METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ASSISTIVE ENERGY TYPE GOLF CLUB

• US 20090029793A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Cage
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Cage
• Inventors: Cage, Donald R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• 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 71/0009 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 7/00 Measuring speed by integrating acceleration measuring travelled distance by double integration of acceleration G01C21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00

Abstract

Apparatus and a method that enables an assistive energy type golf club to sense the approach of the club face toward a golf ball, and to trigger the release of the assistive energy at the optimum time to achieve the desired golf ball velocity and distance.

Claims

1. Apparatus adapted to control the operation of an assistive energy golf club head during a swing by a user of a golf club coupled to said golf club head;

said apparatus including;

sensor apparatus adapted to sense the travel of said golf club head relative to a golf ball,

signal processing apparatus effective during said swing and prior to the impact of the club face of said golf club head with said golf ball to generate a firing command under control of an approach parameter;

velocity generating apparatus including said golf club head responsive to said generation of said firing command to apply assistive energy from said golf club face to said golf ball; and

said assistive energy is effective to apply incremental velocity to said golf ball.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said approach parameter is based on a predicted impact time of said golf club face with said golf ball or, alternatively, is based on the present distance between said golf club face and said golf ball.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an assistive energy source for applying said assistive energy;

said signal processing apparatus is effective during said swing to determine a pretrigger time at which said firing command should be to applied to said assistive energy source;

said signal processing apparatus is further effective at said determined pretrigger time to generate said firing command;

said assistive energy source is responsive to the generation of said firing command to apply assistive energy to said velocity generating apparatus; and

said velocity generating apparatus is responsive to the receipt of said assistive energy to impart said incremental velocity to said golf ball upon impact of said golf ball with said golf club face;

said pretrigger time is a function of club head performance information;

said club head performance information includes golf ball velocity as a function of a delta-t time, where said delta-t time is the time interval in advance of said time of impact to generate said firing command.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

an assistive energy source for applying said assistive energy;

said sensor apparatus is effective during said swing to determine said present distance between said club face and said golf ball;

said signal processing apparatus is effective during said swing to determine a prescribed distance between said golf ball and said club face at which said firing command should be applied to said assistive energy source;

said signal processing apparatus is further effective when said present distance equals said prescribed distance to generate said firing command;

velocity generating apparatus;

said assistive energy source is responsive to the generation of said firing command to apply assistive energy to said velocity generating apparatus; and

said velocity generating apparatus is responsive to the receipt of said assistive energy to impart incremental velocity to said golf ball upon impact.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor apparatus is chosen from the following group;

an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, a radar sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a contacting sensor, a light emitting diode sensor, and a metal detector sensor;

said sensor apparatus is further effective during said swing to determine the approach velocity of said golf club face toward said golf ball; and

said signal processing apparatus is further responsive to a determination of said impact time and said determination of said approach velocity to determine when to generate said firing command or, alternatively,

said signal processing apparatus is further responsive to said present distance to determine when to generate said firing command.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said sensor apparatus is effective to determine the approach velocity of said golf club face toward said golf ball;

said signal processing apparatus is effective to determine a predicted time of impact of said golf club face with said golf ball;

said signal processing apparatus is further effective to determine a delta-t time; and

said signal processing apparatus is further effective to generate said firing command at said delta-t time interval prior to said ball impact.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising apparatus that enables said user to control said incremental velocity or distance of said golf ball resulting from said impact.

8. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said assistive energy is stored in said golf club;

said firing command is effective only on the downswing portion of said swing;

said firing command is effective only if limiting values of prescribed swing conditions are met;

said prescribed swing conditions are chosen singly or in combination from a list including;

swing distance,

swing velocity,

swing acceleration,

initial club head starting position relative to said golf ball, elapsed time during said golf swing,

club orientation relative to gravity, and

club head random motion;

said signal processing apparatus distinguishes between motion of said golf club head representing a backswing and random motion of said golf club head; and

said signal processing apparatus is further affective to inhibit the generation of said firing command upon a determination of random motion of said golf club head.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein;

said sensor apparatus comprises an accelerometer that determines the acceleration of said club head;

the velocity of said club head is determined by integrating said acceleration; and

the distance traveled by said club head is determined by integrating said velocity.

10. A method of operating apparatus adapted to control the operation of an assistive energy golf club head during a swing by a user of a golf club coupled to said golf club head;

said method including the steps of;

operating sensor apparatus to sense the travel of said golf club head relative to a golf ball;

operating signal processing apparatus to generate a firing command under control of an approach parameter during said swing and prior to the impact of the club face of said golf club head with said golf ball;

applying assistive energy from said golf club face to said golf ball responsive to said generation of said firing command.

