Ball motion measuring apparatus

• US 20020085213A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akio, Kawamatsu, Hideaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/614
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/38 using photographic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/40 using stroboscopic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/68 using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light G01P3/80 takes precedence ; by reflection of waves G01S17/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/784 using a mosaic of detectors

Abstract

A ball motion measuring apparatus comprises a tee 3 for mounting a golf ball 1 thereon, a first camera 5, a second camera 7, a pair of first stroboscopes 9, a pair of second stroboscopes 11, a pair of optical sensors 13, a CPU 15 to be a calculating section, and a monitor 17 to be a display section. The first camera 5 and the second camera 7 are CCD cameras having a shutter function. Photographing is carried out by means of the first camera 5 after a predetermined time passes since the golf ball 1 is hit, and the photographing is carried out by means of the second camera 7 after a predetermined time further passes. A magnified image is formed by original image data thus obtained and a read value obtained by pointing the magnified image is subjected to distortion correction or oblique correction so that correction data are obtained. Based on the correction data, a flight speed, a spin rate or a launch angle of the golf ball 1 is calculated.

Claims

1. A ball motion measuring apparatus comprising:

a CCD camera for photographing a flying ball to obtain original image data;

a calculating section for carrying out a magnifying process over a part including a ball image in an original image, thereby calculating magnified image data; and

a display section for displaying a magnified image based on the magnified image data.

2. The ball motion measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the CCD camera has a horizontal view angle of 10 degrees or more.

3. A ball motion measuring apparatus comprising:

a CCD camera for photographing a flying ball to obtain original image data; and

a calculating section for correcting a coordinate error made by a distortion of an original image which is caused by a lens of the CCD camera, thereby calculating correction data.

4. The ball motion measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the coordinate error is corrected based on a correction ratio determined by a distance from a center of the original image.

5. The ball motion measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the CCD camera has a horizontal view angle of 10 degrees or more.

6. A ball motion measuring apparatus comprising:

a CCD camera for photographing a flying ball to obtain original image data; and

a calculating section for correcting a coordinate error made by a shift of a direction of a ball image from a direction of an optical axis of the CCD camera, thereby calculating correction data.

7. The ball motion measuring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the correction of the coordinate error serves to convert data obtained from an original image into data obtained by photographing a front part of the ball at infinity.

8. The ball motion measuring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the CCD camera has a horizontal view angle of 10 degrees or more.