Paddle

About: Paddle is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5649 publications have been published within this topic receiving 28389 citations.

Electronic table tennis game apparatus

Abstract: A player response game is provided including game apparatus that directs light beams of relatively short duration from a control housing to opposing player stations and detects light reflected back from the respective player stations. The game apparatus also includes a hand held, light reflecting paddle for the player at each station, these paddles having a light diffusing surface so that light is reflected back to the control housing when the paddle intercepts a light beam irrespective of the exact angle at which the paddle intercepts the beam. The sequencing and control of the game apparatus by electronic control circuitry including a microprocessor simulates a table tennis game wherein a light beam is directed to either the forehand or the backhand side of the opposite station if a player at one station successively intercepts a beam with his paddle during the time the beam is directed to his or her station.

Paddle wheel electric generator

Abstract: A minimal maintenance paddle wheel electric generation device for producing no cost electricity includes an A-frame base disposed in a fast flowing stream with a paddle wheel mounted between A-frame supports, with the supports resting on the base, and the paddle wheel including radially arranged dip blades with the rotation of the paddle wheel by the swiftly running water turning a drive gear that engages a series of reduction gears that, in turn, actuate a generator for producing electricity. A pair of paddle wheels can be ganged together on several floating members with the floating members tethered by cables to stanchions fixed on opposed banks of the stream. The paddle wheel can also be supported on buoyant inflatable tubes that have curvilinear members attached to the rear ends for directing water into the channel formed between the tubes thereby enhancing water flow and the angular speed of the paddle wheel for increased power generation.

Basketball scoring apparatus

Abstract: A portable electronic scoreboard apparatus attachable to a basketball goal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an electronic analysis and report mechanism capable of receiving input information, analyzing the information according to a mode of operation, and reporting output information which includes an indication of the number of successful shots and an indication of the shooting percentage. The apparatus also comprises an attempt detection means for detecting contact of a basketball with the basketball goal and sending a contact signal to the electronic analysis and report mechanism, and for detecting the successful passage of a basketball through the hoop and sending a passage signal to the electronic analysis and report mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the contact signal arises in response to vibration of a piezoelectric vibration sensor, and the passage signal arises in response to movement of a paddle beneath the hoop by the basketball. Spurious passage and contact signals are preferably prevented by the use of a paddle filter and a vibration filter, respectively. The paddle is attached beneath the hoop by an attachment assembly which includes notched arms engaging a gear that is rotatable by a player. The arms have grooved feet for engaging the basketball rim plate. A releasable gear locking mechanism holds the arms in place to prevent the feet from being disengaged by repeated impacts of the basketball against the paddle.

Measurement of toner level employing sensor on paddle

Abstract: The level of powdered toner in a toner reservoir of a printer or copier is determined by ascertaining the time that it takes a stirring paddle to rotate from a second of two fixed ridges adjacent the top of the reservoir until the toner is engaged. A sensor, which is preferably a piezoelectric element or a strain gauge, is preferably mounted on the end of the stirring paddle to engage each of the two fixed ridges. When the sensor flexes after engaging each of the ridges, two closely spaced electrical pulse are produced. When the sensor engages the toner, another electrical pulse is produced, and the time between the second and third pulses is used to determine the level of the toner in the toner reservoir. If the stirring paddle is flexible, it may engage the ridges and the toner so that the sensor could be mounted on the stirring paddle to not engage the ridges or the toner but only to sense flexing of the stirring paddle for producing the electrical pulses. Instead of using the ridges, an emitter wheel may be employed to produce a pulse when the stirring paddle is in its substantially vertical position.

Exercise machine for training watersports athletes

Abstract: An exercise machine adapted for training watersports athletes has a pair of spaced-apart vertical columns each with hollow tubular body with a weighted plunger attached to a cable for vertical reciprocation while a user performs power and return stroke movements on an instrument attached to the other end of the cable. The plunger is hydraulically coupled to an air channel fed by an air-through valve sized to control air movement into the air channel by the rising plunger during a power stroke to approximate water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water. The air channel has a release opening for releasing air balanced against the weight of the falling plunger to approximate lifting an oar, paddle, or arm out of the water on a return stroke. The exercise machine can be used to practice a wide range of watersports training exercises for swimming, paddleboarding, canoe paddling, rowing, etc.