U.S. patent application number 10/496520 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for golf simulator.
Invention is credited to Hamilton, David James, Hutchon, Bruce Gordon Imrie.
Application Number | 20040241630 10/496520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9926122 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040241630 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hutchon, Bruce Gordon Imrie ;
et al. |
December 2, 2004 |
Golf simulator
Abstract
The present invention provides a golf simulator comprising a
launch area facing a screen at which the ball is driven and used to
display part of a golf course. Sensors detect the impact of a ball
on the screen, and/or flight towards it, and/or club head
trajectory. The launch area is a playing surface panel tiltable by
a displacement device, to provide a desired slope angle .alpha. and
slope direction .beta. relative to a driving direction. A computer
is connected to the sensors and displacement device, and programmed
to control display of the course, based on its topography, and
position of the launch area, and compute an estimated ball
trajectory, ball lie based on the estimated trajectory and landing
zone topography. The computer then controls the screen display and
displacement device so that the next drive can be played from a
realistic lie.
Inventors: |
Hutchon, Bruce Gordon Imrie;
(Edinburgh, GB) ; Hamilton, David James;
(Edinburgh, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas N Young
Young & Basile
3001 West Big Beaver Road
Suite 624
Troy
MI
48084
US
|
Family ID: |
9926122 |
Appl. No.: |
10/496520 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 21, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB02/05224 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3652 20130101;
A63B 69/3658 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/252 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 21, 2001 |
GB |
0127810.0 |
Claims
1. A golf simulator comprising a launch area facing a screen at
which the ball is driven and which is used to display an image of
part of a golf course; sensor devices formed and arranged for
detecting at least one of: the impact of a golf ball on the screen,
the flight of the ball towards said screen, and the trajectory of
the golf club head during the golf club swing; a tiltable tee
apparatus having a playing surface panel and at least one
displacement device formed and arranged for tilting said playing
surface panel so as to provide a desired slope angle and slope
direction relative to a golf driving direction; and a computer
apparatus operatively connected to said sensor devices and to said
at least one displacement device, and programmed so as to control
display of part of a golf course on said screen, based on the
topography of the golf course, and the position of the launch area
in relation to said golf course, and compute an estimated
trajectory of the ball on the basis of the inputs received from
said sensor devices, compute an estimated position of the ball
based on the estimated trajectory and the ball landing zone
topography, control said display on the screen so as to display the
estimated position of the ball on the screen image, compute the
slope angle and slope direction of the estimated position or lie of
the ball, and control said at least one displacement device so as
to bring the playing surface panel slope angle and slope direction
into correspondence with the computed slope angle and slope
direction so that the next drive can be played from a realistic
lie.
2. A simulator according to claim 1 wherein the tiltable tee
apparatus is provided with control signal receiving inputs for a
tee platform tilting device motor and the tee platform rotation
drive motor, for tilting and rotation of the tee platform
respectively, towards required slope angle and slope direction or
orientation values, said control signal receiving inputs being
operatively connected to the computer of said golf simulator so
that the slope and slope direction of the tee platform may be
adjusted under the control of the computer so as to be brought into
correspondence with the slope angle and slope direction values at
the estimated position of the ball as defined by the ball landing
zone topography.
3. A simulator according to claim 2 wherein the computer is used to
control stepper drive motors which are drivable between positions
with fixed predetermined relationships to given reference positions
so that a control signal from the computer to achieve a desired
slope angle and/or slope direction is executable directly.
4. A simulator according to claim 2 wherein there is used a
feedback system with slope angle and slope direction sensing
devices provided on the tiltable tee platform and having outputs
for slope angle and slope direction signals, respectively; and a
tee platform tilting device motor and the tee platform rotation
drive motor, for tilting and rotation of the tee platform
respectively, towards required slope angle and slope direction
values.
5. A simulator according to claim 4 wherein the slope angle and
slope direction (orientation) sensing devices, are selected from
resistive or capacitative sensors, optical sensors and LVDT
sensors.
6. A simulator according to claim 1 wherein is used a displacement
device selected from: a pressurized fluid operated devices; a motor
with a mechanical drive transmission.
7. A simulator according to claim 6 wherein separate displacement
devices are provided for tilting of the playing surface panel and
for rotation of, at least, the playing surface panel.
