Abstract:
A fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor used to detect, monitor and measure the movement and presence of activity on an athletic field and surface at and near the fiber optic turf blade sensor. This type of sensor contributes to the present efforts to view close calls regarding the athletic related activity, difficult to see athletic related activity, and instant replay of sporting related activities.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention/Technical Field 
         [0003]    The following is A statement of the field of art to which the invention pertains: 
         [0004]    1. U.S. Class 385
       Field of Search: 385/147       
 
         [0006]    2. U.S. Class 385
       Field of Search: 385/147       
 
         [0008]    3. U.S. Class 362
       Field of Search: 362/559       
 
         [0010]    4. U.S. Class 473
       Field of Search: 473/415       
 
         [0012]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0013]    Nicholls et al. (2007) describes turf comprising a backing and artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments used to transmit light “which may be illuminated to indicate various markings, such as lines, symbols, emblems, designs or advertising, on the playing surface of sports and athletic facilities” (USPTO). 
         [0014]    Nicholls et al. (2005) describes turf with fiber and fiber optic filaments used to illuminate part or all of a turf surface. 
         [0015]    Nicholls et al. (2004) describes turf with fiber optic fibers and fiber optic filaments used to mark and illuminate a surface. 
         [0016]    Belisle (2009) describes the use of detection capable grass and turf blades across the entire sporting activity surface to view, sense and interpret sporting activities from within, below and at the sporting activity surface. 
         [0017]    The prior are does not describe the manufacture of an intrinsic reflective and refractive fiber optic sensor within and about an artificial turf blade used to detect, monitor and measure athletic related activities at and near the external tip of the fiber optic sensor, nor does the prior art describe the manufacture of a extrinsic viewing fiber optic sensor within and about an artificial turf blade used to detect, monitor and measure athletic related activities at and near the external tip of the fiber optic sensor. The present invention provides the manufacture of an intrinsic reflective and refractive fiber optic sensor within and about an artificial turf blade used to detect, monitor and measure athletic related activities at and near the external tip of the fiber optic sensor, and the manufacture of a extrinsic viewing fiber optic sensor within and about an artificial turf blade used to detect, monitor and measure athletic related activities at and near the external tip of the fiber optic sensor. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    It is the objective of the invention to provide the manufacture of a fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device with an intrinsic reflective and refractive fiber optic sensor within and about an artificial turf blade used to detect, monitor and measure athletic related activities at and near the external tip of the fiber optic sensor, and the manufacture of a extrinsic viewing fiber optic sensor within and about an artificial turf blade used to detect, monitor and measure athletic related activities at and near the external tip of the fiber optic sensor, both of which provide additional positions and angles from which to view close-to-the-surface athletic related activities. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention will be more fully understood by references to the following brief description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, and wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1 . Side view of a. the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , the 0.051 mm to 10 mm (0.02 in to 0.394 in) diameter hole and opening,  2 , vertically through the middle of the 0.5 mm to 50 mm (0.0197 in to 1.967 in) wide and 1 mm to 100 mm (0.0394 in to 3.937 in) long turf blade,  4 , the 0.051 mm to 10 mm (0.02 in to 0.394 in) diameter fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , positioned within the middle of the turf blade,  4 , b. the turf blade,  4 , with a hole positioned vertically through the center of the turf blade, c. the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , positioned on the outside surface of the turf blade,  4 , the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , positioned near the turf blade©, the extended fiber,  6 , extending from the bottom of the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , and the light source,  5 , and depiction a. shows the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , within the turf blade,  4 , with the extended fiber connected to the bottom end of the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor, depiction b. shows the turf blade,  4 , with the hole,  2 , through the center, depiction c. shows the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , positioned on the side of the turf blade,  4 , with the extended fiber connected to the bottom end of the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor, and depiction d. shows the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , positioned near the turf blade,  4  with the extended fiber connected to the bottom end of the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor. Component  19  is representative of the adhesives and connectors. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2 . Side view of the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , positioned vertically on the athletic field and surface,  7 , the connector and splicer,  8 , between the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , and the extended fiber,  6 , the connector and splicer,  10 , between the extended fiber and the fiber optic data collector,  13 , the data converter and analyzer,  12 , connected to an energy and light source,  12 , between the data collector and the computer,  14 , the energy source,  5 , connected to the data collector and the light source, the light source,  9 , connected to the extended fiber, the fiber optic fiber and the fiber sensor, and the fiber optic data collector,  13 , the energy and light source,  11 , connected to the data collector and the computer, and the television station,  15 . Component  19  is representative of the adhesives and connectors. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3 . Side view of multiple fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices,  1 , positioned on a 1 m×1 m section of an entire athletic field and surface,  16 , the connector and splicer,  8 , between the fiber optic fiber and fiber optic sensor,  3 , and the extended fiber,  6 , extending from the lower part of the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices,  1 , to the fiber optic data collector,  13 , the sectional fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device extended fiber collector and bundling,  17 , the light source,  5 , the extended fiber optic bundle,  18 , the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device data collector,  13 , the computer,  14 , the television station,  15 , the energy source,  11 , and the energy and light source,  12 . Component  19  is representative of the adhesives and connectors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    (References are to Illustrations) 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  depicts the components used to make the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 . The fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , is made by molding and extrusion and forming the turf blade using