| Golf drive monitor -> Monitor Keywords |
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Golf drive monitorRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, GolfGolf drive monitor description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060040756, Golf drive monitor. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT [0002] The present invention does not involve any form of federally sponsored research or development. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to the sport of golf, including, but not limited to, a wireless connection attached to a golf ball monitor for use in transmitting attributes of a golfer's practice drive. Devices and methods for monitoring golfer performance at hitting a golf ball, particularly the measurement of the golf ball movement and trajectory, are known. One of the best known forms for measuring golfer performance is the placement of targets at a golf range. This device relies on the golfers own visual observation and memory for determining performance and performance improvement over time. More sophisticated golf monitoring devices actually monitor golf ball movement immediately after being struck by a golf club. Characteristics such as golf ball speed, direction, spin, and so forth are measured by the device and are used to calculate a trajectory of the ball. Radar based devices have proven to be very accurate and can predict golf ball trajectory and distance within a few percent. Other performance measuring devices include sensors that are located on the ground near a target at a facility such as driving range so that actual drive impact location and distance is correlated to an impact location predicted by a radar monitoring device. The results of specific practice sessions can be viewed on a display screen or a printout. Practice data can be stored locally at the driving range on the monitoring device for later viewing; however, having to return to the golf range can be an inconvenience and time consuming for the golfer. Further, the objective comparison of results over extended time periods including numerous sessions either do not exist or would be a time consuming effort. [0004] For many sports a large number of repetitions are important to improving performance. Ideally, performance under a variety of conditions or locations can be helpful in improving overall performance. Collecting and objectively analyzing performance data can help eliminate psychological bias in interpreting results. In the case of a simple target at a golf range, a golfer's interpretation of his own practice drive performance based on visual observation of a golf ball driven towards a target at a driving range lacks any real objective analysis or comparison of a large number of drives. Hiring a golf professional to observe the golf as the golfer practices at the driving range is typically cost prohibitive. Further, the displaying of practice results stored by more sophisticated monitoring device, such as a radar unit, typically shows performance for a specific session and not for multiple sessions extending over time and from other locations. [0005] Accordingly, there is a need for generating golf practice data over time from a plurality of drives with a variety of clubs and possibly from various locations, yet being able to collect and transmit the data for objective analysis of performance. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] An apparatus includes a wireless connection connected through a computer to an object monitor that is capable of measuring movement and determining trajectory of a moving object, more specifically a golf ball. The wireless connection can transmit data to and receive data a wireless access point of a computer network. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus that monitors and transmits data for a golfer's drive of a golf ball in accordance with the invention. [0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of the apparatus that is capable of monitoring and transmitting data about a driven golf ball in accordance with the invention. [0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a wiring diagram for the apparatus that is capable of monitoring and transmitting data about a driven golf ball in accordance with the invention. [0010] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring and transmitting data about a driven golf ball in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0011] The following describes an apparatus for and method of monitoring and transmitting data about a driven golf ball. The apparatus includes a wireless connection that is connected to a golf ball monitor. The wireless connection facilitates the collection of a plethora of golf drive practice data. The apparatus allows golf drive data to be easily collected over extended time periods and from different apparatuses located at multiple locations. The data can be used to evaluate a golfer's performance and changes in performance. [0012] An apparatus that monitors and transmits data for a golfer's drive of a golf ball is shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus 100 includes a wireless connection 101 that is connected to an object monitor 103. The object monitor 103 preferably uses electromagnetic radiation 105, for example radio waves to monitor golf ball movement. The electromagnetic radiation can include radio waves in the microwave regime. The object monitor 103 can determine a golf ball trajectory 107 and estimate the distance the golf ball will travel. Alternatively, audio waves, also known as sonar, and video imaging can be used to monitor the movement of a driven golf ball and determine trajectory and distance. The monitoring of an object with radio frequency electromagnetic