U.S. patent application number 12/069010 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for golf swing trainer and method of improving a golf swing.
Invention is credited to Floyd D. Rose.
Application Number | 20080207347 12/069010 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39716544 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080207347 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rose; Floyd D. |
August 28, 2008 |
Golf swing trainer and method of improving a golf swing
Abstract
The present invention relates to a golf swing trainer. The golf
swing trainer includes a body member including a first surface; a
first elongated array of light emitting elements arranged in a
longitudinal direction on the first surface of the longitudinal
body member; and a controller configured actuate the first
elongated array of light emitting elements to generate a moving
light pattern representing a position of a simulated golf club head
during a simulated swing with at least one of the light emitting
elements of the first elongated array.
Inventors: |
Rose; Floyd D.; (Oceanside,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,;KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Family ID: |
39716544 |
Appl. No.: |
12/069010 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60900644 |
Feb 8, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/222 ;
473/220; 473/223; 473/409 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3676 20130101;
A63B 71/0686 20130101; A63B 2071/0694 20130101; A63B 69/3623
20130101; A63B 69/3632 20130101; A63B 69/3621 20200801; A63B
2071/0625 20130101; A63B 2220/89 20130101; A63B 2220/805 20130101;
A63B 2209/08 20130101; A63B 2220/808 20130101; A63B 69/3614
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/222 ;
473/409; 473/220; 473/223 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A golf swing trainer, comprising: a body member including a
first surface; a first elongated array of light emitting elements
arranged in a longitudinal direction on the first surface of the
body member; and a controller configured to actuate the first
elongated array of light emitting elements to generate a moving
light pattern simulating a position of a simulated golf club head
during a simulated golf club swing with at least one of the light
emitting elements of the first elongated array.
2. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1, further comprising
one or more input elements, the microcontroller being arranged to
vary at least one parameter of the simulated swing responsive to
operation of at least one of the one or more input elements.
3. The golf swing trainer according to claim 2, wherein at least
one of the one or more input elements is arranged on the body
member and is configured to be activated by an actual golf club
head.
4. The golf swing trainer according to claim 2, further comprising:
a display device configured to display at least one operation mode
of the golf swing trainer, and at least one of the parameters of
the simulated swing.
5. The golf swing trainer according to claim 4, wherein the
parameters of the simulated swing include: a tempo of the simulated
swing; and a length of the simulated swing.
6. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is operative to actuate the first elongated array of
light emitting elements to display a front and back maximal
amplitude and a starting point of the simulated golf club head.
7. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1, wherein a start of
the simulated golf head during the simulated swing is indicated
with a first flash of at least one of the light emitting elements,
a second flash of at least one of the light emitting elements, and
a movement of the moving light pattern along the first elongated
array of light emitting elements, and wherein the timing between
the first and second flash, and the second flash and the start of
the movement are substantially the same duration.
8. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1, further comprising:
a pointing device mounted to the body member, wherein the pointing
device is arranged to project a light beam along the longitudinal
direction of the body member.
9. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1, further comprising
one or more sensor elements mounted to the body member and arranged
to detect positions of an actual golf club head during an actual
swing of an actual club.
10. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1 wherein the one or
more sensor elements include an elongated array of sensor elements
arranged substantially in parallel with the first elongated array
of light emitting elements.
11. The golf swing trainer according to claim 9, further
comprising: a second elongated array of light emitting elements
arranged substantially in parallel with the first elongated array
of light emitting elements, the controller being operative to
actuate the second elongated array of light emitting elements to
display positions of the actual golf club head measured by said one
or more sensor elements.
12. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1, further
comprising: a remote control separate from the body element, and a
remote control input sensor mounted to the body element configured
to receive commands from the remote control, the controller
configured to set one or more parameters of the simulated swing
responsive to the commands received by the remote control input
sensor.
13. The golf swing trainer according to claim 9, wherein the
controller is configured to capture information representing the
actual golf swing from the one or more sensor elements, and reuse
the captured information to generate the simulated golf swing.
14. A method of training a golf swing, comprising the steps of:
displaying a moving light pattern simulating a position of a
simulated golf club head in a simulated golf club swing along a
longitudinal direction of a body with a first elongated array of
light emitting elements; and attempting to match the position of
the simulated golf head with an actual position of an actual golf
club head in an actual golf club swing.
15. The method of training a golf swing according to claim 14,
further comprising the step of: indicating a start position of the
simulated golf club head on the first elongated array of light
emitting elements.
16. The method of training a golf swing according to claim 14,
further comprising the steps of: measuring the actual position of
the actual golf club head simultaneously with said step of
displaying the moving light pattern representing the position of
the simulated golf club; and displaying the actual measured
position of the actual golf club head on a second elongated array
of light emitting elements.
17. The method of training a golf swing according to claim 16,
further comprising the steps of: comparing the position of the
simulated golf club head with the measured actual position of the
actual golf club head; and displaying the difference between
positions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60,900,644, filed Feb. 8, 2007, entitled Golf Swing
Trainer And Method of Improving A Golf Swing, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a golf training device and
method, and more particularly a device and method for practicing a
swing of a golf club, such as, for example, a golf putter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Numerous golf training devices have been proposed to improve
a golfer's swing of the club. Golfers know how important a correct
swing is to achieve a desired speed and trajectory of the golf
ball. This is true whether putting, chipping, pitching, or during a
full swing. In particular, high precision is required during
putting to improve a golfer's score. Many things influence the
speed and trajectory of a golf ball while in flight or while
rolling on a green. Two main factors that can be controlled by a
golfer when striking a golf ball are the angle of the club face at
impact and the speed of the club at impact. While many devices have
been proposed to improve the direction of the golf club when
striking a golf ball, as for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,282,627
and 5,350,177, only a few propose a training device or method to
control and improve the distance traveled by the golf ball after a
strike with a golf club.