polyethylene, polypropylene, synthetic fibers, nylon and turf materials, drilling, and forcing a 0.051 mm to 10 mm (0.02 in to 0.394 in) diameter hole and opening vertically through the middle of a 0.5 mm to 50 mm (0.0197 in to 1.967 in) wide and 1 mm to 100 mm (0.0394 in to 3.937 in) long turf blade,  13 . The hole is also drilled into the turf blade, and molded into the turf blade. The 0.051 mm to 10 mm (0.02 in to 0.394 in) diameter fiber optic intrinsic fiber and extrinsic viewing sensor are positioned within the middle of the turf blade,  14  and positioned and held in position using tightness of fitting, adhesive, physical adhering, and clamping. The fiber optic intrinsic and fiber optic extrinsic sensors are positioned on the outside surface of the turf blade,  15 , and positioned and held in position using tightness of fitting, adhesive, physical adhering, and clamping. The fiber optic intrinsic fiber and fiber optic extrinsic sensor is positioned near the turf blade,  16 . The extended fiber,  4 , is connected to the fiber optic intrinsic fiber and fiber optic extrinsic sensor fiber and to the optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device, and extends from the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device. The fiber optic intrinsic fiber and fiber optic extrinsic sensor fiber and the optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices are connected to light source,  7 , and energy source,  6 . Sensor, fiber, electronic, and electrical connection are made using connectors, splicers, and junctions. The making and connectivity of the fiber optic intrinsic fiber sensor,  3 , to the turf blade,  4 , and the connectivity of the fiber optic extrinsic viewing sensor,  3 , to the turf blade,  4 , are accomplished by positioning the intrinsic fiber and extrinsic viewing sensors into a hole made through the vertical center of the turf blade, by fitting, inserting, sliding, pushing, sliding, connecting and forcing the fiber and sensor into the hole, and by using adhesives to adhere the fiber and sensor to the turf blade, and by using string, plastic, and additional fine materials to tie and wrap and twist to secure the fiber and sensor about the turf blade, by clamping the fiber and sensor to the turf blade, by coating the fiber and sensor with the turf blade material, by molding the turf blade material around and about the fiber and sensor, by building the fiber and sensor into the turf blade, by nailing, clamping and stapling the fiber and sensor to the turf blade, by melting the turf blade material around the fiber and sensor, forming the turf blade material around the fiber and sensor, and screwing the fiber and sensor to the turf blade. Component  19  is representative of the adhesives and connectors. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  depicts the components used to make the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , which is used to detect, monitor and measure contact with, and movement about an intrinsic fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device, positioned in a system about an athletic field and surface used to detect, monitor and measure contact with, and movement about an intrinsic fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device. Component  1  is also representative of the components used to make the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , positioned in a system used to detect, monitor and measure contact with, and movement about an extrinsic fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device. The fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device,  1 , is positioned vertically on the athletic field and surface,  2 , and is connected to an extended fiber,  4 , by a connector and splicer,  3 . The connector and splicer,  3 , are positioned within and beneath the athletic field and surface. The fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device is connected to the athletic field and surface by threading and tufting, as are present athletic field and surface turf blades. The turf blades are made using molding of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, and turf materials, and are also made with a whole in the vertical center of the blade. The extended fiber passes through, and is connected to the light source,  7 , which is connected to the fiber optic turf blade fiber and sensor using a connector and splicer,  5 , and is then connected to the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device data collector, data acquisition unit, fiber optic measurement system, data processor, and detector,  8  in the same or similar manner. The optical data collector is connected to an energy and light source,  10 , and to the computer,  9 . The computer provides sensed data and information to the television station,  11 . Light sources,  7 , are connected to the fiber optic cable, fibers and optical data collector. Energy sources,  6 , are connected to the optical data collector,  8 , to the computer,  9 , and to the light sources,  7 . The connectivity of fiber optic fiber, sensors and cables to athletic fields and surfaces, to extended fibers, to light sources, to energy sources, to connectors and splicers, to optical data collectors and analyzers, and to computers is done using connectors, splicers, electrical and electronic connectors and junctions, clamping, screwing, adhesives, soldering, tying, wrapping and fitting techniques. Component  19  is representative of the adhesives and connectors. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  depicts the components used to make multiple fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices,  1 , positioned on a 1 m×1 m section of an entire athletic field and surface,  12 . The multiple fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices,  1 , are connected to a 1 m×1 m section of an entire athletic field and surface,  12 , using tufting and threading. Connectors and splicers,  3 , are used to connect the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices and the extended fibers through and beneath the athletic field and surface,  12 . The extended fibers,  4 , extend from the lower part of the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor devices and are connected to the fiber optic data collector,  8 , by the sectional fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device extended fiber collector,  13 . The sectional extended fiber collector,  13 , is a bundling of the extended fibers into a single collection, gathering and grouping of the sensors and sensors&#39; information. The collector,  13 , is connected to the fiber optic data collector,  8 , using connectors, splicers, electrical junctions, clamping, screwing, adhesives, soldering, tying, wrapping and fitting techniques. Connectors, splicers, electronic and electrical connections and known methods are used to connect the light source,  7 , the energy source,  6 , the energy and light source,  10 , the fiber optic turf blade contact and movement sensor device data collector,  8 , the computer,  5 , and the television station,  11 . Component  19  is representative of the adhesives and connectors. 
       CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0027]    1. Nicholls, M., H. Nicholls, S. O., Pullin, D. L., 2007, “Optically Marked Surface”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,245,815. 
         [0028]    2. Nicholls, M. H., Nicholls, S. O., Pullin, D. L., 2005, “Optically Marked Surface”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,950,599. 
         [0029]    3. Nicholls, M. H., Nicholls, S. O., Pullin, D. L., 2004, “Optically Marked Surface”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,749. 
         [0030]    4. Belisle, W. R., 2009, “Sports, Activity Viewing, Sensing and Interpreting System”, U.S. Patent Application No. 20090305823.