U.S. patent application number 11/793993 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for manners of using a sports ball parameter determining instrument.
Invention is credited to Fredrik Tuxen.
Application Number | 20080261711 11/793993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34429203 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080261711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tuxen; Fredrik |
October 23, 2008 |
Manners of Using a Sports Ball Parameter Determining Instrument
Abstract
A system and an apparatus for providing data relating to a
sports club/bat and/or a sports ball before, during or after
launch. The data may be used for testing the club/ball or for
introduction into a video feed of the club/ball in order to enhance
TV broadcasting of sports tournaments or training. Additionally,
games may be played where ball data are projected into a virtual
reality, such as a virtual golf course, so that the ball path in
the virtual reality may be seen. The system is suitable for e.g.
golf, cricket, and baseball.
Inventors: |
Tuxen; Fredrik; (Horsholm,
DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 8910
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Family ID: |
34429203 |
Appl. No.: |
11/793993 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK04/00918 |
371 Date: |
January 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/199 ;
473/223; 473/407; 700/91; 73/495 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3694 20130101;
A63B 69/3614 20130101; A63B 69/0015 20130101; A63B 69/0002
20130101; A63B 69/3658 20130101; A63B 69/3623 20130101; A63B
24/0021 20130101; A63B 60/42 20151001; A63B 2024/0034 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/199 ;
473/407; 473/223; 700/91; 73/495 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: an apparatus for providing data relating to
a golf club and/or a golf ball before, during, or after impact, the
apparatus outputting data relating to a movement of the club and/or
ball, means for providing a video signal relating to the golf club
and/or ball before, during, or after impact, means for providing
data relating to the data in the video signal.
2. A system comprising an apparatus for providing data relating to
a golf club and/or a golf ball before, during, or after impact, the
apparatus outputting data relating to a movement of the club and/or
ball, the system further comprising means for gathering data
relating to multiple clubs, balls, launchings, persons or the like
and providing comparative data relating to the data.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the use of measuring
instruments for use in relation to sports equipment, such as golf
balls and golf clubs, or balls and clubs/bats used in cricket or
baseball.
[0002] Golf parameters have been measured using a number of
apparatus, as may be seen in WO03/032006, WO 91/06348, U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,700,204, 6,547,671, 5,092,602, 4,509,052, 3,798,644,
6,133,946, 5,489,099, 6,244,971, 6,456,232, and 5,495,249 in
JP-A-6126015 and 8266701 as well as the present applicants three
co-pending applications.
[0003] Launching a sports ball, a number of parameters may be of
interest in relation to the club/bat or the ball during launch,
flight, landing, bouncing and final resting position.
[0004] Such parameters may be: [0005] Club/bat path and velocity
(such as the position/velocity/acceleration determined in 2 or 3
dimensions) [0006] Ball launch data
(position/velocity/acceleration/spin/drag/lift etc determined in 2
or 3 dimensions), [0007] Ball Flight data
(position/velocity/acceleration/spin/drag/lift etc. determined in 2
or 3 dimensions) [0008] Ball landing data
(position/velocity/acceleration/spin/drag/lift etc. determined in 2
or 3 dimensions) [0009] Ball bouncing data
position/velocity/acceleration/spin/drag/lift etc. determined in 2
or 3 dimensions), [0010] Ball roll data
(position/velocity/acceleration/spin/drag/lift/friction etc.
determined in 2 or 3 dimensions) [0011] The final position of the
ball (determined in 2 or 3 dimensions)
[0012] A parameter may be derived from the whole of the club/bat
swing or ball path or only part thereof.
[0013] Depending on the type of activity, any type of shot, such
as, in golf, a drive, an iron-shot, a pitch, a flop-shot, chip, a
put or the like may be the target of measurement of both parameters
of the ball and the club/bat.
[0014] Different apparatus for providing these parameters may
require different positioning thereof in relation to the
ball/club/bat, such as behind or at the side of the
golfer/athlete.
[0015] The parameters determined may be used in a number of
different manners of which some are provided below primarily
described in relation to golf. However, it should be noted that the
same data may be derived in the same manner for cricket or
baseball.
