Microprocessor controlled acoustic bowling pin detection system

Abstract

Abstract An acoustic pin detecting and locating device is disclosed, comprising a linear array of transducers mounted on each kickback wall. A microprocessor sequentially energizes each transducer with a short burst of high frequency pulses; the reflections from standing pins to the transmitting transducer (direct data) and the next adjacent transducer (cross data) are gated into separate a/d converters. The converters are sampled periodically to divide the signal return to each transducer into a plurality of range cells. The direct data and cross data returns to each transducer array from two data fields. Analysis of these two fields provides the information needed for detection of the location of each standing pin. The data return to each transducer after each acoustic burst is peaked by comparing the magnitudes of echo signal returns in adjacent range cells. A string is formed for each significant return, including the x,y coordinate position of the return; the weight of the return and its first and second moments. This data is utilized to calculate the center of gravity of the string (i.e., pin location) and radius of gyration (whether one or two pairs are represented by the string).

Inventors

• 👤 William R. Smith-Vaniz
• 👤 Reginald A. Kaenel

Bibliographic Details