Pitcher's workout machine

Abstract

The pitcher's workout machine has a frame assembly which includes three rectangular light panel frames connected to define a box shaped target zone. The first and second frames mount infrared transmitters and receivers in a pattern defining a rectangular strike zone, with a ball zone above, below, and on opposite sides of the strike zone. Lenses are used to collimate the infrared beams. When a ball passes through the frame assembly, the first frame triggers a pulse generator and the third frame stops the pulse generator. Shift registers count the pulses, and the speed is determined by the predetermined distance between the first and third frames. Shift registers count balls and strikes, and calculate the number of balls, strikes, walks, outs, and innings, which are displayed on a display panel.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A pitcher's workout machine, comprising: 
 (a) a target frame defining a target zone, the frame having: 
 (i) a first rectangular light panel frame having a first linear array of infrared transmitter-receiver pairs aligned to transmit a light panel of infrared light beams horizontally;  
 (ii) a second rectangular light panel frame having a second linear array of infrared transmitter-receiver pairs aligned to transmit a light panel of infrared light beams vertically, the first and second light panel frames being joined back to back in registry; and  
 (iii) a third rectangular light panel frame having a third linear array of infrared transmitter-receiver pairs aligned to transmit a light panel of infrared light beams horizontally, the third light panel frame being spaced apart from said first and second light panel frames by a predetermined distance;  
   (b) means for determining whether a pitched ball is a ball or strike from the interruption of infrared light beams in the first and second light panels;    (c) means for determining the pitched ball's speed from the interruption of infrared light beams in the first and third light panels; and    (d) means for displaying whether a pitched ball is a ball or a strike and the speed of the pitched ball;    wherein said first, second and third light panel frames each further comprise a linear array of lenses disposed between the transmitter-receiver pairs for focusing the infrared light beams.    
     
     
         2 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said second light panel frame has a dead zone with an absence of infrared light beams corresponding to a width of a strike zone centrally disposed in said second linear array.  
     
     
         3 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said lenses is a convex lens.  
     
     
         4 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first second and third light panel frames each have: 
 (a) a transmitter post, the linear array of transmitters being mounted in said transmitter post;    (b) a receiver post parallel to said transmitter post, the linear array of receivers being mounted in said receiver post; and    (c) a lens post disposed between said transmitter post and said receiver post, the linear array of lenses being mounted in said lens post.    
     
     
         5 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first linear array of infrared light beams is divided into three zones, including: 
 (a) an upper zone of transmitter-receiver pairs wired to register a ball when a pitched ball interrupts a light beam in the upper zone;    (b) a lower zone of transmitter-receiver pairs wired to register a ball when a pitched ball interrupts a light beam in the lower zone; and    (c) a middle zone wired to register a strike when a pitched ball interrupts a light beam in the middle zone, provided that the ball does not also interrupt a light beam in the upper zone, lower zone, or second light panel.    
     
     
         6 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (a) means for determining a walk when four balls have been registered and an out when three strikes have been registered;    (b) means for counting an inning when three outs have been registered; and    (c) means for displaying walks, outs and innings.    
     
     
         7 . A pitcher's workout machine, comprising: 
 (a) a target having a first panel of infrared light beams and a second panel of infrared light beams spaced apart from said first panel by a predetermined distance;    (b) a speed circuit for determining the speed of a ball pitched through said target, including: 
 (i) circuitry connected to said first panel for generating a voltage trigger pulse when a pitched ball interrupts a beam in said first panel;  
 (ii) a timer integrated circuit wired to oscillate and generate a stream of output pulses at a predetermined frequency, the timer having a trigger pin and a reset pin, the timer being triggered to oscillate by said trigger pulse;  
 (iii) circuitry connected to said second panel for generating a stop pulse when a pitched ball interrupts a beam in said second panel, the stop pulse being applied to the reset pin of said timer in order to stop said stream of output pulses; and  
 (iv) a counter circuit, the counter circuit having at least one cascade of shift register integrated circuits, the stream of output pulses being input to the cascade of shift registers, each register in said cascade of shift registers having an output pin connected to a display driver circuit for displaying a digit of the ball's speed as determined by the number of output pulses and the predetermined distance between said first and second panels; and  
   (c) a display having at least one optoelectric display device for displaying digits of the speed of the pitched ball and a display driver circuit connected to the at least one optoelectric device, the output pin of each said register being connected to the display driver circuit.    
     
     
         8 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one display device consists of two display devices.  
     
     
         9 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said display driver circuit comprises a plurality of drivers, each driver being dedicated to driving the display of a single digit between zero and nine.  
     
