Method and apparatus for determining parameters of the motion of an object
First Claim
1. An apparatus for indicating the estimated carry distance of a golf ball after being struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:
- a) a microwave transmitter for transmitting radiation at a first frequency;
b) a receiver positioned relative to the golf ball before it is struck such that the receiver receives radiation transmitted by said transmitter and reflected by the golf ball after being struck by the golf club, wherein said received radiation has a second frequency different from said first transmitted frequency by an amount substantially proportional to the velocity of the golf ball;
c) means, coupled to said transmitter and to said receiver, for generating a sequence of difference pulses having durational periods substantially proportional to the reciprocals of corresponding frequency differences between said transmitted first signal frequency and said received second signal frequency, and having a first output line to carry said sequence of difference pulses;
d) a processor for generating a value equal to an estimated distance the golf ball would travel, said processor comprising;
i) an input line coupled to said first output line;
ii) a clock for generating clock pulses at a predetermined constant rate;
iii) means for comparing a number of clock pulses representing the periods of successive difference pulses in said sequence of difference pulses to obtain differences in periods between said successive difference pulses and for identifying valid difference pulses dependent on whether the obtained differences are within a predetermined range;
iv) a register for accumulating a sum equal to the number of clock pulses representing a predetermined number of said valid difference pulses;
v) averaging means for calculating the average period of said predetermined number of said valid difference pulses;
vi) means for dividing a predetermined constant by said average period; and
vii) a second output line coupled to said processor; and
e) a display, coupled to said second output line, for indicating the estimated carry distance of the golf ball.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining a desired parameter of the motion of an object. In one embodiment, the device can be used to calculate the estimated carry distance of a golf shot. The golfer uses a keypad to enter the golf club being used and the units of measure desired for the output display. A Doppler radar system is employed to illuminate the golf ball immediately after it has been hit. A reflected return signal is detected and difference pulses are generated, having a frequency which is proportional to the velocity of the ball. The difference pulses are processed by a microprocessor to determine if the radar beam has "locked" onto the ball. If so, the microprocessor is used to calculate the carry distance by dividing a predetermined constant by the average period of the difference pulses. The carry distance can be displayed on the device itself or on a remote display, and/or can be stored in memory for later recall or transmission to an external computer. The microprocessor can also be programmed to calculate and display the ball'"'"'s velocity. An acoustic trigger can be used to activate the radar circuitry only when the sound of a golf ball being struck by a golf club is detected.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for indicating the estimated carry distance of a golf ball after being struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:
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a) a microwave transmitter for transmitting radiation at a first frequency; b) a receiver positioned relative to the golf ball before it is struck such that the receiver receives radiation transmitted by said transmitter and reflected by the golf ball after being struck by the golf club, wherein said received radiation has a second frequency different from said first transmitted frequency by an amount substantially proportional to the velocity of the golf ball; c) means, coupled to said transmitter and to said receiver, for generating a sequence of difference pulses having durational periods substantially proportional to the reciprocals of corresponding frequency differences between said transmitted first signal frequency and said received second signal frequency, and having a first output line to carry said sequence of difference pulses; d) a processor for generating a value equal to an estimated distance the golf ball would travel, said processor comprising; i) an input line coupled to said first output line; ii) a clock for generating clock pulses at a predetermined constant rate; iii) means for comparing a number of clock pulses representing the periods of successive difference pulses in said sequence of difference pulses to obtain differences in periods between said successive difference pulses and for identifying valid difference pulses dependent on whether the obtained differences are within a predetermined range; iv) a register for accumulating a sum equal to the number of clock pulses representing a predetermined number of said valid difference pulses; v) averaging means for calculating the average period of said predetermined number of said valid difference pulses; vi) means for dividing a predetermined constant by said average period; and vii) a second output line coupled to said processor; and e) a display, coupled to said second output line, for indicating the estimated carry distance of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for determining a parameter regarding the motion of a golf ball struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:
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a) means for transmitting radiation at a first frequency into the expected path of said golf ball; b) means for receiving a portion of said transmitted radiation reflected off of said golf ball after said golf ball has been struck by said golf club, said received radiation having a second frequency; c) means, coupled to said receiving means, for generating a sequence of difference pulses having durational periods substantially proportional to the reciprocals of corresponding frequency differences between said transmitted first signal frequency and said received second signal frequency, wherein said frequency differences are substantially proportional to the velocity of the moving golf ball; d) means for determining the period of said difference pulses; e) means for dividing a preselected constant by said period to calculate the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for determining a parameter regarding the motion of a golf ball struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising steps of:
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a) causing said golf ball to move by striking the golf ball with said golf club; b) transmitting radiation, at a first signal frequency, into the expected path of said golf ball and reflecting a portion of said radiation off of the golf ball after it is in motion; c) positioning a receiver relative to the golf ball before it is struck wherein the receiver receives said reflected radiation, and wherein said received radiation has a second frequency different from said first transmitted frequency by an amount substantially proportional to the velocity of the golf ball; d) generating a sequence of difference pulses having durational periods substantially proportional to the reciprocals of corresponding frequency differences between said transmitted first frequency and said received second frequency; e) determining the period of said difference pulses; and f) dividing a predetermined constant by said period to calculate the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for determining a parameter regarding the motion of a golf ball after being struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:
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a) a microwave transmitter for transmitting radiation; b) an acoustic trigger, interconnected with said transmitter, for preventing said transmitter from transmitting said radiation before the golf ball is struck and for activating said transmitter when the golf ball is struck; c) a receiver positioned relative to the golf ball before it is struck such that the receiver receives a portion of said transmitted radiation that is reflected off said golf ball after said golf ball is struck; d) means, interconnected to said transmitter, said receiver, and said acoustic trigger, for generating a signal relating to said parameter regarding the motion of the golf ball, wherein said means for generating remains deactivated until the golf ball is struck and said acoustic trigger is triggered; e) means, interconnected with said transmitter and said means for generating, for deactivating said transmitter and said means for generating dependent upon said signal.
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38. A method for determining a parameter regarding the motion of a golf ball struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising the steps of:
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a) causing said golf ball to move by striking the golf ball with said golf club; b) activating a transmitter, by an acoustic trigger, to transmit radiation into the expected path of the golf ball; c) positioning a receiver relative to the golf ball before it is struck such that said receiver receives a portion of said transmitted radiation that is reflected off of said golf ball; d) activating a means for generating a signal relating to said parameter regarding the motion of said golf ball, wherein said means for generating is interconnected with said transmitter, said receiver and said acoustic trigger, and wherein said step of activating said means for generating is prevented by said acoustic trigger until the golf ball is struck; e) deactivating said transmitter and said means for generating dependent on said signal.
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Specification