Golf ball trajectory presentation system

• US 4,160,942 A
• Filed: 09/12/1977
• Issued: 07/10/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Paul F., Fonteneau, Norman O., Jepson, John W., Haas, Steven L., Moore, Randall W., Gobush, William, Lynch, Francis deS.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wintercorn, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/832,379
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 352/39, 352/84, 350/117, 350/120, 354/60, 354/132, 354/120, 35/29 A, 273/177 A, 273/177 B, 273/181 B, 273/181 E, 273/184 R, 273/185 A, 273/183 R
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf

Abstract

A trajectory calculator receiving data indicating initial values of golf ball flight angle, velocity and spin, calculates the apparent elevation and deflection angles at which the golf ball would be seen by an observer at the launch point. An optical object projector projects an image representing the golf ball on a screen. The size of the image decreases with time to yield the apparent perspective size decrease with range. An optional exerciser console enables input of changeable environmental quantities.

Claims

1. A golf ball trajectory presentation system comprising:

(a) a plurality of electro-optical sensors for simultaneously monitoring the initial values of velocity, launch angle and spin velocity of said golf ball;

(b) means for calculating at least a major portion of the remainder of the trajectory of said golf ball based on said monitored initial values;

(c) a projection screen;

(d) means for forming an image on said projection screen adapted to substitution for said golf ball; and

(e) means for positioning said image according to the calculated trajectory of said golf ball.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for diminishing the size of said image as a linear function of time.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for varying inputs to said means for calculating.

4. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the image forming means is an optical image projector.

5. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising means for varying said means for calculating whereby said remainder of the trajectory may be altered to simulate the inclusion of environmental conditions.