[0004] Thus, there is a substantial need for golf swing training
devices and methods to improve and control the distance traveled by
the golf ball when putting, chipping, pitching, or taking a full
swing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a golf swing trainer. Preferably the golf swing
trainer includes a body member including a first surface, and also
includes a first elongated array of light emitting elements
arranged in the longitudinal direction on the first surface of the
body member. Preferably, the golf swing trainer also includes a
controller, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the
first elongated array of light emitting elements to generate a
moving light pattern simulating a position of a simulated golf club
head during a simulated golf club swing with at least one of the
light emitting elements of the first elongated array.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of training a golf swing. The method
includes a step of displaying a moving light pattern simulating a
position of a simulated golf club head during a simulated golf club
swing along a longitudinal direction of a body member with a first
elongated array of light emitting elements. Preferably, the method
also includes a step of attempting to match the position of the
simulated golf club head with an actual position of an actual golf
club head in an actual golf club swing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings
where:
[0008] FIGS. 1a-c are top views according to a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an electronic system
for the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view according to yet another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0012] FIGS. 5a-d are screenshots of a graphical user interface of
the display of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a frontal side view of still another embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a top view according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] It should be noted that the dimensions of the assemblies
shown in the Figures may be distorted for clarity of the
illustration, and different proportions of the different dimensions
are also possible. Furthermore, like numbers represent similar
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] A golf swing trainer 10 in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 1a,
includes a body member 12, in the variant shown being of
longitudinal shape, and being approximately 25 inches long, 2
inches wide, and about 0.5 inches thick. These dimensions are
exemplary only, and many other dimensions are possible to implement
the trainer 10. As used in this disclosure, terms such as "upper,"
"upwardly," "top," "lower," "bottom," "left," "right,"
"vertically," and "longitudinally" should be understood as
referring to the body 10 as shown in FIG. 1a, where the body 10 is
seen from a top perspective, and need not conform to the normal
gravitation frame of reference. In FIG. 1a, the upward direction is
the direction towards the viewer of the drawing. FIG. 1a is for
representative purposes only.
[0019] The body member 12 has a ruler-like shape and includes a
scale 30 that is printed on the top surface 19 of the golf swing
trainer 10. The scale 30 is arranged in parallel to an array of
light emitting elements 20. Preferably, the light emitting elements
are light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are arranged on an upper
surface of the body member 12. The scale numbering to both left and
right directions starts in the middle of the golf swing trainer 10
at the center line 32 indicating the center of the golf swing
trainer 10. In the variant shown, the numbering of the scale 30
increments to the left and right side of the scale from 1 to 12
inches, and indicates possible lengths of a back or front swing.
The numbering of the scale 30 is also exemplary, and other scales
and range of the values are also possible. The lights of the array
of light emitting elements 20 can be controlled by a controller 58
that is located inside the body member 12. The controller 58
controls the light emitting elements 20, for example via a driver
circuit to selectively turn on and off at least some of the light
emitting elements 20. Thereby it is possible to generate light
position patterns 22 that can move longitudinally on the array of
light emitting elements 20. The location of the controller 58 is
indicated with dashed lines in FIG. 1a, since the controller is
located inside the body member 12. The dashed lines are therefore
only used for representation purposes, and may not be physically
present in on the golf swing trainer. Other electronic elements may
be also present in the body 12 (See FIG. 2). The controller 58 is
powered, for example, by a battery 64, and a voltage controller
(not shown), may further control the supply voltage. A power port
77 can be arranged on the body 12 of the golf swing trainer 10, and
can be used to connect a battery charger or an external power
supply, to provide power to the trainer 10.
[0020] The golf swing trainer 10 also includes a number of input
devices in the form of buttons and switches 52, 54, 60, 62, 70, 80
and 90, display device 50, and indicators 72, 82, and 92, at least
some of them interconnected to the controller 58. Buttons 52, 54,
60 and 62 can be push buttons. In the variant shown, the push
buttons are made of plastic or rubber material. They are sufficient
in size and preferably at least a portion of the push button
elements sticks out of the upper surface of the body member 12, so
that they can be easily pushed by a golf club 110. These buttons
can be used for selecting functions, parameters or settings that
may be varied by the golf player, hereinafter called the user, when
using the golf swing trainer. In addition to the push buttons,
switch buttons 70, 80, and 90 are arranged on the upper surface 19
of the body 12. Switch 70 is configured to turn the trainer 10 on
and off, and switches 80 and 90 can set different types of
parameters regarding the type of swing that is chosen to be
practiced by the user. An upper surface of the switch buttons 70,
80 and 90 may be arranged at the same height or lower with respect
to the upper surface 19 of the body 12, so that a golf club that is
erroneously swung by a user cannot inadvertently touch the switches
and thereby change the settings or turn the device off. Light
emitting elements 72, 82 and 92 can show the status of the golf
swing trainer 10. Information 94 as to the function associated with
a button, switch, display or light emitting element can be printed
on the upper surface of the body 12, or can be glued as labels onto
the upper surface 19 of the body 12.
[0021] A laser pointing device 40 can be optionally arranged on
either end of the longitudinal body 12, or on both ends. In the
variant shown, one laser pointing device 40 is arranged on the left
side for right-hand users. The laser pointing device 40 can be used
as a guide to align the golf swing trainer 10 with the target
direction of the golf swing, and is arranged to project a laser
light beam in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the body
member 12. For left and right hitters, it is desirable that a laser
40 is arranged on both ends of the trainer 10, and optionally the
lasers 10 can be switched on and off by an additional switch. The
output power of the laser pointing device 40 is preferentially
limited to 5 mW, to meet the legal requirements of the FDA.
