Apparatus and method for measurement of position and velocity
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining position and velocity of an object at impact, comprising:
- (a) a frame having a plurality of sensor mounts and an outer edge;
(b) a plurality of sensor modules wherein one of the plurality of sensor mounts attaches a corresponding sensor module to the outer edge of the frame;
(c) a means for capturing an object wherein the means for capturing an object is located within the frame and attached to the plurality of sensor modules by a plurality of cords;
(d) a plurality of stops wherein one of the plurality of stops is attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of cords, wherein the plurality of stops provide a resting position for the apparatus at a predetermined point; and
(e) a controller attached to receive electronic signals from the plurality of sensor modules, wherein the controller determines at least one kinematic parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor for locating the position of and measuring the velocity of an impacting object. The sensor employs a net attached at each edge to sensor modules mounted on a frame. Each sensor module includes an output drum, a take up drum, a spring and a motor. The net is attached to the sensor modules by cords wound on a spring loaded output drum. The drum is coaxial with a motor that generates a voltage proportional to the angular velocity of the drum. The diode isolated motor partially dissipates the energy of impact to heat on the return stroke in response to the restorative force of the spring. An object impacting a net draws the cord from the output drum, generating a voltage from an attached motor. A maximum voltage or an integrated voltage generated by the motors determines the velocity of impact. Each particular net has an associated set of axes. A pair of motors, their position known relative to the frame, are placed along these axes attached to one or more strings by a cord. The position of impact is determined by the motors generating the largest voltage. Alternatively, the impact position may be determined by the two pairs of sensors generating the highest voltage, where the sensor pair is connected to the same string. A take up drum and a spring bias the system toward a rest position, returning the object to a predetermined area.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining position and velocity of an object at impact, comprising:
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(a) a frame having a plurality of sensor mounts and an outer edge; (b) a plurality of sensor modules wherein one of the plurality of sensor mounts attaches a corresponding sensor module to the outer edge of the frame; (c) a means for capturing an object wherein the means for capturing an object is located within the frame and attached to the plurality of sensor modules by a plurality of cords; (d) a plurality of stops wherein one of the plurality of stops is attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of cords, wherein the plurality of stops provide a resting position for the apparatus at a predetermined point; and (e) a controller attached to receive electronic signals from the plurality of sensor modules, wherein the controller determines at least one kinematic parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for determining position and velocity of an object at impact, comprising:
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a) a frame having a plurality of holes and an outer edge; b) a plurality of sensor modules attached to the outer edge of the frame; c) a plurality of output drums, wherein at least one of the plurality of output drums is rotatably attached to a sensor module and having an upper spindle, a lower spindle and an axis; d) a plurality of take up drums, wherein at least one of the plurality of take up drums is attached to the lower spindle by a spring attached at a first end to the lower spindle and having a second end wound around the at least one of the plurality of take up drums, wherein the spring biases the at least one of the plurality of output drums to a rest state; e) a means for generating a voltage having a shaft, wherein the shaft is attached to the axis of the at least one of the plurality of output drums, and the means for generating a voltage generates a voltage signal proportional to a rate of rotation; f) means for capturing an object wherein the means for capturing an object is located within the frame and attached to the plurality of output drums by a plurality of cords, wherein each end of each of the plurality of cords passes through one of the plurality of holes and is wound around the at least one output drum; and g) a controller attached to receive voltage signals from the plurality of sensor units, whereby the controller determines a position and a velocity of impact using the voltage signals. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for determining position and velocity of impact comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a target unit having a net; b) providing a plurality of sensors disposed along a predetermined set of axis, each of the plurality of sensors extendably attached to the net by a cord; c) generating a plurality of voltage signals from the plurality of sensors, wherein each one of the plurality of sensors generates a voltage signal proportional to a force directed against a portion of the net attached to a respective one of the plurality of sensors; and d) determining a velocity and a location from the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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59. A apparatus for determining position and velocity of an object at impact, comprising:
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a) a frame having a plurality of holes and an outer edge; b) a plurality of sensor modules attached to the outer edge of the frame; c) a plurality of voltage generators having an axis, wherein one of the plurality of voltage generators is located within each of the plurality of sensor modules, and each of the plurality of voltage generators generates a voltage in proportion to rotation of the axis; and d) means for capturing an object wherein the means for capturing an object is located within the frame and attached to the plurality of sensor modules by a plurality of cords, wherein each end of each of the plurality of cords passes through one of the plurality of holes and is wound around the axis to cause rotation of the axis when capturing an object. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification