Video control equipment for detecting pinfall at the game of bowling

A system for controlling at least two adjacent bowling lanes, each lane having an approach end from which a bowling ball is delivered and a target end toward which the ball is directed at a set of pins, each lane having actuatable means for resetting the pins, the system comprising:

• a first control station coupled to the actuatable means for resetting the pins;
• a second control station coupled to a central control unit;
• a video camera coupled to the second control station and having an angle of view which detects a position of the pins on each of the two adjacent lanes, the video camera positioned between the two adjacent lanes and providing a first signal coupled to the first control station, said first signal being an encoded signal derived from an image viewed by the camera, wherein the encoded signal represents a comparison in position of the pins on the two adjacent lanes between an initial position and a position after the delivery of the ball, said initial position representing a preprogrammed map of said pins on the lanes before delivery of said ball, said comparison in pin positions determining a computation of a bowling score of the two adjacent lanes;
• and
• a monitoring means for detecting the passage of balls on the two adjacent lanes, the monitoring means positioned between the two adjacent lanes and providing a second signal coupled to the first control station, said monitoring means comprised of a combination of at least two photocells and at least two reference cells in alignment with each of said photocells, one said combination of cells directed across one of said two adjacent lanes and the other of said combination of cells directed across the other of said two adjacent lanes, wherein said video camera, said monitoring means, and said second control station comprises a single assembly mounted on a channel cover disposed between the two adjacent lanes.