Method of and apparatus for golf driving range distancing using focal plane array
First Claim
1. A method for tracking golf balls within a driving range, the driving range being of the type having a fairway for driving balls therein and a plurality of tee-off positions adjacent to the fairway, comprising:
- imaging a portion of the fairway and at least one tee-off position onto a solid-state detector focal plane array with a plurality of detectors;
sequentially capturing, from the array, frames of data corresponding to an image of the fairway and position on the detectors;
detecting each moving golf ball within the frames by determining frame-to-frame movement of an image of the golf ball through one or more detectors; and
tracking the golf ball motion to determine a distance traveled for each golf ball originating from the tee-off position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention monitors the driving range and tracks golf balls from users at the driving range and informs those users of characteristics such as driving distance. A solid state camera images the range, and preferably one or more tee-off positions, and collects frames of image data to track a ball'"'"'s motion through space. Simulation routines augment that track and assist in isolating the start location as well as where the ball lands, or would have landed had it not been obstructed (e.g., by a net). Preferably, the invention also determines the ball'"'"'s position in 3-D to increase the accuracy. In one technique, two or more solid state cameras are used, and synchronized, to specify stereoscopic imaging. In another technique, the ball'"'"'s energy or physical extent is used to determine an absolute distance between the camera and the ball. A computer at the club house monitors the entire system and further manages a network including an array of displays at the several tee off positions. The computer thus sends information such as distance to the several users via the network.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for tracking golf balls within a driving range, the driving range being of the type having a fairway for driving balls therein and a plurality of tee-off positions adjacent to the fairway, comprising:
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imaging a portion of the fairway and at least one tee-off position onto a solid-state detector focal plane array with a plurality of detectors; sequentially capturing, from the array, frames of data corresponding to an image of the fairway and position on the detectors; detecting each moving golf ball within the frames by determining frame-to-frame movement of an image of the golf ball through one or more detectors; and tracking the golf ball motion to determine a distance traveled for each golf ball originating from the tee-off position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for tracking golf balls from a plurality of tee-off positions at a driving range, comprising:
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at least one camera having a solid state focal plane for imaging the range and the positions; signal processing means for capturing frames of data from the camera and for detecting golf balls moving through successive frames; a computer connected to the camera for processing detect information and for determining, for each of the golf balls, a golf ball track, a golf ball track and an associated tee-off position for the track; and a plurality of user stations, each station being situated at a unique tee-off position and connected to the computer, the computer transmitting information about the golf ball track to the associated tee-off position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification