Abstract: An object locating system, especially for use in locating a gaming ball in the game of football, utilizes a series of three sensors positioned on one side of a football playing field and a calibration source positioned on the other side. The calibration source emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors in order to provide a calibration signal. A ball marking unit is positionable on the field at a location of the ball and emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors and an RF signal which is received by the calibration source in order to turn the calibration source off. The sensors provide signals in which a processing unit calculates time delays by a time acquisition process in order to determine the position of the ball. In an alternate embodiment, the ball marking unit emits only an RF signal which is received by the sensors. The sensors again provide signals which are analyzed by the processing unit to determine delay between receipt of the signals at the sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 10, 1993
Date of Patent:
August 29, 1995
Assignee:
Teem Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Reinhold E. Utke, John L. Eidsness, Dale P. Van de Loo, Gary L. Ellingson, Joel T. Aslakson
Abstract: An object locating system, especially for use in locating a gaming ball in the game of football, utilizes a series of three sensors positioned on one side of a football playing field and a calibration source positioned on the other side. The calibration source emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors in order to provide a calibration signal. A ball marking unit is positionable on the field at a location of the ball and emits an ultrasonic signal which is received by the sensors and an RF signal which is received by the calibration source in order to turn the calibration source off. The sensors provide signals in which a processing unit calculates time delays by a time acquisition process in order to determine the position of the ball. In an alternate embodiment, the ball marking unit emits only an RF signal which is received by the sensors. The sensors again provide signals which are analyzed by the processing unit to determine delay between receipt of the signals at the sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 1992
Date of Patent:
September 13, 1994
Assignee:
Teem Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Reinhold E. Utke, John L. Eidsness, Dale P. Van de Loo, Gary L. Ellingson, Joel T. Aslakson