CA2230400A1

CA2230400A1 - Electronic sensor for various applications including golf ball serving machines

Info

Publication number: CA2230400A1
Application number: CA 2230400
Authority: CA
Inventors: Mark R. Trozzi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-30
Filing date: 1998-04-30
Publication date: 1999-10-30

Abstract

In a machine which automatically serves golf balls on a tee-like holder to a practicing golfer, difficulties arise in regard to sensing that the ball has been hit off the tee so the machine may respond by reloading the tee with another ball.
The high-impact involved in the striking of the ball creates problems for sensitive or delicate weight sensors. Also moisture and dirt create malfunctions with infra-red ball presence sensors. In addition to reliability problems, the above sensors are expensive.
In this invention, a flexible but durable tee with electrically conductive elements is surrounded by a conductive ring. When the golfer strikes the ball, the tee is deflected bringing the conductive elements of the tee in contact with the conductive ring, thus completing an electric circuit which signals the machine's processor(s) that the ball has been hit.
Additional applications of this invention include an off level sensor, an acceleration or vibration sensor, and a passing object sensor.

Description

Sgecificatiorls The invention relates to a sensor for detecting deflection in a variety of applications including deflection caused by striking of a ball off the sensor's shaft in a machine for automatically serving golf balls to a practicing golfer.
It is common in golf ball auto-teeing machines to sense the presence or absence of the ball by weight or light sensors. These are expensive and unreliable due to the high impact involved and dirt and moisture problems in this application.
This invention describes a very affordable and durable solution to sensing the striking of a ball on a tee. In addition, this invention's sensor apparatus can serve multiple other applications including off level sensing, acceleration or vibration sensing, and passing object sensing.
In drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 shows the general design of the sensor. Figure 2 shows the sensor as it applies to ball serving machine applications. Figure 3 shows the sensor modified for ofd level or acceleration sensing. Figures 4, 5, and 6 show the sensor as applied to the tasks of off level sensing, acceleration sensing, and passing object sensing respectively.
In Figure 1, a durable flexible shaft 1 is mounted through but not touching a conductive ring 2. The shaft 1 is itself conductive or fitted with conductive elements such that when the. shaft 1 is deflected and makes contact with the ring 2, an electric circuit involving the shaft l and the ring 2 is momentarily completed. In this drawing, the line marked '3' represents a wire connected to the ring 2, and the line marked '4' represents a wire connected to the conductive elements of the shaft 1. 5 represents a power source and 6 represents a relay or appliance activated by the momentary completion of the circuit.
Figure 2a shows this same sensor as it would operate in a golf ball serving machine. Figure 2b shows the same immediately after the ball 8 is struck off the tee shaft 1 by the golf club 7. Note that the sensor shaft is deflected, closing the sensor circuit.
In figure 3, the shaft 1 of the sensor is weighted; here this is shown by the fixed weight 9 fixed to the end of the sensor shaft 1. This modification allows the sensor to operate as an off level or acceleration sensor.
Figure 4 shows the sensor activated by the pull of gravity on the sensor shaft weight 9, causing deflection of the sensor shaft 1 when the unit is adequately tilted or "off level".
Similarly figure 5 shows the sensor activated by acceleration in the direction of the arrow marked 10 and representing the direction of acceleration of the unit.
Note that the sensitivity of the sensor can be modified by varying the flexibility of the shaft 1, the mass of the weight 9, and the clearance between the sensor shaft 1 and the conductive ring 2.
When modified for high sensitivity, the sensor can detect fine vibration.
Figure 6 shows the sensor operating as a passing object sensor. A passing object 11 moving in the direction of the arrow marked 12 causes deflection of the sensor shaft 1 thus activating the sensor.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

Any electronic sensor consisting of a flexible shaft with conductive elements which passes through a conductive ring such that deflection of the central shaft causes contact of the shaft with the ring closing an electric circuit.