Method and apparatus to determine golf ball trajectory and flight
First Claim
1. A method of calculating the trajectory of an object based on flight characteristics measured while the object is moving in a predetermined field-of-view comprising the steps of:
- providing a portable launch monitor system comprising a first camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view;
taking at least two images of the object while in the predetermined field-of-view, the at least two images taken at two different times;
determining the locations and orientations of the object in the predetermined field-of-view from the images;
calculating launch conditions of the object from the locations and orientations of the object; and
calculating the trajectory of the object from the calculated launch conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A launch monitor system including a support structure, a first light-reflecting element disposed on this support structure, a lighting unit and an camera unit. A computer receives signals generated by light patterns received by the camera unit and computes a variety of flight characteristics for the object. The system may be moved back and forth to vary the field-of-view of the camera unit. The system also computes and displays object trajectories from the computed flight characteristics which account for the characteristics of the object and the atmospheric conditions.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of calculating the trajectory of an object based on flight characteristics measured while the object is moving in a predetermined field-of-view comprising the steps of:
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providing a portable launch monitor system comprising a first camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view;
taking at least two images of the object while in the predetermined field-of-view, the at least two images taken at two different times;
determining the locations and orientations of the object in the predetermined field-of-view from the images;
calculating launch conditions of the object from the locations and orientations of the object; and
calculating the trajectory of the object from the calculated launch conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
locating areas of brightness in each image;
determining which of the areas of brightness in the images correspond to the reflective areas on the object;
locating the centers of the areas of brightness in each image; and
calculating the center of the object from the centers of the areas of brightness in the images.
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4. The method of claim 3, wherein the image taking step is preceded by the steps of:
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selecting a specific orientation of a person hitting the object;
selecting a mode of operation, the modes of operation being a test mode and a demonstration mode; and
entering site specific data, the site specific data including ambient conditions and object characteristics.
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5. The method of claim 4, wherein the ambient conditions include at least one of temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and elevation.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a first golf ball and the method further includes the step of calculating the trajectory of a second golf ball from the launch conditions calculated for the first golf ball, the second golf ball being of a different design from the first golf ball.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein the launch conditions include at least one of a spin rate, speed, and launch angle of the object.
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8. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further includes the step of comparing the trajectory of the first golf ball to the second golf ball.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a first golf ball and the method further includes the step of comparing the trajectory of the first golf ball with a second golf ball, the second golf ball having been hit at a previous point in time with a different club than the first golf ball.
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10. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a first golf ball and the method further includes the step of comparing the trajectory of the first golf ball with a second golf ball, the second golf ball having been hit by a second golfer at a previous point in time than the first golf ball.
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11. The method of claim 1, wherein the image taking step is preceded by calibrating the system.
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12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of calibrating comprises the steps of:
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setting up the launch monitoring system;
arranging a calibration fixture with a plurality of reflective dots in at least three different planes in the predetermined field-of-view;
imaging the calibration fixture;
determining the location of the reflective dots in the image;
obtaining data corresponding to the location of the reflective dots; and
calculating calibration values for each camera imaging the object based on the location of the dots in the image and the location data.
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13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of taking images of the object comprises the steps of:
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initiating movement of the object;
sending a signal to the launch monitoring system in response to the movement of the object;
illuminating the object in response to the sent signal; and
taking at least one image in response to the sent signal while the object is illuminated.
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14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:
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waiting a predetermined time interval after the at least one image is taken of the object;
illuminating the object a second time after the predetermined time interval; and
taking at least one additional image while the object is illuminated.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined time interval is programmable.
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16. The method of claim 14, wherein two images are taken simultaneously from the first camera unit and a second camera unit, wherein both the first and second cameras are focused on overlapping portion of the predetermined field-of-view.
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17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating launch conditions includes calculating the spin rate and the launch angle of the object and further comprising the steps of:
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determining a range of spin rates of the object relative to the calculated spin rate;
determining a range of launch angles of the object relative to the calculated launch angle; and
calculating a pluralities of trajectories for the object based on the range of spin rates and the range of launch angles.
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18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
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calculating distances the object will travel for each of the plurality of calculated trajectories; and
displaying the plurality of calculated distances to determine the spin rate and launch angle that produces a maximum distance.
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19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
displaying the trajectory of the object.
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20. A method of calculating the trajectory of an object in an outdoor environment based on flight characteristics measured while the object is moving in a predetermined field-of-view comprising the steps of:
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providing a launch monitor system comprising a first camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view;
taking at least two images of the object in the outdoor environment and while in the predetermined field-of-view, the at least two images taken at two different times;
determining the locations and orientations of the object in the predetermined field-of-view from the images;
calculating launch conditions of the object from the locations and orientations of the object; and
calculating the trajectory of the object from the calculated launch conditions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of calculating the trajectory of an object based on flight characteristics measured while the object is moving in a predetermined field-of-view comprising the steps of:
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providing a portable launch monitor system comprising a first camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view and a second camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view, wherein the first and second cameras are focused on overlapping portions of the field-of-view;
capturing images of the object with both the first and second camera units at least at two different times while the object is in the predetermined field-of-view;
determining the locations and orientations of the object in the predetermined field-of-view from the images;
calculating launch conditions of the object from the locations and orientations of the object; and
calculating the trajectory of the object from the calculated launch conditions.
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Specification