8. A simulator according to claim 6 wherein at least three,
independently operable displacement devices are used to raise
selectively, different sides of the playing surface panel, thereby
providing different slope directions without the need for rotation
of any part of the tee platform.
9. A simulator according to claim 6 wherein is used a displacement
device comprising an elongate toothed drive output transmission
member in the form of a worm screw rotatable, in use of the
apparatus, directly or indirectly, by a motor.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the elongate toothed
drive output transmission member comprises an elongate rack member
driven by a screw jack device operated by said drive motor.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one said
screw jack is a telescopic screw jack.
12. A simulator according to claim 1 wherein is used a tiltable and
rotatable tee apparatus comprising a ground support, and a tee
platform rotatably mounted on said ground support, said tee
platform comprising a base portion and a playing surface panel
hingedly connected at a first edge portion to a corresponding edge
portion of said base portion, said playing surface panel being
supported at a jack support portion remote from said first edge
portion on an upper end of at least one screw jack pivotally
connected thereto, said at least one screw jack having its lower
end pivotally connected to said base portion, one of said ground
support and tee platform base portion having a fixed spur gear
secured thereto in a substantially horizontal plane on the
rotational axis of said rotable tee platform, and the other having
mounted thereon a drive motor with an elongate toothed drive output
transmission member for driving engagement with said spur gear so
as to rotate said tee platform in use of the apparatus, whereby in
use of the apparatus said tee platform may be tilted throughout a
range of slope angles and slope directions by operation of said at
least one screw jack and said tee platform rotation drive
motor.
13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein is provided a locking
device which is engagable after the tee platform has been rotated
to a desired position.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said locking device
comprises a plurality of angularly distributed electromagnet units
with axially displaceable elements with end portions which function
as brake pad elements extending into braking engagement with a disk
brake type plate when the electromagnets are powered up, and
returning to a retracted position when the electromagnets are
powered down.
15. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the playing surface
panel is provided with an artificial turf synthetic matting
simulating grass for supporting the ball on. Claim 16. An apparatus
according to claim 15 wherein the matting has an outer annular zone
with shorter turf for simulating fairway, an inner annular zone
with longer turf for simulating rough, and a central zone having a
non-slip surface for supporting a player thereon.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to improved golf simulators
provided with lie simulation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One of the particular disadvantages of the game of golf is
the very large space it requires, which can make it very expensive
where land is at a premium and/or require extensive travel from a
city to a more or less remote golf course. In recent years various
golf simulators have been developed which can provide some elements
of realism by using projected images of a player's view of a golf
course and of the ball's estimated position after it has been
driven by a player. Various kinds of sensor are used to monitor the
flight of the ball and/or the trajectory of the golf club head, and
use the captured data to estimate the trajectory which the ball
would have followed out in the unconfined space of the real golf
course. With such simulators it is quite possible to "experience"
playing holes from golf course from all around the world, in a
small confined space which can readily be accommodated in the
centre of a city or any other convenient location.
[0003] A particular feature of real-life golf courses is, however,
the very diverse nature of different lies which may be encountered
in a round of golf due to the varying topography of the course.
Thus whilst the first drive for each hole will normally be played
from a substantially level tee area, subsequent drives will often
have to be played from lies with a variety of slope angles and
slope directions relative to the direction in which the player
wishes to drive the ball. A significant practical limitation of
such golf simulators is that no provision is made for providing the
player with such variations in lie, let alone in providing
variations in lie which are related to the estimated position of
the ball after the last executed drive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to avoid or
minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.
[0005] The present invention provides a golf simulator comprising a
launch area facing a screen at which the ball is driven and which
is used to display an image of part of a golf course; sensor
devices formed and arranged for detecting at least one of: the
impact of a golf ball on the screen, the flight of the ball towards
said screen, and the trajectory of the golf club head during the
golf club swing; a tiltable tee apparatus having a playing surface
panel and at least one displacement device formed and arranged for
tilting said playing surface panel so as to provide a desired slope
angle and slope direction relative to a golf driving direction; and
a computer apparatus operatively connected to said sensor devices
and to said at least one displacement device, and programmed so as
to control display of part of a golf course on said screen, based
on the topography of the golf course, and the position of the
launch area in relation to said golf course, and compute an
estimated trajectory of the ball on the basis of the inputs
received from said sensor devices, compute an estimated position of
the ball based on the estimated trajectory and the ball landing
zone topography, control said display on the screen so as to
display the estimated position of the ball on the screen image,
compute the slope angle and slope direction of the estimated
position or lie of the ball, and control said at least one
displacement device so as to bring the playing surface panel slope
angle and slope direction into correspondence with the computed
slope angle and slope direction so that the next drive can be
played from a realistic lie.