[0022] The basic principle of operation of the golf swing trainer
10 is that the array of light emitting elements 20 will show a
simulated movement of a simulated golf club head along the array,
and a user of the actual golf club 110 has to try or attempt to
match the simulated movement displayed by the array of light
emitting elements 20 with the actual movement of the actual golf
club head 112. In order to perform an ideal golf swing to hit a
ball at a target speed or tempo, the user has to swing the golf
club 110 so that the golf club head 112 accelerates and then slows
down in a fashion that is reproducible by the user. Thereby
substantially the same distance will be traveled by the golf ball
100. Preferably, the acceleration and slowing of the actual golf
swing does not undergo sudden changes. Depending on the different
styles of different users, the swing can be short or long, and the
golf club head 112 has to accelerate and slow down inversely
proportional to the length of the swing, if the same distance has
to be traveled by the golf ball 100 regardless of a short or long
swing.
[0023] In this way, it is possible for the user to propel the golf
ball 100 with a speed that is reproducible to achieve a target
distance. Preferably, the golf club head 112 accelerates during the
front swing until the point of impact of the golf club head 112
with the ball 100, and then de-accelerates or slows down. The
acceleration and de-acceleration is done in a smooth way to avoid
sudden changes in speed. The trainer 10 can therefore be configured
to show a simulated movement of the simulated golf club head by
showing a position pattern 22 that moves along the array of light
emitting elements 20 in such manner.
[0024] In particular, to display the simulated movement, one or
more light emitting elements will be lit to form a light position
pattern 22, and the light position pattern 22 will move along the
longitudinal direction of the array 20 by sequentially turning on
and off the neighboring or close light emitting elements, thereby
forming a moving light pattern. The moving light pattern indicates
a desired position of the actual golf club head that will move over
a certain time period. The pattern 22 can move in both left and
right directions. The actual swing will typically start at the
center line 32, where the user will position his golf club head
112. Preferably, the simulated golf swing will be automatically
shown by the trainer 10 in a regular interval, for example an
interval of 5-60 seconds, and more preferably at an interval of
5-15 seconds.
[0025] To indicate to the user that a simulated golf swing with a
moving light pattern on the array 20 will shortly be displayed by
trainer 10, the pattern 22 will remain at the center line position
32 and can flash twice, and after the same time period between the
first and second flash the pattern 22 will move along the
longitudinal axis to display a golf swing by indicating the
longitudinal position. This wait period between flashes may be
approximately 1 second or less. Desirably, there will be a first
flash of pattern 22, and after a wait period of 1 second or less,
there will be a second flash of pattern 22. After a substantially
identical wait period, the pattern 22 will start to move and will
thereby show the simulated swing by moving along the array of light
emitting elements 20. It is thereby possible that the maximal
amplitude of the front swing and the back swing will be constantly
displayed on the array 20, with the front and back amplitude
indicators 24 and 26. After displaying the simulated swing, the
light position pattern 22 will be turned off, and after a certain
idle period, the light position pattern will restart to flash twice
at the center line to show the next swing. During this process of
displaying the moving light pattern represented by the light
position pattern 22, the user can attempt to match the position of
the pattern 22 with a golf club head 112 by an actual swing. The
actual swing can be performed with or without a golf ball 100. In
the variant shown with respect to FIG. 1b, a right-handed putting
golf swing will be displayed by moving the pattern 22' from the
center line 32 to the right, until pattern 22' reaches the back
amplitude indicator 26. The user moves the golf club head 112 to
the right to attempt matching the position of the pattern 22'. The
movement of the golf club head 112 during an actual swing is
visualized by arrow 114.
[0026] After pattern 22' reaches the back amplitude indicator 26,
pattern 22'' moves back to the left side over the middle line 32
until it reaches the front amplitude 24 (FIG. 1c). Similarly, the
user moves the golf club head 112 to the left to attempt to follow
pattern 22'' with a left swing, which is visualized with arrow
116.
[0027] The golf ball 100 should be impacted approximately when the
golf club 110 passes the center line 32. The golf ball 100 moves to
the right after the impact, visualized by arrow 118. The direction
of movement of the golf club 110 and ball 100 is visualized with
arrows 114, 116, 118 for representation purposes only, and these
arrows may not physically present on the putting green or on any
other surface where the trainer 10 is located. After displaying the
swing, the pattern 22 will disappear or be turned off, until the
next swing is shown. This type of training of the swing allows the
user to focus on the actual swing by following the pattern 22,
instead of focusing on the location of the golf ball 100 and the
hit of the golf ball 100. The golf club head 112 in FIG. 1 is shown
to practice a swing for a right-handed golfer, with the ball being
hit from the right side.
[0028] The user has further the possibility to configure the type
of golf swing that he wants to practice. With switch 70, the user
can turn the trainer 10 on and off, and a signal light 72 can
indicate the status. Exemplarily, if the light 72 is off, the
trainer 10 is off; if the light 72 is blinking, the device is
starting up; and if the light is on, the trainer 10 is ready to be
used. In a low-cost variant, there may be no signal lights 72, 82,
92 at all. With switch 80 right-handed or left-handed golf swings
can be chosen. For a left-handed golf swing, the above-described
moving light pattern using position patterns 22, 22' and 22'' will
be axi-symmetric relative to the center line 32, compared to the
right-handed swing. To better match the position of the pattern 22
by the user, it is possible for the golf club head 112 to be
equipped with light emitting elements (not shown) that generate a
matching pattern similar to pattern 22, to facilitate the optical
matching of the position of the golf head 112 and the pattern 22.
Such variant is preferable if the practicing is performed in low
light conditions.
[0029] The user can further adapt or change the simulated golf
swing type with parameters. With buttons 52 and 54, the user can
decrement or increment the tempo or speed of the simulated golf
swing. The selected speed of the tempo can be indicated in a
display 50 by numerical values, for example varying between 1, a
very slow tempo, to 20 being a high tempo. These values don't have
to correspond to real speed values. With buttons 60 and 62, the
length of the simulated swing can be varied. The length of the
simulated swing can be displayed by the array 20 with the front and
back amplitude indicators 24 and 26. Indicators 24 and 26 will move
away or towards each other, if the swing length is increased or
decreased, respectively. It is also possible that the period of
repetition of the simulated golf swings are manually modified with
buttons, for example between 5 and 60 seconds, more preferably an
interval of 5-15 seconds. In a low-cost version of the trainer 10,
it is possible that the period of repetition cannot be varied at
all.
[0030] With the switch 90, the user can also choose between
different types of simulated swings. These types can include a
putting swing, chipping swing, pitching swing, and a full swing.
Different types of swings will have different types of moving light
patterns, including a different speed, back amplitude and front
amplitude. While a putting pattern can be substantially symmetrical
to the center axis 32 and is limited with front and back
amplitudes, a chipping pattern may not be limited with a front or
back amplitude indicator 24 and 26. Preferably, in the chipping
mode, only the back swing amplitude indicator 26 will be turned on
to limit the back swing to the scale 30 of the trainer 10. When the
moving light pattern for the front swing is generated, the light
position pattern 22 will move all the way up to the end of the
array 20, indicating that the front swing amplitude 24 is out of
the range of the array 20.
[0031] In the full swing/pitching mode, the trainer 10 can initiate
a simulated right-hand swing by flashing the light emitting
elements at the center line 32, indicating a proximate start of the
swing. When the backswing starts, the light position pattern 22
moves backwards until the back swing amplitude indicator 26 is lit.
At this point of the timing, the backswing ends. At the same
moment, this can be indicated by the light emitting elements at the
center line 32 flashing up, thereby indicating that the front swing
should be initiated. The pattern 22 will start moving to the left.
At the correct impact timing with the golf ball 100 the light
emitting elements at the center line 32 will flash up again.
Therefore the user can verify optically if he is hitting the ball
100 at the correct time. The front swing itself may or may not be
displayed by the light position pattern 22. For a left-hand swing,
the displaying of the swing will be axi-symmetrical to the center
line 32.
[0032] Alternatively, the simulated front and back swing may exceed
the scale 30 of the trainer 10, and therefore neither the front
swing indicator 24 nor the back swing indicator 26 will be lit. In
this variation, the pattern 22 will move to the right out of the
range of the scale 30, and at the moment the golf club 110 is
supposed to reach the end of the actual back swing, lights at the
center line 32 of the array of light emitting elements 20 could
flash up once.
[0033] The parameters on tempo, length and type of the simulated
swing can be read and processed by controller 58, to generate a
simulated swing with the pattern 22. For example, all or a
combination of these parameters can calculate an ideal swing, or
can be read from a pre-stored look-up table that is stored in a
memory 69 (FIG. 2) associated with the controller 58. It is also
possible that a professional golfer's successful hits for various
swing lengths, tempo and swing types were previously recorded and
processed to generate data for moving light patterns that are
stored in the trainer 10. These patterns can be recorded to the
trainer 10 at time of manufacture.
[0034] In FIG. 2, a schematic representation of the electronic
circuit that is integrated into the longitudinal body 12 of the
golf swing trainer 10 is presented. A controller 58, for example a
microcontroller with various input/output ports, operates many
peripheral electronic devices by a system bus 56. All the
electronic devices requiring power are fed through power
distribution lines 53 of the voltage controller 75. The voltage
controller 75 may consist of multiple independent voltage
controllers, and can generate different voltage levels, depending
on the requirements of the electronic devices. Different voltage
levels may be required for feeding the light emitting elements, the
driver circuits, the controller 58, etc. For example, while most of
the electronic devices may operate at 2.7V, the array of light
emitting elements 20 may require a different voltage and also has
to be controlled separately to avoid noise interfering with the
controller 58 and other electronic devices when switching the light
emitting elements 20. The voltage controller 75 can be fed by a
chargeable or non-chargeable battery 64, that itself can be charged
by an external charger (not shown), or can be by-passed with an
external power means connected to power port 77. The power on/off
switch 70 can cut the power supply to the voltage controller,
thereby turning the trainer 10 off.
[0035] A driver circuit 68 allows the controller 58 to address
individual light emitting elements 20 over the system bus 56, and
can also include power circuitry with transistors that turn the
said light emitting elements on and off. The light emitting
elements 20 may be turned on and off by a buck or boost driving
circuit. For displaying the tempo set by the user on a display 50,
and showing the status of the trainer 10 with some light emitting
elements 72, 82, and 92, these elements are coupled to a display
driver 65, that itself is coupled to the system bus 56 or another
bus of the system, for example an I.sup.2C bus. The display
elements 50, 72, 82 and 92 can therefore be addressed by the
controller 58. Status of switches 80, 90 and buttons 52, 54, 60, 62
can be transmitted by a multiplexer 76 to a register circuitry 66.
The register circuitry can be connected to an interrupt line of the
controller 58 (not shown) to inform the controller 58 in a rapid
way on the changes of the status, for example by a user pressing
the buttons 52, 54, 60, 62. The status of the buttons is stored on
the register 66, and can be read, after an interrupt, by the
controller 58. As an optional element, the laser 40 can be
connected through a driver circuit 42 to the bus system 56, so that
the controller 58 can control the laser 40. However, in a variant
the controller 58 is not in communication with laser 40, and is
only supplied with power from voltage controller 75. Switches (not
shown) may turn the laser 40 off by interrupting the power supply
line.
