| Apparatus, method and computer program product for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency -> Monitor Keywords |
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Apparatus, method and computer program product for obtaining a measure of launch efficiencyRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Selection, Ball Direction, Or Distance Indicating AidApparatus, method and computer program product for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060030431, Apparatus, method and computer program product for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/581,991, filed Jun. 22, 2004 and entitled Apparatus and Method for Obtaining a Measure of Launch Efficiency, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to techniques for obtaining a measure of the launch efficiency of an object, such as a golf ball. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] An important aspect in the golf equipment and teaching industry is to provide the golfer with equipment that best fits his game (club fitting) and to provide insights on how to improve (game analysis). In the past, game analysis and club fitting have been based mainly on speed measurements of the club and ball; but these measurements are only a small part of the total picture. Launch monitors have been developed that measure the complete set of information about the club swing prior to impact and the launch conditions of the ball. One launch monitor utilizes cameras to take 2 pre-impact pictures of the club and 2 post-impact pictures of the ball. The club images are processed and calculation of the club speed, attack angle, in/out angle, and ball impact position are made. Also, the ball images are processed and calculations of ball speed, launch angle, dispersion angle, backspin and sidespin are made. Further details regarding launch monitors are provided by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/360,196 filed Feb. 7, 2003 entitled "Methods, Apparatus and Computer Program Products for Processing Images of a Golf Ball," the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Unfortunately, these measurements can be difficult to interpret and easily misapplied especially when trying to help the golfer choose from a wide variety of equipment options. [0004] During a typical fitting scenario, the golfer uses various club/ball combinations. For a driver fitting, the typical goal is to find the combination of club and ball to hit the longest, straightest drive possible. Generally speaking, club speed is the most consistent swing parameter of the golfer and would be the most difficult parameter to change for a given club. In contrast, the golfer can more easily change his swing path and impact position to accomplish a more efficient launch. However, golfers may be unable to determine which changes in swing path and impact position provide a more efficient launch and, even if a golfer can detect an improvement, may be unable to quantify the improvement. While launch monitors assist with the analysis process, the aforementioned difficulty in interpreting and comparing the results may limit their usefulness in this scenario. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided according to one embodiment of the present invention that determines a measure of launch efficiency of a ball that is more readily understandable by and/or intuitive to golfers as being indicative of the quality of a golf shot. Thus, any improvement offered by a club swing, a club fitting session or accorded by a change in swing path and/or impact position, can be identified. Club fitting and game/swing analysis should therefore be facilitated by the method and apparatus of embodiments of the present invention. [0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method, apparatus and computer program product determine a calculated distance of travel of a ball based upon the measured launch conditions including, among other launch conditions, the measured club speed. A maximum distance of travel of the ball is then determined for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed. In this regard, the maximum distance of travel of the ball can be determined for balls struck by a club having the measured club speed but having different launch angles and/or spin rate. Finally, the measure of launch efficiency is then determined based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel, such as by forming the ratio of the calculated distance of travel to the maximum distance of travel. [0007] In another aspect of the present invention, a method, apparatus and computer program product determine a calculated distance of travel of the ball based upon measured launch conditions of the ball and a maximum distance of travel of the ball upon being struck by a club having any combination of launch angle and spin rate. The measured launch conditions may include a measured club speed such that the determination of the maximum distance of travel for a ball is performed for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed. According to this aspect of the present invention, a measure of launch efficiency is again determined based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel. [0008] According to either aspect of the present invention, the measured launch conditions may include a measured ball speed such that the determination of the maximum distance of travel is for a ball having the measured ball speed. In other embodiments, the measured ball speed may be adjusted for any change in spin loft necessary to obtain an optimum ball spin and/or for a distance that the ball is offset from a "sweetspot" of the club. [0009] In the apparatus embodiment, a processing element generally performs the foregoing functions. The resulting measure of launch efficiency can therefore be easily interpreted to see how close the user's shot is to the maximum for that club speed. Among other uses, club fitting and game analysis can benefit from this more intuitive measure of launch efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings and views, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: [0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a club head and ball upon impact; and [0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operations according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. [0015] An apparatus 10 for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency is shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus includes a launch monitor as generally described by the above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/360,193. In this regard, the apparatus typically includes a sensor 12 positioned, generally in front of or to the side of the golfer, to measure a plurality of initial conditions. See also step 20 of FIG. 3. The initial conditions may include initial ball velocity, vertical launch angle, lateral launch angle, dispersion angle, back spin and sidespin, potentially among other parameters. The sensor can advantageously include a sensor, such as an image sensor and, more particularly, one or more camera(s), for capturing at least two images of the ball immediately after launch from which the foregoing initial conditions can be measured. [0016] Although the measure of launch efficiency may be based solely upon the initial conditions collected following the launch, the apparatus 10 of the illustrated embodiment also advantageously measures a number of parameters that define the club swing prior to impact, such as club speed, attack angle, in/out angle and ball impact position. See step 22 of FIG. 3. As such, the sensor 12, such as a camera, can also capture images of the club swing prior to impact from which these parameters can be determined as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Alternatively, the apparatus may include a separate club sensor for monitoring the club swing and determining these parameters as known to those skilled in the art. The resulting collection of initial conditions and club swing parameters may be collectively referenced as the launch conditions. [0017] The apparatus 10 of the illustrated embodiment also includes a processing element 14, such as a processor, a personal computer or the like that operates under control of a computer program stored in memory 16 as well as any other combination of hardware, such as an electronic circuitry, ASIC or the like, software or firmware, for thereafter determining the flight path of the ball at least partially based upon the initial conditions and, in some embodiments, club swing parameters. In this regard, the processing element can determine the flight path of the ball in accordance with a predefined flight model that relies upon the initial conditions and, in some embodiments, club swing parameters. The processing element can utilize any desired flight model including, for example, the flight model promulgated by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) or by a similar flight model, such as those that dynamically vary the lift and drag coefficients based upon relative wind (the vector sum of the actual wind and the direction of travel of the ball), spin rate, ball speed and/or ball design. [0018] In order to define launch efficiency, the processing element 14 of the embodiment described below makes use of a robust set of measurements of the club speed and impact position as well as the launch conditions of the ball in conjunction with the application of the governing equations of motion for golf club/impact and golf ball trajectory. However, the processing element of other embodiments may utilize only a subset of these parameters, such as the initial conditions measured following launch. 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