Methods and systems for identifying the launch positions of descending golf balls

• US 8,113,964 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norman Matheson Lindsay
• Original Assignee: Norman Matheson Lindsay
• Inventors: Lindsay, Norman Matheson
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yen, Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/442,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20100029415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473150-153, 473/155, 473/407, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/150
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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: G01P 3/68 using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light G01P3/80 takes precedence ; by reflection of waves G01S17/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

Identification of the tee-off bay (52;53) from which a golf ball landing on a golf-range target (51) originated, is made by calculating an estimate of flight duration (Edur_k) of the descending ball as a function of the measured angle (β) of descent in elevation, and, in respect of each ball launched from the bays (52,53), comparing this estimate for a match with a measured interval between the launch of the respective ball and descent of the descending ball. The originating bay (52;53) of the launched ball for which there is the closest match is identified as the origin of the descending ball, and ambiguity or uncertainty between which bay (52,53) is identified is resolved through comparison of the measured angle (α_des) of descent in azimuth of the descending ball with estimates (Edir_k) of it calculated for each launched ball, and through similar comparison in respect of a calculated decelaration ratio (Edec_k) and flight duration (Dur_k).

Claims

1. A method for identifying in respect of a descending golf ball a position from among a plurality of launch positions from which the descending golf ball was launched, the method being performed by a computer and comprising the steps of:

measuring, via sensors, descent parameters of the descending golf ball to derive at least a time of descent of the descending golf ball, within a last 10% of a carry trajectory of the descending golf ball, and a measure dependent on angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball;

calculating, via the computer, a calculated estimate of flight duration of the descending golf ball as a function of the measure dependent on the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball;

measuring, via sensors, in respect of each launch position a measured interval of time between launch of a golf ball from an individual launch position of the plurality of launch positions and the time of descent of the descending golf ball;

comparing, via the computer, the measured interval of time measured in respect of each launch position with the calculated estimate of flight duration of the descending golf ball to determine for which of the launch positions, of the plurality of launch positions, the respective measured interval of time is a close match with the calculated estimate; and

identifying, via the computer, the launch position from which the descending golf ball was launched with the launch position for which the close match exists.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring descent component velocities of the descending golf ball when measuring the descent parameters.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating the calculated estimate of flight duration according to a linear function of the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of determining the linear function as a sum of at least two terms with a first of the two terms being a constant and a second of the two terms being a product of a constant and the measurement dependent on the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of having the constant of the first term and the constant of the second terms each depend upon a carry distance.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of having the constant of the first term and the constant of the second term each depend on at least one of:

a carry distance,

a wind speed,

a wind direction,

a launch angle,

a launch speed,

an air density,

a descent velocity of the descending golf ball, and

a descent angle in azimuth of the descending golf ball.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting descent parameters of the descending golf ball and determining the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball, and the step of identifying the position from which the descending golf ball was launched includes discriminating between the launch positions of launched golf balls for which the close match exists to identify the position from which the descending golf ball was launched, the discrimination being based on the extent to which, in respect of each of the launched golf balls for which the close match exists, there is a match between the measure dependent on the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball and a calculated estimate of the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball, and wherein the calculated estimate for the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball is calculated as a function of a measure of the launch angle in azimuth of the subject launched golf ball and a measure of bearing of the descending golf ball from the launch position of the subject launched golf ball.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of calculating the calculated estimate of the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball as a sum of the measure of a bearing of the descending golf ball from the launch position of the subject launched golf ball and a term dependent on difference between this bearing and the measure of the launch angle in azimuth of the launched golf ball.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of deriving, from the measured descent parameters, a measure of horizontal velocity of the descending golf ball, and the step of identifying the position from which the descending golf ball was launched includes discriminating between the launch positions of launched golf balls for which the close match exists, the discrimination being based on the extent to which in respect of each of the launched golf balls for which the close match exists there is a match between:

(a) a calculated ratio of a measure of the horizontal velocity of the subject launched golf ball at launch to the measure of the horizontal velocity of the descending golf ball, and (b) a function dependent on a value for expected flight duration of the subject launched golf ball from its launch position.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring the descent parameters of the descending golf ball at a distance of less than 2 meters above ground level.

11. A system for a golf facility for identifying in respect of a descending golf ball a position from among a plurality of launch positions from which the descending golf ball was launched, the system comprising:

sensor means for measuring descent parameters of the descending golf ball, within a last 10% of a carry trajectory of the descending golf ball, and the descent parameters comprising a time of descent of the descending golf ball and a measure dependent on an angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball;

sensor means for measuring launch parameters of golf balls launched from the plurality of launch positions, and the launch parameters comprising, in respect of each of the launch positions, a time of golf-ball launch therefrom;

computer means responsive to the measure dependent on the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball for calculating an for calculating a calculated estimate of flight duration of the descending golf ball as a function of the measure dependent on the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball;

the computer means being responsive to the time of golf-ball launch from each of the launch positions and the time of descent of the descending golf ball to calculate, in respect of each of the plurality of launch positions, a calculated interval of time between golf-ball launch from that position and the time of descent of the descending golf ball;

the computer means being operative to compare the calculated estimate of flight duration of the descending golf ball, with the calculated interval of time in respect of each of the plurality of launch positions, to determine which launch position, of the plurality of launch positions, the calculated interval of time is a close match with the calculated estimate of flight duration; and

the computer means identifying the launch position, from which the descending golf ball was launched, with the launch position for which the close match exists.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the measured descent parameters include measures of descent component velocities of the descending golf ball.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the calculated estimate of flight duration is calculated according to a linear function of the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the linear function is a sum of at least two terms, a first term of the two terms being a constant and a second of the two terms being a product of a constant and the measure dependent on angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the constant of the first term and the constant of the second term are each dependent upon a carry distance of the descending golf ball.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the constant of the first term and the constant of the second term are each dependent on at least one of:

a carry distance,

a wind speed,

a wind direction,

a launch angle,

a launch speed,

an air density,

a descent velocity of the descending golf ball, and

a descent angle in azimuth of the descending golf ball.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the computer means further determines, from the measured descent parameters of the descending golf ball, a measure of the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball, and the computer means further discriminates between the launch positions of launched golf balls for which the close match exists to identify the launch position from which the descending golf ball was launched, the discrimination being based on the extent to which, in respect of each of the launched golf balls for which the close match exists, there is a match between the measure dependent on the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball and a calculated estimate of the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball, and this calculated estimate for the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball is calculated as a function of a measure of the launch angle in azimuth of the subject launched golf ball and a measure of bearing of the descending golf ball from the launch position of the launched golf ball.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the calculated estimate of the angle of descent in azimuth of the descending golf ball is a sum of the measure of a bearing of the descending golf ball from the launch position of the launched golf ball and a term dependent on a difference between this bearing and the measure of the launch angle in azimuth of the launched golf ball.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the computer means further derives, from the measured descent parameters, a measure of horizontal velocity of the descending golf ball, and the computer means further discriminates between the launch positions of launched golf balls for which the close match exists, the discrimination being based on the extent to which in respect of each of the launched golf balls for which the close match exists there is a match between:

(a) a calculated ratio of a measure of the horizontal velocity of the subject golf ball at launch to the measure of the horizontal velocity of the descending golf ball, and (b) a function dependent on a value for expected flight duration of the subject launched golf ball from its launch position.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the system further comprises sensors for measuring the descent parameters of the descending golf ball at a location less than 2 meters above ground level.