[0036] While the controller 58 may have internal memory for
processing and temporary storage purposes, a non-volatile memory
69, for example a FLASH memory, can include an operation software
or program code that is loaded into the controller 58 for operation
of the trainer 10. The software or program code, when executed on
the controller 58, will operate the golf swing trainer with the
above described functions or steps. Such functional steps may be
the displaying of the moving light patterns on the array 20, or
reading the status of the buttons 52, 54, 60, 62 and switches 80,
90 to change the operation mode of the displaying, etc.
[0037] In the variant shown, pattern 22 is formed by three lights
that are alit. Alternatively, the position pattern 22 can be formed
by a single light that is turned on, but can also be formed by more
than one light element of the array 20. It is also possible that
pattern 22 is formed by a pattern of lights, for example by having
a center light and two neighboring lights lit that are not adjacent
to the center light. In addition, the array of light emitting
elements 20 need not necessarily be made of lights that show the
position pattern 22. It is also possible that a mechanical or
electro-mechanical indicators or changeable patterns are used. For
example, the simulated position of the simulated golf club head can
be shown with a linearly translating indication needle that would
take over the function of the light position pattern 22.
Alternatively, and individual light of the array 20 may be replaced
by an electro-mechanic device that can change position of a metal
plate that is partially covered with a fluorescent or white paint
that can be moved relative to a hole exposing either the
fluorescent or white paint, or a dark surface.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the golf swing trainer
210. In this embodiment, the display 250 not only can display the
current simulated swing tempo, but includes a graphical user
interface that generates graphic or textual representation with
values regarding distance settings, swing modes, status of the
trainer 10, etc. The display 250 can be a matrix TFT display having
sufficient resolution to show settings and status information to
the user. The settings and parameters can be varied by a graphical
menus system generated by software code that is executed by the
controller 58 or an additional display driver (not shown). Buttons
260 serve to navigate through these menus. Buttons 260 include up
and down buttons 252, enter button 254, clear button 256 and escape
button 258, and allow navigation to change settings, parameters and
modes, and view information. In the variant shown, these buttons
are operable by the golf club 310.
[0039] Instead of purely relying on optical display of the start of
a simulated swing with a position pattern 222, this embodiment
includes a loudspeaker 266 arranged on the upper surface of the
longitudinal body 12 that can produce sequences of beeps to inform
the user when to start a swing, for example by generating a
count-down acoustic signal. It is also possible the controller of
the trainer 10 has pre-stored speech sentences like "steady," "go,"
etc., to talk to the user to start his swing, or to indicate when
to get ready, by saying: "please get ready for your next swing."
The beeps or spoken passages can be produced in combination with
the flashing light pattern indicating the next swing.
Alternatively, a user may configure if he wants optical,
acoustical, or both signals, by changing settings in a submenu by
using operating buttons 260 and the display 250.
[0040] Another feature of this embodiment is the golf club
detection sensor 240 that is arranged substantially at the center
line 232, facing a position of the golf club 310 when the user is
ready for a swing. The club detection sensor 240 may detect the
golf club 310 without contacting the club, for example by using
optical or magnetic measurement principles. Such sensors may
include capacitive or inductive measurement sensors. It is also
possible that the golf club 310 be equipped with an active sensor
element 270, mounted to the front portion of the golf club head 312
to assist the detection of the golf club 310. The element 270 can
be a permanent magnet that can be detected by a magnetic sensor
element in the trainer 210, for example a proximity hall effect
sensor. However, since most putting and chipping golf clubs are
metallic, it is also possible to realize a passive detection of the
club without sensor 270.
[0041] The golf club detection sensor 240 is connected to the
controller 58 of the trainer 10, and can be configured to cause an
interrupt of the program executed by the controller. Since the
sensor 240 can therefore detect presence or absence of the golf
club, this interrupt information delivered to the controller can be
used to automatically start a moving light pattern moving over
array 220 when the user starts his swing.
[0042] Unlike the first embodiment, where the starting time of the
simulated swing is set by the controller and where the trainer 210
is in a master mode, it is possible for the controller of this
embodiment to first wait for the user to move golf club 310 in an
actual swing, thereby being in a slave mode. In a variant, an
optical signal with the array 220 or the display 250, or an
acoustic signal can indicate a time period where the user has to
get ready for a hit, and then has to place the golf club in
vicinity of the golf club detection sensor 240. As soon as the
controller, by using the detection sensor 240, detects presence of
the club head 312, the controller waits for the user to move the
golf club 310 before displaying a moving light pattern simulating a
simulated swing. Alternatively, as soon as the controller detects
the presence of the golf club head 112, and after a wait period for
example between 1 to 5 seconds, the controller can again generate
the flashing lights at the center line, or the acoustic signal to
indicate a proximate start of the simulated golf swing. In a
variant, also by using buttons 260 and display 250, the sensitivity
of the detection sensor 240 can be set.
[0043] In the variant shown, the array of light emitting elements
220 is made of a number of round LEDs. However, it is also possible
to use different types of light emitting elements, such as small
light bulbs, and also it would be possible to use display
technology such as backlight TFT screens, LCD screens, etc., to
display a moving light pattern with a position pattern 222 along a
longitudinal axis of the body 212. If display technology is used,
the position pattern 222 may be a graphic display like a target
symbol, arrow, etc.
[0044] An additional embodiment of the present invention is shown
in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the trainer 410 has a first and
second array of light emitting elements 420 and 480, both arranged
substantially in parallel with each other in close proximity along
a longitudinal edge 413 of the body 412. It also includes a linear
position sensor or an elongated array of sensor elements 440,
arranged between the second array 480 and the longitudinal edge 413
facing the swing area of golf club 510, to facilitate detection of
a golf club 510. In the variant shown, the linear position sensor
440 is configured to detect a golf club 510 along at least a
portion or the entire swing area of the trainer 410, and is
therefore has substantially the same longitudinal coverage of the
length of arrays 420, 480. The edge 413 of the body 412 is beveled
so that the linear detection sensor is oriented with an angle
relative to the upper surface of the body 412, and therefore faces
the front portion of the golf club head 512.