said assistive energy is effective to apply incremental velocity to said golf ball.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said approach parameter is based on a predicted impact time of said golf club face with said golf ball or, alternatively is based on the present distance between said golf club face and said golf ball.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

operating said signal processing apparatus during said swing to determine a pretrigger time at which said firing command should be applied to an assistive energy source prior to the impact of said golf club face with said golf ball;

applying said firing command to said assistive energy source at said pretrigger time;

applying said assistive energy to a velocity generating apparatus; and

imparting incremental velocity to said golf ball upon impact with said club face responsive to the said generation of said firing command.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

operating sensor apparatus during said swing to determine said present distance between said club face and said golf ball;

operating signal processing apparatus during said swing to determine a prescribed distance at which said firing command should be applied to said assistive energy source prior to the impact of said golf club face with said golf ball;

applying said firing command to said assistive energy source when said golf club face is at said prescribed distance;

applying said assistive energy to a velocity generating apparatus;

responsive to said application of said firing command; and

imparting incremental velocity to said golf ball responsive to said application of said assistive energy.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said sensor apparatus is chosen singly or in combination from the following group;

an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, a radar sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a contacting sensor, a light emitting diode sensor, and a metal detector sensor.

15. The method of claim 14 including steps of operating said ultrasonic sensor to:

transmit an ultrasonic signal to said golf ball;

receive a return ultrasonic signal reflected from said golf ball; and

processing said reflected ultrasonic signal to control the generation of said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 including the steps of operating said laser sensor to;

transmit a laser signal to said golf ball;

receive a return laser signal reflected from said golf ball; and

processing said reflected laser signal to control the generation of said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 including the steps of operating said radar sensor to;

transmit a radar signal to said golf ball;

receive a return radar signal reflected from said golf ball; and

processing said reflected radar signal to control the generation of said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 wherein said accelerometer sensor comprises at least one accelerometer, said method including the steps of;

determining the position of said golf ball when at rest prior to the initiation of said swing;

operating said accelerometer sensor during said swing to generate acceleration information;

determining velocity for said swing by integrating said acceleration information; and

determining the present distance between said golf ball and said golf club face by integrating said velocity information or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 wherein said accelerometer sensor comprises multiple accelerometers, said method including the steps of;

operating said multiple accelerometers to generate multiple axes of acceleration information; and

using said multiple axes of acceleration information to increase the accuracy of when said signal processing apparatus generates said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 including the steps of operating said magnetic sensor to;

detect the characteristics of a magnetic field generated by a magnet in said golf ball or in a golf tee supporting said golf ball; and

process said detected magnetic field characteristics to control the generation of said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 including the steps of operating said electromagnetic sensor to;

detect the characteristics of an electromagnetic field generated by an electromagnetic field generator positioned proximate said golf ball; and

process said detected electromagnetic field characteristics to control the generation of said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 including the steps of operating said metal detector sensor to;

detect metal contained within said golf ball or said golf tee supporting said golf ball; and

controlling the generation of said firing command in response to the detection of said metal or, alternatively,

said method of claim 14 including the steps of operating said contact sensor to;

detecting the contact of said ball with said contact sensor prior to the impact of said golf ball with said club face; and

controlling the generation of said firing command in response to said detection of said golf ball.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the further steps of:

determining the approach velocity of said golf club face with respect to said golf ball during said swing; and

generating said firing command responsive to a determination of said impact time and said determination of said velocity or, alternatively,

said method of claim 11 further comprising the further steps of;

operating apparatus responsive to said determination of said distance to generate said firing command or, alternatively,

said method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of;

determining the approach velocity of said golf club face toward said golf ball;

determining a predicted time of impact of said golf club face with said golf ball; and

determining a delta-t time to generate said firing command prior to said time of impact; and

determining a pretrigger time to generate said firing command based on said delta-t time prior to said time of impact or, alternatively,

said method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of;

determining a pretrigger time to generate said firing command functionally related to the club head performance information;

said club head performance information includes golf ball velocity as a function of a delta-t time, where said delta-t time is the time interval in advance of said time of impact to generate said firing command.

17. The method of claim 10 comprising the further step of enabling said user to control the velocity or distance of said golf ball resulting from said impact.

18. The method of claim 10 including the steps of;

generating said firing command only if limiting values of prescribed swing conditions are met during said swing;

choosing said prescribed swing conditions singly or in combination from a list including;

swing distance,

swing velocity,

swing acceleration,

initial club head starting position relative to said golf ball

elapsed time during said golf swing,

club orientation relative to gravity, and

club head random motion.

19. The method of claim 10 including the step of operating said signal processing apparatus during the backswing portion of said swing to distinguish between motion of said golf club head representing a backswing and random motion of said golf club head;

and

inhibiting the generation of said firing command upon a determination of random motion of said golf club head.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein said sensor apparatus comprises an accelerometer sensor, said golf club is equipped with and alerting apparatus adapted to provide an audio, visual or vibratory signal to said user when it is time to initiated said swing, said method comprises the further steps of:

positioning said club head proximate said golf ball in a rest position;

maintaining said club head motionless and proximate said golf ball;

operating said alerting apparatus when said club head has remained motionless for a time duration adequate to enable said signal processing apparatus to determine the at rest position of said golf ball; and

operating said alerting apparatus to generate an alert signal to advise said user that the swing of said golf club may begin.