Baseball umpiring system
First Claim
1. A system of umpiring in a baseball game in a conventional baseball field having a scoreboard,the scoreboard being of known kind having electrically controlled signal means indicating strikes, main circuitry in the scoreboard operable for energizing the signal means, the system including apparatus made up of a plurality of components arranged relative to a strike zone constituted by a volumetric space above the home plate and defined by peripherally arranged vertical planes containing the corresponding edges of the home plate and extending vertically between the knees and chest of a batter, the apparatus including two, and only two, T.V. units of known kind, the T.V. units constituting a first T.V. unit and a second T.V. unit, and the T.V. units including first and second cameras, respectively, the first T.V. unit and camera being located in center field and directed on a main axis extending diagonally across the baseball field, over the second base, pitcher'"'"'s mound and through the strike zone, the second T.V. unit and camera being located angularly spaced from the first T.V. unit, and itself, and the second camera therein, being directed on a second axis extending transverse to the main axis, and through the strike zone, the T.V. units and the cameras therein being capable of sensing an object within a predetermined scope of the corresponding T.V. units and cameras, which includes the strike zone, in both the directions along the respective axes and transverse thereto, a first electrical control circuit in the first T.V. unit and capable of being energized in response to that T.V. unit sensing a baseball in the strike zone, a second electrical control circuit in the second T.V. unit and capable of being energized in response to that T.V. unit sensing a baseball in the strike zone, a connector circuit operably connecting said control circuits together in series, and to said main circuitry, the control circuits being inactive in the absence of a baseball in the strike zone, whereby the control circuits, together, when energized, are capable of energizing the main circuitry, and thereby the signal means, the T.V. units being incapable of control by manual control steps, whereby the entire apparatus is incapable of operation in the absence of a baseball in the strike zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A T.V camera in center field beyond the playing field directed at the home plate along a main axis. The camera senses the baseball in the strike zone. A second T.V. camera directed at the home plate in direction perpendicular to the main axis, which also senses the baseball in the strike zone, but in an area between the front end limits of the home plate. The two T.V. cameras are connected in series and serve to control the scoreboard and show on the scoreboard when the baseball in its passage by the strike zone constitutes a strike.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A system of umpiring in a baseball game in a conventional baseball field having a scoreboard,
the scoreboard being of known kind having electrically controlled signal means indicating strikes, main circuitry in the scoreboard operable for energizing the signal means, the system including apparatus made up of a plurality of components arranged relative to a strike zone constituted by a volumetric space above the home plate and defined by peripherally arranged vertical planes containing the corresponding edges of the home plate and extending vertically between the knees and chest of a batter, the apparatus including two, and only two, T.V. units of known kind, the T.V. units constituting a first T.V. unit and a second T.V. unit, and the T.V. units including first and second cameras, respectively, the first T.V. unit and camera being located in center field and directed on a main axis extending diagonally across the baseball field, over the second base, pitcher'"'"'s mound and through the strike zone, the second T.V. unit and camera being located angularly spaced from the first T.V. unit, and itself, and the second camera therein, being directed on a second axis extending transverse to the main axis, and through the strike zone, the T.V. units and the cameras therein being capable of sensing an object within a predetermined scope of the corresponding T.V. units and cameras, which includes the strike zone, in both the directions along the respective axes and transverse thereto, a first electrical control circuit in the first T.V. unit and capable of being energized in response to that T.V. unit sensing a baseball in the strike zone, a second electrical control circuit in the second T.V. unit and capable of being energized in response to that T.V. unit sensing a baseball in the strike zone, a connector circuit operably connecting said control circuits together in series, and to said main circuitry, the control circuits being inactive in the absence of a baseball in the strike zone, whereby the control circuits, together, when energized, are capable of energizing the main circuitry, and thereby the signal means, the T.V. units being incapable of control by manual control steps, whereby the entire apparatus is incapable of operation in the absence of a baseball in the strike zone.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeBenjamin S. Daniel
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Original AssigneeBenjamin S. Daniel
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InventorsDaniel, Benjamin S
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Primary Examiner(s)Harrison, Jessica
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Application NumberUS10/151,535Publication NumberTime in Patent Office518 DaysField of Search473/451, 473/455, 473/467, 473/142, 348/143, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/157, 348/159, 348/169US Class Current473/451CPC Class CodesA63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or simil...A63B 2220/806 Video camerasA63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices...