     
         10 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said speed circuit further comprises: 
 (a) a delay timer connected to said first panel, the delay timer being configured to generate a delay pulse having a duration equal to a period defined by the number of pulses in the stream of output pulses generated by said timer integrated circuit in excess of a maximum speed countable by said speed circuit; and    (b) a tri-state buffer having an input pin connected to the stream of output pulses generated by said timer integrated circuit, an output pin connected to said counter circuit, and a reset pin connected to said delay timer;    wherein the delay pulse from said delay timer prevents said tri-state buffer from passing the stream of output pulses to said counter circuit so long as the maximum speed is equaled or exceeded.    
     
     
         11 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising a maximum speed exceeded optical display device connected to said speed circuit for displaying an optical indication that a pitched ball's speed exceeds a maximum speed capable of being measured by the pitcher's workout machine.  
     
     
         12 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one cascade of shift register integrated circuits consists of a first cascade of shift registers for counting speed in increments of ten miles per hour and a second cascade of shift registers for counting speed in increments of one mile per hour, the first cascade being connected to the second so that when the second cascade transitions from a zero to a nine, the first cascade is decremented by ten miles per hour.  
     
     
         13 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 (a) means for determining balls and strikes when a pitched ball transitions said target;    (b) means for counting balls, strikes, outs, walks, and innings;    (c) means for displaying balls, strikes, outs, walks, and innings.    
     
     
         14 . A pitcher's workout machine, comprising: 
 (a) a frame defining a target zone, the frame having a top;    (b) a rack assembly mounted on the top of said frame;    (c) a control panel assembly mounted to said rack assembly;    (d) a plurality of electronic circuits mounted on said rack assembly, the plurality of electronic circuits including: 
 (i) means for determining a ball from a strike from a location in the target zone where a pitched ball enters the target zone;  
 (ii) means for determining the speed of a pitched ball as it traverses the target zone;  
 (iii) means for counting balls, strikes, outs, walks, and innings; and  
   (e) a display assembly mounted on said rack assembly, the display assembly including: 
 (i) a strikes display device for indicating when a pitched ball is a strike, the display device maintaining a counted total of strikes pitched up to three strikes;  
 (ii) a balls display device for indicating when a pitched ball is a ball, the display device maintaining a count total of balls pitched up to four balls;  
 (iii) an outs display device for indicating a total of outs counted up to three outs;  
 (iv) an innings display device for indicating a total of innings counted up to seven innings;  
 (v) a walks display device for indicating a total of walks counted up to eight walks; and  
 (vi) a speed display device for displaying the speed of a pitched ball.  
   
     
     
         15 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said frame further comprises: 
 (a) a first rectangular light panel frame having a first linear array of infrared transmitter-receiver pairs aligned to transmit a light panel of infrared light beams horizontally;    (b) a second rectangular light panel frame having a second linear array of infrared transmitter-receiver pairs aligned to transmit a light panel of infrared light beams vertically, the first and second light panel frames being joined back to back in registry; and    (c) a third rectangular light panel frame having a third linear array of infrared transmitter-receiver pairs aligned to transmit a light panel of infrared light beams horizontally, the third light panel frame being spaced apart from said first and second light panel frames by a predetermined distance;    wherein said first, second and third light panel frames each further comprise a linear array of lenses disposed between the transmitter-receiver pairs for focusing the infrared light beams.    
     
     
         16 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said means for determining the speed of a pitched ball comprises a speed circuit, the speed circuit comprising: 
 (a) circuitry connected to said frame for generating a voltage trigger pulse when a pitched ball enters said frame;    (b) a timer integrated circuit wired to oscillate and generate a stream of output pulses at a predetermined frequency, the timer having a trigger pin and a reset pin, the timer being triggered to oscillate by said trigger pulse;    (c) circuitry connected to said frame panel for generating a stop pulse when a pitched ball exits said frame, the stop pulse being applied to the reset pin of said timer in order to stop said stream of output pulses; and    (d) a counter circuit, the counter circuit having at least one cascade of shift register integrated circuits, the stream of output pulses being input to the cascade of shift registers, each register in said cascade of shift registers having an output pin connected to a display driver circuit for displaying a digit of the ball's speed as determined by the number of output pulses.    
     
     
         17 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 14 , further comprising a maximum speed exceeded optical display device connected to said speed circuit for displaying an optical indication that a pitched ball's speed exceeds a maximum speed capable of being measured by the pitcher's workout machine.  
     
     
         18 . The pitcher's workout machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of electronic circuits are mounted on circuit boards disposed on said rack assembly, the plurality of circuit boards including: 
 (a) a power supply board;    (b) a transmitter board;    (c) a receiver board;    (d) a main logic board; and    (e) a display driver board.