Apparatus and method for determining projectile impact locations

Claim 1

An apparatus for assisting in the evaluation of targeting of an impacting golf ball and comprising: an array of a plurality of vibration sensor means distributed in a predetermined regular geometric pattern which defines a target area which is a generally elongate, generally rectangular, generally horizontal surface area located remotely from a point from which a golf ball is dispatched toward the target area, each said sensor means for generating an electrical sensor signal indicative of the sensing of vibration, electrical processor means electrically connected with said sensor means for receiving sensor signals generated thereby and for processing received sensor signals for determining a location of golf ball impact at any point within said target area spaced lengthwise or widthwise thereof relative to the locations of said sensor means in the target area and for generating an electrical location signal, memory means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving and storing a plurality of location signals, said processor means and said memory means cooperating for compiling and comparing sets of location signals indicative of the impacts of a succession of golf balls, and display means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving said location signal and for displaying to an observer a representation of the locations of golf ball impact in the target area.

Claim 2

An apparatus for assisting in the evaluation of targeting of an impacting golf ball and comprising: an array of a plurality of vibration sensor means distributed in a predetermined regular geometric pattern which defines a target area which is a generally elongate, generally rectangular, generally horizontal surface area located remotely from a point from which a golf ball is dispatched toward the target area, each said sensor means for generating an electrical sensor signal indicative of the sensing of vibration, electrical processor means electrically connected with said sensor means for receiving sensor signals generated thereby and for processing received sensor signals for determining a location of golf ball impact at any point within said target area spaced lengthwise or widthwise thereof relative to the locations of said sensor means in the target area and for generating an electrical location signal, memory means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving and storing a plurality of location signals, said processor means and said memory means cooperating for compiling and comparing sets of location signals indicative of the impacts of a succession of golf balls, and display means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving said location signal and for displaying to an observer a representation of the locations of golf ball impact in the target area.

Claim 9

An apparatus for assisting in the evaluation of targeting of an impacting golf ball and comprising: an array of a plurality of vibration sensor means distributed in a predetermined regular geometric pattern which defines a target area which is a generally elongate, generally rectangular, generally horizontal surface area located remotely from a point from which a golf ball is dispatched toward the target area, each said sensor means for generating an electrical sensor signal indicative of the sensing of vibration, electrical processor means electrically connected with said sensor means for receiving sensor signals generated thereby and for processing received sensor signals for determining a location of golf ball impact at any point within said target area spaced lengthwise or widthwise thereof relative to the locations of said sensor means in the target area and for generating an electrical location signal, comparator means electrically connected with said sensor means and said processor means for receiving sensor signals generated by said sensors means and for making an ongoing comparison of signals to separate detection of a sharply rising signal from detection of a more slowly rising signal and discard the latter, timing means electrically connected with said sensor means and said processor means for responding to a first sensor signal of impact by opening a window of time in which second and third sensor signal of impact will be sought in order that a discrimination of impact location may be performed memory means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving and storing a plurality of location signals, said processor means, comparator means, timing means and memory means cooperating for compiling and comparing sets of location signals indicative of the impacts of a succession of golf balls, and display means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving said location signal and for displaying to an observer a representation of the locations of golf ball impact in the target area.

Claim 10

An apparatus for assisting in the evaluation of targeting of an impacting golf ball and comprising: an array of a plurality of vibration sensor means distributed in a predetermined regular geometric pattern which defines a target area which is a generally elongate, generally rectangular, generally horizontal surface area located remotely from a point from which a golf ball is dispatched toward the target area, each said sensor means for generating an electrical sensor signal indicative of the sensing of vibration, electrical processor means electrically connected with said sensor means for receiving sensor signals generated thereby and for processing received sensor signals for determining a location of golf ball impact at any point within said target area spaced lengthwise or widthwise thereof relative to the locations of said sensor means in the target area and for generating an electrical location signal, comparator means electrically connected with said sensor means and said processor means for receiving sensor signals generated by said sensors means and for making an ongoing comparison of signals to separate detection of a sharply rising signal from detection of a more slowly rising signal and discard the latter, timing means electrically connected with said sensor means and said processor means for responding to a first sensor signal of impact by opening a window of time in which second and third sensor signal of impact will be sought in order that a discrimination of impact location may be performed memory means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving and storing a plurality of location signals, said processor means, comparator means, timing means and memory means cooperating for compiling and comparing sets of location signals indicative of the impacts of a succession of golf balls, and display means electrically connected with said processor means for receiving said location signal and for displaying to an observer a representation of the locations of golf ball impact in the target area.