Golf club and ball performance monitor having an ultrasonic trigger
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging system for determining the kinematics of one or more objects, comprising:
- a single ultrasonic trigger targeted toward a predetermined field of view through which the one or more objects pass, wherein the ultrasonic trigger emits a plurality of pulses with a predetermined time interval between each of the plurality of pulses to (a) prevent interference between emitted pulses and pulses that are reflected by the one or more objects in the predetermined field of view and (b) enable calculation of position and velocity of on or more objects in the predetermined field of view, wherein the predetermined time interval is greater than or equal to twice the distance from the ultrasonic trigger to the predetermined field of view;
a camera operatively connected to the ultrasonic trigger to capture consecutive optical images of the one or more objects in the predetermined field of view; and
a computational device operatively connected to the camera and ultrasonic trigger operable to compute the position and velocity of the one or more objects.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic trigger for a golf equipment performance monitor is described. In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic trigger comprises at least one emitter and receiver. The emitters periodically generate sound waves at an ultrasonic frequency. The sound waves are targeted towards an object or objects within a target area. The sound waves are reflected by the objects within the target area, and are detected by at least one receiver. The receiver may be connected to a computational device to determine the position and/or velocity of the objects within the field of view.
50 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An imaging system for determining the kinematics of one or more objects, comprising:
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a single ultrasonic trigger targeted toward a predetermined field of view through which the one or more objects pass, wherein the ultrasonic trigger emits a plurality of pulses with a predetermined time interval between each of the plurality of pulses to (a) prevent interference between emitted pulses and pulses that are reflected by the one or more objects in the predetermined field of view and (b) enable calculation of position and velocity of on or more objects in the predetermined field of view, wherein the predetermined time interval is greater than or equal to twice the distance from the ultrasonic trigger to the predetermined field of view; a camera operatively connected to the ultrasonic trigger to capture consecutive optical images of the one or more objects in the predetermined field of view; and a computational device operatively connected to the camera and ultrasonic trigger operable to compute the position and velocity of the one or more objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16)
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10. A system for simultaneously measuring golf club properties and golf ball properties during a golfer'"'"'s striking of a golf ball, the system comprising:
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a first camera and a second camera, each of the first and second cameras focused toward a predetermined field of view; a golf club having at least one optical marker; a golf ball within the predetermined field of view; and a single ultrasonic trigger operatively connected to a computational device, wherein the ultrasonic trigger emits a plurality of pulses with a predetermined time interval between each of the plurality of pulses to prevent interference between emitted pulses and wises that are reflected by objects in the predetermined field of view, wherein the predetermined time interval is greater than or equal to twice the distance from the ultrasonic trigger to the predetermined field of view, wherein the ultrasonic trigger is disposed prior to the golf ball along a path of a golf club swing and wherein the plurality of pulses are directed towards a plurality of points within the predetermined field of view, and wherein the system is operable to estimate the golf club speed and the position and velocity of the golf ball based on the output from the ultrasonic trigger. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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Specification