on a surface, means for detecting relative elevation of an object in flight at two successive points in time based on intersection of each of said planes of radiated energy by the object and for generating data representative of the relative elevation of the object at each plane, and means for generating a signal indicative of whether the point of surface impact of the object is to one side of said reference line or the other based on said data.
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Specification