U.S. patent application number 10/801425 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for rangefinding instrument and method for automatically determining and providing user specific suggestions for golfing applications.
Invention is credited to Dunne, Jeremy G., Williams, David.
Application Number | 20050221905 10/801425 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35055081 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050221905 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dunne, Jeremy G. ; et
al. |
October 6, 2005 |
Rangefinding instrument and method for automatically determining
and providing user specific suggestions for golfing
applications
Abstract
A rangefinding instrument and method for automatically
determining and providing user specific suggestions for golfing
applications wherein a user enters at least one club type and
associated representative user range for the at least one club type
to a data store associated with a rangefinding instrument. The
instrument determines a range to a selected point on a golf course
and extrapolates and displays a suggested club type appropriate to
the determined range from the stored data. Other factors, such as
the course terrain, weather and/or soil conditions may be analyzed
to provide an alternative suggested club type for the same
determined distance.
Inventors: |
Dunne, Jeremy G.; (Highlands
Ranch, CO) ; Williams, David; (Littleton,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOGAN & HARTSON LLP
ONE TABOR CENTER, SUITE 1500
1200 SEVENTEENTH ST
DENVER
CO
80202
US
|
Family ID: |
35055081 |
Appl. No.: |
10/801425 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2102/32 20151001;
A63B 2220/13 20130101; G01C 3/08 20130101; A63B 69/3605 20200801;
A63B 57/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/131 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/36 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rangefinding instrument comprising: a user input for providing
data to said instrument indicative of at least one golf club type
and at least one representative user range for said at least one
golf club type; a data store associated with said instrument and
said user input for maintaining said at least one golf club type
and said at least one representative user range as a first
correlated data set; a processor coupled to said data store for
computing at least one other correlated data set indicative of
another golf club type and associated representative user range
based upon a relationship in said first correlated data set; a
rangefinder for determining a range to a selected point on a golf
course; and a display coupled to said processor and said
rangefinder for indicating a suggested golf club type based upon at
least one of said first or one other correlated data sets and said
determined range to said selected point.
2. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said determined range.
3. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 wherein said display is
an in-sight display.
4. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 further comprising: a
tilt sensor coupled to said processor for indicating an angular
inclination of said selected point from said instrument for
possible alteration of said suggested golf club type based upon
said determined range and said angular inclination.
5. The rangefinding instrument of claim 4 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said angular inclination of said
selected point.
6. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 further comprising: a
wind speed and direction sensor coupled to said processor for
indicating a wind direction at said instrument for possible
alteration of said suggested club type based upon said determined
range and said wind speed and direction.
7. The rangefinding instrument of claim 6 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said wind speed and direction.
8. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 further comprising said
user input coupled to said processor for entering a wind speed and
direction at said selected point for possible alteration of said
suggested club type based upon said determined range and said wind
speed and direction.
9. The rangefinding instrument of claim 8 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said wind speed and direction.
10. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 further comprising said
user input coupled to said processor for entering a ground
condition at said selected point for possible alteration of said
suggested club type based upon said range and said ground
condition.
11. The rangefinding instrument of claim 8 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said ground condition.
12. The rangefinding instrument of claim 1 wherein said user input
is further operative for entering at least one user identification
associated with said first and said at least one other correlated
data sets.
13. A rangefinding instrument comprising: a processor; a
rangefinder coupled to said processor for determining a range to a
selected point on a golf course green; a tilt sensor coupled to
said processor for indicating an angular inclination of said
selected point from said instrument; and a display coupled to said
processor for displaying an indication of a suggested aim point
based upon said range and said angular inclination.
14. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said determined range.
15. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 wherein said display is
an in-sight display.
16. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 wherein said indication
of said suggested aim point is a graphical indication of said aim
point.
17. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 wherein said indication
of said suggested aim point is a textual indication of said aim
point.
18. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said angular inclination of said
selected point.
19. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 further comprising: a
wind speed and direction sensor coupled to said processor for
indicating a wind direction at said instrument for possible
alteration of said suggested aim point based upon said determined
range, said angular inclination and said wind speed and
direction.
20. The rangefinding instrument of claim 19 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said wind speed and direction.
21. The rangefinding instrument of claim 13 further comprising a
user input coupled to said processor for entering a ground
condition at said selected point for possible alteration of said
suggested aim point based upon said range, said angular inclination
and said ground condition.
22. The rangefinding instrument of claim 21 wherein said display is
further operative to indicate said ground condition.
23. A method associated with a golf game comprising: entering at
least one club type and associated representative user range for
said at least one club type to a data store associated with a
rangefinding instrument; determining a range to a selected point on
a golf course with said rangefinding instrument; extrapolating a
suggested club type appropriate to said determined range from said
at least one club type and associated representative user range;
and displaying said suggested club type to a user of said
rangefinding instrument.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:
computing at least said suggested club type and an associated
representative user range for said at least one other club type for
retention in said data store.
25. A golfing instrument comprising: a user input for providing
data to said instrument indicative of at least one golf club type,
at least one representative user range for said at least one golf
club type and a range to a selected point on a golf course; a data
store associated with said instrument and said user input for
maintaining said at least one golf club type and said at least one
representative user range as a first correlated data set; a
processor associated with said data store and said user input for
computing at least one other correlated data set indicative of
another golf club type and associated representative user range
based upon a relationship in said first correlated data set; and a
display coupled to said processor for indicating a suggested golf
club type based upon at least one of said first or one other
correlated data sets and said input range to said selected point.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to the field of
rangefinding instruments and methods for recreational activities.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a laser-based
rangefinding instrument and method for automatically determining
and providing user specific suggestions for golfing
applications.
[0002] Professional, and other avid golfers, will often rely on
their own personal experience, more consistent hitting prowess and
knowledge of particular course conditions to enable them to
determine the appropriate club selection for a given shot.
Additionally, experienced caddies may also be used to provide input
to the golfer regarding a given course and its various
features.
[0003] However, a need exists for a relatively inexpensive, precise
device which may be customized for a given user for automatically
suggesting the appropriate club for use by other less experienced
golfers for the particular distance a ball is desired to be hit on
the fairway or to provide suggestions as to the aiming point for a
putt on a green given the contours or other conditions thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Particularly disclosed herein in a putting mode of operation
is a rangefinding instrument comprising a processor, a rangefinder
coupled to the processor for determining a range to a selected
point on a golf course green, a tilt sensor coupled to the
processor for indicating an angular inclination of the selected
point from the instrument and a display coupled to the processor
for displaying an indication of a suggested aim point.
[0005] Further disclosed herein in a fairway mode of operation is a
rangefinding instrument comprising a user input for providing data
to the instrument indicative of at least one golf club type and at
least one representative user range for the at least one golf club
type. A data store is associated with the instrument and the user
input for maintaining the at least one golf club type and the at
least one representative user range as a first correlated data set.
A processor is coupled to the data store for computing at least one
other correlated data set indicative of another golf club type and
associated representative user range based upon a relationship in
the first correlated data set. The instrument further comprises a
rangefinder for determining a range to a selected point on a golf
course and a display coupled to the processor and the rangefinder
for indicating a suggested golf club type based upon at least one
of the first or one other correlated data sets and the determined
range to the selected point.
[0006] Still further disclosed herein is a method associated with a
golf game comprising entering at least one club type and associated
representative user range for the at least one club type to a data
store associated with a rangefinding instrument. The method further
comprises determining a range to a selected point on a golf course
with the rangefinding instrument, extrapolating a suggested club
type appropriate to the determined range from the at least one club
type and associated representative user range and displaying the
suggested club type to a user of the rangefinding instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The aforementioned and other features and objects of the
present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more
apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by
reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a representative functional block diagram of a
possible system for implementing a rangefinding instrument and
method for automatically determining and providing user specific
suggestions for golfing applications in accordance with the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exemplary logic flow chart for programming a
rangefinding instrument to function in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an additional exemplary logic flow chart
indicative of a use of a rangefinding instrument in accordance with
the present invention in a fairway operational mode;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a further additional exemplary logic flow chart
indicative of a use of a rangefinding instrument in accordance with
the present invention in a putting operational mode;
[0012] FIGS. 5A through 5C are rear perspective, front perspective
and side elevational views of a possible physical format for a
laser-based embodiment of a rangefinding instrument housing the
functional elements of FIG. 1 and incorporating an in-sight display
viewable by a user thereof within the eyepiece while sighting a
selected point on a golf course or green.
DESCRIPTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0013] With reference now to FIG. 1, a representative functional
block diagram of a possible system 100 for implementing a
rangefinding instrument and method for automatically determining
and providing user specific suggestions for golfing applications in
accordance with the present invention is shown.
[0014] The system 100 comprises, in pertinent part a rangefinder
102 for determining distances to a selected point on a golf course
fairway or green as will be more fully described hereinafter.
While, in the representative embodiment disclosed herein, the
rangefinder may be a laser-based rangefinder, other possible
rangefinding technologies may be employed such as radar-based
devices or those incorporating other rangefinding technologies.
