Golf training device having a two-dimensional, symmetrical optical sensor net

• US 5,626,526 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Focaltron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mark V. Weckwerth, Yi-Ching Pao
• Inventors: Weckwerth, Mark V., Pao, Yi-Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/422,067
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 273/35 R, 273/32 R, 273/183.1, 273/185 A, 273/185 B, 273/186.1, 273/186.3, 273/187 R, 273/433-434, 273/DIG. 28, 273/181 R, 273/181 H, 364/371, 364/410, 473/155-156, 473/150-152, 473/409, 473/180, 473/198, 473/199
• 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 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a golf training device capable of forming a two-dimensional, single planar and total symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting movement of a golf ball. The device comprises a square frame which has a signal producing means holding part on the first horizontal and the first vertical sides of the frame and a signal detecting means holding part on the second horizontal and the second vertical sides of the frame. On the signal producing means holding part, a light signal producing means including a light signal emitting means is installed to generate a two-dimensional, single planar optical path net. A light signal detecting means is spatially arranged in the opposite sides of the frame in accordance with the light emitting means to form a totally symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting the light signals from the light signal producing means. The present invention also includes a golf ball sensor means for detection of the golf ball movement at its initial impact and a data processing and display means which receives and processes output signals from the light signal detecting means for calculating the golf ball'"'"'s take-off speed, the horizontal and vertical angles, and the trajectory distance. The square frame can be modified to an "U" or "II" shape to eliminate the upper frame of the sensor net and to reduce the dimensions of the training device.

Claims

1. A golf training device having a two-dimensional, single planar and total symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting movement of a golf ball impacted to display data on the ball, comprising:

a golf ball sensor means placed on a reference axis of a golf ball traveling direction for detection of a golf ball movement at initial impact;

a square frame placed further along the golf ball traveling direction with respect to the golf ball sensor means, said square frame having a signal producing means holding part to support a light signal producing means on a first horizontal and a first vertical sides of the square frame and a signal detecting means holding part to support a light signal detecting means on a second horizontal and a second vertical sides of the square frame wherein the first horizontal and first vertical sides forming a first right angle diagonally above and opposed to a second right angle formed between the second horizontal and second vertical sides with respect to the golf ball sensor means;

a light emitting means adapted to said light signal producing means to emit multiple light signals produced from a beam of light from one focused light source to generate a two-dimensional, single planar optical net wherein the multiple light signals emitting from the first horizontal and first vertical sides of the square frame are perpendicularly intercepted in that any area of the optical net in which the golf ball interrupts has a uniform density;

a means to output a detection signal adapted to said light signal detecting means;

said light signal detecting means being symmetrically arranged in accordance with the light emitting means to form a totally symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting the multiple light signals emitting from the light emitting means;

said optical sensor net having a dimension no less than 4 feet;

a data processing means which receives and processes output signals from the light signal detecting means based on a movement of the golf ball; and

a display means to display data generated from the movement of said golf ball.

2. A golf training device according to claim 1 wherein the light signal detecting means comprises a series of detectors on the second horizontal and the second vertical sides of the signal detecting means holding part, said detectors are spatially arranged in accordance with the glass slides or prisms to form a symmetrical optical sensor net to receive light signals produced by the laser beam.

3. A golf training device according to claim 1 wherein the light signal producing means comprises a focused laser beam and an optical splitter, said optical splitter has a function of splitting a beam of light produced by the focused laser beam equally to the light emitting means located on the first horizontal and the first vertical sides of the light signal producing means holding part.

4. A golf training device according to claim 3 wherein the light emitting means comprises a series of glass slides or prisms equally spaced at a predetermined distance on the first horizontal and the first vertical sides of the signal producing means holding part to receive and emit light signals produced by the focused laser beam, said predetermined distance being smaller than a diameter of a golf ball.

5. A golf training device according to claim 4 wherein the glass slides or prisms are further coated with different scales of anti-reflection coatings to control and obtain different laser intensity reflections.

6. A golf training device according to claim 4 wherein the thickness of the glass slides is be adjusted to minimize laser light divergence and to avoid multiple reflections by said slides.

7. A golf training device according to claim 3 wherein the laser beam is pulsed and the detector is filtered to differentiate the light signals produced by ambient illumination from those produced by the golf ball crossing interruption.

8. A golf training device according to claim 1 wherein the data processing means includes a separation means for separating a detection signal which is outputted from the interception of the golf ball with the optical net, from a detection signal outputted from the golf ball sensor pad when the ball is initially impacted.

9. A golf training device of claim 1 further comprises a golf ball stopping net placed along the golf ball traveling direction at rear of the optical net for ball stopping.

10. A golf training device of claim 9 further comprises a projector to project a realistic picture or a simulated golf course image onto the golf ball stopping net.

11. A golf training device of claim 1 wherein the preferred dimensions of the optical net are between 4 to 8 feet.

12. A golf training device having a two-dimensional, single planar and total symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting movement of a golf ball impacted to display data on the ball, comprising:

a golf ball sensor means placed on a reference axis of a golf ball traveling direction for detection of a golf ball movement at initial impact;

a square frame placed further along the golf ball traveling direction with respect to the golf ball sensor means, said square frame having a signal producing means holding part to support a light signal producing means on a first horizontal and a first vertical sides of the square frame and a signal detecting means holding part to support a signal detecting means on a second horizontal and a second vertical sides of the frame wherein the first horizontal and first vertical sides forming a first right angle diagonally above and opposed to a second right angle formed between the second horizontal and second vertical sides with respect to the golf ball sensor means;

a light emitting means adapted to said light signal producing means to emit multiple light signals produced from a beam of light from said light signal producing means which comprises a focused laser beam and an optical splitter wherein said light emitting means comprises a series of glass slides equally spaced at a predetermined distance smaller than a diameter of a golf ball on the first horizontal and the first vertical sides of the signal producing means holding part to transmit and emit the multiple light signals produced by the focused laser beam to generate a two-dimensional, single planar optical net wherein the light signals in any area of the optical net in which the golf ball intercepts have a uniform density;

a means to output a detection signal adapted to said light signal detecting means;

said light signal detecting means comprises a series of detectors on the second horizontal and the second vertical sides of the signal detecting means holding part, said detectors are spatially arranged in accordance with the glass slides to form a totally symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting the multiple light signals emitting from the light emitting means;

said optical sensor net having a dimension no less than 4 feet;

a data processing means which receives and processes output signals from the light signal detecting means based on a movement of the golf ball; and

a display means to display data generated from the movement of said golf ball.

13. A golf training device having an area of two-dimensional, symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting movement of a golf ball impacted to display data on the ball, comprising:

a golf ball sensor means placed on a reference axis of a golf ball traveling direction for detection of a golf ball movement at initial impact;

a "II" type parallel frame or an "U" shape frame placed further along the golf ball traveling direction with respect to the golf ball sensor means, said "II" shape parallel frame having a first vertical side and a second vertical side wherein said first vertical side and second vertical side are parallel to each other, yet perpendicular to a ground defined by the reference axis of the golf ball traveling direction and said "U" shape frame having, in addition to a first vertical side and a second vertical side, a bottom side in that said vertical sides are perpendicular to the bottom side or to a ground to which the bottom side of the "U" shape frame is fixed wherein each of said first and second vertical sides of the "II" shape parallel frame and the "U" shape frame is provided with a light signal producing means holding part to hold and support a light signal producing means and a light signal detecting means holding part to hold and support a light signal detecting means;

a light emitting means adapted to said light signal producing means to emit multiple light signals produced from a beam of light from one focused light source to generate a two-dimensional optical net wherein the multiple light signals emitting from different sides of the frame are intercepted at an angle other than 90 degrees in that any area of the net in which the golf ball interrupts has a uniform density;

a means to output a detection signal adapted to said light signal detecting means;

said light signal detecting means being arranged in alignment with and in close proximity, with a distance smaller than a diameter of a golf ball, to the light emitting means on each vertical sides of the frame to form an area of symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting the multiple light signals emitting from the light emitting means;

said optical sensor net having a dimension no less than 2 feet;

a data processing means which receives and processes output signals from the light signal detecting means based on a movement of the golf ball; and

a display means to display data generated from the movement of said golf ball.

14. A golf training device according to claim 13 wherein the light signal producing means comprises a focused laser beam on each of the vertical sides, said focused laser beam produces a beam of light received and transmitted by the light signal emitting means located on the vertical sides of the light signal producing means holding part.

15. A golf training device according to claim 13 wherein the data processing means includes a separation means for separating a detection signal which is outputted from the interception of golf ball with the optical net, from a detection signal outputted from the golf ball sensor pad when the ball is initially impacted.

16. A golf training device of claim 13 further comprises a golf ball stopping net placed along the golf ball traveling direction at the rear of the optical net for ball stopping.

17. A golf training device according to claim 13 wherein the light signal emitting means comprises a series of glass slides or prisms equally spaced at a predetermined distance on the first and the second vertical sides of the signal producing means holding part to receive and emit light signals produced by a focused laser beam, said predetermined distance being smaller than a diameter of a golf ball.

18. A golf training device according to claim 17 wherein the light signal detecting means comprises a series of detectors on the first and the second vertical sides of the signal detecting means holding part, said detectors are spatially arranged in accordance with the glass slides or prisms to form a symmetrical optical sensor net to receive light signals produced by the focused laser beam.

19. A golf training device having an area of two-dimensional, symmetrical optical sensor net for detecting movement of a golf ball impacted to display data on the ball, comprising:

a golf ball sensor means placed on a reference axis of a golf ball traveling direction for detection of a golf ball movement at initial impact;

an "U"-shape or, in the alternative, a substantially "U"-shape frame placed further along the golf ball traveling direction with respect to the golf ball sensor means, said frame having a first and a second vertical sides and a bottom side in which said vertical sides are an equal length and perpendicular to said bottom side for the "U" shape frame and in which said vertical sides are in unequal length and perpendicular to said bottom side for the substantially "U" shape frame wherein at least one of said vertical sides is provided with at least one light signal producing means holding part to hold and support at least a light signal producing means and wherein the bottom side and one of the vertical sides are respectively provided with a light signal detecting means holding part to hold and support a light signal detecting means;

a light emitting means adapted to said light signal producing means to emit multiple light signals produced from a beam of light from one focused light source to generate a two-dimensional, optical net wherein the multiple light signals are intercepted at an angle other than 90 degrees in that any area of the net in which the golf ball interrupts has a similar density;

a means to output a detection signal adapted to said light signal detecting means;

said light signal detecting means being so arranged as to receive and detect the multiple light signals emitting from the light emitting means to form an area of symmetrical optical sensor net;

said optical sensor net having a dimension no less than 2 feet;

a data processing means which receives and processes output signals from the light signal detecting means based on a movement of the golf ball; and

a display means to display data generated from the movement of said golf ball.

20. A golf training device according to claim 19 wherein the light signal detecting means comprises a series of detectors on the respective signal detecting means holding part, said detectors are spatially arranged in accordance with the respective light signal producing means or light signal emitting means to form a symmetrical optical sensor net to receive light signals produced by a laser beam.

21. A golf training device according to claim 19 wherein the data processing means includes a separation means for separating a detection signal which is outputted from interception of a golf ball with the optical net, from a detection signal outputted from the golf ball sensor pad when the ball is initially impacted.

22. A golf training device of claim 19 wherein the vertical side having at least one light signal producing means is provided with a first and second separately installed light producing means to separately provide light signals to the respective signal detecting means on the other vertical side and the bottom side.

23. A golf training device of claim 21 wherein the light signal producing means is a focused laser light source or a combination of a focused laser light source and a non-coherent LED, white light.

24. A golf training device according to claim 23 wherein each of the laser light sources comprises a focused laser beam and an optical splitter having a function of splitting the light signals produced by the laser beam equally to the light signal emitting means located on the respective light signal producing means holding part.

25. A golf training device according to claim 24 wherein the light signal emitting means comprises a series of glass slides or prisms equally spaced at a predetermined distance on the respective light signal producing means holding part to receive and emit light signals produced by the laser beam, said predetermined distance being smaller than a diameter of a golf ball.

26. A golf training device of claim 19 further comprises a golf ball stopping net placed along the golf ball traveling direction at the rear of the optical net for ball stopping.