METHOD, DEVICE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR DETERMINING RANGE TO A TARGET

• US 20070258082A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bushnell Performance Optics
• Original Assignee: Bushnell Performance Optics
• Inventors: VERMILLION, JORDAN, CROSS, BILL
• Application Number:
  US11/610,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/4.10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

A method, device, and computer program for determining range to a target is disclosed. Specifically, the invention provides a method, device and computer program for determining a second range to a target based on a first range to the target and an angle to the target such that the parabolic trajectory of a projectile is accounted for in determining the second range. The device generally includes a range sensor for determining a first range to a target, a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target, and a computing element for determining a second range to the target based on the first range and the determined angle.

Claims

1. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a computing element, the computer program comprising:

a code segment operable to determine a first range to a target based on a first input;

a code segment operable to determine an angle to the target relative to the device based on a second input; and

a code segment operable to determine a second range to the target by adjusting the first range by a factor corresponding to the determined angle, the second range being a representation of a distance over flat ground the projectile must travel such that the projectile'"'"'s trajectory intersects the target.

2. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, further including a look-up table having a plurality of angles and corresponding factors.

3. The computer program as set forth in claim 2, further including a code segment operable to determine the factor by looking up the determined angle in the look-up table.

4. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first input is provided by a laser range sensor.

5. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second input is provided by a tilt sensor.

6. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, further including a code segment operable to calculate a desired change of a golf club length which corresponds to the difference between the second range and the first range.

7. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, further including a code segment operable to provide inputs to a display for indicating the first range, the second range, and the determined angle.

8. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, wherein the factor adjusts the first range to account for an estimated trajectory of a golf ball.

10. The computer program as set forth in claim 1, wherein determining the second range includes multiplying the first range by the factor.

9. (canceled)