Impact zone detection device

Claim 2

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including a layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarity; and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers, adapted to detect electrical outputs from the transducers, thereby determining which impact zone, if any, is struck by the object, wherein the signal processing means includes means for detecting a time delay among electrical outputs from the plurality of transducers.

Claim 3

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including a layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarity, said film, in and of itself, generating an electrical output signal upon impact by an object, and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers and adapted to detect said electrical outputs from the transducers, said response determining, from only said output signals, the location within said plurality of impact zones that is struck by the object, wherein the signal processing means includes means for comparing the relative magnitude of electrical outputs from the plurality of transducers.

Claim 4

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including a layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarity, said film, in and of itself, generating an electrical output signal upon impact by an object, and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers and adapted to detect said electrical outputs from the transducers, said response determining, from only said output signals, the location within said plurality of impact zones that is struck by the object, wherein the signal processing means includes means for comparing the relative magnitude of electrical outputs from the plurality of transducers.

Claim 5

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including: (i) a first layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarities, said first layer, in and of itself, generating electrical output upon impact by an object, (ii) a second layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, disposed adjacent to the first layer so that opposing faces of the first and second piezoelectric layers have similar polarities, said second layer, in and of itself, generating an electrical output upon impact by said object; and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers and adapted to detect voltages from the transducers, and voltage differences between the first and second layers of piezoelectric film in each of the transducers, said voltages from said transducers and said voltage differences from said piezoelectric layers determining the location within said plurality of zones that is struck by the object.

Claim 6

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including: (i) a first layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarities, said first layer, in and of itself, generating electrical output upon impact by an object, (ii) a second layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, disposed adjacent to the first layer so that opposing faces of the first and second piezoelectric layers have similar polarities, said second layer, in and of itself, generating an electrical output upon impact by said object; and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers and adapted to detect voltages from the transducers, and voltage differences between the first and second layers of piezoelectric film in each of the transducers, said voltages from said transducers and said voltage differences from said piezoelectric layers determining the location within said plurality of zones that is struck by the object.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the signal processing means includes means for comparing the relative magnitude of voltages output from the plurality of transducers.

Claim 8

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including: (i) a first layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarities, (ii) a second layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, disposed adjacent to the first layer so that opposing faces of the first and second piezoelectric layers have similar polarities; and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers, adapted to detect voltages from the transducers, and voltage differences between first and second layers of piezoelectric film in each of the transducers, thereby determining which zone, if any, is struck by the object, wherein the signal processing means includes means for detecting a time delay among voltage signals from the plurality of transducers.

Claim 9

Apparatus for detecting the impact of an object in an impact area, at least a portion of the impact area comprising a plurality of impact zones, comprising: (a) a plurality of transducers, each having a surface coextensive with one impact zone, each transducer including: (i) a first layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces having opposite polarities, (ii) a second layer of piezoelectric film having first and second surfaces, disposed adjacent to the first layer so that opposing faces of the first and second piezoelectric layers have similar polarities; and (b) signal processing means responsive to the transducers, adapted to detect voltages from the transducers, and voltage differences between first and second layers of piezoelectric film in each of the transducers, thereby determining which zone, if any, is struck by the object, wherein the signal processing means includes means for detecting a time delay among voltage signals from the plurality of transducers.