[0045] The linear position sensor 440 is configured to measure the
actual position of a golf club 510, and deliver data on a position
to the controller of the trainer 410. While the first array of
light emitting elements 420 may be used to display a moving light
pattern simulating a simulated golf swing that has to be matched by
the user during an actual swing, the second array of light emitting
elements 480 may be used to display the measured position of the
golf club 510 in real time, for example with a light pattern 482.
Light pattern 482 may be made of one or more adjacent light
emitting elements that are alit. When a user tries to match the
movement of a light position pattern 422 moving along the array
420, his golf club position during the actual swing will be
represented with pattern 482 on second array 480, and therefore can
be better compared visually to the position of pattern 422. It is
possible that first and second arrays 420 and 480 use different
colors of light emitting elements. In a variant, the displaying of
measured position, and the displaying of the simulated swing are
shown only on one elongated array of light emitting elements, as
shown in the embodiments with respect to FIGS. 1 and 3. Such
embodiment could save costs of an additional array of light
emitting elements.
[0046] In addition, the trainer 410 with the linear position sensor
440 can also include a function to measure and save golf swings
that were performed by a user. For example, if an experienced
golfer, such as a golf teacher or a professional, wants to save his
own swing so that he or someone else can try to match it, the
linear position sensor 440 can capture the swing. The captured
swing can be processed by the controller of the trainer 410, and
stored for further usage in the memory. Processing of the measured
swing by the controller can include the detection of start and end
point of the swing, filtering functions to eliminate noise and
glitches from the measured swing, etc. Special menu functions can
be shown on the display 450 with the graphical user interface to
capture and save the swing.
[0047] The embodiment of FIG. 4 also includes a sensor 460 for a
remote control unit 490, preferably an infrared remote control
sensor. Instead of having numerous buttons on the upper surface of
the body 412, a remote control unit 490 can include such buttons
492, and can send signals by an emitter 494 to the golf swing
trainer 410. All control signals, settings and parameters can be
sent to the trainer 410, so that the user does not have to bend
down to the trainer 410, nor does he have to operate the trainer
410 with the golf club 510. In the variant shown, no buttons or
switches other than the power switch 470 is arranged on the trainer
410, thereby facilitating the mechanical design of the trainer 410.
The power switch 470 is associated with an indicator 472. Such
embodiment may be preferred if the design of the trainer 410 has to
be waterproof, for example for outdoor usage in rainy weather.
[0048] In addition, the trainer 410 includes a graphical display
450 that can represent a graphical user interface 455 with menus
and other graphical representation of information. The display 450
is arranged in the middle of the trainer 410 centered to the line
435, and may be connected to a graphics processor (not shown) that
is also connected to the controller of the golf swing trainer 410.
It is therefore possible that the display 450 shows all kinds of
graphs of measured and preprogrammed data for the user's
information. For example, as shown in FIG. 5a, the graphical user
interface 610 shows a menu or submenu where different setting can
be modified with graphically represented sliders 612 and buttons
614. Text blocks for the sliders 612 and buttons 614 will label
them respective functions and information. In the variant shown,
the sliders 612 can modify tempo, offset and length of the swing.
Other parameters can also be set, for example conditions of the
putting green or pitching grass, environmental conditions with
humidity, rain, etc. The sliders 612 can be activated by navigating
through menus by the remote control 490.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 5b, graphical user interface 620 can
represent the results of a golf strike after the user has performed
the strike. In the variant shown, the relative speed is
represented. For this purpose, the timely evolution of the strike
was measured by linear position sensor 440. The controller
calculated the difference between the desired speed of the golf
club head at a certain position, and the measured speed at the same
position along the linear position sensor 440. The resulting graph
622 can be displayed in a Cartesian coordinate system, with the
x-axis showing the position of the golf club and in the y-axis the
calculated speed difference. The user can thereby see at which
positions he was moving too fast or too slow relative to the ideal
swing that corresponds to the x-axis. The x-axis labeling thereby
corresponds to the scale 430 printed on the trainer 410.
Alternatively, display 450 may be as long as the width of the first
and second arrays 420, 480, and the linear position sensor 440, and
thereby the display 450 can show the graphs that represent the real
positions of the swing along the x-axis.
[0050] The user can operate the trainer 410 to show other types of
graphs on the display 450. In FIG. 5c, absolute speed is
represented in a Cartesian coordinate system, showing a graph 632
with an ideal, pre-programmed golf club swing, and a graph 634 with
the measured swing. The absolute speeds are shown relative to the
position of the golf club on the x-axis. The graphics processor may
also rescale the graphs 632, 634 depending on the settings of the
length settings of the swing, and therefore a rescaled graph along
the x-axis may be shown on the display 450. Alternatively, it is
possible to show average values of multiple measured swings, and
display statistical data by analyzing two or more swings that have
been measured. Statistical data of trends can be represented
graphically on the display 450. Alternatively, a captured and saved
swing from a user or swings that are pre-stored in the memory can
be visualized with the graphical user interface 455.
[0051] FIG. 5d shows another screen shot 640 of a menu page of the
graphical user interface 455 of the display 450. On this page, the
user can choose different types of ideal golf swings, for example
by choosing swing types from professional golfers 643 that have
been previously recorded in the trainer 710. Once the user has
chosen his preferred golf athlete, the user can start practicing
the professional golfer's swing.
[0052] In addition, trainer 410 also includes a microphone 465. The
microphone is preferentially arranged close to the center of the
longitudinal body 412, in proximity to the center line 435, and
close to the lower border that faces the golf swing area. The
microphone 465 is coupled to the controller of the trainer, and the
acoustic signals of the microphone 465 can be processed by the
controller or by a co-processor aiding the controller to gather
this information. The controller or co-processor may have
instruction code performing an algorithm that can detect the signal
of the golf club 510 hitting the golf ball 400 from the acoustic
information of the microphone 465 and therefore can gain additional
data on the user's swing other than the golf club position.
[0053] A yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown
in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, generic menu buttons 552 and 554
collectively labeled as "Menu" are provided on trainer 500. Menu
buttons 552 and 554 allow the user to selectively cycle through the
various functions provided by the trainer. By way of example only,
menu button 554 may be configured to cycle through the list of
functions provided by trainer 500 in one direction, whereas menu
button 552 may be configured to cycle through the list of functions
in the reverse direction. Alternatively, a single menu button 552
may be provided in a low cost version of the trainer to selectively
cycle through the various functions provided by trainer 500 in a
single direction only. A user can repeatedly press menu button 552
or 554 until the desired function, such as the tempo function or
the length function, is indicated by the trainer 500.
Simultaneously, the display 550 on trainer 500 can indicate the
currently configured value of the selected function. At this point,
the user can press button 560 or 562 to configure the selected
function to a new value which is shown on display 550. For example,
with the tempo function selected, the user may press button 562
labeled with the "+" symbol to increase the tempo of trainer 500
until the desired value is displayed as the currently configured
value on display 550. Alternatively, the user may press button 560
labeled with the "-" symbol to decrease the tempo of the trainer
500 until the desired lower value is displayed as the currently
configured value on display 550. In addition to displaying the
currently configured value, display 560 may also indicate the
function selected by the user through the menu buttons 552 and 554.
Alternatively, the function selected by the user may be indicated
to the user with a single LED (not shown) that flashes a set number
of times to indicate which function has been selected. Still
another way of indicating which function has been selected includes
lighting or flashing a single LED in a set of LEDs (not shown),
where each LED of the set of LEDs corresponds to a different
function and is used to indicate to the user that a particular
function has been selected.
[0054] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown on
FIG. 6. In the previous embodiments, the golf trainers were
stand-alone devices not depending on any other electronic device to
operate, other than the remote control 490. In this embodiment,
however, instead of having a powerful- controller or graphics
processor with a display 450 inside the trainer 710, as explained
with reference to an earlier embodiment, a personal computer 780
(PC) may be connected with a cable 790 using a data interface.
Thereby any powerful processing is performed by the computer 780,
for analysis, storage or display purposes. Data between PC 780 and
the trainer 710 may be exchanged, and software running on the PC
780 may manage all the data. For example measured swings can be
uploaded to the computer 780 and subsequently stored and analyzed,
and pre-programmed swings and swing sequences can be downloaded to
the trainer 710 for configuration of the trainer. During or after
the training session of the user, the data can be shown by
management software that can manage one or more trainers 710. Data
can be represented by a graphical user interface 770, with graphs
and user functions as shown with respect to FIGS. 5a-5c.
[0055] Alternatively, the data connection between PC 780 and
trainer 710 may also be a wireless communication, for example by
using a WIFI network or Bluetooth connection. Trainer 710 can be
equipped with such wireless communication interface. Multiple
trainers 710 can also be connected with cables or wirelessly to one
PC 780, acting as a server, with management software to manage
multiple trainers 710. It is possible that multiple users can log
in and create their golfing profiles and preferred training swings,
before they start using the trainer 710. Data generated by any of
the trainers 710 could subsequently be uploaded to the server and
managed under their profile name, for tracking the improvement of
their game. The data can further stored in a database. If a fee has
to be paid to a golf club for the use of such trainers, the
software may manage time and usage of the trainers 710 for billing
purposes. It is thereby possible that the trainer 710 can be
positioned anywhere on a putting green, and the trainer 710 can
communicate the data for later analysis to a server, for example
located at the golf center of the golf club.
[0056] The PC 780 can further be connected to the internet via a
modem (not shown), that allows sharing data with other PCs and
users, and that also allows download of other data towards the
trainer 410. For example, a server can manage user accounts for
individual users of the trainer 410, and a user can access the
accounts online to visualize the improvement of his game, follow
statistics of the performed swings, etc. It is also possible that
new firmware and other data such as special golf swings can be
downloaded from a server and installed or stored into the trainer.
If the trainers 410 are connected to the internet, they can be
remotely diagnosed and updated with new firmware by maintenance
software that runs on a server.
[0057] Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown
with respect to FIG. 7. The trainer 810 is shown in a direction
parallel to a putting green 920, perpendicular to a front side wall
818 of the trainer body 812, when the trainer 810 is placed on the
putting green 920. Instead of having a ruler-like flat shape, as
shown with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the body 812 has an
arc-like shape, where the upper surface 819 of the body 812 is
curved to a radius that substantially corresponds to a radius of a
golf swing of a potential user. This body shape is preferable if
swings with longer amplitude have to be practiced, for example
swings exceeding amplitudes of 25 inches, such as long puts or
chipping swings. The radius can be designed to match a plurality of
golfer sizes, and will depend on the golfer's swing style and his
body height.
[0058] It is therefore possible that the trainer 810 is sold with a
range of different swing radii for different types of heights of
the users. For many golfers, the pivotal axis of the golf swing is
at the height of the shoulders, and therefore the trainers could be
manufactured to match a range of different shoulder heights. In
addition, trainer 810 is shown with spikes 816 that are arranged on
the lower surface of the body 812, so that the trainer can be stuck
at a safe position into the green 920. Alternatively, the upper
surface 819 of the body 812 may have a substantially flat portion
in a center area where the golf club 910 and the golf ball 800 is
shown, and can have upwardly bent portions at the extremities of
the body 812. In the embodiments shown, the front side wall 818 is
flat; however, it is also possible that the front side wall 818 has
a curved shape, curved towards the position of the user, or being
curved towards the pivotal point of his swing, such as his
shoulders. The array of light emitting elements could also be
arranged in such curved arrangement, and also need not to be on the
upper surface 819 of the trainer 810, but can alternatively be
arranged along an upper edge of the side wall 818, or on a beveled
edge between the front side wall 818 and the upper surface 819.