[0006] Various different kinds of displacement device may be used
in accordance with the present invention. Thus on the one hand
there may be used various pressurized fluid, e.g. hydraulic or
pneumatic, operated devices. Alternatively there may be used
various mechanical devices driven by motors, conveniently electric
motors, typically via suitable gears and/or other drive
transmission mechanisms. Separate displacement devices may be used
to provide tilting of the playing surface panel and rotation of (at
least) the playing surface panel. Alternatively there could be used
an arrangement where several, e.g. at least three, independently
operable displacement devices are used to raise selectively,
different sides of the playing surface panel, thereby providing
different slope directions without the need for rotation of any
part of the tee platform. Various suitable forms of tiltable tee
apparatus are known in the art including designs such as those
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,820,478, 5,558,334, and
5,549,522.
[0007] It will be appreciated that various different kinds of known
golf simulator could be adapted in accordance with the present
invention. One suitable type of golf simulator is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,846,139.
[0008] In one preferred form of golf simulator of the present
invention, the tiltable tee apparatus is provided with control
signal receiving inputs for a tee platform tilting device motor and
a tee platform rotation drive motor, for tilting and rotation of
the tee platform respectively, towards required slope angle and
slope direction or orientation values, said control signal
receiving inputs being operatively connected to the computer of the
golf simulator so that the slope angle and slope direction of the
tee platform may be adjusted under the control of the computer so
as to be brought into correspondence with the slope angle and slope
direction values at the estimated position of the ball as defined
by the ball landing zone topography.
[0009] It will be appreciated that the computer can be used to
control the tee platform in various ways. Thus on the one hand
there may be used drive motors such as stepper motors which are
drivable between positions with fixed predetermined relationships
to given reference positions so that a control signal from the
computer to achieve a desired slope angle and/or slope direction is
executable directly. On the other hand there may be used a feedback
system with slope angle and slope direction sensing devices
provided on the tiltable tee platform and having outputs for slope
angle and slope direction signals, respectively; and a tee platform
tilting device motor and the tee platform rotation drive motor, for
tilting and rotation of the tee platform respectively, towards
required slope angle and slope direction values.
[0010] Various suitable angular displacement sensors may be used
for the slope angle and slope direction (orientation) sensing
devices, and include resistive or capacitative sensors, optical
sensors, LVDT sensors, etc. It will of course be appreciated that
either similar or different kinds of sensor may be used for the
slope angle and slope direction sensing devices.
[0011] Thus in accordance with one preferred aspect the golf
simulator of the present invention there is used a tiltable tee
apparatus having:
[0012] a slope sensing device and slope direction sensing device
having outputs for slope angle and slope direction signals,
respectively; and
[0013] control signal receiving inputs for a tee platform tilting
drive motor and the tee platform rotation drive motor, for tilting
and rotation of the tee platform, respectively, towards required
slope angle and slope direction values; said slope and slope
direction sensing devices and said slope and slope direction
control signal inputs of said apparatus being operatively connected
to the computer of a said golf simulator so that the slope and
slope direction of the tee platform may be compared by said
computer with the slope and slope direction of the golf course, at
the estimated position of the ball in the ball landing zone, and
the computer generate control signals for tilting and rotation of
the tee platform so as to bring the slope angle and slope direction
of the tee platform into correspondence with the slope angle and
slope direction values of said estimated position.
[0014] It will be appreciated that in use of the above apparatus,
the tee platform would normally start in a neutral or zeroed
configuration with zero slope corresponding to a flat tee-off
launch area. After each drive has been completed the tee platform
slope angle and slope direction is then adjusted via the simulator
computer so as to bring it into correspondence with the slope angle
and slope direction values at the estimated position of the ball
after that drive, so that the launch area is reconfigured into a
realistic lie dependent on the drive actually executed by the
user.