radiation including microwaves is commonly known as radar. Radar can accurately measure a moving object and is capable of estimating the distance that golf ball travels to within a few percent. An example of such a device is a golf ball radar unit manufactured by Distance Caddy Corp. The apparatus 100 is capable of transmitting collected and calculated data about the driven golf ball to a computer network access point 109. [0013] The apparatus 100 has a housing 111 to which a card reader 113, at least one keypad 115, at least one display 117, preferably a LCD display, and a solar panel 119 are attached. A golfer 121 activates the apparatus with a key card (not shown) which is swiped past or contacted with the card reader 113. The card reader 113 reads the key card so that the golfer can be identified and the apparatus 100 accessed. Once access is gained, the golfer uses the apparatus 100 by entering the type of club 123 selected for the practice drive into the apparatus 100 through the keypad 115. The golfer's identification and the selected club can be displayed on the display 117 before the golfer drives for confirmation by the golfer. Upon driving the golf ball 125 attributes of the particular golf ball drive such as golfer identification, club, drive distance, date, location, and so forth can be either stored for later transmission or immediately transmitted the wireless access point 109. In addition, the drive results can be displayed on the display 117. [0014] An expanded view of the apparatus that is capable of monitoring and transmitting data about a driven golf ball is shown in FIG. 2. The housing 111 encloses and supports components of the apparatus 100 that are electronically connected together. The wireless connection 101, the object monitor 103, and a computer 201 are mounted to the housing base 203, preferably by attaching the components to a chassis 211 that attached to the housing base 203. Typically, a chassis cover 213 covers the components mounted to the chassis 211. The object monitor 103 is attached to the housing base 203 so as to be proximately located along a centerline location adjacent to the aperture 205 in the housing 111. Because the driven golf ball is monitored with electromagnetic radiation, the object monitor 103 is mounted at the appropriated position to allow electromagnetic radiation to and from the object monitor 103 to pass through the aperture 205. Alternatively, the chassis 211 can be movably mounted to the housing base 203 so as to allow positioning the object monitor 103 to better accommodate right and left handed golfers. Further, the housing 111 can be designed to accept up to two sets of keypads 115 and displays 117 to permit the use of the apparatus 100 by right handed, left handed, or both right and left handed golfers. [0015] The housing 111, housing base 203, chassis 211, and chassis cover 213 can be constructed of metal, plastic, or a combination of metal and plastic. Typically, the wireless connection 101 includes an antenna 207 to facilitate the transmission of wireless signals from the wireless connection 101 to the wireless access point 109. Typically, wireless access point 109 is a wireless access point to a remote computer network. When the housing 111 or chassis cover 213 are made of plastic the antenna 207 can be entirely enclosed by the housing 111. Alternatively, when the housing 111 of chassis cover 212 are made of metal the antenna 207 must be mounted on an outer surface of the housing 111. Although the preferred embodiment includes a wireless connection of the object monitor to a remote computer, the object monitor can be directly connected the remote computer access point and/or the remote computer, such as by a hard-wire connection. [0016] Preferably, the apparatus 100 is powered by the solar panel 119 that supplies power to the battery 209. The battery 209 is mounted to the housing base 203. Alternatively, the apparatus can be powered by an external power supply [0017] A wiring diagram for the apparatus that is capable of monitoring and transmitting data about a driven golf ball is shown in FIG. 3. The wiring diagram shows how the electronic components of the apparatus 100 are connected. As commonly known in the industry the connections can be either an electronic data connection or an electric power connection. In this embodiment of the invention, the wireless connection 101 and the object monitor 103, for example a radar unit manufactured by Distance Caddy Corp, are both connected to the computer 201 for the transmission of electronic data. Alternatively, the object monitor 103 can be directly connected to the wireless connection 101. The computer 201 is also connected to the card reader 113, the keypad 115, and the display 117. Although the keypad 115 is shown as being indirectly connected to the computer 201 through the display 117, the keypad 115 can be directly connected to the computer 201. [0018] The computer 201 can perform a number of functions. When the golfer places a key card on or waves the key card past the card reader 113, identification data read by the card reader 113 passes to the computer 201. The identification data can include golfer identification, access number, and so forth. The computer can store and use the identification data to identify the golfer and provide access to the apparatus 100 after checking the golfer's account status. The computer can check the golfer's account status locally against information stored in the computer or the computer can check status after remotely accessing account information. For example, the computer can transmit and receive account information from an Internet website accessed through the wireless connection 101. 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