System for operating one or more lasers to project a visible line onto a grass-covered surface
US6796041B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C15/004
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for providing at least one temporary visible line on a surface within the view of at least one video camera. The system comprises a first laser source disposed at a first elevated, stationary location relative to the surface, and a second laser source disposed at second elevated, stationary location relative to the surface. The output of each laser source is synchronously deflected so as to repetitively sweep each output beam across the same region of the surface and thereby project a visible composite line that is, for example, transverse to the lateral sidelines of an athletic field. A controller comprising a synchronization module synchronizes the sweep frequency rate, at which the beams sweep the surface, to a scan rate of at least one camera arranged to receive an image of the composite temporary line.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.