[0015] A particularly suitable form of tiltable and rotatable tee
apparatus comprises a ground support, and a tee platform rotatably
mounted on said ground support, said tee platform comprising a base
portion and a playing surface panel hingedly connected at a first
edge portion to a corresponding edge portion of said base portion,
said playing surface panel being supported at a jack support
portion remote from said first edge portion on an upper end of at
least one screw jack pivotally connected thereto, said at least one
screw jack having its lower end pivotally connected to said base
portion, one of said ground support and tee platform base portion
having a fixed spur gear secured thereto in a substantially
horizontal plane on the rotational axis of said rotable tee
platform, and the other having mounted thereon a drive motor with
an elongate toothed drive output transmission member for driving
engagement with said spur gear so as to rotate said tee platform in
use of the apparatus, whereby in use of the apparatus said tee
platform may be tilted throughout a range of slope angles and slope
directions by operation of said at least one screw jack and said
tee platform rotation drive motor.
[0016] This apparatus has the particular advantages of providing
good stability using an economic and reliable form of construction.
This is particularly beneficial in view of the relatively rapid
movements and strong forces utilized in a golf swing which impose
considerable stresses of all kinds on a platform, and it is
particularly important both for the integrity of the apparatus and
for the avoidance of disturbing the player's equilibrium and
concentration, that the tee platform should be as stable as
possible.
[0017] Various forms of elongate toothed drive output transmission
member may be used which provide substantial resistance to any
unintentional movement of the rotatable tee platform when the drive
transmission member is not being driven. Thus, for example, there
may be used a worm screw rotated by the motor directly, or
preferably via a suitable reduction gear system. Advantageously
though there is used an elongate rack member driven by a screw jack
or the like operated by said drive motor.
[0018] With an apparatus of the present invention the rotation and
tilting of the tee platform can readily be controlled in a
substantially precise manner with minimal play between the
relatively movable parts. Furthermore, the use of a screw jack
mechanism provides for a fail safe and positive maintenance of a
desired slope angle in a particularly simple and effective manner
without the need for any additional braking or locking mechanisms,
and with a playing surface panel hingedly connected at one edge to
the base portion, the stability of the tee platform is further
increased in a particular simple and economic manner.
[0019] Various kinds of screw jack device may be used in the
apparatus of the present invention, including, for example
so-called scissor jacks. Preferably though there is used a
telescopic screw jack which generally comprises an elongate housing
portion with a captive nut through which an elongate screw is
secured into and out of the housing portion for telescoping
therewith. Advantageously the screw jack is driven by a motor,
usually an electric motor, preferably via a reduction gear-box.
Similarly the motor used to rotate the tee platform is also usually
electric and preferably provide with a reduction gear box in order
to limit the speed of movement of the tee platform and improve
control thereof.
[0020] Advantageously, the stability of the tee platform, may be
yet further increased-against any possible pitching on its
rotatable mount by an annular bearing support extending radially
outwardly of the rotatable mount. Any suitable form of bearing
support may be used including, for example, a multiplicity of
angularly distributed roller bearings.
[0021] In order to increase further the stability of the tee
platform against any rotational displacement thereof in reaction to
the swing of a golfer standing on the tee platform in use thereof,
there is advantageously provided a locking device which is
engagable, preferably automatically engagable, after the tee
platform has been rotated to a desired position. Conveniently there
is provided a locking device configured to be normally locked,
being unlocked upon activation of the tee platform rotating drive
motor, and re-locked upon deactivation of the drive motor. One
particularly suitable form of locking device comprises a plurality
of angularly distributed electromagnet units with axially
displaceable elements with end portions which function as brake pad
elements extending into braking engagement with a disk brake type
plate when the electromagnets are powered up, and returning to a
retracted position when the electromagnets are powered down.
[0022] The playing surface panel is generally provided with an
artificial turf synthetic matting simulating grass for supporting
the ball on, and advantageously the matting has an outer annular
zone with shorter turf for simulating fairway, an inner annular
zone with longer turf for simulating rough, and a central zone
having a non-slip surface for supporting a player thereon,
typically of a natural or synthetic rubber material, or other
polymeric material having a surface adapted to provide good
friction. If desired the material could have a limited degree of
resilience. Advantageously the material is configured or formulated
so as to shed water to avoid compromising its non-slip
properties.
