Golf club and ball performance monitor with automatic pattern recognition

• US 20050063595A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Pelletier, Diane I., Bissonnette, Laurent C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/218
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition

Abstract

A method for automatically identifying an object is disclosed. Preferably, the method is used in conjunction with a performance monitor. A set of markers are selectively positioned on the surface of each of a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls. It is desired that each set of markers for a unique pattern on each of the golf clubs and golf balls. Each unique pattern is preferably acquired and stored. A player may choose any of a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls. When within the field of view of the performance monitor, the pattern on the club and ball is automatically matched with the stored patterns, thereby identifying the type of club and ball.

Claims

1. A method for automatically identifying a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls, comprising:

storing image reference information for each of the plurality of golf clubs and golf balls;

acquiring an image of at least one of said balls and clubs during a swing; and

automatically identifying at least one of said club or ball based on a comparison to said image reference information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically identifying takes about six seconds or less.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically identifying takes about one second or less.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said image reference information is based on a plurality of markers, wherein said markers comprise visible ink.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said markers comprise ink responsive to ultraviolet light.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said visible ink markers comprise limited spectrum markers responsive to one of colored light and fluorescent light.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said image reference information is based on inherent features of said balls and clubs.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically identifying is based on Eigen values.

9. A method for automatically identifying a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls, comprising:

storing image reference information for each of the plurality of golf clubs and golf balls;

acquiring an image of at least one of said balls and clubs during a swing; and

automatically identifying at least one of said club or ball based on a comparison to said image reference information in about six seconds or less.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said image reference information is based on a plurality of markers, wherein said markers comprise visible ink.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said markers comprise ink responsive to ultraviolet light.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said visible ink markers comprise limited spectrum markers responsive to one of colored light and fluorescent light.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said image reference information is based on inherent features of said balls and clubs.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said automatically identifying is based on Eigen values.

15. A system for automatically identifying a plurality of objects, comprising:

at least one camera system; and

a computational device capable of identifying an acquired image from a library of stored reference information.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said identifying is based on inherent factors of the object.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said identifying is based on a plurality of UV markers.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said identifying is based on a plurality of visible markers.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said library of stored reference information comprises about 200 or more objects.