Device and method for displaying golf shot data

• US 8,758,170 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Appalachian Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Appalachian Technology LLC
• Inventors: Reeves, Goodwyn George
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/774,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/141, 473/407
• US Class Current: 473/407
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/50 Force related parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• 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: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

Golf club telemetry equipment sends signals to a receiver in a golf round data system. The signals uniquely identify the particular club a player has selected for a stroke and the fact that a stroke has been taken. The club identification can occur either before or during a stroke. Automatic detection of clubs and strokes simplifies round data collection for the player. Club identification before a stroke permits a forecast of the result of the stroke to be presented to then player prior to the stroke. The signals can be either acoustic or electromagnetic.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a display;

a position detection unit that determines a first geospatial position of the device;

a memory that stores a golf course map; and

circuitry configured to determine, based on the first geospatial position and the golf course map, a current hole of the golf course, and to output to the display a portion of the golf course map corresponding to the current hole, the displayed portion including an objective, wherein

the objective is a green on the current hole, and

in response to the position detection unit detecting a change from the first geospatial position to a second geospatial position, the circuitry changes the displayed portion of the golf course map such that the displayed objective coincides with a vector to the green from the second geospatial position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein following the detected change to the second geospatial position, the second geospatial position is displayed on the displayed portion.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein following the detected change to the second geospatial position, a line beginning at a position corresponding to the second geospatial position and ending at the objective position is centered on the displayed portion.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the displayed portion is rotated so that the line is oriented vertically on the display.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry changes the displayed portion of the golf course map by rotating the golf course map about a reference position of the green.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the reference position of the green is displayed on the display in the same position before the rotation as after the rotation.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry changes the displayed portion of the golf course map by rotating the golf course map about a reference position along the vector.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the reference position along the vector is a mid-point of the vector.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the reference position is displayed on the display in the same position before the rotation as after the rotation.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the changing of the displayed portion of the golf course map includes adjusting a scale of the golf course map such that features of the current hole between the second geospatial position and the objective are displayed.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the scale of the golf course map is adjusted so that the length of the vector is displayed within the displayed portion.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the scale of the golf course map is adjusted so that the midpoint of the vector is centered within the displayed portion.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein following the detected change to the second geospatial position, the circuitry adjusts a size at which the current hole features are displayed proportionally to an amount at which the golf course map is scaled.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein

the circuitry is configured to change at least one of a length and an orientation of the vector in response to a detected change in geospatial position subsequent to the detected change to the second geospatial position.

15. A method of displaying information on a device, the method comprising:

determining a first geospatial position of the device;

determining, based on the first geospatial position and a golf course map stored in a memory, a current hole of a golf course corresponding to the golf course map;

outputting, to a display, a portion of the golf course map, the displayed portion including an objective; and

in response to detecting a change from the first geospatial position to a second geospatial position, changing the displayed portion of the golf course map such that the displayed objective coincides with a vector to the green from the second geospatial position, wherein

the objective is a green on the current hole.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein, that when executed by one or more processors, causes a computer to perform a method comprising:

determining a first geospatial position;

determining, based on the first geospatial position and a golf course map stored in a memory, a current hole of a golf course corresponding to the golf course map;

outputting, to a display, a portion of the golf course map, the displayed portion including an objective; and

in response to detecting a change from the first geospatial position to a second geospatial position, changing the displayed portion of the golf course map such that the displayed objective coincides with a vector to the objective from the second geospatial position, wherein

the objective is a green on the current hole.

17. A device comprising:

a display;

a position detection unit that determines a first geospatial position of the device;

a memory that stores a golf course map; and

circuitry configured to determine, based on the first geospatial position, a current hole of the golf course, and to output to the display a portion of the golf course map corresponding to the current hole, the displayed portion including the first geospatial position and an objective, wherein

the objective is a green on the current hole, and

in response to the position detection system detecting a change from the first geospatial position to a second geospatial position, the circuitry changes the displayed portion of the golf course map such that a line connecting the second geospatial position and the objective is centered on the display.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein

the line is straight.