Golf training and game system

• US 6,398,670 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XOLF Incorporated
• Original Assignee: XOLF Incorporated
• Inventors: Dahl, Nils, Engelhardt, Lennart, Dahl, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): White, Carmen D.
• Application Number:
  US09/578,565
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/407, 473/409, 473/406, 348/207, 348/211
• US Class Current: 473/407
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3691 Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens special golf games, e.g. miniature golf, A63B67/02; mats for simulating golf greens A63B69/3661
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A golf training and game system is situated in a golf playing facility with tee and target areas. At each target area an overview video camera captures an image of the target area when a golf ball is hit from a tee. A target measuring system performs image improvement methods on the captured image, detects possible balls, and calculates coarse real coordinates for the possible balls. A memory stores real coordinates for previously-identified balls. Coordinates for possible balls and identified balls are compared to determine new balls to be identified. New ball coordinates are used to position, zoom and focus a zoom video camera and capture a fine image. The target measuring system performs image improvement methods and pattern recognition on the fine image to identify the new balls and get fine real coordinates. Information sent to a tee terminal gives feedback to the players.

Claims

1. A golf and game system which gives a player immediate feedback, wherein said golf and game system is situated in a golf playing area comprising at least one tee area, and at least one target area, said system comprises:

at each target area at least one overview video camera for capturing an image as a captured image covering at least said target area when a golf ball is being hit at said tee area, and

at least one zoom video camera,

a target measuring system connected to said at least one overview video camera and to said at least one zoom video camera, wherein said target measuring system is operable to perform image improvement methods on said captured image and to detect possible balls in said captured image, and said target measuring system is further operable to calculate coarse real coordinates for said possible balls,

memory means connected to said target measuring system said memory means is operable to store real coordinates for already identified balls,

said target measuring system comprises a comparing device operable to compare said coarse real coordinates for said possible balls with said real coordinates for already identified balls to determine new ball(s) to be identified, said target measuring system being operable to use said coarse real coordinates for said new ball(s) to position, zoom and focus said at least one zoom video camera on said new ball(s) for said zoom video camera to capture a fine image on said new ball(s), said target measuring system being operable to perform image improvement methods and pattern recognition on said fine image to identify said new ball(s) and get their fine real coordinates,

at least one tee terminal positioned at said at least one tee area, said target measuring system being operable to send information regarding said coordiltes to said at least one tee terminal which is operable to give feedback to said player(s).

2. A golf training and game system according to claim 1, further comprising a video switch device connected between said target measuring system and said cameras, and a control device connected between said target measuring system and said at least one zoom video camera, said control device being operable to control the zoom and focus of said at least one zoom video camera.

3. A golf training and game system according to claim 2, wherein said memory means is a data base and said target measuring system is operable to update said data base with real coordinates for said new ball(s).

4. A golf training and game system according to claim 3, further comprising different golf balls having different colors and/or unique marks or patterns, for being hit at said tee area.

5. A golf training and game system according to claim 2, further comprising at least one registration video camera at said tee area and operable to register and identify the hit of a golf ball.

6. A golf training and game system according to claim 5, wherein each said tee terminal comprises a display device operable to display the position(s) of the ball(s) at said target area.

7. A golf training and game system according to claim 6, further comprising a back-office device connected to said target measuring system, said back-office device being operable to connect said system to another golf training and game system situated in another place.

8. A golf training and game system according to claim 7, wherein said target measuring system is a PC-system.

9. A golf training and game system according to claim 8, wherein each said at least one overview video camera and each said at least one zoom video camera is a video CCD-camera.

10. A golf training and game method which gives a player/players immediate feedback, wherein said method is performed in a golf playing area comprising at least one tee area and at least one target area, the method comprising the steps:

capturing at least one captured image covering at least said at least one target area with at least one overview camera when a golf ball is being hit at said tee area;

performing image improvement on said at least one captured image, and detecting possible golf balls in said at least one captured image;

calculating coarse real coordinates for said possible golf balls;

comparing said coarse real coordinates for said possible balls with real coordinates for already identified balls to determine new ball(s) to be identified;

using said coarse real coordinates for said new ball(s) to position, zoom and focus at least one zoom video camera on said new ball(s);

capturing at least one fine image on said new ball(s) with said at least one zoom video camera;

performing image improvement and pattern recognition on said at least one fine image to identify said new ball(s) and get their fine real coordinates; and

sending information regarding said coordinates to at least one tee terminal positioned at said at least one tee area, and operating said tee terminal to give feedback to said player/players.

11. A golf training and game method according to claim 10, further comprising:

starting the method by an installation and calibration process to get a calibration matrix and geometry data.

12. A golf training and game method according to claim 11, further comprising:

using said calibration matrix and geometry data to calculate and match all said possible golf balls; and

creating one big single target area and a data collection of said possible golf balls and said coarse real coordinates.

13. A golf training and game method according to claim 12, further comprising:

after the step of getting said fine real coordinates, determining occurrence of unexpected ball movement(s) by checking if an earlier ball is missing or if a new ball is identified as an earlier ball;

if unexpected ball movement is determined, updating old ball with new position, whereby said moved ball will have an original position in the form of said fine real coordinates, and a new actual position in the form of a new fine real coordinates; and

updating a memory, operable to store real coordinates for already identified balls, with new real coordinates for new ball(s), and new actual positions for moved old ball(s).

14. A golf training and game method according to claim 13, further comprising:

registering and identifying a hit of a golf ball with at least one registration video camera.

15. A golf training and game method according to claim 14, further comprising using golf balls identified by different golf balls having different colors and/or unique marks or patterns.

16. A golf training and game method according to claim 15, further comprising performing said method at different places with the aid of the Internet.