System and method for operating groups of lasers to project a visible line of demarcation within discrete regions of an athletic field
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing at least one temporary visible reference line on a non-smooth surface characterized by a tendency to scatter incident visible light in random and non-uniform manner, comprising:
- a first group of laser sources, including a first laser source disposed at a first elevated location relative to the surface, said first laser source being operative to emit a first laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said beam along a selectable path upon the surface so as to form a temporary visible line anywhere within a first region of the surface, and a second laser source disposed at a second elevated location relative to the surface, said second laser source being operative to emit a second laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said second laser beam along the selected path so as to form, with light from said first laser beam, a composite temporary visible line within the first region;
a second group of laser sources, including a third laser source disposed at a third elevated location relative to the surface and to the same lateral side of the surface as said first laser source, said third laser source being operative to emit a third laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said third laser beam along a selectable path upon the surface so as to form a temporary visible line anywhere within a second region of the surface, and a fourth laser source disposed at a fourth elevated location relative to the surface and at the same lateral side of the surface as said second laser source, said fourth laser source being operative to emit a fourth laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said fourth laser beam along the selected path so as to form, with light from said third laser beam, a composite temporary visible line anywhere within the second region; and
a controller, responsive to line projection commands, adapted to selectively operate either the first group of laser sources or the second group of laser sources so as to project a composite temporary visible line on the non-smooth surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The surface of an athletic field is divided into multiple regions or zones. A first of these zones is served by a first group of laser sources. A second of the zones is served by a second group of laser sources. Each group includes at least two lasers arranged to project visible light onto the field from opposite lateral sides of the field. The output from each group is focused onto the field so as to form a composite line across the field—anywhere within the associated zone. A controller is operative, in response to receipt of a command from either a keyboard terminal or a wireless, hand held user interface device, to select one of the first group of laser sources and the second group of laser sources to project a composite temporary visible line. The zones may be contiguous or may be separated by one or more intermediate zones, with each intermediate zone having its own associated group of laser sources.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for providing at least one temporary visible reference line on a non-smooth surface characterized by a tendency to scatter incident visible light in random and non-uniform manner, comprising:
-
a first group of laser sources, including a first laser source disposed at a first elevated location relative to the surface, said first laser source being operative to emit a first laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said beam along a selectable path upon the surface so as to form a temporary visible line anywhere within a first region of the surface, and a second laser source disposed at a second elevated location relative to the surface, said second laser source being operative to emit a second laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said second laser beam along the selected path so as to form, with light from said first laser beam, a composite temporary visible line within the first region;
a second group of laser sources, including a third laser source disposed at a third elevated location relative to the surface and to the same lateral side of the surface as said first laser source, said third laser source being operative to emit a third laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said third laser beam along a selectable path upon the surface so as to form a temporary visible line anywhere within a second region of the surface, and a fourth laser source disposed at a fourth elevated location relative to the surface and at the same lateral side of the surface as said second laser source, said fourth laser source being operative to emit a fourth laser beam having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 750 nm and to direct visible light from said fourth laser beam along the selected path so as to form, with light from said third laser beam, a composite temporary visible line anywhere within the second region; and
a controller, responsive to line projection commands, adapted to selectively operate either the first group of laser sources or the second group of laser sources so as to project a composite temporary visible line on the non-smooth surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of projecting at least one temporary visible reference line onto a non-smooth surface characterized by a tendency to scatter incident visible light in random and non-uniform manner, comprising the steps of:
-
in a first receiving step, receiving a first line projection command;
in a first operating step, operating only a first group of laser sources to project a visible line only in a first region of the non-smooth surface in accordance with the received first line projection command;
in a second receiving step, receiving a second line projection command; and
in a second operating step, operating only a second group of laser sources to project a visible line only in a second region of the non-smooth surface in accordance with the received second line projection command. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification