System for detecting the presence and location of at least one object in a field by using a divergent radiation source and an array of opposed plural detectors which rotate together around the field

• US 6,147,759 A
• Filed: 02/03/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laserscore Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Laserscore Incorporated
• Inventors: Dougherty, Edmond J., Giegerich, Gary D., Augustine, Albert Jr., Simmons, George R., Griswold, Charles T., Andersson, Anders G., Giegerich, Paul T., Van Ocker, William G., Bone, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, FANNIE L
• Application Number:
  US09/243,138
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 356/375, 250/222.1, 250/224
• US Class Current: 356/623
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 3/00 Targets for arrows or darts, e.g. for sporting or amusement purposes targets for shooting or hurling games A63F9/0204
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/02 Photo-electric hit-detector systems comprising a light-emitting device for simulating the firing of a gun F41G3/2622; detecting by optical means G01V8/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates

Abstract

An apparatus detects the presence and location of at least one object in a field. The apparatus comprises a rotating arm which spins around the field, a position sensor for detecting the angular displacement of the rotating arm relative to a fixed point, and a processor. The rotating arm includes a transmitter and an opposing receiver array mounted thereon and fixed relative to each other. The receiver array includes a plurality of receivers located horizontally coplanar with each other. The receivers are concentrated towards one side of the receiver array which is aligned with a center region of the dartboard. The transmitter outputs a detection beam that emanates from a single point, such as a divergent beam. The detection beam overlaps the field and is simultaneously received at all times by the plurality of receivers of the receiver array. The receivers detect changes which occur in the field as a result of an object being in the field, manifested by shadows on the field. The processor receives output signals from the plurality of receivers and angular displacement data corresponding to the output signals, and determines therefrom the presence and location of an object in the field. The field may be a dartboard front surface and the detected object in the field may be a dart which lands on the dartboard front surface. The dartboard may be a Bandit® dartboard. The dartboard may be mounted in a housing wherein the front of the housing includes an outer catch ring area having a plurality of removably attachable catch ring segments made of dart-permeable and dart catching material. The processor detects when a player'"'"'s turn is over by detecting removal of the darts from the dartboard, and automatically advances a scoring display to the next player.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence and location of at least one object in a field, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotating arm which spins around the field, the rotating arm including (i) a transmitter and, (ii) an opposing receiver array mounted thereon, the receiver array including a plurality of receivers located horizontally coplanar with each other, the transmitter and receiver array being fixed relative to each other, the transmitter outputting a detection beam that emanates from a single point, overlaps the field, and is simultaneously received at all times by the plurality of receivers of the receiver array, the receivers detecting changes which occur in the field as a result of an object being in the field, wherein the changes which occur in the field are shadows caused by one or more objects being in the field;

(b) a position sensor for detecting the angular displacement of the rotating arm relative to a fixed point; and

(c) a processor for receiving output signals from the plurality of receivers and angular displacement data corresponding to the output signals, and determining therefrom the presence and location of an object in the field.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the field is a dartboard front surface and the detected object in the field is a dart which lands on the dartboard front surface.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the receivers are concentrated towards one side of the receiver array which is aligned with a center region of the dartboard.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the dartboard includes a single bullseye and a double bullseye and the receiver array includes six receivers, the third receiver being located so that the detection beam is tangent to the single bullseye, the fourth receiver being located so that the detection beam is tangent to the double bullseye, the fifth receiver being located so that the detection beam is very close to, or directly through the center of the double bullseye, and the sixth receiver being located so that the detection beam is close to, but not directly through the double bullseye.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

