Method and apparatus for rating billiard shots and displaying optimal paths

• US 4,882,676 A
• Filed: 09/09/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NSM AG
• Original Assignee: Andrew R. Van De Kop, Franz Van De Kop
• Inventors: Van De Kop, Andrew R., Van De Kop, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/242,159
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 364/410, 364/411, 364/516, 273/2, 273/14
• US Class Current: 473/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/006 Training or aiming arrangements on billiard tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A billiard ball tracking system is disclosed. According to the present invention, the system may be used to either instruct a player to improve his playing capabilities or to rate the comparative skills of two competing players. The system according to the present invention is provided with means to indicate a selected layout of cue ball and object balls and means for indicating a preferred shot. Once a player has designated a particular object ball and the desired movement of the ball on the playing surface of a pool table, the system will calculate the optimum paths of cue ball and playing ball in order for the playing ball to be pocketed as designated by the player. In the most preferred embodiment of the present system, the system will, through the use of a laser tracking system, accurately track the changing position of all of the playing balls on the playing surface of the pool table. The system is also capable of instructing a player as to the proper line of attach of a cue ball to a called playing ball by projecting a laser-generated image directly onto the pool table to outline the proper path of cue ball to called playing ball. The system according to the present invention may also include recording means to record a preceding series of shots or an entire match to be replayed later at the convenience of the pool player or players.

Claims

1. A billiard ball tracking system, comprising:

a billiards table, cue ball, and object balls;

scanning means for scanning a playing surface of the table to determine positions of the cue ball and the object balls;

position indicating means for indicating an initial position of the cue ball and object balls on the table; and

shot indicating means for indicating a selected shot, the shot indicating means illustrating on the table an ideal path of the cue ball for striking an object ball during the shot.

2. The billiard ball tracking system of claim 1, further including:

recording means for recording movement of the cue ball and object balls during a shot; and

playback means for replaying the recorded movement of the cue ball and object balls.

3. The billiard ball tracking system of claim 1, further including a controller coupled to the scanning means, the position indicating means and the shot indicating means.

4. A ball tracking system for use in tracking the position of pool balls on a pool table and calculating ball movement paths given designated pool shots, comprising:

a standard pool table having six pockets provided about the periphery of the table;

a plurality of pool balls;

a cue ball;

a low wattage laser generator used to generate a laser beam;

directing means to variably direct said generated laser beam to a playing surface of said pool table;

a computer coupled to said directing means to variably direct said laser beam, said computer operative to cause said laser beam to scan said playing surface of said table in a grid;

light receiving means to receive said low wattage laser beam when it is reflected back toward said laser generator and generate a signal to said computer to indicate that the laser beam has been reflected back to said system;

position indicating means, adapted to provide signals to said computer to indicate the position of said laser beam on said playing surface of said table;

wherein said computer is programmed to interpret said signals provided by said position indicating means to accurately and continuously determine the variable position of said laser beam as it contacts said playing surface of said table;

said position being determined by said computer according to a programmed grid coordinate system;

wherein said computer receives said signals from said position indicating means and said signals generated from said light receiving means to accurately determine the location of each said ball on the playing surface of said table, according to said grid-coordinate system;

touch-sensitive display means to receive signals produced by said computer and display an image corresponding to said playing surface of said table and the location of each ball on the playing surface on a touch-sensitive screen;

said touch-sensitive display means capable of generating and transmitting signals to said computer when a player touches said screen to indicate a pool shot, and to indicate said cue ball, an object ball, and pocket selected by said player;

wherein said computer calculates the optimum path that said cue ball must follow in order to pocket said selected object ball in said selected pocket;

and wherein said computer thereafter directs said means to variably direct said laser beam to direct said laser beam so as to project an image on said playing surface of said pool table corresponding to said optimum path.

5. A method of rating the difficulty of a pool shot, comprising the steps of:

scanning the playing surface of a pool table to determine the location of pool balls on the surface;

designating a desired shot by identifying a cue ball, a target ball, and a specific pocket provided in said table;

calculating the ideal path of travel of said cue ball so that said cue ball, when struck with a cue stick, contacts said target ball to pocket said target ball in said specific pocket;

calculating the range of paths said cue ball may take to strike said target ball so as to pocket said target ball in said pocket;

calculating the difficulty of the designated shot based upon said range and assessing a point value according to said difficulty;

projecting the ideal cue ball path, and path said target ball must take to be pocketed, on said playing surface of said pool table;

striking said cue ball with a cue stick to attempt to pocket said target ball in the designated specific pocket; and

scanning said playing surface a second time to determine the new location of said pool balls and to determine if said target ball has been pocketed.

6. The method according to claim 5, including the step of awarding points to a player'"'"'s score if said specific target ball is pocketed according to said designated shot, and deducting points from a player'"'"'s score if said specific target ball is not pocketed.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said scanning is accomplished by a laser scanner which scans said playing surface of said table in a grid pattern to determine said position of said balls.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein said scanning is accomplished by a video system which views and records the position of said balls.