Automatic real-time game scoring device and gold club swing analyzer

• US 20100099509A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innoventions Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Innoventions Partners LLC
• Inventors: Ahem, Frank, Mollo, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,137,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• 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 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

An automatic real-time game scoring device and golf club swing analyzer which may include enhanced capability based on GPS parametric and golf course specific information. One aspect of the invention includes the capability to assess a player'"'"'s swing as a function of ball strike, club information, and length of an actual golf shot. In another aspect of the invention, the device provides for scoring a game as a function of the club used, the shot characteristics, and specific course parameter such as the hole played, game conditions, which may be analyzed during game play, as well as post game. The system presented according to the present invention is capable of adding to an individual'"'"'s score only actual golf ball shots while ignoring practice swings. For recreational golf, the system allows for user overrides (“whiffs” and “mulligans”) at the golfer'"'"'s digression.

Claims

1. A system tracking parameters of a golf player'"'"'s actual golf shots during play comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a golf ball strike during actual game play and responsively generate a sensor signal indicative thereof;

a processing unit configured to receive the sensor signal and correlate the sensor signal to a parameter indicative of the actual game play; and

a display configured to render a visual image indicative of the golf ball strike and the parameter indicative of actual game play.

2. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the parameter indicative of actual game play is correlated to a GPS position of the golf ball strike.

3. The system as specified in claim 2 further comprising a golf club including the sensor.

4. The system as specified in claim 2 wherein the sensor is configured to be attached to a golfer.

5. The system as specified in claim 4 further comprising a golf glove including the sensor coupled thereto.

6. The system as specified in claim 2 wherein the processing unit further includes a GPS sensor configured to determine the approximate location of the golf ball strike.

7. The system as specified in claim 6 wherein the processor includes memory configured to store data indicative of an actual golf hole, and the processor is configured to correlate the sensor signal to the actual golf hole stored data.

8. The system as specified in claim 7 wherein the display is configured to render an image indicative of the actual golf shot with the actual golf hole stored data.

9. The system as specified in claim 8 wherein the memory further includes data indicative of a course correlated to the actual golf hole.

10. The system as specified in claim 8 wherein the display is further configured to render the image to include the actual club used during the actual golf shot.

11. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to detect the occurrence of the actual golf ball strike as a function of a swing parameter.

12. The system as specified in claim 11 wherein the swing parameter includes a motion of the club used during a swing.

13. The system as specified in claim 12 wherein the swing parameter includes detecting a 3-Dimensional aspect of the club when swung by a golfer.

14. The system as specified in claim 11 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a sound of the actual ball strike.

15. The system as specified in claim 11 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a vibration of the club used during the actual ball strike.

16. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

17. A device, comprising:

memory including data indicative of an actual golf hole;

a GPS unit configured to generate data indicative of a golfer'"'"'s position; and

a processor configured to receive a sensor signal generated by a remote sensor during an actual golf ball strike, the processor configured to correlate the data indicative of the golfer'"'"'s position to the actual golf hole data upon receipt of the sensor signal.

18. The device as specified in claim 17 wherein the device further comprises a display coupled to the processor and configured to visually render an image indicative of the actual golf ball strike as a function of the actual golf hole data.

19. The device as specified in claim 18 wherein the display is integral to the device.

20. The device as specified in claim 17 wherein the remote sensor is configured to be attached to a golf club.

21. The device as specified in claim 17 wherein the remote sensor is configured to be worn by a golfer.

22. The device as specified in claim 17 wherein the processor including a receiver configured to receive the sensor signal.

23. The device as specified in claim 17 wherein the remote sensor is an accelerometer.

24. The device of claim 17 wherein the remote sensor is an RFID device indicative of the actual golf club and configured to be attached to each golf club.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the processor is configured to correlate the duration of a swing to determine the actual ball strike.

26. An apparatus for tracking parameters of a golf player'"'"'s actual golf shots during actual golf play, comprising:

a GPS unit configured to generate an actual golf hole data;

a sensor configured to provide an output indicative of an actual golf shot and configured to be coupled to a golfer;

a transmitter configured to transmit the sensor output;

a receiver configured to receive the sensor output; and

a processor configured to process the received sensor output and determine a swing characteristic as a function of the GPS actual golf hole data.

27. The apparatus as specified in claim 26 further comprising a display configured to visually render information indicative of the actual golf shots.

28. The apparatus as specified in claim 27 wherein the display is configured to visually render a location of the actual golf shots.

29. The apparatus as specified in claim 26 wherein the display is configured to visually render a golf club used during the actual golf shots.

30. The apparatus as specified in claim 29 wherein the display is configured to visually render a distance associated with the actual golf shots.