Object collision point detecting apparatus

• US 5,478,077 A
• Filed: 03/22/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ELM Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ELM Incorporated
• Inventors: Miyahara, Takakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/215,587
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 273/183.1, 273/181 R, 273/181 B, 273/181 C, 273/181 D, 273/181 E, 273/181 F, 273/181 H, 273/181 K, 273/182 R, 273/184 R, 273/185 R , 273/185 A, 273/372
• US Class Current: 473/154
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• 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 2243/007 American football
• 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 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for use in training or playing in various shooting games, such as for a golf approach shot, baseball batting, or gun shooting. A target screen is provided opposite to a shooting point from which a ball or the like is shot out. Four microphones are provided at the circumference of the target screen to detect the collision sound, and another microphone is set at the shooting point to detect the shooting sound of the ball. The duration of flight of the ball, and the collision point on the screen, and the trajectory of the flying ball, are calculated by analyzing the detection time points of each microphone in a control part. The results, i.e., collision point on the target screen, flying trajectory of the ball, etc., are shown on a display unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus that detects a collision point of an object in a detection area, the apparatus comprising:

(a) at least three collision sound detecting devices located on a circumference of the detection area and out of alignment on a line;

(b) first calculating means for calculating the collision point in the detection area based on detection time points at which a collision sound of the object is detected by said at least three collision sound detecting devices, each of the detection time points being determined by digitizing an analog signal generated by each of the collision sound detecting devices into digital data and by processing the digital data;

(c) projection time detecting means for detecting a projection time point when the object is projected from a predetermined projection point; and

(d) second calculating means for calculating a travelling time length of the object from the projection time point when the object is projected from the predetermined projection point to a time point when the object collides against the detection area, based on the detection time points determined by the first calculating means and the projection time point detected by the projection time detecting means, and for calculating a trajectory of the object until the object collides against the detection area and a virtual trajectory after the object collides against the detection area using the travelling time length and the collision point calculated by the first and second calculating means.

2. The collision point detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first calculating means calculates the collision point using a predetermined value of a sound speed.

3. The collision point detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

(e) an ambient temperature measuring device that measures an ambient temperature; and

(f) sound speed calculating means for calculating a sound speed based on the measured ambient temperature, the first calculating means calculating the collision point using the calculated sound speed and the detection time points at which the collision sound is detected by said at least three collision sound detecting means.

4. The collision point detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein four collision sound detecting devices are provided, and the first calculating means calculates the sound speed and the collision point based on the four detection time points each detected by one of the four collision sound detecting devices.

5. The collision point detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

four collision sound detecting devices, an ambient temperature measuring device that measures an ambient temperature, and sound speed calculating means for calculating a sound speed based on the measured ambient temperature are provided, and

the first calculating means calculates four values of the collision point and determines the collision point by taking an average of the four values of the collision point.

6. The collision point detecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first calculating means judges that the calculated collision point is abnormal when any difference between two values among the four values of the collision point is greater than a preset value.

7. A shot training apparatus comprising:

a) a target screen sheet stretched in a frame;

b) at least three collision sound detecting devices located on a circumference of said target screen sheet for detecting a sound of a collision of a flying object shot by a player on the target screen sheet;

c) first calculating means for calculating a collision point of the flying object on the target screen based on detection time points of the detections of the collision sound by said at least three collision sound detecting devices, each of the detection time points being determined by digitizing an analog signal generated by each of the collision sound detecting devices into digital data and by processing the digital data;

d) shooting time detecting means for detecting a shooting time point when the flying object is shot form a predetermined shooting point; and

e) second calculating means for calculating a travelling time length of flying object from the shooting time point when the flying object is shot from the predetermined shooting point to a time point when the flying object collides against the target screen sheet, based on the detection time points determined by the first calculating means and the shooting time point detected by the shooting time detecting means, and for calculating a trajectory of the flying object until the flying object collides against the target screen sheet and a virtual trajectory after the object collides against the target screen sheet using the travelling time length and the collision point calculated by the first and second calculating means.

8. The shot training apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first calculating means calculates the collision point using a predetermined value of a sound speed.

9. The shot training apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an ambient temperature measuring device that measures an ambient temperature;

sound speed calculating means for calculating a sound speed based on the measured ambient temperature, the first calculating means calculating the collision point using the calculated sound speed and the detection time points at which the collision sound is detected by said at least three collision sound detecting devices.

10. The shot training apparatus according to claim 8, wherein four collision sound detecting devices are provided, and the first calculating means calculates the sound speed and the collision point based on the four detection time points each detected by one of the four collision sound detecting devices.

11. The shot training apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

an ambient temperature measuring device that measures an ambient temperature;

sound speed calculating means for calculating a sound speed based on the measured ambient temperature, wherein four collision sound detecting means, are provided, and the first calculating means calculates four values of the collision point and determines the collision point by taking an average of the four values.

12. The shot training apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first calculating means judges that the calculated collision point is abnormal when any difference between two values among the four values of the collision point is greater than a preset value.

13. The shot training apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a target pattern with shooting scores is printed on the target screen sheet.

14. The shot training apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flying object is a golf ball and the shooting time detecting means detects the hitting sound generated by a golf club and the golf ball.

15. The shot training apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the target screen sheet is extended from the bottom of the frame toward the shooting point so that the flying object returns to the shooting point after the flying object collides against the target screen sheet.

16. The shot training apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising display means for displaying results, such as the collision point of the flying object on the target screen sheet and the trajectory of the flying object, calculated by the first calculating means and the second calculating means.