Method and apparatus to determine golf ball trajectory and flight

• US 6,764,412 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Gobush, William, Days, Charles, Silveira, James Alan, Pelletier, Diane, Aoyama, Steven, Hebert, Edmund A., Winfield, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/270,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/140-141, 473/198-200, 473/219-226, 473/351, 473/353, 473/409, 382/106, 382/107, 382/162, 382/164-165, 700/91, 434/247-249, 434/251-252, 348/61, 348/143, 348/169, 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/208.14, 348/552
• US Class Current: 473/199
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 : with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• 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 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 : using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/18 : wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/50 : Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 : Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging

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.

Claims

1. A method of processing images of a golf ball having markers comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one bright image of the golf ball;

dividing the image into a plurality of pixels;

assigning a color to each pixel, the assigned color being either a first color if the pixel has a brightness above a predetermined threshold level or another color if the pixel has a brightness below the predetermined threshold level;

connecting adjacent pixels of the first color to form bright areas;

corresponding the pixels to identify the markers on the object; and

calculating the location of the markers from the at least one image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing step further comprises the steps of:

capturing a first pair of images on a first image frame of a first camera; and

capturing a second pair of images on a second image frame of a second camera.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the calculating step further comprises the step of mathematically comparing the first pair of images with the second pair of images.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding step further comprises the step of eliminating extraneous pixels from the image.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one of the transverse velocity and spin rate of the golf ball.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dividing includes dividing the image into rows and columns of pixels.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dividing further includes dividing the image into 753 pixels by 244 pixels.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if any of the bright areas are aberrant bright areas; and

ignoring the aberrant bright areas.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining includes determining whether any of the bright areas have an area outside a predetermined range of areas.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating the centers of the markers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of calculating the centers of the markers comprises performing a plurality of summations for the areas of brightness and calculating net moments about two axes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein about 105 pixels correspond to one marker.

13. A method of processing images of a golf ball having at least one marker comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one image of the golf ball;

dividing the image into a plurality of pixels;

corresponding an area of the pixels with the marker on the golf ball;

calculating the location of the marker on the golf ball from the at least one image.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of calculating the center of the area corresponding to the marker on the golf ball.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of calculating the center of the area corresponding to the marker on the golf ball comprises performing a plurality of summations for the area and calculating net moments about two axes.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of excluding extraneous pixels from the area corresponding to the marker on the golf ball.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the principle axis of the area corresponding to the marker on the ball;

calculating a ratio of the principle axis of the area corresponding to the marker on the ball; and

eliminating the area of pixels if the ratio of the principle axis exceeds a predetermined value.