System for measuring the initial velocity vector of a ball and method of use
First Claim
1. A system for measuring an initial line of flight of a ball, comprising:
- the ball having an initial position;
a first light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors;
a first light source directed toward said first light sensing array;
the ball having a first position interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source;
a first shadow position on said first light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source, said first shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor;
a first plane defined by (1) said initial position, (2) said first shadow position, and (3) said first light source;
a second light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors, said second light sensing array oriented substantially parallel to and disposed a predetermined distance D from said first light sensing array;
a second light source directed toward said second light sensing array;
the ball having a second position interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source;
a second shadow position on said second light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source, said second shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor;
a second plane defined by (1) said initial position, (2) said second shadow position, and (3) said second light source; and
,said initial line of flight defined by the intersection of said first plane with said second plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system 20 for measuring the initial velocity vector of a ball 500 includes a first light sensing array 24, a first light source 28, a second light sensing array 30, and a second light source 32. The ball 500 has an initial position 22. When the ball 500 is struck, at time T1 it casts a first shadow position 36 on first light sensing array 24, and at time T2 it casts a second shadow position 42 on second light sensing array 30. A first plane 38 is formed by initial position 22, first light source 28, and first shadow position 36. A second plane 44 is formed by initial position 22, second light source 32, and second shadow position 42. The line of flight 37 of ball 500 is defined by the intersection of planes 38 and 44. A slant distance Ds is determined, whereby the speed Sb of ball 500 is defined as Sb =Ds /(T2-T1). The velocity vector is then Sb in the direction of line of flight 37.
173 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for measuring an initial line of flight of a ball, comprising:
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the ball having an initial position; a first light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors; a first light source directed toward said first light sensing array; the ball having a first position interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source; a first shadow position on said first light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source, said first shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor; a first plane defined by (1) said initial position, (2) said first shadow position, and (3) said first light source; a second light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors, said second light sensing array oriented substantially parallel to and disposed a predetermined distance D from said first light sensing array; a second light source directed toward said second light sensing array; the ball having a second position interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source; a second shadow position on said second light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source, said second shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor; a second plane defined by (1) said initial position, (2) said second shadow position, and (3) said second light source; and
,said initial line of flight defined by the intersection of said first plane with said second plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for measuring an initial line of flight, an initial speed, and an initial velocity vector of a ball, comprising:
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the ball having an initial position; a first light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors; a first light source directed toward said first light sensing array; the ball having a first position interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source; a first shadow position on said first light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source, said first shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor; a first plane defined by (1) said initial position, (2) said first shadow position, and (3) said first light source; a second light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors, said second light sensing array oriented substantially parallel to and disposed a predetermined distance D from said first light sensing array; a second light source directed toward said second light sensing array; the ball having a second position interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source; a second shadow position on said second light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source, said second shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor; a second plane defined by (1) said initial position, (2) said second shadow position, and (3) said second light source; said initial line of flight defined by the intersection of said first plane with said second plane; the ball being interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source at a time T1; the ball being interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source at a time T2; a slant distance Ds measured from the position of the ball at time T1 to the position of the ball at time T2; said initial speed Sb defined by the equation Sb Ds /(T2-T1); and
,said initial velocity vector comprised of said initial speed Sb directed along said initial line of flight.
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13. A method for measuring the initial line of flight of a ball having an initial position, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors, a first light source directed toward said first light sensing array, at time T1 the ball having a first position interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source, a first shadow position on said first light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said first light sensing array and said first light source, said first shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor; defining a first plane by (1) said initial position, (2) said first shadow position, and (3) said first light source; providing a second light sensing array having a plurality of light sensors, said second light sensing array oriented substantially parallel to and disposed a predetermined distance D from said first light sensing array, a second light source directed toward said second light sensing array, at time T2 the ball having a second position interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source, a second shadow position on said second light sensing array caused by the ball being interposed between said second light sensing array and said second light source, said second shadow position including a shadow cast upon at least one light sensor; defining a second plane by (1) said initial position, (2) said second shadow position, and (3) said second light source; and
,calculating said initial line of flight as the intersection of said first plane with said second plane. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification