Performance measurement system with fluorescent markers for golf equipment
First Claim
1. A portable monitor system for measuring kinematics of at least one golf ball comprising:
- a light source capable of directing light having a primary excitation wavelength at the at least one golf ball, wherein the at least one golf ball has at least one fluorescent marker with a primary emission wavelength; and
a light receiver comprising a filter having a primary transmission wavelength, wherein the light receiver is selectively positioned to receive light emitted by the at least one fluorescent marker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a monitor system that measures flight characteristics of at least one object moving in a predetermined field-of-view using at least one fluorescent marker. The system may include a lighting unit with a light filter, at least one camera unit with a camera filter. The lighting unit directs light in the direction of the object. If there is a light filter the light is filtered prior to reaching the object. The camera unit is pointed toward the object and the camera filter inhibits all wavelengths except those in a certain range. The reflected light from the object is transmitted to the camera through the camera filter. In one embodiment, the system includes a camera filter that is electronically switchable between at least two colors. The present invention further includes methods for monitoring at least one object with at least one marker using filters.
62 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A portable monitor system for measuring kinematics of at least one golf ball comprising:
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a light source capable of directing light having a primary excitation wavelength at the at least one golf ball, wherein the at least one golf ball has at least one fluorescent marker with a primary emission wavelength; and a light receiver comprising a filter having a primary transmission wavelength, wherein the light receiver is selectively positioned to receive light emitted by the at least one fluorescent marker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A portable monitor system for measuring kinematics of at least two golf objects comprising:
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a light source capable of directing light having a primary excitation wavelength at the at least two golf objects; a first camera positioned to view at least one of the at least two golf objects; and a second camera positioned to view at least one of the at least two golf objects, wherein one golf object has at least one fluorescent marker thereon and another golf object has at least one fluorescent marker thereon; and wherein at least one of the first and second camera acquire images of light emitted by the fluorescent markers in response to the primary excitation wavelength, the images capable of being analyzed to determine the kinematics of at least one of the at least two golf objects. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of measuring the kinematics of at least one object comprising:
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providing a first golf ball having at least one fluorescent marker thereon; directing a first light towards a field-of-view comprising the first golf ball, wherein the first light contacts the at least one fluorescent marker and is reflected as a second light to a light receiving unit, and wherein the second light comprises an image of the first golf ball; recording the image of the first golf ball; and analyzing the recorded image of the first golf ball for a first bright area, wherein the first bright area corresponds to the at least one fluorescent marker. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A portable monitor system for measuring kinematics of at least one object comprising:
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a light source capable of directing light at the at least one object, wherein the light has an excitation spectrum wavelength from about 400 nm to about 800 nm, wherein the light source comprises a first filter having a first transmission wavelength, and wherein the at least one object has at least one fluorescent marker with a primary emission wavelength; and a light receiver comprising a second filter having a second transmission wavelength, wherein the second filter blocks the excitation spectrum wavelength; and wherein the kinematics of the at least one object are determined based on images formed using Ihe light receiver.
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36. A portable monitor system for measuring kinematics of at least one object comprising:
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a golf club having at least one fluorescent marker with a primary emission wavelength; a light source capable of directing light at the golf club, wherein the light has a primary excitation wavelength, and wherein the primary excitation wavelength is distinct from the primary emission wavelength; and a light receiver capable of receiving the primary emission wavelength, wherein the light receiver comprises a filter having a primary transmission wavelength.
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Specification