[0016] One manner of determining and using parameters determined
from club/ball is during a practice session of a golfer. The
parameters may help the golfer improve his game in that parameters
may be provided faster and more precisely (e.g. the length of a
shot or the distance of the landing zone from a given target) than
if the golfer himself had to make the determination.
[0017] Naturally, this manner may be used both indoors and outside
on the golf course or practice area.
[0018] The parameters may be stored and compared to other
parameters, such as parameters relating to different weather
conditions, different golf course conditions, different clubs,
different balls, different points in time--or comparisons may be
made between different golfers.
[0019] Another manner of using the parameters may be seen in
combination with a virtual reality where the parameters derived
from the actual club or ball movement are converted into parameters
in a virtual space in which e.g. a golf course is illustrated. In
this manner, the path of the golf course may be illustrated in the
virtual space.
[0020] Thus, even if the path of the club or ball is interrupted,
such as when launching the ball indoors, the full path of the
club/ball may be calculated in a virtual course or space and
illustrated to the golfer.
[0021] Naturally, this may be used not only for playing a game of
golf on the virtual course. Also, the golfer may practice his game
by seeing how the actual flight would be in the virtual course.
Different parameters may be varied at the will of the golfer (such
as weather conditions).
[0022] In one situation, a flag or other target or marker may be
provided to the golfer in the real world, such as on a golf course
or a driving range. A similar flag or marker may be provided in the
virtual reality space and in a corresponding position in order to
assist the golfer in "navigating" in the virtual reality space. In
order to increase the "illusion", the virtual reality space may
additionally provide an environment similar to that of the golf
course (the same surroundings (trees, hills or other land marks,
the same height difference from the golfer to the marker). Also or
alternatively, parameters of the real world may be altered in the
virtual reality space, such as bunkers/lakes/trees which may be
added or removed. Thus, the golfer's imagination is helped in the
direction as to how the virtual golf course is positioned in
relation to himself and his surroundings. Multiple golfers may
therefore play the same virtual course and compare their games.
[0023] The flags or markers may then have to be provided in the
same relative positions relating to the golfers positions--or the
actual positions of the flags or markers at the golfers may be
provided so as to correspond to the positions in the virtual
reality courses of the system.
[0024] Then, the golf match may be stored and analyzed at a later
date. In fact, a game may be played or re-played later on with
multiple players on the course, where the games of the individual
players are then combined.
[0025] For a cricket or baseball player, the flag might illustrate
the position of a batter or positions in the field.
[0026] A third manner relates to games of different types which may
be played either alone or against other real or virtual golfers.
Games may be related to who is the closest to a target, who is
inside/outside a predetermined (target) area, who the fastest
launch speed of the ball, who shoots the farthest, puts the best,
has the most perfect swing, or the like. Points may be awarded
relating to the velocity, length, distance to target, time or the
like. These parameters may be determined in a virtual reality space
or in the real world.
[0027] Naturally, parameters may be saved and analyzed later, or
the games may be re-played at a later date.
[0028] The same types of data may be derived for other sports.
[0029] A fourth manner is used for acquiring club and/or ball
flight data from a robotic golfer. This may be in order to
characterize the club and/or ball.
[0030] Robotic golfers are known for characterizing clubs or balls
where the robot is used for performing standardized or repeatable
launches using either a standard club (for characterizing balls) or
a club for which parameters are to be determined. The same is true
for standardizing balls and bats/clubs for cricket/baseball.
[0031] The parameters of a plurality of ball launches using a club
are derived and compared. Statistics may be calculated in order to
characterize the club and/or ball.
[0032] The use of a robot increases the repeatability of the
measurements and the use of the parameter determining apparatus
speeds up the determination and makes it possible to obtain a
larger quantum of data for the characterization.
[0033] A fifth manner is used for acquiring data relating to balls.
