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
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence and location of at least one object in a field, the apparatus comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification