Apparatus and method for tracking the flight of a golf ball
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for evaluating the complete flight path of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising:
- a video camera positioned for producing data representative of video images of a complete flight path of a golf ball;
processing means connected to receive data from said video camera for determining a golf ball image position within a video frame of said camera;
predicting means responsive to said video frame processing means for predicting the flight path of the golf ball;
image control means responsive to said predicting means for adjusting the focal length of the camera lens and for focusing the camera lens on the golf ball; and
determining means responsive to said predicting means for determining the actual flight path of the golf ball.
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Abstract
The golf ball tracking apparatus has a video camera for producing data representative of video images of a golf ball, a video frame processor connected to receive data from the video camera for determining the golf ball image position within a video frame of the camera, a flight path predictor responsive to the video frame processor for predicting the flight path of the golf ball in response to data from the video frame processor, and a motion controller responsive to the flight path predictor for controlling the movement of the camera to thereby track the actual flight of the golf ball.
170 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for evaluating the complete flight path of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising:
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a video camera positioned for producing data representative of video images of a complete flight path of a golf ball; processing means connected to receive data from said video camera for determining a golf ball image position within a video frame of said camera; predicting means responsive to said video frame processing means for predicting the flight path of the golf ball; image control means responsive to said predicting means for adjusting the focal length of the camera lens and for focusing the camera lens on the golf ball; and determining means responsive to said predicting means for determining the actual flight path of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of tracking a golf ball during actual flight, comprising the steps of:
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producing data representative of a video image of a golf ball during actual flight by use of a video camera; predicting a flight path of the golf ball responsive to the data representative of the video image; and adjusting the predicted flight path in response to the actual flight path of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of evaluating of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising the steps of:
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producing data representative of a video image of a golf ball during actual flight by directing a video camera toward a struck golf ball; predicting a flight path of a golf ball responsive to the data representative of the video image; adjusting the predicted flight path in response to the actual flight path of the golf ball; and determining the actual flight path of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification