Object locator system

An object locating system for locating a gaming ball relative to a playing field, said object locating system comprising:

• a calibration source positionable relative to the playing field, said calibration source operable to emit an ultrasonic signal at a first frequency;
• an object marking unit positionable relative to the playing field, said object marking unit operable to emit an ultrasonic signal at substantially the first frequency and a radio frequency signal at a second frequency, wherein the calibration source is further operable to receive the radio frequency signal from the object marking unit and discontinue emitting the ultrasonic signal upon receipt of the radio frequency signal;
• a plurality of sensors positionable relative to the playing field, each of said sensors operable to receive the ultrasonic signal from either the calibration source or the object marking unit and convert the ultrasonic signal into a proportionate electrical signal;
• a processing unit operable to receive the electrical signals from each of the sensors and measure a time delay between ultrasonic signals received from at least two of the sensors;
• and
• an automatic ball marking apparatus, said ball marking apparatus positionable adjacent the playing field and being operable to receive signals from the processing unit in order to automatically position a ball marker associated with the ball marking apparatus relative to the position of the gaming ball.

A ball marking apparatus comprising:

• a first control device positionable proximate one end of a playing field, said first control device including a drive unit operable to receive ball location signals from a processing unit and position a first drive chain upon receipt of the ball location signals;
• a ball marker rigidly attached to the drive chain and being positionable upon movement of the drive chain in order to provide a visual representation of a ball location;
• a second control device positionable proximate an opposite end of the field to the first control device, said second control device including a drive chain control unit operable to control the drive chain;
• and
• a drive track extending between the first control device and a second control device, said drive track operable to house the drive chain.

A locating system for locating a gaming ball relative to a playing field, comprising:

• a transmitter positionable relative to said playing field and relative to said gaming ball having first means for transmitting a first signal at a first predetermined frequency;
• a plurality of sensors positionable in a predetermined pattern relative to said playing field wherein one of the sensors is a reference sensor, each of the sensors operable to receive the first signal from the transmitter and produce a related electrical signal;
• and
• a processing unit operable to receive and process each of the electrical signals from the plurality of sensors, said processing unit including a first delay circuit operable to delay the electrical signal received from the reference sensor to coincide with the electrical signal received from a first of the plurality of sensors and generate a first time delay signal representative of that delay, and a second delay circuit operable to delay the electrical signal received from the reference sensor to coincide with the electrical signal received from a second of the plurality of sensors and generate a second time delay signal representative of that delay, wherein the processing unit utilizes the first time delay signal and the second time delay signal to determine information relative to distances between the transmitter and the sensors.

A locating system for locating a game ball relative to a gaming field, comprising:

• a transmitter having first means for transmitting a first signal at a first predetermined frequency, said transmitter operable to be positioned relative to the game ball on the gaming field;
• three sensors positionable relative to the gaming field in a predetermined pattern wherein one of the sensors is a reference sensor, each of the sensors operable to receive the first signal from the transmitter and produce a related electrical signal, said reference sensor being positioned at a central location between the other two sensors;
• and
• a processing unit operable to receive and process each of the electrical signals from the three sensors, said processing unit including a first delay circuit operable to delay the electrical signal received from the reference sensor to coincide with the electrical signal received from a first of the three sensors and generate a first time delay signal representative of that delay, and a second delay circuit operable to delay the electrical signal received from the reference sensor to coincide with the electrical signal received from a second of the three sensors and generate a second time delay signal representative of that delay, wherein the processing unit utilizes the first time delay signal and the second time delay signal to determine information relative to distances between the transmitter and the sensors.