Apparatus for cleaning lines on a playing surface and associated methods

• US 6,847,868 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David W. Young
• Original Assignee: David W. Young
• Inventors: Young, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/226,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 701/25, 701/209, 701/210, 701/213, 701/26, 153/19, 153/20, 153/401, 318/577, 318/568.1, 318/568.12, 250/461.1, 250/202, 180/168, 180/169
• US Class Current: 701/25
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/056 having horizontal axes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method for clearing a playing surface are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a chassis or frame, a sensor connected to the chassis to sense a location of a line on a playing surface that needs to be cleaned, and a drive connected to the chassis to drive the chassis in a selected direction of travel. The apparatus also preferably includes a controller connected to the chassis, in communication with the drive, and responsive to the sensor to control the drive to thereby direct the chassis to move along the line that needs to be cleaned in the selected direction of travel and a cleaning device connected to the chassis to clean the line with the chassis is being driven along the line. Associated software is provided as well.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning lines on a game playing surface, the apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

sensing means connected to the chassis for sensing a location of a visible line that needs to be cleaned associated with a game playing surface;

driving means connected to the chassis for driving the chassis in a selected direction of travel;

controlling means connected to the chassis, in communication with the driving means, and responsive to the sensing means for controlling the driving means to thereby direct the chassis to be driven along the line that needs to be cleaned in the selected direction of travel; and

a cleaning device connected to the chassis upstream from the sensing means as the cleaning device is being driven along the direction of travel to clean the line prior to the line being sensed by the sensing means when the chassis is being driven along the line.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a sensing device positioned at an elevation higher than the game playing surface and oriented to capture an image in a direction transverse to the game playing surface.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the sensing device comprises an optical sensing device, wherein the optical sensing device includes at least one sensor and at least one lens, and wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensor elements positioned to capture a plurality of pixels of the image received through the lens.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the optical sensing device further includes a sensor interface positioned to serially shift out the captured image defined as a plurality of pixels, and wherein a brightness level of each pixel is represented by at least one voltage signal received over a controlled period of time.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the controlling means includes a line determiner positioned to determine whether a boundary line is present based on the captured image.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the controlling means further includes a position analyzer responsive to the line determiner to analyze the captured image received from the sensor interface so that a lateral position of the chassis is provided to the driving means and so that a field of view of the sensing means is oriented on the line.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the sensing means includes an array of illuminators positioned to illuminate the game playing surface for the optical sensing device.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the driving means comprises at least two drive wheels and a differential drive connected to each of the at least two drive wheels and positioned to independently drive each of the at least two drive wheels so that a position of the chassis when being driven along the line is compensated to enhance orientation of the chassis along the line.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleaning device includes a frame connected to the chassis, a cleaning tool connected to the frame, and a height control wheel connected to the frame to control the positional distance of the cleaning tool from the game playing surface.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the cleaning device further includes a tool drive motor connected to the frame and responsive to the controlling means to selectively drive the cleaning tool, and wherein the cleaning device further includes a tool lift assembly connected to the frame and to the cleaning tool to selectively raise the cleaning tool from and lower the cleaning tool to the line being cleaned.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controlling means includes a memory having at least one of the following predetermined parameters stored therein:

a set of predetermined line parameters, a set of drive parameters, and a set of game playing surface parameters, wherein the controlling means reduces a drive speed of the driving means to slow down the chassis responsive to the set of predetermined parameters when the chassis approaches an end of the line being cleaned, and wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the predetermined parameters further include a known initial position of the chassis and operational parameters of the cleaning device, wherein the set of predetermined drive parameters includes wheel dimension and rotation data, and wherein the set of predetermined line parameters includes a predetermined length of each boundary line of the tennis court.

13. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning visible boundary lines on a game playing surface, the cleaning apparatus comprising:

a cleaning device;

a drive positioned to drive the cleaning device along at least one boundary line of a game playing surface; and

a controller in communication with the drive and the cleaning device to selectively control the driving of the cleaning device to clean the at least one boundary line on the game playing surface when the drive is driving the cleaning device along the at least one boundary line.

14. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the controller includes means for directing the cleaning device to move along boundary lines on the game playing surface responsive to a set of programmed directions to clean the boundary lines without cleaning substantial portions of the game playing surface.

15. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the controller includes a memory having a set of programmed directions stored therein, and wherein the drive is responsive to the set of programmed directions.

16. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a sensing device positioned to sense a location of the boundary lines associated with the game playing surface that need to be cleaned.

17. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the sensing device is positioned at an elevation higher than the game playing surface and oriented to capture an image in a direction transverse to the game playing surface.

18. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the sensing device comprises an optical sensing device, wherein the optical sensing device has at least one sensor and at least one lens, and wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensor elements positioned to capture a plurality of pixels of the image received through the lens.

19. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the optical sensing device further includes a sensor interface positioned to serially shift out the captured image defined as a plurality of pixels, and wherein a brightness level of each pixel is represented by at least one voltage signal received over a controlled period of time.

20. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the controller includes a line determiner positioned to determine whether a boundary line is present based on the captured image.

21. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the controller further includes a position analyzer responsive to the line determiner to analyze the captured image received from the sensor interface so that a lateral position of the cleaning device is provided to the drive and so that a field of view of the sensing device is oriented on the line.

22. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the sensing device includes an array of illuminators positioned to illuminate the game playing surface for the sensing device.

23. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the cleaning device is positioned upstream from the sensing device as the cleaning device is being driven along the direction of travel to clean the boundary line prior to the boundary line being sensed by the sensing device when the chassis is being driven along the line.

24. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the drive comprises at least two drive wheels and a differential drive connected to each of the at least two drive wheels and positioned to independently drive each of the at least two drive wheels so that the position of the cleaning device when being driven along the line is compensated to enhance orientation of the cleaning device along the line.

25. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the cleaning device includes a frame, a cleaning tool connected to the frame, and a height control wheel connected to the frame to control the positional distance of the cleaning tool from the game playing surface.

26. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the cleaning device further includes a tool drive motor connected to the frame and responsive to the controller to selectively drive the cleaning tool, and wherein the cleaning device further includes a tool lift assembly connected to the frame and to the cleaning tool to selectively raise the cleaning tool from and lower the cleaning tool to the line being cleaned.

27. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the controller includes a memory having at least one of the following predetermined parameters stored therein:

a set of predetermined line parameters, a set of drive parameters, and a set of game playing surface parameters, wherein the controller reduces a drive speed of the driving means to slow down the chassis responsive to the set of predetermined parameters when the chassis approaches an end of the line being cleaned, and wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court.

28. A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the predetermined parameters further include a known initial position of the cleaning device and operational parameters of the cleaning device, wherein the set of predetermined drive parameters includes wheel dimension and rotation data, and wherein the set of predetermined line parameters includes a predetermined length of each boundary line of the tennis court.

29. A method for cleaning boundary lines on a game playing surface, the method comprising:

directing a cleaning device to move along boundary lines on a game playing surface responsive to a set of programmed directions; and

cleaning the boundary lines without cleaning substantial portions of the game playing surface when the cleaning device is moving along the boundary lines.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein the directing step further includes a step of determining a current position of the cleaning device by using a known initial position and an orientation of the cleaning device on the game playing surface.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the determining step further uses wheel dimensions and rotation data and a predetermined length of each boundary line.

32. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court, and the method further comprises adding a plurality of tracking guidelines situated around a net post of the game playing surface for guiding the cleaning device to move around the net post.

33. A method as defined in claim 29, further comprising sensing a location of a boundary line of a tennis court.

34. A method for cleaning boundary lines on a game playing surface, the method comprising:

directing a cleaning device to move along boundary lines on a game playing surface responsive to a set of programmed directions; and

selectively positioning a cleaning tool on a boundary line to clean the boundary line as the cleaning device is moving over the boundary line.

