Volleyball net touch detecting and indicating system
OwnerWayne D. Wilson, James J. Joyceinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Volleyball net touch violations are detected and an indicator identifying the offending team is actuated by a system that incorporates antennas into the volleyball net and utilizes radiant energy generated by court illuminating lights. A wire mesh antenna is affixed to each side of the net. The outputs of the antennas are amplified and compared with a reference. A player touching either net adds capacitance to the system producing a measurable signal. A NAND gate logic circuit determines which net was touched and actuates the appropriate indicator. The system does not respond to the volleyball which is a dielectric material does not add capacitance to the system.
Claims8
In combination with a volleyball court having a playing surface defined by sideline and endline bounds and a net positioned at center court, a volleyball net touch detecting and indicating system comprising
- a source of radiant energy,
- a first antenna means affixed to and substantially coextensive with one side of said net receiving said radiant energy,
- a second antenna means affixed to and substantially coextensive with the opposite side of said net receiving said radiant energy;
- means for amplifying the output of said first antenna means,
- means for amplifying the output of said second antenna means,
- comparator means receiving the amplified outputs of said first and second antenna means and outputting signals responsive to player net touch events,
- a first indicator means for designating player touch events of said first antenna means,
- a second indicating means for designating player touch events of said second antenna means, and
- a net side determination circuit receiving the outputs of said comparator means and enabling said first indicating means in response to a net touch of said first antenna means and said second indicating means in response to a net touch of said second antenna means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.