System for tracking a golf ball and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball

• US 8,540,583 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Leech, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/341,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20130172093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 473/152, 473/353, 473/407, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/152
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0072 with a specified number of layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 : Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 : comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 : comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 : Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 : Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 : Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball is disclosed. The system may display an enhanced image of the golf ball on a display such that the enhanced image is imposed upon a user'"'"'s real world view. Displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball may help a user view the trajectory of the golf ball and find the golf ball after the golf ball lands. The system may display an enhanced image of the golf ball on a heads-up display configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head such that the user may view the enhanced image while remaining hands-free. The enhanced image may enable a user to compare the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory with an ideal trajectory. The system may display other information, such as launch and flight information about the ball, on the heads-up display.

Claims

1. A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an image, comprising:

a golf ball tracking system for tracking the location of a golf ball; and

a display device associated with the golf ball tracking system, the display device being configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s head and including a display system configured to use the tracked location of the golf ball to display an enhanced image of the golf ball imposed upon the user'"'"'s real world view.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the golf ball tracking system includes:

a golf ball including a signal emitter; and

a signal receiver disposed on the display device and configured to receive a signal emitted by the signal emitter, the signal receiver being coupled to the processor.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display device includes one of eyeglasses, a helmet, and a visor.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display system associated with the display device, the display system configured to display enhanced images imposed upon the user'"'"'s real world view.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the enhanced images are transparent.

7. A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an image, comprising:

a display device configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s head;

a camera associated with the display device, the camera configured to capture and record images of the user'"'"'s real world view;

a golf ball tracking system configured to track the location of a golf ball;

at least one processor configured to control at least one of the camera, the golf ball tracking system, and the display system; and

wherein the display device includes a display system configured to display an enhanced image of a golf ball captured by the camera imposed upon the user'"'"'s real world view.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the display device includes one of eyeglasses, a helmet, and a visor.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a display system disposed adjacent a lens of the display device, the display system configured to display enhanced images imposed upon the user'"'"'s real world view.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the golf ball tracking system includes a golf ball sensor configured to detect a golf ball, wherein the processor is configured to process information provided by the golf ball sensor to determine the location of the golf ball.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a golf ball having a signal emitter, wherein the golf ball sensor is configured to detect the golf ball by detecting signals emitted from the signal emitter.

12. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a user tracking system configured to track the location of the user, the user tracking system being disposed on the display device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to use information relayed by the user tracking system to determine the distance between the user and a landmark.

14. A method of tracking a golf ball and displaying an image, comprising:

capturing and recording images from a user'"'"'s viewpoint;

transmitting the recorded images to a processor;

tracking the location of a golf ball disposed within a viewer'"'"'s line of sight; and

displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball imposed upon the user'"'"'s real world view, wherein the enhanced image is displayed on a display device configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s head.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the enhanced image of the golf ball includes a comet tail disposed over at least a portion of the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the enhanced image of the golf ball includes an image of the golf ball in which the golf ball has been brightened and/or enlarged.

17. The method according to claim 14, further including displaying launch information of the golf ball on the display device.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein tracking the location of the golf ball includes emitting a signal from a signal emitter disposed within the golf ball and processing the signal to determine the location of the golf ball.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising tracking the location of the user.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising displaying the distance between the location of the user and a landmark on the display device.