Smith Engineering

Kevin Hudson

Jay Smith, Iii

Bill Hudson

The invention discloses an amusement projectile characterized in a first embodiment by a football shape which is thrown by a user and which comprises electronics therein to measure and display the distance traveled by the thrown ball to the point of impact with the ground or to another user. Using an accelerometer in cooperation with a microprocessing board disposed within the ball, the distance traveled is determined by measuring the initial velocity and the time recorded during the flight of the ball based upon changes in the acceleration of the ball, and an inset liquid crystal display screen mounted on the football is used to display the distance as well as time of flight and a nondimensional thrust value. A toggle button is used to alternately display the 'flight characteristics,' which are distinguished by the position of a decimal in the three digit display. The toggle button also serves as an activation button which is depressed immediately prior to throwing and remains depressed until release of the ball, and which starts the timer and the accelerometer measurements upon its release. From these two measurements and data stored in a read only memory chip, the microprocessing board calculates the above identified values and causes those values to be displayed on the display screen. The invention includes an automatic shutoff characteristic which disconnects the battery after a predetermined period of inactivity.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Kevin Hudson