[0023] It is generally preferred, that the top surface of the
matting should be substantially level in order to provide the
player with a more natural looking playing surface. In this case
different turf lengths for the different zones, can be provided by
using a stepped substrate into which the artificial turf fibres are
anchored. A suitable turf length for the outer "fairway grass" ball
support zone would generally be in the range from 5 to 15 mm, for
example, about 12 mm, and for the inner ball "rough grass" support
zone generally in the range from 20 to 40 mm, for example, about 25
mm. If desired, the effective turf height can be varied when
required by the simple expedient of sprinkling a layer of sand or
other like particulate material onto the substrate between the turf
fibres. The sand is retained by the fibres when the tee platform is
tilted, and can be removed when no longer needed by a vacuum
cleaner apparatus. Typically the central player support zone would
have a diameter of the order of 1000 mm to 1300 mm, whilst the
annular "fairway" and "rough" zones would each have a radial depth
or width of around 125 to 250 mm, for example about 200 mm.
[0024] It will be appreciated that, for particularly steep lies,
even the longer turf may be insufficient to retain the ball in
position and the platform is advantageously provided with a
flexible tubular tee generally of the kind used in driving ranges,
but with an angled top end. The tubular tee is desirably mounted in
a suitable recess in the platform substrate so as to be rotatable
so that when the platform is tilted, the tubular tee can be rotated
so that the angle of its top end relative to the horizontal is
minimized thereby better to support the ball.
[0025] It will be understood that various forms of sensing devices,
image display systems, and other golf simulator components,
suitable for use in the simulators of the present invention, are
already known in the art and accordingly need not be discussed in
any further detail herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Further preferred features and advantages of the invention
will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a partly cutaway side elevation of a tiltable tee
apparatus suitable for use in a golf simulator of the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the
playing surface panel removed;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of part of the
drive mechanism for rotating the tiltable platform;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a partly sectioned plan view of the mechanism of
FIG. 3;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a vertical section through part of the playing
surface panel;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a partly cutaway side elevation of another
tiltable tee apparatus suitable for use in a golf simulator of the
invention;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 with the
playing surface panel indicated in chain-line and part of the tee
platform cutaway to show part of the ground support;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a golf simulator
of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a block diagram indicating the principal
components of the simulator of FIG. 8; and
[0036] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram indicating the operation of the
simulator of FIGS. 8 and 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a tiltable tee apparatus 1 suitable for use in
a golf simulator of the invention, said tiltable tee apparatus
comprising a base plate ground support 2 and a tee platform 3
rotatably mounted 4 on said ground support 2. The tee platform 3
comprises a base portion 5 and a playing surface panel 6 hingedly
connected 7 at a first edge portion 8 to a corresponding edge
portion 9 of the base portion 5.
[0038] The playing surface panel 6 is supported at a jack support
portion 10 remote from said first edge portion 8 on the upper ends
11 of two spaced apart screw jacks 12 pivotally connected 13
thereto. The screw jacks 12 have their lower ends 14 pivotally
connected 15 to the base portion 5. As shown in more detail in
FIGS. 3 and 4, the base plate 2 has a fixed spur gear 16 secured 17
thereto in a substantially horizontal plane on the rotational axis
x-x of the rotatable tee platform 3, and the tee platform base
portion 5 has a drive motor 18 driving a (further) screw jack 19
which has projecting axially from its extending portion 20 an
elongate rack drive transmission member 21 for driving engagement
22 with the spur gear 16 so as to rotate the tee platform 3 in use
of the apparatus 1.
[0039] The screw jacks 12 are mounted on a small support frame 23
on which is also provided a drive motor 24 fitted with a reduction
gearbox 25 which has output drive shafts 26 at each end 27, 28
connected to respective ones of the screw jacks 12.
