Sports simulator and simulation method

• US 9,616,311 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Full-Swing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Full-Swing, Inc.
• Inventors: Nicora, Daniel Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US14/586,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20150119157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

A sports simulator calculates spin of a sports object using image analysis. A velocity vector is also calculated. These are combined to produce a predicted future trajectory of the sports object. In one embodiment, the sports object is a golf ball and the sports simulator simulates golf.

Claims

1. A method for simulating a sports activity using at least one processor, the method comprising:

accelerating a sports object from a launch area towards a screen;

triggering a shutter of a camera directed at said launch area;

illuminating said launch area with a pulsed infrared light;

capturing with said camera multiple images on a single frame of said launch area while the sports object is accelerated from the launch area;

sensing passage of said sports object through a first plane located between said launch area and said screen;

generating a first signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said first plane;

sensing passage of said object through a second plane located between said first plane and said screen;

generating a second signal in response to sensing passage of said sports object through said second plane;

using said processor to determine one or more components of rotational velocity of said sports object based on one or more of said images captured with said camera;

using said processor to determine one or more components of translational velocity of said sports object based on said first and second signals;

using said processor to compute a future trajectory of said sports object based at least in part on said one or more components of rotational velocity and said one or more components of translational velocity; and

displaying the future trajectory of said sports object on the screen.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

detecting overlapping images of said launch area; and

discarding said overlapping images of said launch area.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

using said processor to;

compare one or more features in a first image with the same one or more features in a second image;

calculate a change in position of said one or more features; and

derive one or more components of rotational velocity of the sports object from the change in position of said one or more features.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising capturing with the camera images of said sports object.

5. A system for simulating a sports activity, the system comprising:

a screen positioned to have a sports object launched toward said screen and to have displayed on said screen a future trajectory of said sports object;

a projector configured to project said future trajectory of said sports object on said screen;

a launch area from which said sports object is launched from said launch area and toward said screen;

one or more infrared strobe lights positioned above said launch area and coupled to a strobe controller;

a triggering device coupled to said strobe controller and configured to illuminate said launch area with said infrared strobe lights;

a camera positioned above said launch area and configured to capture one or more images of said launch area illuminated by said one or more infrared strobe lights;

one or more sensor planes located between said launch area and said screen; and

a processor in data communication with said camera, said one or more infrared strobe lights, said triggering device, said strobe controller, said one or more sensor planes, and said projector, wherein said processor is configured to execute a set of instructions to perform a method comprising;

detecting the launch of said sports object;

flashing said infrared strobe lights to illuminate said launch area;

capturing with said camera one or more images of said illuminated launch area as said sports object is launched from said launch area;

sensing passage of said sports object through said one or more sensor planes located between said launch area and said screen;

computing one or more components of rotational velocity based on said one or more captured camera images;

computing one or more components of translational velocity based on said sensed passage of said sports obiect through said one or more sensor planes;

computing said future trajectory of said sports object based on said one or more components of rotational velocity and said one or more components of translational velocity; and

projecting said future trajectory of said sports object on said screen.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting overlapping images of said launch area; and

discarding said overlapping images of said launch area.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing one or more features in a first image with the same one or more features in a second image;

calculating a change in position of said one or more features; and

deriving said one or more components of rotational velocity of said sports object from a change in position of said one or more features.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising capturing with said camera images of said sports object.