The parameter determining apparatus is provided adjacent to a ball
launcher, and parameters of e.g. ball flight are determined. Then,
a plurality of balls are launched from the launcher (or the same
ball is launched a plurality of times) maybe not using a club/bat
but launching balls in other manners in which e.g. the spin and
speed of the ball is controlled. Again, the use of a launcher
increases the repeatability of the measurements and the use of the
parameter determining apparatus speeds up the determination and
makes it possible to obtain a larger quantum of data for the
characterization.
[0034] Interesting parameters of this aspect are spin, carry
dispersion, drag, lift etc. of the ball.
[0035] A sixth manner uses data derived relating to a path of a
sports ball during e.g. a tournament or a game covered by TV. In
this manner, the ball flight data are synchronized with the video
signal. Thus, the data may be synchronized with the video of e.g.
the golfer teeing off on TV or the baseball pitcher pitching. Thus,
the video signal of the golfer/pitcher or flying ball may also
comprise real time data relating to the parameters of the
club/ball, such as carry distance, height, velocity or the like.
The video feed may be real time, semi real time or may be provided
subsequent to the game.
[0036] The sixth manner may also be used for illustrating the ball
path over the course in real time while the ball is in the air. An
illustration may be shown of the course, such as seen from above,
where the real time position of the ball, and maybe also the track
taken, is illustrated. Also illustrated may be the flag and the
position of tee off as well as obstructions on the fairway etc.
[0037] A seventh manner also relates to live or semi-live TV
coverage of golfers/athletes. In this situation, the practice, such
as on the driving range, may be covered by TV images completed with
data provided relating to the practicing, such as data relating to
the club/bat swing or ball data. If the practice is a driving
practice, drive length and dispersion, spin, drag, etc. may be
provided on the TV monitor as well as a distance to a given target
if applicable.
[0038] This data may also be provided on monitors or big screens
for spectators to see.
[0039] Naturally, as is seen in an eighth manner, the TV feeding
(real time, semi real time or taped video) may also be used in a
shoot-out or competition in the field or on the driving range,
where the data again is fed to the spectator or viewer on the
screen or monitor which may also comprise images of the
golfers/athletes or other interesting elements, such as the balls,
the tee off etc.
[0040] A different manner is one where the ball or club/bat data
are used for club/bat-, gap and/or ball-fitting to the particular
golfer/athlete. In this manner, the data are used for determining
changes to a club or which club/bat and/or balls are suitable for a
particular golfer/athlete.
[0041] In this manner, the data from the club/bat and/or ball may
be compared to expected data in order be able to quantify a
variation from a desired level of the parameters. An example is
that a person with a given gender, height and weight should be able
to launch a given ball a in a given ball flight with a certain
club/bat. If the person is not able to do that, the variation from
the desired ball flight may be quantified and may be converted into
changes desired in the club/bat or ball. For this use, the
repeatability of the measurements and the speed and precision
obtainable in the measurements will increase the speed and
precision of this fitting.
[0042] A manner relates to the movement of the ball after the
flight. Normal data providers relating to golf balls use radar for
determining the ball flight path. However, the ball will both
bounce and roll after landing the first time. In order to obtain
also this data, radars or other data providers (e.g. using video
cameras) may be provided at or near the expected position of
landing of the ball in order to give more accurate ball flight data
of the end trajectory and bouncing/rolling of the golf ball.
[0043] Naturally, multiple data providers or radars may be provided
also along the trajectory in order to be able to cover the full
path of the ball and increase the accuracy of the data providing.
The data from these multiple data providers may be merged in real
time and may even be merged with a video signal. Also, a post
analysis may be performed in order to get a more accurate total
flight data set for the golf ball including both flight, bouncing,
and roll of the ball.
[0044] Instead of the usually most popular tee-offs and long shots,
the data providers may also be used for chipping and putting,
usually near the green of the course. Again, both the movement of
the club and the ball are interesting. Also, TV coverage may be
enhanced by providing this data and interesting data may be both
spin, velocity, friction, angle to horizontal, and the like.
[0045] In addition to the above manners, the data provider may be
used in general as an engineering tool to develop golf shafts,
clubs and balls. This is the situation both when a robot is used
for performing actions and increase the repeatability of the
measurements and when a person is used, such as for adapting a club
or balls to the person.
