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

• US 20090213358A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bushnell Incorporated (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bushnell Incorporated (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Vermillion, Jordan, Cross, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 7,859,650 B2
• 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 device for determining a range to a target, the device comprising:

a range sensor for determining a first range to the target;

a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target relative to the device; and

a computing element coupled with the range sensor and the tilt sensor for determining a second range based on the first range and a factor that is scaled by a first amount when the first range is less than or equal to a first threshold value and scaled by a second amount when the first range is greater than the first threshold value.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second range is a representation of a flat-ground distance the projectile must travel such that the projectile'"'"'s trajectory intersects the target.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computing element additionally determines a desired change of a golf club based on the difference between the second range and the first range.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the range sensor is a laser range sensor.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor is an inclinometer.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor determines the angle based on an orientation of the device.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a display, coupled with the computing element, for indicating the first range, the second range, and the determined angle.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a portable handheld housing for housing the range sensor, the tilt sensor, and the computing element.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the target is at least a portion of a golf course.

10. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a memory for storing a look-up table having a plurality of angles and corresponding factors.

11. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the factor is determined by looking up the determined angle in the look-up table.

12. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computing element determines the second range by multiplying the first range by the factor.

13. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computing element calculates the factor with an algorithm.

14. A device for determining a range to a target, the device comprising:

a laser range sensor for dynamically determining a plurality of first ranges to a plurality of targets or a single moving target as the device is moved to point at the plurality of targets or the single moving target;

a tilt sensor for dynamically determining a plurality of angles to the plurality of targets or the single moving target as the device is moved; and

a computing device for dynamically determining a plurality of second ranges to the plurality of targets or the single moving target based on the plurality of first ranges and the plurality of angles.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the computing device further considers a factor when determining the plurality of second ranges.

16. The device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the factor is scaled by a first amount when the first ranges are less than or equal to a first threshold value and a second amount when the first ranges are greater than the first threshold value.

17. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second ranges are representations of a flat-ground distances the projectile must travel such that the projectile'"'"'s trajectory intersects the plurality of targets or single moving target.