Electrical tape boundary sensor apparatus

• US 4,840,377 A
• Filed: 12/14/1987
• Issued: 06/20/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C. Frederick Bowser
• Original Assignee: Bowser C. Frederick
• Inventors: Bowser, C. Frederick, Kurtz, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Application Number:
  US07/132,586
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 273/31, 340/323 R, 73/DIG. 4, 73/862.53, 73/862.68
• US Class Current: 473/467
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0611 Automatic tennis linesmen, i.e. in-out detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

A system is provided that analyzes the output voltage caused by the impact of an object, particularly a tennis ball, relative to a boundry line. It combines sensors mounted on a tennis court'"'"'s surface with computer graphics and data acquisition software that indicates to a tennis umpire, line judge or player that the ball or other object has struck a boundary line.

Claims

1. A tape boundary sensor apparatus comprising:

(a) elongated sensor means adapted to be positioned along various boundary lines;

(b) conditioning circuit means electrically connected to the sensor means for filtering out unwanted signals and fluctuations from an output waveform of the sensor means;

(c) multiplexer means electrically connected to the conditioning circuit means for scanning the output of the sensor means for identifying a particular sensor of the sensor means which has been impacted by an object;

(d) analog to digital converter means for converting the analog output waveform of the sensor means to a proportional digital word;

(e) processor and memory means electrically connected to the converter means and to the multiplexer means for comparing the output waveform to known pre-set thresholds of;

(i) slope of the initial section of a known output waveform of the sensor for determination of the surface area of impact;

(ii) peak voltage of a known output waveform of the sensor for determination of the force of impact;

(iii) a known duration of impact;

wherein the slope, peak voltage, and duration are compared to the pre-set thresholds to determine and confirm what kind of object impacted the sensor; and

(g) indicator means connected to the processor and memory means;

wherein an impact on a sensor causes a voltage output therefrom and the processor makes a determination whether a ball has caused the impact, and directs the results of the analysis to the indicator means.

2. A tape boundary sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicator means provides an illustration of said game court on a computer display means and plots the location of the occurrence of an impact at a location on the display corresponding to a location on the game court where the impact occurred.

3. A tape boundary sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising painted boundary lines placed on an upward facing side of the sensor means.

4. A tape boundary sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising tape means provided over said sensor means.

5. A tape boundary sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensor means is a piezoelectric sensor.