초록 ▼

There is disclosed an apparatus for monitoring and calculating the position and speed of a projectile as it is pitched over a target zone. A grid of infrared emitters aligned with respective infrared receivers are in continuous optical links until the ball passes an d cuts some of the links. Upon th

There is disclosed an apparatus for monitoring and calculating the position and speed of a projectile as it is pitched over a target zone. A grid of infrared emitters aligned with respective infrared receivers are in continuous optical links until the ball passes an d cuts some of the links. Upon this cut, the position of the ball is stored in memory and the time of passage of the ball across the grid is recorded to later calculate the speed of the ball. The infrared grid is enclosed in a chamber to prevent interference of external light rays with the reception of the receivers.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for monitoring the position and speed of a projectile moving along a trajectory, said apparatus comprising: (a) a three dimensional monitoring system comprising: a first array of infrared emitters each aligned with an infrared receiver for monitoring a first plane perpendicular to said

An apparatus for monitoring the position and speed of a projectile moving along a trajectory, said apparatus comprising: (a) a three dimensional monitoring system comprising: a first array of infrared emitters each aligned with an infrared receiver for monitoring a first plane perpendicular to said trajectory, the emitters of said first array being positioned to emit parallel infrared light beams in a first direction and this form a first detecting grid extending in said first plane, the receivers of said first array receiving said light beams and having means for producing a first signal indicative of the position of the projectile within the first detecting grid when said projectile passes through said first plane; and a second array of infrared emitters each aligned with an infrared receiver for monitoring a second plane perpendicular to said trajectory and distanced from said first plane, the emitters of said second array being positioned to emit parallel infrared light beams in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and this form a second detecting grid extending in said second plane; the receivers of said second array receiving said light beams and having means for producing a second signal indicative of the position of the projectile within the second detecting grid when said projectile passes through said second plane, (b) an interface unit for receiving said first and second signals from said receivers and generating derived signals; (c) processing means receiving said derived signals from said interface unit for determining and recording the X and Y coordinates of said projectile within said first and second planes and for determining the speed of said projectile as a function of the times of entry and times of exit of said projectile in and out of both of said first and second detecting grids; and (d) output means for displaying the X and Y coordinates and the speed of said projectile; said processing means being programmed to calculate the speed of the projectile by the following formula: [Figure] wherein: t1 is the time of entry of the projectile in the first detecting grid; t2 is the time of exit of the projectile out of said first detecting grid; t3 is the time of entry of the projectile in the second detecting grid; and t4 is the time of exit of the projectile out of said second detecting grid.