Apparatus for detecting moving ball

• US 5,976,038 A
• Filed: 04/22/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toy Builders
• Original Assignee: Toy Builders
• Inventors: Orenstein, Henry, Maune, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/064,557
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/351, 473/353, 473/459, 473/467, 473/469, 473/570, 473/409, 340/323 R, 340/825.36, 342/52, 342/56, 342/125-126, 342/450, 342/457, 342/458, 342/463-464, 343/720, 343/738, 343/755, 343/761, 364/449.1, 367/124, 367/126, 367/137-138
• US Class Current: 473/467
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/26 the separate antennas having differently-oriented directivity characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/024 using polarisation effects in waveguides H01P1/165; for aerials H01Q, e.g. H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24, H01Q19/195
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/02 providing sum and difference patterns H01Q25/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is provided with a directional antenna having first and second antenna patterns oriented around an antenna boresight direction. The antenna boresight is oriented in a direction corresponding to a play determinative line on a playing field. Signals are emitted firm a playing object, used as a ball and detect using the two antenna patterns. Comparison of the detected signals provides an output indication when the playing object crosses the play determinative line.

Claims

1. A method for detecting coincidence between a position of an object and a linear boundary, comprising the steps of:

providing a directional receiving antenna having at least two alternate antenna patterns having predetermined relation to an electromagnetic antenna boresight, said receiving antenna being positioned with said boresight in substantial alignment with said linear boundary;

emitting radio signals from said object;

receiving said radio signals on said at least two antenna patterns to provide first and second received signals;

and comparing said received signals to thereby detect coincidence between said object and said linear boundary.

2. A system for detecting coincidence between a position of an object and a linear boundary, comprising:

a directional receiving antenna having first and second signal output ports associated with first and second antenna patterns having predetermined relation to an electromagnetic boresight of said antenna, said boresight being aligned in predetermined relation to said linear boundary;

a transmitter arranged to cause emission of radio signals from said object;

and signal comparison circuits coupled to said first and second signal output ports for comparing signals received from said object by said receiving antenna to thereby determine coincidence between the position of said object and said linear boundary.

3. Apparatus as specified in claim 2 wherein said transmitter is positioned in said object.

4. Apparatus as specified in claim 2 wherein said first and second signal output ports correspond to sum and difference antenna patterns.

5. Apparatus as specified in claim 4 wherein said signal comparison circuits compare signals from said sum and difference ports at different gain levels thereby to enhance directional sensitivity in determining said coincidence.

6. Apparatus for detecting coincidence between a position of an object and a linear boundary, comprising:

a directional receiving antenna having first and second signal output ports associated with first and second antenna patterns having predetermined relation to an electromagnetic boresight of said antenna, said boresight being aligned in predetermined relation to said linear boundary;

a transmitter for illuminating said object with radio frequency radiation;

a radio frequency reflector carried by said object to reflect radiation;

and signal comparison circuits coupled to said first and second signal output ports for comparing reflected signals received from said object by said receiving antenna to thereby determine coincidence between the position of said object and said linear boundary.

7. Apparatus as specified in claim 6 wherein said reflector comprises at least one tuned reflector.

8. Apparatus for detecting coincidence between a position of an object and a linear boundary, comprising:

a directional antenna for providing at least two antenna patterns having predetermined relation to an electromagnetic boresight of said antenna, said boresight being aligned in predetermined relation to said linear boundary;

a transmitter and a receiver arranged for transmission of radio signals between said directional antenna and said object using said at least two antenna patterns;

and signal comparison circuits for comparing signals received by said receiver corresponding to said at least two antenna patterns to thereby determine coincidence between the position of said object and said linear boundary.

9. Apparatus for use in connection with a game having a linear boundary, comprising:

a directional antenna having at least two alternate antenna patterns having predetermined relation to an electromagnetic boresight of said antenna;

a transmitter and a receiver arranged for transmission of radio signals between said directional antenna and a playing object of said game using said at least two antenna patterns;

and signal comparison circuits for comparing signals corresponding to said at least two antenna patterns to thereby determine angular position of said playing object with respect to said electromagnetic boresight;

whereby when said antenna is oriented and located with said electromagnetic boresight in predetermined relation to said linear boundary, said comparison circuits determine the position of said playing object with respect to said linear boundary.

10. Apparatus as specified in claim 9, wherein said object comprises a football, and wherein said transmitter is located on said football and said receiver is connected to said directional antenna.

11. Apparatus as specified in claim 10 wherein there are provided two transmitters, one at each end of said football.

12. Apparatus as specified in claim 10 where in said directional antenna is located adjacent a football field and arranged for movement with respect thereto.

13. Apparatus as specified in claim 12 wherein said directional antenna is provided with an optical sight for orienting said electromagnetic boresight with respect to said field.