Automated remote play cue sport system
First Claim
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1. A system for enabling playing a cue sport match between two remotely located opponents, comprising:
- a first cue sport table with a playing surface and balls at a first location, said first cue sport table having a first sensor assembly for sensing locations of the balls on the first table and a first positioner for automatically moving the balls on the first table to selected positions; and
a second cue sport table with a playing surface and balls at a second location remote from the first location, the second cue sport table having a second sensor assembly for sensing locations of the balls on the second cue sport table and a second positioner for automatically moving the balls on the second table to selected positions;
a computer controller operationally linked to the first and second sensor assemblies and the first and second positioners, wherein the computer controller is configured to transmit data representing the locations of the balls on the first table from the first sensor assembly to the second positioner and data representing locations of the balls on the second table from the second sensor assembly to the first positioner, and is further configured to calculate a path for each ball on the first and second tables to follow in order for the balls to reach the selected positions, and further wherein the data representing locations of the balls on the first and second tables is stored in a video file representing a grid array of pixels;
wherein the first and second positioners each comprise a grid array of independently activatable electromagnetic sections underlying the playing surface of the first and second tables, wherein each independently activatable electromagnetic section corresponds to a pixel in the grid array of pixels in the video file;
wherein the balls at the first and second locations comprise ferromagnetic material that is magnetically responsive to the electromagnetic sections of the first and second positioners;
wherein the second positioner, when provided with the data representing the locations of the balls on the first table, is configured to cause ball locations on the second table to mimic ball positions locations on the first table by selectively activating and deactivating the electromagnetic sections of the second positioner in the paths calculated by the computer controller; and
wherein the first positioner, when provided with the data representing the locations of the balls on the second table, is configured to cause ball locations on the first table to mimic ball locations on the second table by selectively activating and deactivating the electromagnetic sections of the first positioner in the paths calculated by the computer controller.
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Abstract
Cue sports tables are provided with associated automated sensor and positioning assemblies. This permits competitors to play each other on separate tables. The tables automatically sense ball positions on one table and communicate that to a positioner associated with another table. That positioner then automatically drives balls on that other table to a mimicking position. These systems also permit a shot to be replayed if desired.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for enabling playing a cue sport match between two remotely located opponents, comprising:
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a first cue sport table with a playing surface and balls at a first location, said first cue sport table having a first sensor assembly for sensing locations of the balls on the first table and a first positioner for automatically moving the balls on the first table to selected positions; and a second cue sport table with a playing surface and balls at a second location remote from the first location, the second cue sport table having a second sensor assembly for sensing locations of the balls on the second cue sport table and a second positioner for automatically moving the balls on the second table to selected positions; a computer controller operationally linked to the first and second sensor assemblies and the first and second positioners, wherein the computer controller is configured to transmit data representing the locations of the balls on the first table from the first sensor assembly to the second positioner and data representing locations of the balls on the second table from the second sensor assembly to the first positioner, and is further configured to calculate a path for each ball on the first and second tables to follow in order for the balls to reach the selected positions, and further wherein the data representing locations of the balls on the first and second tables is stored in a video file representing a grid array of pixels; wherein the first and second positioners each comprise a grid array of independently activatable electromagnetic sections underlying the playing surface of the first and second tables, wherein each independently activatable electromagnetic section corresponds to a pixel in the grid array of pixels in the video file; wherein the balls at the first and second locations comprise ferromagnetic material that is magnetically responsive to the electromagnetic sections of the first and second positioners; wherein the second positioner, when provided with the data representing the locations of the balls on the first table, is configured to cause ball locations on the second table to mimic ball positions locations on the first table by selectively activating and deactivating the electromagnetic sections of the second positioner in the paths calculated by the computer controller; and wherein the first positioner, when provided with the data representing the locations of the balls on the second table, is configured to cause ball locations on the first table to mimic ball locations on the second table by selectively activating and deactivating the electromagnetic sections of the first positioner in the paths calculated by the computer controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification