Golf Diagnosis Apparatus And A Method Of Performing Golf Diagnosis

• US 20100304876A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raingetainment Technologies GmbH
• Original Assignee: Raingetainment Technologies GmbH
• Inventors: Hohla, Martin, Toennies, Roland, Hohla, Kristian
• Application Number:
  US12/747,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/199
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction

Abstract

A golf diagnosis apparatus, comprising a first acquisition device adapted for acquiring first information indicative of a performance, particularly a stroke, of a golf player, the first acquisition device being directed along a first direction, a second acquisition device adapted for acquiring second information indicative of the performance, particularly the stroke, of the golf player, the second acquisition device being directed along a second direction which differs from the first direction, and a data evaluation unit adapted for evaluating the first information and the second information to determine golf diagnosis related data, wherein the first direction is parallel to and the second direction is perpendicular to a motion vector of a golf ball hit by the golf player.

Claims

1. A golf diagnosis apparatus, comprising

a first acquisition device adapted for acquiring first information indicative of a performance, particularly a stroke, of a golf player, the first acquisition device being directed along a first direction;

a second acquisition device adapted for acquiring second information indicative of the performance, particularly the stroke, of the golf player, the second acquisition device being directed along a second direction which differs from the first direction;

a data evaluation unit adapted for evaluating the first information and the second information to determine golf diagnosis related data;

wherein the first direction is parallel to and the second direction is perpendicular to a motion vector of a golf ball hit by the golf player.

4. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first acquisition device comprises one of the group consisting of a camera for capturing one or more snap shots of a golf ball hit by the golf player, a camera for capturing a video of a golf ball hit by the golf player, an ultrasound detector for capturing ultrasound of a golf ball hit by the golf player, a radar unit for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation to a golf ball hit by the golf player and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in response to the reflection of the primary electromagnetic radiation at the golf ball, and a lidar unit for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation to a golf ball hit by the golf player and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in response to the reflection of the primary electromagnetic radiation at the golf ball.

5. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the second acquisition device comprises one of the group consisting of a camera for capturing one or more snap shots of a golf ball hit by the golf player, a camera for capturing a video of a golf ball hit by the golf player, an ultrasound detector for capturing ultrasound of a golf ball hit by the golf player, a radar unit for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation to a golf ball hit by the golf player and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in response to the reflection of the primary electromagnetic radiation at the golf ball, and a lidar unit for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation to a golf ball hit by the golf player and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in response to the reflection of the primary electromagnetic radiation at the golf ball.

6. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first acquisition device comprises a radar unit for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation to a golf ball hit by the golf player and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in response to the reflection of the primary electromagnetic radiation at the golf ball;

and

wherein the second acquisition device comprises a camera for capturing one or more snap shots of a golf ball hit by the golf player.

7. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first acquisition device comprises a radar unit for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation to a golf ball hit by the golf player and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation from the golf ball in response to the reflection of the primary electromagnetic radiation at the golf ball;

and

wherein the second acquisition device comprises a ball finder system for detecting a launch position and a launch time of a golf ball hit by the golf player.

8. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first acquisition device comprises a camera for capturing one or more snap shots of a golf ball hit by the golf player;

and

wherein the second acquisition device comprises a camera for capturing one or more snap shots of the golf ball hit by the golf player.

13. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, comprising a casing in and/or on which the first acquisition device, the second acquisition device and the data evaluation unit are accommodated.

14. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the casing has a cuboid shape having six cover surfaces, wherein the first acquisition device is arranged at a first cover surface and the second acquisition device is arranged at a second cover surface, wherein the first cover surface and the second cover surface are adjacent to one another and are perpendicular to one another.

30. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein a field of view of the first acquisition device is arranged in a non-overlapping manner with a field of view of the second acquisition device.

31. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first acquisition device is adapted for acquiring the first information within a first time interval;

wherein the second acquisition device is adapted for acquiring the second information within a second time interval preceding the first time interval.

32. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 31,

wherein the second time interval is a time interval of less than 10 ms, particularly of less than 5 ms, more particularly of less than 2 ms, after the golf player hits a golf ball.

33. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 31,

wherein the first time interval is a time interval of more than 20 ms, particularly of more than 200 ms, more particularly of more than 300 ms, after the golf player hits a golf ball.

34. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein operation of the first acquisition device and operation of the second acquisition device are coordinated so that acquiring the first information starts after finishing acquiring the second information.

36. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the data evaluation unit is adapted for interpreting the first information based on a result of an evaluation of the second information.

37. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the data evaluation unit is adapted for determining a position of a golf ball on an image as the first information based on a motion characteristic of the golf ball derived from the second information.

38. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the data evaluation unit is adapted for determining a position of a golf ball on two images as the first information, for determining a position of the golf ball on two images as the second information, and for determining the golf diagnosis related data based on the four determined positions.

39. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1, comprising

an optical trigger adapted for optically measuring a point of time at which the golf ball is hit by the golf player.

40. The golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 39,

wherein the optical trigger is accommodated in and/or on the casing in a manner to allow a user to adjust an emission direction of a light beam emittable by the optical trigger by tilting the optical trigger.

43. A method of using a golf diagnosis apparatus of claim 1 on a driving range.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

9-12. -12. (canceled)

15-29. -29. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. A method of performing golf diagnosis, the method comprising

acquiring first information indicative of a performance, particularly a stroke, of a golf player by a first acquisition device being directed along a first direction;

acquiring second information indicative of the performance, particularly the stroke, of the golf player by a second acquisition device being directed along a second direction which differs from the first direction;

evaluating the first information and the second information to determine golf diagnosis related data;

wherein the first direction is parallel to and the second direction is perpendicular to a motion vector of a golf ball hit by the golf player.