Electronic golf swing analyzing system

• US 7,329,193 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard G. Plank Jr
• Original Assignee: Richard G. Plank Jr
• Inventors: Plank, Richard G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Omotosho; Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US10/625,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20040127304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 473/221, 473/198, 473/199, 473/209, 473/219, 473/220, 473/225, 473/236, 473/237, 473/257, 473/218, 473/217, 473/266, 473/270, 473/271, 473/273, 463/30
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• 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 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

An electronic golf swing analyzing system that uses an array of infrared (IR) and ultrasonic (U/S) sensors, activated by an embedded micro-controller, to capture swing data to accurately calculate the club head'"'"'s velocity, face angle, and swing path at impact. The system also includes a golf swing analyzing software application that receives the data from the analyzer to determine the distance and direction that the ball will travel relative to the target line. During use, the IR sensor base is placed horizontally and the U/S sensor base is positioned vertically. The player selects one of three available practice modes, which determines how the trajectory data for each swing is visually displayed. The player selects a golf club, enters golf ball information, and environmental conditions information. Trajectory results for each swing are graphically displayed relative to the players stated ability level on the computer monitor.

Claims

1. An electronic golf swing analyzer system, comprising:

a. an analyzer including an infrared sensor base and an ultrasonic sensor base, said infrared sensor base includes a hitting area with a center axis with two arrays of infrared sensors located therein used to detect the presence of a golf club head moving through said hitting area, each said array of infrared sensors being located on opposite sides and equal distance from said center axis, said ultrasonic sensor base being perpendicularly aligned and extending upward above said infrared sensor base, said ultrasonic sensor base including at least two ultrasonic sensors aimed at said hitting area, said ultrasonic sensors being located on opposite sides and equal distance from said center axis and approximately six inches apart, said array of infrared sensors and said ultrasonic sensors being controlled so that when a golf club head moves across said hitting area on said infrared sensor base and parallel to said ultrasonic base, said array of infrared sensors located in front of said center axis being activated when said golf club head moves through said hitting area and which then sequentially activates said ultrasonic sensor on the same side of said center axis and said array of infrared sensors and said ultrasonic sensor located on the opposite side of said center axis;

b. a computer having working memory;

c. means for connecting said analyzer to said computer; and

,

d. a golf swing analyzing software application loaded into said working memory of said computer, said software application uses the data from infrared sensors located before said center line axis when said golf club head moves through said hitting area to determine the club head'"'"'s speed and face angle, said software application also uses the data from said two ultrasonic sensors as said travels through said hitting area to determine the swing path angle.

2. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said arrays of infrared sensors are symmetrical and include one outer infrared sensor and two inner infrared sensors.

3. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 2, wherein each said infrared sensor includes a pulsing infrared emitter and an infrared photodiode detector.

4. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said infrared emitter and said infrared photodiode detector are located in a bushing fitted to said infrared support base.

5. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 4, further including an infrared filter located over said photodiode detector.

6. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 5, further including a lens mounted over said photodiode detector to direct infrared radiation towards said photo-detector.

7. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 1, further including a rubber mat attached over said infrared sensor base.

8. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to connect said computer to said analyzer is a serial communications cable.

9. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said infrared support base and said ultrasonic support base are pivotally connected together along one edge thereby enabling said analyzer to be selectively opened and closed.

10. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic sensors are automatically software activated at the proper time to produce ultrasonic signals when a golf club moves over said arrays of infrared sensors located on the same side of said center axis of said infrared support base, said ultrasonic sensors being aimed to transmit an ultrasonic signal and receive a reflected ultrasonic signal from a golf club moving over said array of infrared sensors located on the same side of said center axis.

11. An electronic golf swing analyzer system, comprising:

a. an analyzer including an infrared sensor base and an ultrasonic sensor base, said infrared sensor base includes a hitting area with a center axis with two arrays of infrared sensors located therein used to detect the presence of a club head moving through said hitting area, each said infrared sensor in each said array of pulsing infrared sensors includes an infrared emitter and an infrared photodiode detector mounted on opposite sides and equal distance from said center axis, said ultrasonic sensor base being perpendicularly aligned and extending upward above said infrared sensor base, said ultrasonic sensor base including at least two ultrasonic sensors aimed at said hitting area, said ultrasonic sensors being located on opposite sides and equal distance from said center axis and approximately six inches apart, said ultrasonic sensors being activated to produce ultrasonic signals when a golf club moves over said array of infrared sensors located on the same side of said center axis, said ultrasonic sensors being aimed to transmit an ultrasonic signal and receive a reflected ultrasonic signal from a golf club moving over said array of infrared sensors located on the same side of said center axis;

b. a computer having working memory and a visual display means;

c. means for connecting said analyzer to said computer; and

,

d. a golf swing analyzing software application loaded into said working memory of said computer, said software application uses the data from said ultrasonic sensors to calculate the swing path angle and uses the data from said arrays of infrared sensors to determine the club head velocity and face angle at impact when a golf club is swung over said hitting area and impacts a golf ball located on said center axis.

12. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said infrared support base and said ultrasonic support base are pivotally connected together along one edge thereby enabling said analyzer to be selectively opened and closed.

13. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 11, further including a stance base connected to said infrared support base upon which a player stands to swing a golf club.

14. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said stance base includes a grid surface.

15. The electronic golf swing analyzer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said stance base includes two hinged boxes.

16. The electronic golf swing analyzer system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said software program allows a user to select a specific club, ball, environmental conditions, and the player'"'"'s profile (right handed or left handed golfer).