Launch monitor system with a calibration fixture and a method for use thereof

• US 20040259653A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Steven, Pelletier, Diane I., Hebert, Edmund A., Winfield, Douglas C., Gobush, William, Days, Charles, Silveira, James Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/199
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a launch monitor system that measures flight characteristics of an object moving in a predetermined field-of-view. The system includes a support structure, a lighting unit, a camera unit disposed on the support structure, and a calibration assembly. The calibration assembly includes a calibration fixture and at least one telescoping member. A first end of the telescoping member is coupled to the support structure and a second end is contactable with or coupled to the fixture. In an extended position of the telescoping member, the calibration fixture is in the field-of-view of the camera unit. In a retracted position, the calibration fixture out of the field-of-view. The calibration fixture further includes contrasting markings. In another embodiment, the system includes a frame and the launch monitor is pivotally suspended from the frame so that it self-levels. The present invention further includes a method of calibrating a launch monitor having a calibration fixture.

Claims

1. A launch monitor system for measuring flight characteristics of an object moving in a predetermined field-of-view, the system comprising:

a support structure;

a lighting unit disposed on the support structure and directing light into the predetermined field-of-view;

a first camera unit disposed on the support structure and pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view; and

a calibration assembly including a calibration fixture; and

at least one telescoping member having a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end contactable with the calibration fixture, wherein the telescoping member has an extended position placing the calibration fixture in the field-of-view of the first camera unit.

2. The launch monitor system of claim 1, wherein the calibration fixture further includes contrasting markings in at least two different planes.

3. The launch monitor system of claim 2, wherein the contrasting markings are reflective markings.

4. The launch monitor system of claim 2, wherein the contrasting markings are painted markings.

5. The launch monitor system of claim 1, wherein the calibration fixture is coupled to the second end of the telescoping member, and the telescoping member has a retracted position where the calibration fixture out of the field-of-view of the first camera unit.

6. The launch monitor system of claim 2, wherein the calibration fixture further includes contrasting markings in at least three different planes.

14. The launch monitor system of claim 5, wherein the calibration fixture further includes two legs, each leg being pivotally connected to the first and second walls.

15. The launch monitor system of claim 1, further including a second camera unit disposed on the support structure and pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view, and the telescoping member is disposed between the first camera unit and the second camera unit.

16. The launch monitor system of claim 15, further including a computer with at least one algorithm, each camera for taking at least one image of the calibration fixture, wherein the computer converts each image into calibration data.

7-13. -13. (canceled).

17. A launch monitor system for measuring flight characteristics of an object moving in a predetermined field-of-view, the system comprising:

a frame; and

a launch monitor for taking at least one image of the object of the field-of view, the launch monitor being pivotally coupled to the frame at a pivot point such that the launch monitor is spaced above the ground and the pivot point is aligned above the center of the launch monitor.

18. The launch monitor system of claim 17, further including a calibration fixture having contrasting markings thereon.

19. The launch monitor system of claim 18, further including at least one telescoping member having a first end coupled to the launch monitor and a second end contactable with the calibration fixture, wherein the telescoping member has an extended position placing the calibration fixture in the field-of-view.

20. The launch monitor system of claim 19, wherein the frame further includes a base and at least one pair of upwardly extending arms, the monitor system further including a rod connectable to the arms with a pair of bearings.

21. The launch monitor system of claim 19, wherein the second end of the telescoping member is coupled to the calibration fixture.

22. The launch monitor system of claim 17, further including a level.

23. A method of calibrating a launch monitor having a calibration fixture, comprising the steps of:

providing the launch monitor with a telescoping member;

moving the telescoping member from a retracted position to an extended position;

contacting the calibration fixture to the free end of the telescoping member in the extended position;

taking at least one image of the fixture while the telescoping member is in the extended position; and

converting each image into calibration data.

24. The method of claim 23, further including determining launch monitor constants based on the calibration data.