[0046] Naturally, one data provider or one data providing method
may be selected as a reference device. This device may be used for
validation of other test equipment. Also, the device may be used
for determining whether golf equipment complies to certain rules or
not. Normally, such tests are provided under controlled
circumstances, and the actual measuring principle also plays a role
in this respect.
[0047] Some of these manners are illustrated in the figures,
wherein:
[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates a ball before launch and the positions of
the radars,
[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a golf course seen from above during TV
coverage,
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a golf club swinging robot,
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates a golf ball launcher, and
[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates a driving range and a virtual space
illustrating a golf course.
[0053] In FIG. 1, the situation illustrated in most of the above
patent literature is provided, namely the launch of a golf ball 10
toward a flag 12. The ball 10 is hit by a club 14, and the
movement(s) of the club and/or ball are measured using one or more
radars 16, which may be positioned at any desired position, such as
behind the ball 10 or beside the ball 10 at launch.
[0054] All the above parameters (velocity, smash factor, angle,
spin, drag, . . . ) may be determined using this set-up.
[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates TV coverage of a golf match or the like.
The monitor 20, which receives a real-time, semi-real-time or a
taped video feed, illustrates the golf course seen from above.
Trees 22 and ponds/bunkers 24 may be present. The fairway 26 may be
illustrated, as may the flag 28 and the position of tee off 30.
[0056] The position 32 of the ball during flight is provided in
real time or semi real time on the monitor as well as data 34
relating to the ball flight. Also, the path already covered may be
illustrated.
[0057] In the course, a number of data providers 16, such as
radars, may be provided along the course or fairway. The data or
signals from these may be combined in order to provide a higher
precision of the data providing during all of the flight.
[0058] In this situation, also data relating to the ball impact
position, bouncing and roll may be provided and illustrated on the
monitor 20.
[0059] FIG. 3 illustrates a golf club swinging robot 40 swinging a
golf club 14, striking a ball 10, and where a radar 16 determines
data relating to the club and/or ball. This may be used for
characterizing the club and/or ball. Alternatively, the set-up may
be used for ensuring or testing whether the ball or club fulfils
international requirements.
[0060] Naturally, the same set-up may be used when replacing the
robot 40 with a person. In this manner, the data gathered may be
used for selecting or adapting a club or balls to that person.
[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a golf ball launching robot 42 launching
golf balls 10. The radar 16 provides data relating to the flight of
the golf balls in order to characterize these or ensure that the
balls fulfil international requirements.
[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates a real-life driving range or practising
area 50 comprising a flag or marker 52 positioned in the area. Also
illustrated in FIG. 5 is a monitor 54 illustrating a virtual space
56 having a golf course 58 also having a flag or marker 60 but also
having a number of obstructions 62, such as bunkers.
[0063] The golf course 58 may be a fully virtual course or may
resemble or look like an existing golf course.
[0064] The flags 52 and 60 help the golfer to correlate the course
58 to the area 50 in that the distance (vertically and/or
horizontally) from a present position of a ball to the flag 52 may
be taken as the distance from a ball in the course 58 to the flag
60. The distance in the virtual space 56 may be defined in any
suitable manner.
[0065] When the golfer launches the ball toward the flag 52, the
true parameters of the ball are converted into parameters of a ball
in the virtual space 56. Preferably, if the ball hits the flag 52,
the ball in the virtual space 56 will also hit the flag 60.
However, in the golf course 58, the ball may now land in the
obstructions 62 which are not present in the real area 50.
[0066] The flag 60 in the virtual space 56 may be the actual flag
of the golf course 58 or may simply be a reference point relating
to the flag 52 in the real area. The positions of the flags 52 or
60 may be varied from shot to shot or may be fixed. The position of
one of the flags may be alterable in order for it to correspond to
the position of the other.
[0067] Thus, the golf match may be recorded in the virtual space 56
and golf course 58. The virtual golf course may be distributed to a
number of golfers, where after golf matches may be played virtually
by replaying the matches of individual players.
[0068] It should be noted that the above described embodiments
would be equally well suited for use in cricket or baseball.
* * * * *