Electrical tape boundary sensor apparatus

Claim 1

A tape boundary sensor apparatus comprising: (a) elongated sensor means adapted to be positioned along various boundary lines; (b) conditioning circuit means electrically connected to the sensor means for filtering out unwanted signals and fluctuations from an output waveform of the sensor means; (c) multiplexer means electrically connected to the conditioning circuit means for scanning the output of the sensor means for identifying a particular sensor of the sensor means which has been impacted by an object; (d) analog to digital converter means for converting the analog output waveform of the sensor means to a proportional digital word; (e) processor and memory means electrically connected to the converter means and to the multiplexer means for comparing the output waveform to known pre-set thresholds of: (i) slope of the initial section of a known output waveform of the sensor for determination of the surface area of impact; (ii) peak voltage of a known output waveform of the sensor for determination of the force of impact; (iii) a known duration of impact; wherein the slope, peak voltage, and duration are compared to the pre-set thresholds to determine and confirm what kind of object impacted the sensor; and (g) indicator means connected to the processor and memory means; wherein an impact on a sensor causes a voltage output therefrom and the processor makes a determination whether a ball has caused the impact, and directs the results of the analysis to the indicator means.