Miniature sports radar speed measuring device
First Claim
1. A method of measuring a speed of a moving sport object comprising the steps of:
- providing a battery powered device that includes a transmitter/receiver, at least one antenna element, a signal processor having an input connected to the transmitter/receiver, and an output annunciator having an input in communication with the signal processor, the annunciator being located remote from the antenna element;
positioning the at least one antenna element in line with a path of the moving object the speed of which is to be measured;
locating the transmitter/receiver, processor and annunciator remote from at least one antenna element;
generating a Doppler signal proportional to the speed of the object by producing an RE signal with the transmitter/receiver, transmitting the RF signal from the transmitter/receiver to the antenna element and radiating the RF signal from the antenna element along the path of the moving object, reflecting the RF signal from the object, receiving the reflected signal with the antenna element, transmitting the reflected signal from the antenna element to the transmitter/receiver, and detecting the Doppler signal from the reflected signal with the transmitter/receiver;
processing the detected Doppler signal with the signal processor and producing therefrom a digital representation of the speed of the object; and
outputting the digital representation of the speed of the object with the annunciator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor is provided for measuring the speed of a moving sport object, for example, from a gun, bow or other implement, such as a bullet or paint ball or arrow. The sensor is operable over a short range and is preferably mounted in close proximity to the path of the moving object preferably utilizes CW Doppler radar of a microwave radio frequency. In use, the unit is situated so as to place a transmit/receive antenna close to or in the line of motion of the object. Such an antenna, so positioned, may be separated from the unit and connected through a transmission line. The remote display/annunciator can also or in the alternative be separated and located remote from the transmitter/receiver and connected by a cable or a wireless link. The sensor is useful for other speed measurements in sports applications, such as for measurement of bat speed, golf club head speed or the speed of another racket, club or bat type implement, or to measure punch or kick speed in martial arts.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of measuring a speed of a moving sport object comprising the steps of:
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providing a battery powered device that includes a transmitter/receiver, at least one antenna element, a signal processor having an input connected to the transmitter/receiver, and an output annunciator having an input in communication with the signal processor, the annunciator being located remote from the antenna element;
positioning the at least one antenna element in line with a path of the moving object the speed of which is to be measured;
locating the transmitter/receiver, processor and annunciator remote from at least one antenna element;
generating a Doppler signal proportional to the speed of the object by producing an RE signal with the transmitter/receiver, transmitting the RF signal from the transmitter/receiver to the antenna element and radiating the RF signal from the antenna element along the path of the moving object, reflecting the RF signal from the object, receiving the reflected signal with the antenna element, transmitting the reflected signal from the antenna element to the transmitter/receiver, and detecting the Doppler signal from the reflected signal with the transmitter/receiver;
processing the detected Doppler signal with the signal processor and producing therefrom a digital representation of the speed of the object; and
outputting the digital representation of the speed of the object with the annunciator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tee comprising:
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a vertically upstanding post having a free end configured to support a ball thereon in an approximate path of a bat to be swung by a person;
at least one antenna element located on the post in close proximity to the free end thereof;
a transmitter/receiver located remote from the free end of the post and operable to transmit and receive a continuous RF signal and to detect a Doppler signal therefrom;
a transmission line extending along the post and connecting the at least one antenna element to the transmitter/receiver;
a signal processor remote from the free end of the post and having an input connected to the transmitter/receiver and operable to produce a digital signal in response to the detected Doppler signal; and
an output annunciator remote from the free end of the post and having an input connected to the signal processor.
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13. A method of measuring a speed of body movements of a martial arts trainee comprising the steps of:
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providing a target pad having at least one antenna element secured thereto, and positioning the target pad in an approximate path of punches or kicks by the trainee;
providing a transmitter/receiver connected to the at least one antenna element, a signal processor having an input connected to the transmitter/receiver, and a digital display having an input connected to the signal processor; and
when the trainee punches or kicks the pad, displaying the speed of a hand or foot of the trainee striking the pad on the display by producing an RF signal with the transmitter/receiver, transmitting the RE signal to the antenna element on the pad and radiating the RE signal from the antenna element along the path of the punches or kicks, reflecting the RE signal from a hand or foot of the trainee that is striking the pad, receiving the reflected signal with the antenna element on the pad, transmitting the reflected signal from the antenna element to the transmitter/receiver, detecting a Doppler signal from the reflected signal with the transmitter/receiver, processing the detected Doppler signal with the signal processor and in response thereto displaying a numerical representation of the punch or kick speed on the display.
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14. A method of measuring a speed of a sport object comprising the steps of:
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providing a transmitter/receiver, at least one antenna element connected to the transmitter/receiver, a signal processor having a processor input connected to the transmitter/receiver, and a visual display having a display input connected to the signal processor;
positioning the at least one antenna element on a device from which the object is shot and forward thereof in close proximity to a path of the object;
when the object is shot from the device, displaying on the display a digital representation of the speed of the object leaving the device by producing an RF signal with the transmitter/receiver, transmitting the RE signal via the antenna element and radiating the RE signal from the antenna element adjacent the device along the path of the object, reflecting the RF signal from the object, the reflected RF signal containing a Doppler signal related to the speed of the object moving from the device, receiving the reflected signal with the antenna element adjacent the device, communicating the reflected signal from the antenna element to the transmitter/receiver, detecting the Doppler signal from the reflected signal with the transmitter/receiver, processing the detected Doppler signal with the signal processor and in response thereto outputting a digital representation of the speed of the object leaving the device on the display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification