Golf shot tracking and analysis system

• US 5,413,345 A
• Filed: 02/19/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George S. Nauck
• Original Assignee: George S. Nauck
• Inventors: Nauck, George S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US08/019,911
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 273/176 R, 273/32 R, 273/35 R, 273/35 B, 273/181 R, 273/185 A, 273/185 B, 273/183.1, 273/185 R, 434/252, 358/125, 358/93
• US Class Current: 473/156
• 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 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• 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 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3694 for driving only

Abstract

A system utilizing an array of high speed video cameras with image processors coupled to data microprocessors, data memory devices, video monitors, control terminals, printout devices, and related hardware and software. The system functions to identify, track, display and record all or selected portions of the path of one or more golf balls from the time each ball is struck, or after it is in flight, until it reaches its final point of rest. The recorded tracking information may be displayed in selected forms such as video or audio replays of the actual golf shot or selected portions thereof, or by printed data in character or graphic form. The tracking information may be reviewed for detailed study of all or portions of the track of the golf shot as well as the final resting place of the ball with respect to the intended target of the shot. If desired, all or selected portions of the track of the recorded golf shot may be compared to like portions of selected previous golf shots made by the golfer, as well as to selected golf shots may by other golfers and previously entered into the memory of the system. The golf shot may also be compared to selected parameters which one may desire for comparison to the recorded information relating to the golf shot.

Claims

1. A system for tracking, in three dimensions, the movement of at least two golf balls and for analysis of said movement of each said golf ball, said system comprising:

means including at least two strategically directed video cameras for locating and tracking, in three dimensions, the movement of said at least two golf balls and for providing video output signals indicative of the progressive positions of each said ball in response to said tracking;

display means for reception of said video output signals and for display of the resultant track of each said golf ball;

processing means for processing said video output signals; and

storage means for storage of said processed video output signals.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising control means for selective transmission of said processed video output signals.

3. A System as set forth in claim 2 in which said control means includes means which provide data to said display means for display of human readable indicia for indicating the track of each of said golf balls as provided by said processed video output signals.

4. A system for tracking, in three dimensions, the movement of at least one golf ball and for analysis of said movement of each said golf ball as said golf ball travels from a teebox area along a golf range, said system comprising:

at least one locator video camera positioned behind said teebox area and directed generally in the direction of movement of said golf ball;

at least one range video camera positioned adjacent said range, and directed generally perpendicularly to the direction of movement of each said golf ball;

each of said video cameras including means for producing imagery data indicative of the moving image of each said golf ball as said ball travels along said golf range; and

image processing means for viewing, recording, and transmission of said imagery data indicative of the origin and selected aspects of the three dimensional movement of each said golf ball.

5. A system as set forth in claim further comprising a host processor having means for reception of said imagery data and for processing said imagery data so as to provide a history of the origin and movement of each said golf ball.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 in which said host processor further includes:

recording means for recording performance data indicative of the movement of each said golf ball;

combining means for combining said performance data with the origin of each said golf ball; and

statistic generating means for providing statistics and trends relating to the movement of each of said golf ball.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 in which said host processor further includes at least one display means adapted to display selected data depicting the movement of each said golf ball.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 in which at least one of said display means is positioned adjacent the origin of movement of each said golf ball and at least one additional location remote therefrom.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 in which said host processor includes transmission means for transmission of said selected data to points outside said system.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 in which said host processor further includes comparison means for comparison of data generated outside said system to data generated by said system and for display of said comparison by said display means.