Optical gate and method for determining a velocity vector of a spherical projectile

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical gate (100) for determining a velocity vector (V) of a spherical projectile (10), which comprises a sensor array (20) defined by a row of light detecting sensors (22) arranged next to each other, and an illuminating array (30) defined by a row of point light sources (32) arranged next to each other and illuminating towards the sensors (22), wherein the illuminating array (30) is arranged opposite the sensor array (20). The illuminating array (30) and said sensor array (20) being arranged in a common plane (S), and an optical diffuser plate (40) being arranged between said illuminating array (30) and said sensor array (20). said light detecting sensors (22) defining a detection area (42) on said diffuser plate (40) parallel to said sensor array (20), and the optical gate (100) comprises an electronic control unit (36) configured to consecutively flash the point light sources (32) at predetermined time instants at high frequency. and an electronic measuring unit (26) for processing the signals generated by the light detecting sensors (22). The measuring unit (26) being configured to determine the brightness distribution and total brightness along the detection area (42) based on the data generated by the sensors (22) of the sensor array (20). The invention also relates to methods for determining the velocity vector (V) of a spherical projectile (10).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.