| Systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysis -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysisRelated Patent Categories: Education And Demonstration, Physical Education, GolfThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070196800. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/762,913 filed Jan. 27, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysis. It will be understood that the systems and methods may have application to any number of physical motion training and instruction activities beyond golfing. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Applicants note the following United States patents and patent applications, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,567,536 B2; 6,537,076 B2; US 2002/0114493 A1; US 2002/0115046 A1; and US 2002/0115047 A1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The Practice Bay System and Method of the present invention is a completely automated swing analysis and simulation system and method. The system and method is capable of automatically capturing and replaying video of the player's swing from multiple angles, calculating and rendering ball flight as well as swing statistics, determining the position of the player's feet throughout the swing and determining weight transfer between the player's feet throughout the swing with no direct interaction with the system. Other features and operations, as described below, are also supported. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be acquired by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: [0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system in accordance with the present invention; [0009] FIG. 2 describes the partitioning of the software system used in connection with the hardware shown in FIG. 1; [0010] FIG. 3 shows a screen shot for the system; and [0011] FIG. 4 shows another screen shot for the system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] A block diagram of the system in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The major components of the system as illustrated in FIG. 1 are as follows: [0013] A golf simulator and club/ball monitor system. For example, a TruGolf simulator and club/ball monitor (see, www.trugolf.com). The golf simulator and club/ball monitor system operates to sense (through the TruGolf club sensor 10) club head speed, club face angle, and club swing path through the ball striking zone and based on those measurements, with input on club selection, calculate (with the TruGolf computer/processing unit 12) ball flight statistics and ball flight path. Swing tempo, impact and other measurements may be made as well (through appropriate sensors, not explicitly shown but perhaps integrated in the sensor 10) and used in the previously mentioned calculations. The operation and configuration of such a golf simulator and club/ball monitor system is well known to those skilled in the art. The golf simulator and club/ball monitor system in a preferred implementation further includes with respect to the processing unit 12 a video rendering functionality whereby the calculated ball flight path can be video presented in a 2D/3D display (such as using a CRT projector 14 and screen 16). Still further, the golf simulator and club/ball monitor system in a preferred implementation includes the capability to simulate a practice range environment, a golf hole environment and/or a golf course environment wherein the calculated ball flight is rendered in the context of the simulated environment so as to simulate for the golfer the taking of an actual shot in outdoor environmental conditions. A touch screen input 18 is provided as a GUI for the golf simulator and club/ball monitor system. [0014] One or more video cameras 20. For example, a Basler A311fc--73 frames per second color camera--www.basler-vc.com. The camera(s) is used to take high speed video images of the player's swing from one or more selected angles (such as, top, left/right side, behind). [0015] A multisensor array pressure sensitive mat 22. For example, a 38''.times.38'' pressure sensitive mat with 1024 pressure sensors connected in a 32.times.32 array with a sensor spacing of 1.1''. Such a pressure mat can be obtained as a custom design from Sensor Products (www.sensorprod.com). The mat is capable of sampling pressure data from the sensor array at, for example, 85 frames per second. The pressure mat is used to dynamically capture for analysis the player's weight distribution and foot position at set-up, during the swing and at finish. [0016] Studio lighting--multiple spot lights 24 with a computer controlled dimmer 26. The studio lighting is designed to illuminate the player during the golf swing so that the camera(s), mentioned above, can obtain video of the player's swing. Any suitable controllable dimmer may be used with the goal that activation of the studio lights is controlled to occur only when necessary, such as when the camera(s) is operating. The dimmer system may comprise a DMX20L dimmer 26 from Elation Lighting (www.elationlighting.com) and a DMX USB Pro 28 from ENTTEC (www.enttec.com). [0017] A Video switch 34 which toggles the projector 14 screen input between the practice bay computer (processing unit) 30 and the golf simulator and club/ball monitor system computer (processing unit) 12. [0018] An automatic teeing and ball return mechanism 36. For example, such a mechanism as provided by Brown and Company. This mechanism functions to collect struck golf balls and then automatically tee the golf balls at a controllable tee height for the player to hit. [0019] The components of the system which have not been described above but which are otherwise shown in FIG. 1 or would be used in a system configured as in FIG. 1 have a configuration, operation and use that is well known to those skilled in art when considering the presented block diagram layout showing interconnections between the included components. Additional technical description of the system, its components and interconnections is presented below. [0020] Device Interfaces [0021] 1. Video cameras: The video cameras are connected via a standard firewire interface. The software for the system uses a software development kit provided by Basler to collect frames and control camera parameters over this interface. The VideoPlayer plug in is responsible for all camera interfaces. [0022] 2. DMX Controller: The DMX USB Pro 28 is connected to the computer via a standard USB interface. The system issues dimming commands using a protocol proprietary to the DMX USB Pro. The DMX USB Pro is then responsible for sending DMX packets to the connected DMX devices. In this case, one or more DMX20L 26 DMX devices are connected to the USB Pro 28. The lights 24 are then connected to the DMX20L completing the required interfaced needed to control the lights. [0023] 3. Pressure Mat 22: The Pressure Mat is connected to the computer via a standard USB interface. [0024] 4. Video Switch 34: The video switch is connected to the computer using a standard RS232 interface. [0025] 5. Automatic Tee 36: The automatic tee is connected to the computer using s standard RS232 interface. Continue reading... Full patent description for Systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysis Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysis patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysis or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Motivational baseball glove Next Patent Application: Sound effects generation device, sound effects generation method, and computer program product Industry Class: Education and demonstration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Systems and methods for golfing simulation and swing analysis patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.10588 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