Representative laser-based rangefinding technology, including
devices incorporating a built-in tilt sensor, is disclosed, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,528,518; 5,806,020 and 5,859,693 all
assigned to Laser Technology, Inc., assignee of the present
invention, the disclosures of which are herein specifically
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0015] The system 100 further includes a number of different
possible sensors 104 for providing additional inputs to the system
100. As contemplated herein, such sensors 104 may comprise tilt
sensors, angular sensors, wind speed and direction sensors,
altitude sensors, barometric pressure sensors and other devices for
providing appropriate positional and/or environmental input to the
system 100. A user input 106 is provided for receiving additional
user-supplied inputs to the system 100 and may comprise, for
example, a key-pad or one or more switches for toggling "on" or
"off" or scrolling through and selecting various menu items
viewable on an in-sight display 112 as will be more fully described
hereinafter.
[0016] A processor 108 receives inputs from the rangefinder 102,
one or more sensors 104 and user input 106 and communicates with
and stores data in, and retrieves data from, an associated data
store 110. It should be noted that any of the range finder 102,
sensors 104 or user input 106 may also provide data directly to the
data store 110 and/or the in-sight display 112 and need not
communicate with the data store 110 or in-sight display 112 through
the processor 108.
[0017] With reference now to FIG. 2, an exemplary logic flow chart
for programming a rangefinding instrument to function in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In a
programming mode of operation 200, the system 100 may prompt a user
to enter an identifier (ID) for the particular user such that
subsequently entered and/or computed data may be correctly
associated with the proper user. In this regard, at input step 202,
user identification data is entered into the system 100 and stored,
for example, in the data store 110, at step 204. Such user ID data
may be entered in any of numerous known methods through the user
input 106.
[0018] Subsequently, at input step 206, the user may be prompted to
enter a fairway club type (e.g. a numbered driver, iron and the
like) for which a personal ball driving distance under nominal
conditions is known to the user. This club type information is
stored in the system 100 at step 208. At input step 210, the user
may then enter a representative personal ball driving distance
associated with the club type entered previously in input step 206.
Entry may be, again, through the user input 106. This information
is then correlated at step 212 to the club type previously entered
by the system 100 and stored, for example, in the data store 110.
Given this information, the system 100 may then compute at step 214
(e.g. using the processor and the entered/stored data) the
appropriate corresponding distances for other club types than the
type entered at step 206. It should be noted that, in other
embodiments of the present invention, the system 100 may
alternatively prompt a user to enter a plurality of club types and
associated ball driving distances in lieu of computing them itself.
In any event, at least a subset of the various club types available
to a golfer and an associated ball driving range for each is now
retained within the system 100 at step 216 (e.g. specific to a
given user of the system 100) and may be stored, for example,
within the data store 110.
[0019] With reference now to FIG. 3, an additional exemplary logic
flow chart is shown indicative of a use of a rangefinding
instrument in accordance with the present invention in a fairway
mode of operation 300. With data representative of a club type to
ball driving distance now being maintained within the system 100 in
accordance with the operation 200 of the preceding figure, a user
may now be prompted to enter his user ID at input step 302. The
user would then aim the rangefinder 102 at a point on the fairway
or golf course where he desires to hit the ball and press the
"fire" button at step 304 to enable the rangefinder 102 to compute
the distance to the point at step 306. In response to this distance
computation, the user will then be presented with the suggested
club to use to achieve this distance at step 320.
[0020] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, other
optional or alternative factors and inputs (indicated by dashed
lines) may be provided to the system 100 to provide corrections or
possible modification to what would otherwise be a suggested club
type based upon terrain, environmental or other factors. For
example, at input step 308, a tilt sensor may be provided as one of
the sensors 104 in conjunction with the system 100 (alternatively,
manual input of an angle of inclination or declination may be
entered through the user input 106) to provide a factor at step 310
to correct for differences in elevation between where the user is
currently standing and the point to which he is intending his shot
to be placed. As an example, hitting to a downward lying position
may result in a higher number club type being suggested for a given
distance while hitting to an upward lying position may result in a
lower number club type being suggested for the same given
distance.
[0021] At input step 312, the system 100 may also comprise a wind
direction and speed sensing system for providing inputs to the
system 100 which provide correction factor(s) at step 314 for
possible alteration of a system 100 suggested club type based upon
whether there is a following or opposing wind and the speed
thereof. In other embodiments of the present invention, the system
100 may utilize the wind speed and direction information to further
provide a visual indication in the in-sight display 112 of an
offset aiming point to reach the desired point on the fairway or
golf course in light of the prevailing wind conditions. This
information may also be, or in substitution for, provided to the
user through the in-sight display 112 in the form of verbal
directions or other forms of communication. Still further, in lieu
of an associated wind speed and direction sensor 104, the
information about prevailing wind conditions may further be
manually entered by a user as to either the conditions at the point
of hitting the ball, its desired aiming point or any other point
through entry to the system 100 by means of the user input 106.