[0040] A control box 29 is mounted on the base portion 5 of the tee
platform 3 and contains a configurable logic unit 30 which is used
to control operation of the drive motors 18, 24, in response to
commands from a detachable user control key pad 31 for rotating the
tee platform 3 in either direction or raising and lowering it
subject to the operation of contact limit switches 32a, 32b
provided on the platform base portion 5 by the pivotally connected
lower end 14 of one of the elevating screw jacks 12 and under one
of the playing surface panel jack support portions 10, for defining
maximum and minimum inclination (for example 30.degree. and
0.degree.), respectively and contact limit switches 33a, 33b on the
tee platform base portion 5 for maximum and minimum permitted
extension of the rack drive transmission member 21 corresponding to
platform rotation limits (usually 0.degree. and 360.degree.). A
contact limit switch 34 is also provided on the hinge 7 under part
of the hinge pin which is depressed in use of the apparatus by the
weight of player standing on the tee platform 3, for the purposes
of disabling the motors to prevent movement of the tee platform 3
when a user is stood on it. The tee platform base portion 5 is
provided with a connector 35 for the lead 36 of the user control
key pad 31 and a connector 37 for a detachable power supply 38
which is conveniently in the form of a rechargable battery pack. An
externally accessible fuse box 39 is provided next to the
connectors 35, 37.
[0041] In order to protect the working parts of the apparatus
against weather and ingress of foreign bodies, and protect users
from inadvertently trapping anything between the moving parts of
the tee platform 3, the latter is provided with an annular
concertina skirt 40 which readily extends and collapses as the
playing surface panel 6 is raised and lowered.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, the playing surface panel 6 comprises a
wooden tray 41 in which is disposed artificial turf matting 42
comprising a substrate 43 in which are anchored plastic filaments
44 simulating grass. As may be seen from the drawing, an annular
outer zone 45 has a deeper substrate 43 and shorter turf filaments
44 for simulating a "fairway", while an inner annular zone 47 has a
shallower substrate 43 and longer turf filaments 44 for simulating
"rough". The matting can generally provide support to a golf ball
48 and hold it against rolling out of position when the playing
surface panel 6 is inclined, without the need for a tee to support
the ball. Nevertheless a flexible plastic tube tee 49 could also be
provided on the panel 6, especially for use with greater panel
inclinations providing steeper lies. As shown in the drawing the
top end 50 of the tube tee 49 is angled at about 45.degree. while
the bottom end 51 is a push-fit into a recess 52 in the substrate
43 so that its angular orientation can be adjusted so that when the
playing surface panel 6 is maximally inclined, the angled top end
50 is generally horizontal for supporting a golf ball thereon. In
order to reduce the effective depth of the turf filaments 44, some
sand 53 or the like can be sprinkled onto the matting 42 to raise
the surface of the substrate 43. When this is no longer required it
can be removed with a vacuum suction cleaner or the like. A central
zone 53 on the playing surface panel 6 is formed of textured rubber
54 to provide a non-slip surface for a user 55 to stand on.
[0043] In use of the apparatus, a user will use the key pad 31 to
raise or lower the playing surface panel 6 to the required slope
inclination, and then rotate it to obtain the required kind of lie
e.g. uphill or downhill, leftward or rightward slope etc. The user
can then place the ball in the turf matting 42 of one of the
annular zones 45, 47 or on a tee 51 mounted therein and step up
onto the central player support zone 53 to play his/her practice
drive.
[0044] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the principal parts of a further
embodiment generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 5, with like
reference numbers being used to indicate like parts.
[0045] In this embodiment the ground support 2 is in the form of a
rectangular tubular metal frame 60 with outwardly projecting
members 61 at its corners 62, the distal ends 63 of the members 61
being provided with screw adjustable 64 feet 65 to facilitate
levelling of the apparatus 1.
[0046] The rotation of the tee platform 3 in this case is effected
by means of an integrated drive unit 66 which includes a motor 67
driving a screw jack 68 which has an axially extending square rack
69 which engages the spur gear 16 tangentially as before. The
mounting of the screw jacks 12 and associated drive motor 24, used
to raise and lower the tee platform 3, have also been rearranged
somewhat.
[0047] In this embodiment the ground support 2 is provided with an
annular support ring 70 upon which rests a series of angularly
distributed roller bearings 71 mounted to project from the
underside 72 of the tee platform base portion 5, thereby providing
additional support to the tee platform 3 to minimize pitching
thereof on its rotatable mounting 4.
[0048] The support ring 70 also serves as a brake disc engagable by
a pair of diametrically opposed brake pad units 73. In more detail
the units 73 are in the form of electromagnet units with axially
displaceable elements with end portions which function as brake pad
elements extending into braking engagement with a disk brake type
plate when the electromagnets are powered up, and returning to a
retracted position when the electromagnets are powered down.
