Infrared sensing launch monitor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the flight characteristics of golf equipment, comprising:
- a golf club and a golf ball;
at least one infrared sensing device selectively positioned to acquire images of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball; and
a cooling device having at least one contact surface operable to temporarily maintain contact with at least one portion of the surface of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball to impart a temperature pattern to the at least one portion of the surface of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball;
wherein the infrared sensing device is operable to detect a temperature pattern on a portion of the surface of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for changing the temperature pattern of the surface of a golf ball or golf club is disclosed. The apparatus includes a thermal device capable of imparting a temperature pattern onto the surface of a golf ball. The thermal device preferably imparts the temperature pattern from a distance, preferably while the golf ball is positioned on a golf tee. After a predetermined amount of time, the golf ball may be stuck by a golf club. A thermal imaging device, which may detect a cooling pattern imparted to the golf ball by prongs of a cooling device, is preferably used to acquire images of the temperature pattern. The acquired images may then be analyzed by a processor to determine the kinematic characteristics of the golf ball.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the flight characteristics of golf equipment, comprising:
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a golf club and a golf ball; at least one infrared sensing device selectively positioned to acquire images of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball; and a cooling device having at least one contact surface operable to temporarily maintain contact with at least one portion of the surface of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball to impart a temperature pattern to the at least one portion of the surface of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball; wherein the infrared sensing device is operable to detect a temperature pattern on a portion of the surface of at least one of the golf club and the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for determining the flight characteristics of a golf ball, comprising:
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a thermal device; a thermal imaging device operable to detect and acquire images of a temperature pattern; and wherein the thermal device comprises a cooling device comprising two or more elements operable to impart a temperature pattern to a portion of the surface of the golf ball by contacting a portion of the surface of the golf ball for a predetermined period of time; and wherein the images of the temperature pattern may be analyzed to determine the kinematic characteristics of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining the flight characteristics of a golf ball, comprising:
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imparting a temperature pattern to localized portions of the surface of a golf ball by contacting the surface of the golf ball; and detecting the temperature pattern based on a thermal detection device; wherein the difference between the temperature pattern and other portions of the surface of the golf ball is between about 10°
F. and about 30°
F.; andwherein the temperature pattern is imparted by using one or more elements to actively impart a thermal pattern by cooling the portion of the surface of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification