Apparatus and method for determining projectile impact locations

• US 5,393,064 A
• Filed: 04/26/1991
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accusport International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bryce P. Beard III, Edgar P. Roberts Jr, James W. Kluttz
• Inventors: Kluttz, James W., Roberts, Edgar P. Jr., Beard, Bryce P. III
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/692,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 273/32 R, 273/32 H, 273/35 R, 273/176 B, 273/181 R, 273/181 C, 273/181 G, 273/185 R, 273/185 A, 273/185 B, 273/348, 273/371, 273/372, 273/411, 273/31 , 273/29 R, 273/29 A, 273/35 B, 273/176 A
• US Class Current: 473/154
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0043 Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/007 Target zones without opening defined on a substantially horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3691 Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens special golf games, e.g. miniature golf, A63B67/02; mats for simulating golf greens A63B69/3661
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/907 Coordinate determination

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining projectile impact locations and, in a specific application, to determining a golfer'"'"'s performance in using a particular club, such as a specific iron. The apparatus has an array of a plurality of vibration sensors distributed in a predetermined pattern in a target area, each of which generates a signal indicative of the sensing of vibration, a processor connected for receiving sensor signals generated and for processing received sensor signals for determining a location of projectile impact relative to the locations of sensors in the target area and for generating an electrical location signal, and a display connected with the processor for receiving the location signal and for displaying to an observer a representation of the location of projectile impact in the target area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the range from an origin and lateral displacement from a predetermined axis of the landing location of a golf ball on a golf driving range comprising:

a) a first sensor located proximate the driving range for generating a first signal indicative of one aspect of the landing location with respect to said first sensor;

b) a second sensor located proximate the driving range for generating a second signal indicative of the same aspect of the landing location with respect to said second sensor;

c) said aspect is time of travel of vibrations caused by landing of the golf ball at a moment of impact;

d) an initiation means for starting a time measurement at a prescribed time with respect to the moment of impact of said golf ball;

e) processor means for said first and second signals to generate a third signal indicative of said range and said lateral displacement

f) said first and second sensors are placed at predetermined points with respect to each other and with respect to said initiation means;

g) said processor measures any time lag between starting said time measurement and the time the first and second sensor senses said impact; and

h) said processor means determines the impact point by triangulation.

2. Process for detecting the range from an origin and lateral displacement from a predetermined axis of the landing location of a golf ball on a golf driving range comprising the steps of:

a) sensing at a first sensing location proximate the driving range and remote from the landing location and generating a first signal indicative of one aspect of the landing location;

b) sensing at a second sensing location proximate the driving range and remote from the landing location and generating a second signal indicative of the same aspect of the landing location;

c) said aspect being the time of travel of vibrations caused by landing of the golf ball at a moment of impact;

d) initiating a timing measurement at an initial location and at a prescribed time with respect to the moment of impact of the golf ball on the driving range;

e) sensing the impact with the first and second sensors at the first and second sensing locations placed at predetermined locations with respect to each other and the initial location;

f) measuring the time lag between said initiating and the time the impact is sensed at said first and second locations;

g) processing said first and second signals mathematically by triangulation to generate a third signal indicative of the range and lateral displacement.