[0049] Thus when the tee platform rotation is activated through the
control unit 31, the electromagnet brake pad units 73 are powered
down and disengage from the support ring 70 to allow the tee
platform 3 to be freely rotated by the integrated drive unit 66.
When a desired orientation of the tee platform 3 has been reached,
the drive unit 66 is powered down and the electromagnet brake pad
units 73 simultaneously powered up again, pressing into the support
ring 70 and thereby locking the tee platform 3 even more firmly
against any possible rotation.
[0050] It will be appreciated that various modifications may be
made to the above described embodiments without departing from the
scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, instead of a
contact switch 31 activated by the weight of a user standing on the
tee platform, there could be used a resistance switch which is
triggered in response to the increased current drawn from the power
supply due to the increased effort required to rotate the tee
platform when someone is standing on it.
[0051] FIG. 8 shows schematically a golf simulator 80 of the
present invention comprising a launch area 81 facing a screen 82 at
which the ball is driven, sensor devices 83 between the launch area
81 and the screen 82 for detecting the flight of a golf ball 8 from
the launch area 81 to the screen 82, a computer 84 and a projector
85 for projecting an image 86 of part of a golf course onto the
screen 82. The sensor devices 83 each have opposed horizontal and
vertical arrays of infra red radiation emitters 87 and detectors
88. (It will be appreciated that a large multiplicity of these is
used in order to obtain a relatively accurate `fix` on the ball
position as it passes the sensor devices 83, but only a few are
shown for clarity.)
[0052] The launch area 81 is in the form of a tiltable tee
apparatus such as that shown in FIGS. 1-5 or FIG. 6 and has its
playing surface panel 89 tilted at a slope angle .alpha. to the
horizontal and rotated away from the main axis 90 at a slope
direction angle .beta..
[0053] As shown schematically in FIG. 9, the tiltable tee apparatus
81 is provided with tilt angle and orientation angle sensors 91,
92, for sensing the tilt angle .alpha. and the orientation angle
.beta. of the playing surface 89, connected 93, 94 to the computer
84 for providing corresponding output signals thereto. The tee
apparatus 81 also has its tilt motor 95 and orientation motor 96
connected 97, 98 to the computer 84 for receiving control signal
inputs therefrom for adjusting the tilt angle .alpha. and
orientation angle .beta. of the playing surface 89.
[0054] The ball flight sensor devices 83 are connected 99 to the
computer 84 to provide ball flight data input signals thereto, and
the projector 85 is connected 100 to the computer for receiving
image data signals therefrom for display on the screen 82. The
computer 84 is also provided with a user interface, conveniently in
the form of a touch screen display 101, which can be used for inter
alia resetting the simulator, entering user selections, eg, choice
of golf course and/or hole to be "played", etc.
[0055] The operation of the simulator is summarized in FIG. 10,
when the simulator is to be used it is initially reset, with the
tee platform being levelled so that the tilt angle .alpha. and
orientation angle .beta. are both zero. The user then selects a
particular course and/or particular hold which he(she) wishes to
play. The computer computes the course view from the tee for the
selected hole and this is then projected onto the screen by the
projector. The user drives the ball towards the screen with the
displayed golf course image and the flight of the ball is monitored
by the sensing devices. The captured ball flight data is used by
the computer to estimate the ball trajectory which is compared with
the golf course topography data to estimate the ball landing
position which is then displayed on the screen. The computer
computes the slope angle and slope direction at the ball landing
position lie from the course topographical data and compares it
with the values indicated for the playing surface of the tilting
tee platform by the slope angle and direction sensors, and sends
control signals to the tilting and orientation drive motors as
required until these values have been brought into correspondence
with those at the new lie. The computer also computes the new
course view from the new lie and displays it on the screen via the
projector, and the player may then make his second drive whereupon
the process may be repeated.
[0056] It will be appreciated that it may be preferable for safety
reasons to avoid any reconfiguration of the slope angle or
direction of the playing surface of the tee platform while a player
is still standing on the platform. This could be conveniently
effected by for example requiring the player to dismount the tee
platform and enter a suitable command on the computer user
interface in order to release or disable a tee platform locking
device.
[0057] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which
scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is
permitted under the law.
* * * * *