[0059] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown
with respect to FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the distance 1042 that
the ball 1000 will travel after a hit by a user can be measured by
a measurement system 1050, and the distance can subsequently be
transmitted to the trainer 1010. The trainer 1010 can compare the
measured distance 1042 with a stored, desired distance, or the
measurement system 1050 can also measure a desired distance 1044 of
the golf ball hit, and transmit data of the desired distance to the
trainer 1010. The desired distance can be visually marked on the
training putting green 1080 by a marker line 1040 easy detectable
by system 1050, and also being visible to a user. Preferably, the
desired distance 1044 where the ball 1000 is supposed to stop is a
little longer than the distance to hole 1030, in the range of 10-15
inches. The desired distance can also simply be calculated by the
measurement system by the detection of the location of the hole
1030.
[0060] The result of the comparison between measured distance 1042
and desired distance 1044 can be used by the trainer 1010 to adapt
the simulated swing in tempo and amplitude, to correct the
difference or error between desired and measured distance 1044,
1042, respectively. The trainer 1010 can also measure the user's
swing with a linear detection sensor arranged in the trainer 1010,
to thereby take the measured swing into account. Based on the
measurement of the distances 1042, 1044, and alternatively the
performed swing, the trainer 1010 can propose a faster or slower
tempo and longer or shorter amplitude of the swing. If the
performed swing is far of a certain tolerance of the simulated
swing, the trainer 1010 can inform the user by an acoustic or optic
signal. Since the distance 1042 of the golf ball 1000 is measured
and fed-back to the user of the trainer, this operation mode could
be called closed-loop mode.
[0061] In the variant shown, the measurement system 1050 is an
optical measurement system including a camera and a vision
processor (not shown) having optics 1060 configured to
substantially cover the training putting green 1080, and also to
avoid the user obstructing the golf ball 1000, line 1040, and
trainer 1010 from the camera. The field of view 1065 of the optics
1060 can at least capture images covering the ball 1000, and the
marker line 1040. The camera may be coupled to a vision processor
that can perform image processing such as object detection, pattern
matching and calibration of the field of view to detect the
relative distances 1042, 1044 from the starting point of the golf
ball 1000.
[0062] To detect the starting point of ball 1000, the vision system
can either assume a fixed starting point, or a starting point that
is manually set by the user and communicated to the trainer 1010 or
the vision processor, or can detect the trainer 1010 optically
based on visible markers 1070 that are located on the trainer.
Alternatively, the optical measurement system can detect the
starting position of the ball 1000 itself. Pattern matching
algorithms and other image processing algorithms can be used to
detect markers 1070 or ball 1000, to calculate the center line
1032, or the starting point of the ball 1000, respectively.
[0063] The marker line 1040 showing the target distance 1044 can be
for example made of a bright-colored or fluorescent tape, having a
color that substantially differs from the surface of the training
putting green 1080. The golf ball 1000 as well as markers 1070 are
preferably made of a color or patterns that are easily identifiable
by the optical measurement system. The optical measurement system
can also easily detect the orientation of the trainer 1010, and the
two markers 1070 arranged on opposing ends of the longitudinal body
of the trainer 1010 facilitate such detection. The vision processor
can therefore also calculate the deviation of the golf hit from the
axis of the longitudinal body of the trainer.
[0064] When operating the trainer 1010 with the measurement system
1050, the user can position the ball 1000 close to the center line
1032 of the trainer 1010. The measurement system will detect the
position of the center line 1032 or the golf ball 1000, and will
send this information to the trainer 1010. This may be indicated to
the user by a light signal or an acoustic signal, and will then
show the blinking sequence to indicate the initiation of a golf
hit, for example after a certain wait period. The user thereby has
time to prepare for the golf swing. The user then attempts to match
the moving pattern of the trainer 1010, and hits the golf ball
1000. During the time of initiating the golf swing the measurement
system 1050 can be idle.
[0065] The measurement system 1050 can either wait a preprogrammed
period, but can also detect and track the movement of the ball
1000, and as soon as the ball is not moving, detect the position
1042 of the ball and then forward the position to the trainer 1010.
The measurement system 1050 can also calculated the distance
between the starting point of the golf ball and the line 1040, and
also send this information to the trainer. The trainer 1010 perform
an algorithm to correct the simulated golf swing based on the
measurements of system 1050, for example by using a PI control
algorithm for correcting the error.
[0066] The vision processor can be integrated into the trainer
1010, can be part of the camera, or can be an external computer
system such as a PC that also includes other functionalities to
manage the golf swing training, as described with reference to FIG.
6. In a simplified version of the measurement system, a camera is
arranged above the hole 1030 and will only cover a field of view
around the hole 1030. The measurement system will simply measure
the distance of the ball 1000 towards to hole 1030 and send this
information to the trainer 1010 for further processing to adapt the
simulated golf swing. It is also possible that other systems are
used to detect the position of the ball, for example by using radar
effects, electronic tags inside the ball, etc., instead of using an
optical detection system.
[0067] The invention herein as described includes various features
that were presented with reference to particular embodiments. The
features of one embodiment are not limited to that particular
embodiment. Features may be interchangeable with other embodiments,
as one with ordinary skill in the art will understand and
appreciate. For example, the loudspeaker 266 and the associated
features of the embodiment shown with respect to FIG. 3 may also be
part of the features of all other embodiments shown. Of course,
this rationale is not only limited to the feature of the
loudspeaker 266, but applies to many other features described in
this invention.
[0068] Although the invention herein has been described with
reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that
these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and
applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *