Sports simulator and simulation method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for simulating a sports activity using at least one processor, the method comprising:
- accelerating a sports object from a launch area towards a screen;
triggering a shutter of a camera directed at said launch area;
capturing with said camera multiple images on a single frame of said launch area while the sports object is accelerated from the launch area;
sensing passage of said sports object through a first plane located between said launch area and said screen;
generating a first signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said first plane;
sensing passage of said object through a second plane located between said first plane and said screen;
generating a second signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said second plane;
using said processor to determine one or more components of rotational velocity of said sports object based on one or more of said images captured with said camera;
using said processor to determine one or more components of translational velocity of said sports object based on said first and second signals;
using said processor to compute a future trajectory of said sports object based at least in part on said one or more components of rotational velocity and said one or more components of translational velocity; and
displaying the future trajectory of said sports object on the screen.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sports simulator calculates spin of a sports object using image analysis. A velocity vector is also calculated. These are combined to produce a predicted future trajectory of the sports object. In one embodiment, the sports object is a golf ball and the sports simulator simulates golf.
54 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A method for simulating a sports activity using at least one processor, the method comprising:
-
accelerating a sports object from a launch area towards a screen;
triggering a shutter of a camera directed at said launch area;capturing with said camera multiple images on a single frame of said launch area while the sports object is accelerated from the launch area; sensing passage of said sports object through a first plane located between said launch area and said screen; generating a first signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said first plane; sensing passage of said object through a second plane located between said first plane and said screen; generating a second signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said second plane; using said processor to determine one or more components of rotational velocity of said sports object based on one or more of said images captured with said camera; using said processor to determine one or more components of translational velocity of said sports object based on said first and second signals; using said processor to compute a future trajectory of said sports object based at least in part on said one or more components of rotational velocity and said one or more components of translational velocity; and displaying the future trajectory of said sports object on the screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A system for simulating a sports activity, the system comprising:
-
a screen positioned to have a sports object launched toward said screen and to have displayed on said screen a future trajectory of said sports object; a projector configured to project said future trajectory of said sports object on said screen; a launch area from which said sports object is launched from said launch area and toward said screen; a camera positioned above said launch area and configured to capture one or more images of said launch area while said sports object is launched from said launch area; one or more sensor planes located between said launch area and said screen; and
a processor in data communication with said camera, said one or more sensor planes, and said projector, wherein said processor is configured to execute a set of instructions to perform a method comprising;detecting the launch of said sports object; capturing with said camera one or more images of said launch area as said sports object is launched from said launch area; sensing passage of said sports object through said one or more sensor planes located between said launch area and said screen; computing one or more components of rotational velocity based on said one or more captured camera images; computing one or more components of translational velocity based on said sensed passage of said sports object through said one or more sensor planes; computing said future trajectory of said sports object based on said one or more components of rotational velocity and said one or more components of translational velocity; and projecting said future trajectory of said sports object on said screen. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
detecting overlapping images of said launch area; and discarding said overlapping images of said launch area.
-
-
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:
-
comparing one or more features in a first image with the same one or more features in a second image; calculating a change in position of said one or more features; and deriving said one or more components of rotational velocity of said sports object from a change in position of said one or more features.
-
-
8. The system of claim 5, further comprising capturing with said camera images of said sports object.
Specification