35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the directing step further includes a step of determining a current position of the cleaning device by using a known initial position and an orientation of the cleaning device on the game playing surface.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the determining step further uses wheel dimensions and rotation data and a predetermined length of each boundary line.

37. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court, and the method further comprises adding a plurality of tracking guidelines situated around a net post of the game playing surface for guiding the cleaning device to move around the net post.

38. A method as defined in claim 34, further comprising sensing a location of a boundary line of a tennis court.

39. A method for cleaning boundary lines on a game playing surface, wherein the game playing surface includes a first playing surface and a second playing surface separated from each other by a net connected between a plurality of posts, the method comprising:

directing a cleaning device to move along boundary lines on the first playing surface responsive to a set of programmed directions;

cleaning the boundary lines on the first playing surface as the cleaning device is moving over the boundary lines on the first playing surface;

directing the cleaning device to move around one of the net posts to position the cleaning device on the second playing surface; and

cleaning the boundary lines on the second playing surface as the cleaning device is moving over the boundary lines on the second playing surface.

40. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the directing step further includes a step of determining a current position of the cleaning device by using a known initial position and an orientation of the cleaning device on the game playing surface.

41. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the determining step further uses wheel dimensions and rotation data and a predetermined length of each boundary line.

42. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court, and the method further comprises adding a plurality of tracking guidelines situated around a net post of the game playing surface for guiding the cleaning device to move around the net post.

43. A method as defined in claim 39, further comprising sensing a location of a boundary line of the game playing surface.

44. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for directing a cleaning device to clean at least one line on a surface, the computer program product comprising:

program code means for directing a cleaning device to move along at least one line of a surface; and

program code means for cleaning the at least one line on the surface without cleaning substantial portions of the surface when the cleaning device is moving along the at least one line.

45. A computer program product as defined in claim 44, wherein the program code means for directing further includes program code means for determining a current position of the cleaning device by using a known initial position and an orientation of the cleaning device on the surface.

46. A computer program product as defined in claim 45, wherein the program code means for determining further uses wheel dimensions and rotation data and a predetermined length of each line.

47. A computer program product as defined in claim 44, wherein the surface comprises a surface of a tennis court.

48. A computer program product for cleaning boundary lines on a game playing surface, the computer program product comprising:

program code means for directing a cleaning device to move along boundary lines on a game playing surface responsive to a set of programmed directions; and

program code means for selectively positioning a cleaning tool on a boundary line to clean the boundary line as the cleaning device is moving over the boundary line.

49. A computer program product as defined in claim 48, wherein the program code means for directing step further includes program code means for determining a current position of the cleaning device by using a known initial position and an orientation of the cleaning device on the game playing surface.

50. A computer program product as defined in claim 49, wherein the program code means for determining further uses wheel dimensions and rotation data and a predetermined length of each boundary line.

51. A computer program product as defined in claim 48, wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court.

52. A computer program product for cleaning boundary lines on a game playing surface, wherein the game playing surface includes a first playing surface and a second playing surface separated from each other by a net connected between a plurality of posts, the computer program product comprising:

program code means for directing a cleaning device to move along boundary lines on the first playing surface responsive to a set of programmed directions;

program code means for cleaning the boundary lines on the first playing surface as the cleaning device is moving over the boundary lines on the first playing surface;

program code means for directing the cleaning device to move around one of the net posts to position the cleaning device on the second playing surface; and

program code means for cleaning the boundary lines on the second playing surface as the cleaning device is moving over the boundary lines on the second playing surface.

53. A computer program product as defined in claim 52, wherein the program code means for directing further includes program code means for determining a current position of the cleaning device by using a known initial position and an orientation of the cleaning device on the game playing surface.

54. A computer program product as defined in claim 53, wherein the program code means for determining further uses wheel dimensions and rotation data and a predetermined length of each boundary line.

55. A computer program product as defined in claim 52, wherein the game playing surface comprises a surface of a tennis court.