US 11,712,610 B1
Ultrasonic shots-made detector for basketball launching device
John Joseph, Upper Sandusky, OH (US); and Albert Abnett, Nevada, OH (US)
Assigned to SHOOT-A-WAY, INC., Upper Sandusky, OH (US)
Filed by Shoot-A-Way, Inc., Upper Sandusky, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/95,567.
Int. Cl. A63B 69/40 (2006.01); A63B 69/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/06 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 69/40 (2013.01) [A63B 69/0071 (2013.01); A63B 71/0619 (2013.01); A63B 71/0669 (2013.01); A63B 2069/401 (2013.01); A63B 2071/0655 (2013.01); A63B 2220/802 (2013.01); A63B 2220/833 (2013.01); A63B 2225/50 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatically detecting made and missed basketball shots using ultrasonics, said system comprising:
a launcher for passing basketballs to locations about a basketball playing area having a basketball goal;
a detector for selective positioning below and adjacent to a rim of the basketball goal, said detector comprising one or more ultrasonic sensors, one or more processors, and one or more electronic storage devices, wherein said one or more processors are in electronic connection with each of the one or more ultrasonic sensors, and said one or more electronic storage devices comprise software instructions, which when executed, configure the one or more processors to:
command the one or more ultrasonic sensors to transmit ultrasonic signals;
monitor for reflections of the transmitted ultrasonic signals occurring within a specified time period after transmission which excludes an initial time period after transmission and time after the specified time period; and
record a made shot where reflections of the transmitted ultrasonic signals are detected within the specified time period.