[0022] In still other embodiments of the present invention, the
ground conditions of the course (e.g. wet, dry, frozen and the
like) may be entered to the system 100 at input step 316 for
providing possible modification of a system 100 suggested club type
due to the anticipated roll factor (at step 318) that such a ground
condition might impart to the ball. Although not illustrated, the
system 100 may be readily modified to accept other factors for
possible modification of a suggested club type based upon, for
example, the altitude of the course, the barometric pressure, the
type of ball in use (how far it travels for a given impact relative
to other types of golf balls) and the like. Once the initial shot
has been made, the system 100 may again be used to aid a user in
selecting the appropriate club for the distance to the next desired
point on the course at step 324 from the point where the first shot
has landed.
[0023] With reference now to FIG. 4, a further additional exemplary
logic flow chart is shown indicative of a use of a rangefinding
instrument in accordance with the present invention in a putting
operation 400. In the putting mode of operation 400, the distance a
particular golf club can be used by a particular user to hit a
given distance in not nearly as important as, in most instances, a
putter will be the only club in use. Under these conditions, it is
the various contours of the green and ball speed that are most
important.
[0024] At step 402, the rangefinder 102 may be aimed at the cup (or
hole) and the distance to the hole computed at step 404. In the
representative embodiment illustrated, the identification of a
particular user of the system 100 is not required. Through the
utilization of, for example, a built-in tilt sensor 104, this input
at step 406 is provided to enable the system to determine, in
addition to the distance to the hole, the angle of inclination or
declination at step 408 from the point where the user is then
standing. Cross lope can be determined by the operator standing at
a right angle to the line of the ball and/or pin and taking a
number of shots along the line. Another method that may be employed
would be to incorporate a compass into the instrument (or utilize
one in conjunction with the instrument) which would then enable the
operator to determine cross slope without having to stand at a
right angle to the ball and/or pin. Again, other optional inputs
and correction factors may be implemented as previously described,
here represented in dashed lines as input steps 410 and 414 in
conjunction with the determination of respective correction factors
at steps 412 and 416.
[0025] At step 418, the system 100 may provide a visually offset
aiming point for the putt based upon the distance and slope of the
green contours superimposed on the visual aiming point at the cup.
Alternatively, verbal instructions such as the number of feet or
inches to aim the putt to the right or left of the hole may be
provided. Should the putt be missed, at step 420, the same process
may be repeated until the putt is ultimately made.
[0026] With reference additionally now to FIGS. 5A through 5C,
respective rear perspective, front perspective and side elevational
views of a possible physical format for a laser-based embodiment of
a rangefinding instrument 500 is shown for housing the functional
elements of the system 100 of FIG. 1. The rangefinding instrument
500 includes an eyepiece 502 (it may be monocular as shown or
binocular) through which the user may sight the rangefinder 102 at
the desired point on the fairway or the hole on the green. It also
enables the user to see, for example, a superimposed image of a
menu or items for selection in the program mode of operation 200,
the user ID, the suggested golf club type, the distance to the
selected point on the course, and/or any other correction factors
or inputs employed on the in-sight display 112.
[0027] A diopter adjustment wheel 504 enables the user of the
system 100 to focus the reticle, while a user actuatable switch 506
(or a plurality of switches) functions as a user input 106 for
entering certain of the information in the program mode of
operation 200 or any other of the system 100 operational modes. The
switch 506, as previously described, may also be used to enable a
user to select scroll through and/or select from various items
displayed on the in-sight display 112. An additional button or
switch 508 may be used to "fire" the laser-based range finder to
initiate a sequence of pulses toward the selected point or cup to
enable the rangefinder 102 to determine the distance to the point
or cup. In the particular implementation of the present invention
shown implemented utilizing a laser-based rangefinder 102, the
optical viewing path and laser pulse transmission aperture is
illustrated as element 510 while the laser pulse receiving aperture
is illustrated as element 512.
[0028] While there have been described above the principles of the
present invention in conjunction with specific circuit elements and
functionality, it is to be clearly understood that the foregoing
description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation
to the scope of the invention. Particularly, it is recognized that
the teachings of the foregoing disclosure will suggest other
modifications to those persons skilled in the relevant art. Such
modifications may involve other features which are already known
per se and which may be used instead of or in addition to features
already described herein. Although claims have been formulated in
this application to particular combinations of features, it should
be understood that the scope of the disclosure herein also includes
any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed
either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization or
modification thereof which would be apparent to persons skilled in
the relevant art, whether or not such relates to the same invention
as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates
any or all of the same technical problems as confronted by the
present invention. The applicants hereby reserve the right to
formulate new claims to such features and/or combinations of such
features during the prosecution of the present application or of
any further application derived therefrom.
* * * * *