Golf distance measuring system and method
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for determining the approximate distance of a golf ball to a golf cup using a global positioning satellite system comprising the steps of:
- locating the position of the cup;
storing the position of the cup;
positioning a remote global positioning satellite receiver near the golf ball;
determining a position of the remote receiver using the global positioning satellite system; and
determining the distance from the remote receiver to the cup using the stored cup position and the position of the remote receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for determing the approximate distance from a golf ball to the golf cup on the golf-green is described. The system stores the location of the golf cup in computer memory and determines the location of a global positioning satellite receiver positioned near the golf ball. The system calculates the distance between the golf cup location and the receiver location. Preferably, the receiver includes a display of the golf hole being played, with the location of the receiver on the hole, the golf cup on the green, and the distance to the golf cup being displayed. In a preferred form the player can designate a mark on the display and find out the distance from the receiver to the mark or the distance from the mark to the golf pin. The position of the receiver is error corrected, with the error correction preferably calculated using a reference global positioning satellite receiver positioned at a known location. The known location is compared to the apparent position to calculate the error correction. The error correction is periodically transmitted and the remote receiver calculates the distance from the remote receiver to the golf cup for the hole being played using the transmitted error correction. Using an error corrected position enables distance calculation accuracy to within several meters even using global positioning satellite system "c" code with selective availability enabled. The method and system of the present invention allows the golfer to accurately select the proper club for the shot, plan a shot strategy for the hole, and to decrease playing time.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for determining the approximate distance of a golf ball to a golf cup using a global positioning satellite system comprising the steps of:
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locating the position of the cup; storing the position of the cup; positioning a remote global positioning satellite receiver near the golf ball; determining a position of the remote receiver using the global positioning satellite system; and determining the distance from the remote receiver to the cup using the stored cup position and the position of the remote receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for determining the approximate distance to a golf cup using a global positioning satellite system comprising:
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a global positioning receiver means for receiving signals indicative of the apparent position of the receiver means using the global positioning satellite system; memory means for storing the position of the golf cup; means linked to said global positioning receiver means and said memory means for calculating the distance between the position of the receiver means and the position of the golf cup; and display means for displaying the distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for determining locations on a golf course comprising:
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a plurality of remote receivers for receiving global positioning signals from a global positioning satellite system and each remote receiver including a transmitter; a base station; means liar communicating data between said remote receiver transmitters and said base station, the base station including means for receiving global positioning data of a remote receiver from said communicating means and for displaying the location of said remote receiver on said golf course. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification