ELECTRONIC HOME PLATE FOR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL GAMES AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF PRESENCE, POSITION AND SPEED OF A BALL RELATIVE TO THE STRIKE ZONE

摘要

An electronic home plate providing assistance to an umpire in determination whether a pitch results in a "strike" or a "ball". The electronic home plate is implemented with eye-safe LEDs producing light beams extending vertically. If a ball intersects the light beams, the light reflected from the ball is scattered and incident on photodetectors embedded in the home plate. A microcomputer embedded in the electronic home plate calculates the height of the ball crossing the light beams, and if the height falls between the top and bottom boundaries of a strike zone adjusted to the height of the batter, an indication system is activated to produce a "strike" signal, The microcomputer in the electronic home plate is further configured to calculate speed of the ball passing over the home plate, and the lateral position of the ball.