Backstop system for measuring position, velocity, or trajectory
First Claim
1. A backstop system for determining the velocity or position or both of an article traveling along a path intersecting said backstop system, said backstop system comprising:
- a frame member;
a target member mounted on said frame member, said target member deforming from an initial position due to the article contacting said target member as the article moves along the path intersecting said target member;
a plurality of linear displacement sensors operatively connected to said target member at a plurality of points, each of said plurality of linear displacement sensors producing a signal in response to a corresponding one of said plurality of points moving as said target member deforms, said signal defining a time interval and a linear distance said corresponding point moves during said time interval; and
a processor system for receiving and recording said signals from each of said plurality of linear displacement sensors and trigonometrically computing the position or velocity or both for the article at a selected time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A backstop or target particularly suited for use in athletic applications such as baseball or golf, and which includes a frame from which a flexible net is suspended at its corners and connected to a plurality of linear displacement sensors. As the net is displaced due to the impact of a projectile such as a ball, tension is applied to the cords which in turn move the axially-moveable components of each linear displacement sensor. In one embodiment, the linear displacement sensors utilize a light beam and photoelectric detector to plot the time intervals at which equally-spaced indices on the axially-moveable component pass a predetermined point. This data is used to determine position, velocity, or trajectory of the projectile relative to the initial plane of the net using direct geometric and trigonometric calculations.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A backstop system for determining the velocity or position or both of an article traveling along a path intersecting said backstop system, said backstop system comprising:
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a frame member; a target member mounted on said frame member, said target member deforming from an initial position due to the article contacting said target member as the article moves along the path intersecting said target member; a plurality of linear displacement sensors operatively connected to said target member at a plurality of points, each of said plurality of linear displacement sensors producing a signal in response to a corresponding one of said plurality of points moving as said target member deforms, said signal defining a time interval and a linear distance said corresponding point moves during said time interval; and a processor system for receiving and recording said signals from each of said plurality of linear displacement sensors and trigonometrically computing the position or velocity or both for the article at a selected time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining the velocity or position or both of an article traveling along a path, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a frame member and a target member mounted on said frame member; positioning said target member along the path such that the article contacts the target member and causes it to deform from an initial position due to the article contacting said target member; measuring the time intervals during which a plurality of points on said target member move measured distances in response to the deformation of the target member; and trigonometrically computing the position or velocity or both for the article at a selected time based upon the measured time intervals and measured distances. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification