|Publication number||US6985206 B2|
|Application number||US 10/452,532|
|Publication date||Jan 10, 2006|
|Filing date||Jun 2, 2003|
|Priority date||Jun 2, 2003|
|Also published as||US20040239915|
|Publication number||10452532, 452532, US 6985206 B2, US 6985206B2, US-B2-6985206, US6985206 B2, US6985206B2|
|Inventors||James R. Anderson, Charles Regan|
|Original Assignee||Anderson James R, Charles Regan|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (24), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (10), Classifications (18), Legal Events (4)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates generally to devices for measuring and detecting the speed of a moving object within a target area. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices for determining the velocity and location of a baseball or other thrown object impelled by a player.
Measurement and detections devices are utilized to determine the parameters of a pitched object as it passes through a target area. In baseball, for example, such devices can be useful to determine the precise speed of the baseball as it passes by home plate, or to detect whether the baseball falls within a particular strike zone, resulting in either a “strike” or “ball” call. Such parameters can be particularly useful as a training aid to improve the pitching performance in real-time, providing the pitcher with instant feedback on the precise speed and location of the thrown object.
To determine the speed and location of the thrown object, many conventional systems employ several cameras, light beams, sensors, or other detector elements in an array to define a target area (e.g. a strike zone) within one or more planes. Such designs, while useful in measuring parameters such as velocity or position, often require numerous detection devices to measure the object, adding to the complexity and cost of the device. Many such designs are also reliant on a fixed support means such as a frame or arch to detect and/or measure the parameter(s) of the object, with no accompanying means for calibrating the detector elements. After repeated use, the frame or arch may become misaligned, resulting in aberrant readings from the attached detector elements. As a result, the device may produce an incorrect reading of the velocity or position of the object. It is therefore desirable to have a simplified device capable of determining the velocity and location of a thrown object with means to calibrate the device during use.
The present invention relates generally to devices for measuring and detecting the speed of a moving object within a target area. A pitch speed measurement and strike zone detection device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a framed structure configured to adjustably support a pair of reflective surfaces on either side of a target area defined by home plate. A first light source operatively coupled to one of the reflective surfaces may be configured to form a front light curtain that detects when an object passes through the vertical plane defined by the front portion of home plate. A second light source operatively coupled to one of the reflective surfaces may be configured to form a rear light curtain that detects when the object passes through the vertical plane defined by the rear portion of home plate. A measure of the velocity of the object can be then determined by calculating the differential time required for the object to trigger the front and rear light curtains, and then computing the velocity using the known distance between the two light sources.
Additional light sources may be employed to form various light curtains that can be used detect when the object passes within a particular strike zone. In certain embodiments, for example, a third and second light source may be employed to form a horizontal and vertical light curtain, which, during operation, can be used to determine whether the thrown object is a “ball” or “strike”. The light sources may be adjustably mounted to the device to permit adjustment of the vertical and/or horizontal boundaries of the strike zone. In certain embodiments, the additional light sources may be configured to measure the precise location of the object as it passes through the target area.
The pitch speed measurement and strike zone detection device may also include a self-alignment laser to calibrate and adjust the reflective surfaces, as necessary. The self-alignment laser may be coupled to one of the reflective surfaces, and may be configured to direct a light beam at the opposite reflective surface to ascertain whether the reflective surfaces are aligned parallel to each other. The light beam reflected back from the opposite reflective surface is then analyzed to determine whether alignment of the reflective surfaces is necessary. In certain exemplary embodiments, an array of photodiodes or other suitable photosensitive elements may be employed to measure when the reflective surfaces become misaligned, sending a signal to a controller to adjust one or both of the reflective surfaces.
The following description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered in like fashion. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although examples of construction, dimensions, and materials are illustrated for the various elements, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives that may be utilized.
The dimensions of the support frame 12 may vary depending on the particular game simulated, and the specific location the device 10 is to be installed. In certain embodiments, for example, the dimensions of the support frame 12 can be scaled down to permit the device 10 to fit within a room or hallway for indoor use. In other embodiments, the dimensions of the support frame 12 can be increased in scale for outdoor use. In some embodiments, the first and second base support members 24,26 may each have a length of about 18 to 36 inches, and may be spaced apart from each other a distance of 60 to 130 inches.
The support frame 12 may be configured to lie immediately above the surface of the ground or floor, or, in the alternative, can be recessed into the ground such that the base support members 24,26 are recessed within or lie flush with the surface of the ground or floor. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The first and second support members 24,26 may also include means to quickly connect the vertical uprights 16 to the support frame 12. As shown in
Referring back to
The first reflective surface 18 of device 10 may be coupled to a frame 46 that supports the first reflective surface 18 in a vertically upright position to the left of home plate 22. The first reflective surface 18 may include a mirror or other reflective element configured to reflect light back and forth to and from a second reflective surface 20 supported by a second frame 48 in a vertically upright position to the right of home plate 22.
In certain embodiments, the first and second reflective surfaces 18,20 may be formed of Plexiglas or other suitable material to prevent damage resulting from transport or setup of the device 10, or from errantly thrown balls. The reflective surfaces 18,20 may also be recessed into the support frame 12 slightly to prevent damage from occurring.
A first light source 50 coupled to the first reflective surface 18 may be configured to emit a beam of light from the first reflective surface 18 back and forth towards the second reflective surface 20, where it is eventually received by a first receiver 52 on the first reflective surface 18. During operation, the first light source 50 and first receiver 52 form a front light curtain that detects when the thrown object enters the opening 42 proximal of home plate 22.
A second light source 54 coupled to the first reflective surface 18 a predetermined distance D from the first light source 50 may be configured to emit a second beam of light from the first reflective surface 18 back and forth towards the second reflective surface 20 until being eventually received by a second receiver 56 on the first reflective surface 18. In use, the second light source 54 and second receiver 56 form a rear light curtain that detects when the thrown object exits opening 42 distal of home plate 22.
The first and second light sources 50,52 may each comprise laser light sources configured to direct a relatively narrow laser beam back and forth between the reflective surfaces 18,20. The first and second receivers 52,56 may each be configured to detect when the presence or absence of light emanating, respectively, from the first and second light sources 50,52. In certain embodiments, the first and second receivers may include photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes (APD's), phototransistors, PIN diodes, photo-multiplier tubes or other photosensitive devices configured to convert light transmitted from the light sources 50,54 into an electrical signal.
The second light source 54 may be configured similar to the first light source 50, forming a rear light curtain 62 that detects the presence of object 44 distal of home plate 22. Similar to the first light source 50, the second light source 54 may be configured to emit a second light beam 58′ at a slight downward angle α, which is interrupted as the object 44 passes through the opening 42 distal home plate 22. For sake of clarity in
In one aspect of the present invention, the pitch speed of a thrown object can be determined by calculating the differential time it takes for the object to travel from the front light curtain 60 to the rear light curtain 62, and then computing the velocity using the known distance D between the two light curtains 60,62. As shown in the timing diagram of
T R1 =t 2+½(t 2 −t 1), where:
Continued forward motion of the object 44 triggers the second light curtain 62, causing the signal received by the second receiver 56 to be temporarily interrupted between times t3 and t4, resulting in an open signal. Similar to the first light curtain 60, the recorded time TR2 the object 44 passes through the second light curtain 62 can be determined using the following formula:
T R2 =t 4+½(t 4 −t 3), where:
Once the thrown object 44 has passed through both the first and second light curtains 60,62, a measure of the velocity can then be calculated using, for example, an external computer 64 or other suitable logic device which takes the known distance between each light curtain 60,62 and divides that value by the differential recorded time (TR2−TR1) it takes for the object 44 to trigger each light curtain 60,62. An accurate measure of the velocity of the thrown object 44 is thereby obtained as the object 44 passes across home plate 22.
In certain embodiments, device 10 may further include an adjustment mechanism to ensure that the first and second reflective surfaces 18,20 are continuously aligned parallel to each other. As shown in greater detail in
Although the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Referring now to
Surrounding the self-alignment laser 72 are four photosensitive detectors 76,78,80,82, each located, respectively, in the four quadrants defined by the x and y coordinates of a Cartesian plane. The photosensitive detector elements 76,78,80,82 may each include one or more photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes (APD's), phototransistors, PIN diodes, photo-multiplier tubes or other photosensitive devices. The detector elements 76,78,80,82 may be configured to send a signal to a programmable computer 64 or other logic device when the reflected laser beam 74 is detected in a particular quadrant, indicating that the first and second reflective surfaces 18,20 are misaligned relative to each other. The programmable computer 64 may be configured to send a signal to the vertical and/or horizontal adjustment mechanisms 66,68 to realign the first and/or second reflective surfaces 18,20, as necessary, based on the information received from the four detector elements 76,78,80,82.
In certain embodiments, device 10 may further include one or more additional light sources and receivers to determine whether the object 44 passes within a particular strike zone above home plate 22. As shown in
To determine whether object 44 is to the left or right of the strike zone, device 10 may further include a fourth light source 90 and a fourth receiver 92, forming a fourth light curtain adjacent and behind the third light curtain. As shown in
The device 110 may further include a third and fourth light source 112,114 forming, respectively, third and fourth intersecting light curtains 130,132. As shown in
The various light sources 112,114,122,126 may each be optically coupled to a corresponding receiver (e.g. a photosensitive detector) that detects when the object passes through the light beam, triggering a circuit within a logic device such as a programmable computer. Each light source can be pulsed at a relatively high rate and at differing intervals from the other light sources to prevent interference with the various intersecting light curtains from occurring.
In use, the location of the thrown object can be determined by the order in which the various light curtains are triggered. Table 1 reproduced below illustrates the location and associated call (i.e. “strike” or “ball”) corresponding to objects thrown through various locations within the target area.
Light Curtain Triggering Order
Location Within Target Area
First Third Fourth
Left Side of Home Plate
First Fourth Third
Right Side of Home Plate
First Third & Fourth
Centerline of Home Plate
First and Third Fourth
Left Border of Home Plate
First and Fourth Third
Right Border of Home Plate
Third First Fourth
Left Side of Home Plate
Fourth First Third
Right Side of Home Plate
Out of Target Area
For example, as can be seen from Table 1 above, if the thrown object triggers, in order, the first, third and fourth light curtains, device 110 can be configured to alert the pitcher that the ball thrown was a “strike” located to the left of home plate. By way of another example, if the object first triggers the first light curtain, followed by the third and fourth light curtains simultaneously, device 110 may indicate that a “strike” ball was thrown through the centerline of home plate.
In certain embodiments, the precise location that the object is thrown may be determined using the order and time in which the various light curtains are triggered, and the speed at which the object passes through the target area. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of
Having thus described the several embodiments of the present invention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that other embodiments may be made and used which fall within the scope of the claims attached hereto. Numerous advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention.
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|U.S. Classification||352/28, 273/371|
|International Classification||A63B63/00, G01P3/68, A63B47/00, F41J5/02, G01P3/00, A63B69/00|
|Cooperative Classification||G01P3/68, A63B69/0002, G01P3/00, A63B2069/0006, A63B2024/0043, A63B47/008, A63B63/00|
|European Classification||G01P3/00, A63B69/00B, G01P3/68|
|Dec 26, 2006||CC||Certificate of correction|
|Jul 6, 2009||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jul 11, 2013||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Jul 11, 2013||SULP||Surcharge for late payment|
Year of fee payment: 7