Table tennis scoring device

Abstract

A table tennis scoring system for the monitoring and recording the score of the table tennis game includes a scoring display unit mounted to a table tennis table to keep track of the scores of two sides of the game. First and second table sensors are mounted to the table, and a net sensor is mounted to a net. The first and second table sensors and the net sensor are connected to the scoring display unit to relay detections by the sensors to the scoring display unit. A first game control device is secured to a first baseline of the table, the game control device is connected to the scoring display unit for controlling the display unit's functionality. The scoring display unit has a first numerical display facing a first baseline on one side and a second numerical display facing a second baseline.

1 . A table tennis scoring system for the monitoring and recording the score of the table tennis game without disrupting the game, comprising:
 a scoring display unit mounted to a table tennis table to keep track of the scores of two sides of the game;   first and second table sensors mounted to the table and a net sensor mounted to a net extending across the table;   the first and second table sensors and the net sensor connected to the scoring display unit to relay detections by the sensors to the scoring display unit;   at east a first game control device secured to a first baseline of the table, the at least first game control device connected to the scoring display unit for controlling the display unit's functionality; and   the scoring display unit having a first numerical display facing a first baseline on one side of the table and a second numerical display facing a second baseline on the other side of the table.   
     
     
         2 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 1  wherein the scoring display unit incorporates an attachment portion, which has a hollow core with first and second openings at opposite ends to mount the scoring display unit upon a net post at one end of the net. 
     
     
         3 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second displays can be selected from the group consisting of electromechanical displays, electromagnetic displays, dot matrix displays, light-emitting diode arrays (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), or plasma displays. 
     
     
         4 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 3  wherein a housing encases all components of the first and second display and electronics to control the first and second displays. 
     
     
         5 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 1  wherein at least a second game control device is secured to a second baseline of the table, the at least second game control device connected to the scoring display unit for controlling the display unit's functionality. 
     
     
         6 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 3  wherein the first display has an upper portion that shows the score of the first player and a lower portion that shows the score of the second player. 
     
     
         7 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 3  wherein the control device includes a reset button to reset both team's scores to zero, and a score adjustment mechanism, preferably a score reset button. 
     
     
         8 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 4  further including a signaling device located in the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 8  wherein the signaling device is selected from group comprising a speaker, a beeper, a buzzer and a light. 
     
     
         10 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 1  wherein the table sensor is a noise sensor for sensing the hitting sound of the ball of the table tennis game onto the table. 
     
     
         11 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 1  wherein the table sensor is a nano-vibration detection sensor which turns each half of the table tennis table into a detection field that identifies ball contact anywhere on the table. 
     
     
         12 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 1  wherein the net sensor is a nano-vibration detection sensor which detects when the ball touches the net. 
     
     
         13 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 4  wherein a digital signal processor located in the housing determines where on the table a ball is hit. 
     
     
         14 . The table tennis scoring system of  claim 13  wherein the digital signal processor is in operable communication with the mounted display unit, thereby enabling the first and second displays, respectively, to display game data. 
     
     
         15 . A method for the monitoring and recording the score of the table tennis game without disrupting the game, comprising:
 mounting a scoring display unit to a table tennis table;   keeping track of the scores of two sides of the game;   mounting first and second table sensors to the table tennis table;   mounting a net sensor to a net extending across the table;   connecting the first and second table sensors and the net sensor to the scoring display unit for relaying detections by the first and second table sensors and the net sensor to the scoring display unit;   providing at least a first game control device to a first baseline of the table; and   providing the scoring display unit with a first numerical display facing a first baseline on one side of the table and providing a second numerical display facing a second baseline on the other side of the table.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further including encasing all components of the first and second display and electronics within a housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further including controlling the scoring display unit with a second game control device secured to a second baseline of the table. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further including resetting both team's scores and adjusting the scores with the control device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further including determining where on the table a ball is hit with a digital signal processor located in the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further including displaying game data on the first and second displays from communication between the digital signal processor and the mounted display unit.