(d) a sonic dart hit detector having a first output when no dart hit is detected, and a second output when a dart hit is detected, the outputs of the sonic dart hit detector being electrically connected to the processor, wherein the processor processes the receiver output signals only when the sonic dart hit detector generates the second output.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the detection beam projects about 2.5 mm to about 3.25 mm above the dartboard front surface.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the processor keeps a running total of the number of times that a dart hits each dartboard segment and outputs a signal indicating that the dartboard should be rotated after a segment has been hit a predetermined number of times.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the processor keeps a running total of the number of times that a dart hits the dartboard and outputs a signal indicating that the dartboard should be replaced after the dartboard has been hit a predetermined number of times.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processor uses output signals from a single receiver obtained at two different angular positions of the rotating arm to detect the presence and location of the object in the field.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the processor uses the output signals from the furthest most receiver from the center of the field which receives clear output signals.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the processor uses output signals from a plurality of the receivers obtained at two different angular positions of the rotating arm to detect the presence and location of the object in the field by:

(i) obtaining the object location from as many receivers as is possible,

(ii) casting a vote for each receiver of the object location, and

(iii) weighting the votes by giving greater weight to receivers farthest from the center of the field, and receivers which have unobstructed, clear views of the detection beam.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter'"'"'s detection beam is a divergent beam.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter is an LED which emits primarily in the non-visible infrared region.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter detection beam is formed from a plurality of individual narrow beams which emanate from the same point and are aimed at respective individual receivers.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the receivers operate at different bandwidths, and the transmitter outputs a plurality of frequencies, including each of the different bandwidths, thereby minimizing crosstalk between the receivers.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processor processes the output signals from the plurality of receivers only during the time periods when the transmitter outputs the detection beam.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

(d) a drive motor for causing rotation of the rotating arm, wherein the processor causes the drive motor to turn off if after a predetermined period of time, no output signals are received from the plurality of receivers indicating the presence of an object.

18. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a dartboard having a front surface, the dartboard including;

(i) a bristle dartboard,

(ii) an inner bull and an outer bull arranged concentrically on the bristle dartboard, and

(iii) a framework of interlocked, radial strips and circumferential strips mounted on the bristle dartboard to delineate different scoring segments, each radial strip being connected to the outer bull and a plurality of the radial strips being also connected to the inner bull; and

(b) a device for detecting the presence and location of at least one dart on the dartboard front surface, the device comprising;

(i) a rotating arm which spins around the dartboard front surface, the rotating arm including at least one transmitter and at least one opposing receiver mounted thereon, the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver being fixed relative to each other, the at least one transmitter outputting a detection beam that overlaps the dartboard front surface, and is received by the at least one receiver which detects changes that occur in the dartboard front surface as a result of a dart being in the dartboard;

(ii) a position sensor for detecting the angular displacement of the rotating arm relative to a fixed point; and

(iii) a processor for receiving an output signal from the at least one receiver and angular displacement data corresponding to the output signal, and determining therefrom the presence and location of a dart in the dartboard.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the outer bull of the dartboard includes a plurality of slots equal in number to the number of radial strips.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein each radial strip of the dartboard includes a plurality of spaced apart slots for receiving a circumferential strip and for being received in a corresponding slot in the outer bull.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the inner bull of the dartboard includes a plurality of openings spaced equally about its circumference for receiving an end of a respective radial strip.

22. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the framework of interlocked, radial strips and circumferential strips define a spider which projects above the dartboard front surface.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the spider projects above the dartboard front surface about 1.0 mm to about 1.75 mm, and the detection beam projects about 2.5 mm to about 3.25 mm above the dartboard front surface.

24. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the inner bull of the dartboard includes a plurality of openings spaced equally about its circumference for receiving an end of a respective radial strip.

25. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one receiver comprises a receiver array, and the at least one transmitter is a single transmitter, the receiver array including a plurality of receivers located horizontally coplanar with each other, the transmitter and receiver array being fixed relative to each other, the transmitter outputting a detection beam that emanates from a single point, overlaps the dartboard front surface, and is simultaneously received at all times by the plurality of receivers of the receiver array, the receivers detecting changes which occur in the dartboard front surface as a result of a dart being in the dartboard.

26. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the detection beam projects about 2.5 mm to about 3.25 mm above the dartboard front surface.

27. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the framework of interlocked, radial strips and circumferential strips define a spider which is flush with the dartboard front surface.

28. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the framework of interlocked, radial strips and circumferential strips define a spider which is embedded within the dartboard front surface.