Ball detection apparatus for detecting when a golf ball is hit off a golf tee
First Claim
1. Ball detection apparatus for detecting when a golf ball is hit off a golf tee of an automatic golf ball teeing machine, comprising a radar device which determines a swing speed of a golf club towards the tee and which produces a first signal corresponding to said swing speed, a directional microphone that produces a second signal in response to detecting the sound of said golf club striking a golf ball, and monitoring means for detecting a coincidence between the first and second signals, wherein the monitoring means is arranged to produce an output signal only if it detects a coincidence between the first and second signals and the second signal is above a predetermined level, and wherein the monitoring means varies said predetermined level in accordance with the amplitude of the first signal.
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Abstract
The ball detection apparatus is for detecting when a golf ball is hit off a golf tee of an automatic golf ball teeing machine. The detection apparatus comprises a radar device for producing a first signal in response to detecting movement of a golf club towards the tee, a directional microphone for producing a second signal in response to detecting the sound of a golf club striking a golf ball and monitoring means for detecting a coincidence between the first and second signals. An automatic golf ball teeing machine including such ball detection apparatus is also disclosed.
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3 Claims
- 1. Ball detection apparatus for detecting when a golf ball is hit off a golf tee of an automatic golf ball teeing machine, comprising a radar device which determines a swing speed of a golf club towards the tee and which produces a first signal corresponding to said swing speed, a directional microphone that produces a second signal in response to detecting the sound of said golf club striking a golf ball, and monitoring means for detecting a coincidence between the first and second signals, wherein the monitoring means is arranged to produce an output signal only if it detects a coincidence between the first and second signals and the second signal is above a predetermined level, and wherein the monitoring means varies said predetermined level in accordance with the amplitude of the first signal.
Specification