Topography linked golf aid
First Claim
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1. A method of providing putting information overlaid on a video of the putting green comprising:
- receiving a start position of a golf ball relative to the putting green;
receiving a desired target location representing a particular hole relative to the putting green;
calculating a plurality of trajectories for a plurality of different putting styles that represent different capture velocities that would result in capture of the golf ball in the particular hole from the start position, by calculating gradients between adjacent points on a surface model of a putting green and predicting putt data by simulating a rolling motion of the golf ball using the gradients and equations of motion involving the plurality of different capture velocities that simulate the rolling motion of the golf ball on a sloped green including a calculation for an acceleration accounting for a frictional force including a coefficient of rolling friction,determining an optimal path trajectory for the particular hole and start position based on one of the plurality of trajectories corresponding to a desired putting style that corresponds to a particular capture velocity of the ball;
computing a putting parameter for propelling the golf ball from the start position to the target location based on the optimal path trajectory, wherein the putting parameter comprises initial launch conditions comprising an initial putt angle, an initial velocity, and further computing an aim point distance perpendicular to the left or right of the target location for the particular hole and start position;
graphically overlaying on a video of the putting green (a) an aim point icon representing the aim point distance wherein the aim point icon is a point located to the left or right on a line intersecting the target location, and wherein the line corresponds to an opposite side of the initial putt angle in a right triangle oriented with the right angle intersecting the target location; and
(b) a visual representation of said optimal path trajectory.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and program for computing a path, starting velocity, aim angle, and aim points for directing a putted golf ball from a point on a golf course to another point and incorporating such data into easily read charts or electronic media is provided. The invention also provides a means of determining the initial launch conditions and actual path a putted golf ball traveled on given its starting and ending ball positions.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing putting information overlaid on a video of the putting green comprising:
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receiving a start position of a golf ball relative to the putting green; receiving a desired target location representing a particular hole relative to the putting green; calculating a plurality of trajectories for a plurality of different putting styles that represent different capture velocities that would result in capture of the golf ball in the particular hole from the start position, by calculating gradients between adjacent points on a surface model of a putting green and predicting putt data by simulating a rolling motion of the golf ball using the gradients and equations of motion involving the plurality of different capture velocities that simulate the rolling motion of the golf ball on a sloped green including a calculation for an acceleration accounting for a frictional force including a coefficient of rolling friction, determining an optimal path trajectory for the particular hole and start position based on one of the plurality of trajectories corresponding to a desired putting style that corresponds to a particular capture velocity of the ball; computing a putting parameter for propelling the golf ball from the start position to the target location based on the optimal path trajectory, wherein the putting parameter comprises initial launch conditions comprising an initial putt angle, an initial velocity, and further computing an aim point distance perpendicular to the left or right of the target location for the particular hole and start position; graphically overlaying on a video of the putting green (a) an aim point icon representing the aim point distance wherein the aim point icon is a point located to the left or right on a line intersecting the target location, and wherein the line corresponds to an opposite side of the initial putt angle in a right triangle oriented with the right angle intersecting the target location; and
(b) a visual representation of said optimal path trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computing device for providing putting information overlaid on a video of the putting green, comprising:
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input mechanism for receiving a start position of a golf ball relative to the putting green and receiving a desired target location representing a particular hole relative to the putting green; a processor for calculating a plurality of trajectories for a plurality of different putting styles that represent different capture velocities that would result in capture of the golf ball in the particular hole from the start position, by calculating gradients between adjacent points on a surface model of a putting green and predicting putt data by simulating a rolling motion of the golf ball using the gradients and equations of motion involving the plurality of different capture velocities that simulate the rolling motion of the golf ball on a sloped green including a calculation for an acceleration accounting for a frictional force including a coefficient of rolling friction; determining both an optimal path trajectory for the particular hole and start position based on one of the plurality of trajectories corresponding to a desired putting style that corresponds to a particular capture velocity of the ball; computing a putting parameter for propelling the golf ball from the start position to the target location based on the optimal path trajectory, wherein the putting parameter comprises initial launch conditions comprising an initial putt angle, an initial velocity, and further computing an aim point distance perpendicular to the left or right of the target location for the particular hole and start position; an output device for graphically overlaying on a video of the putting green (a) an aim point icon representing the aim point distance wherein the aim point icon is a point located to the left or right on a line intersecting the target location, and wherein the line corresponds to an opposite side of the initial putt angle in a right triangle oriented with the right angle intersecting the target location; and
(b) a visual representation of said optimal path trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer readable media containing program instructions for providing putting information overlaid on a video of the putting green, comprising:
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first computer program code for receiving a start position of a golf ball relative to the putting green; second computer program code for receiving a desired target location representing a particular hole relative to the putting green; third computer program code for calculating a plurality of trajectories for a plurality of different putting styles that represent different capture velocities that would result in capture of the golf ball in the particular hole from the start position, by calculating gradients between adjacent points on a surface model of a putting green and predicting putt data by simulating a rolling motion of the golf ball using the gradients and equations of motion involving the plurality or different capture velocities that simulate the rolling motion of the golf ball on a sloped green including a calculation for an acceleration accounting for a frictional force including a coefficient of rolling friction; determining an optimal path trajectory for the particular hole and start position based on one of the plurality of trajectories corresponding to a desired putting style that corresponds to a particular capture velocity of the ball; computing a putting parameter for propelling the golf ball from the start position to the target location based on the optimal path trajectory, wherein the putting parameter comprises initial launch conditions comprising an initial putt angle, an initial velocity, and further computing an aim point distance perpendicular to the left or right of the target location for the particular hole and start position; fourth computer program code for graphically outputting as an overlay on a video of the putting green (a) an aim point icon representing the aim point distance wherein the aim point icon is a point located to the left or right on a line intersecting the target location, and wherein the line corresponds to an opposite side of the initial putt angle in a right triangle oriented with the right angle intersecting the target location and (b) a visual representation of said optimal path trajectory.
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Specification