Method, device, and computer program for determining range to a target

• US 7,535,553 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bushnell Incorporated (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bushnell Incorporated (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Vermillion, Jordan, Cross, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard; Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US11/678,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 356/4.01, 356/5.01, 356/141.1
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

A method, device, and computer program for determining range to a target is disclosed. Specifically, the invention provides a method, device and computer program for determining a second range to a target based on a first range to the target and an angle to the target such that the parabolic trajectory of a projectile is accounted for in determining the second range. The device generally includes a range sensor for determining a first range to a target, a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target, and a computing element for determining a second range to the target based on the first range and the determined angle.

Claims

1. A device for determining a range to a target, the device comprising:

a range sensor for determining a first range to the target;

a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target relative to the device; and

a computing element, coupled with the range sensor and the tilt sensor, for determining a second range based on the first range, a precalculated factor based on the determined angle and golf ball flight characteristics in air, and scaled based on the first range where;

when the first range is less or equal to a first threshold value, the factor is scaled by a first value;

when the first range is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value, the factor is scaled by a second value; and

when the first range is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the multiplier is a third value,

the second range being a representation of a flat-ground distance the projectile must travel such that the projectile'"'"'s trajectory intersects the target.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computing element additionally determines a desired change of a golf club length which corresponds to the difference between the second range and the first range.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the range sensor is a laser range sensor.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor is an inclinometer.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor determines the angle based on an orientation of the device.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a display, coupled with the computing element, for indicating the first range, the second range, and the determined angle.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a portable handheld housing for housing the range sensor, the tilt sensor, and the computing element.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the target is at least a portion of a golf course.

9. An electronic device for determining a range to a target, the device comprising:

a laser range sensor for determining a first range to the target;

a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target relative to the device based on the orientation of the device;

a computing element, coupled with the distance sensor and the tilt sensor, for determining a second range by adjusting the first range by a precalculated factor based on the determined angle and golf ball flight characteristics in air, and scaled based on the first range where;

when the first range is less or equal to a first threshold value, the factor is scaled by a first value;

when the first range is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value, the factor is scaled by a second value; and

when the first range is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the multiplier is a third value,

the second range being a representation of a flat-ground distance the projectile must travel such that the projectile'"'"'s trajectory intersects the target; and

a display, coupled with the computing element, for indicating the first range and the second range.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the display additionally indicates the determined angle.

11. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the computing element additionally determines a desired change of a golf club length which corresponds to the difference between the second range and the first range.

12. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the display additionally indicates the change of the golf club length.

13. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the target is at least a portion of a golf course.

14. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the target is at least a portion of a golf green.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the target is at least a portion of a pin positioned on the golf green.

16. The device as set forth in claim 9, further including a portable handheld housing for housing the laser range sensor, the tilt sensor, the computing element, and the display.

17. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the tilt sensor is an inclinometer.

18. The device as set forth in claim 9, further including a memory for storing a look-up table having a plurality of angles and corresponding factors.

19. The device as set forth in claim 18, wherein the factor is determined by looking up the determined angle in the look-up table.

20. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the computing element determines the second range by multiplying the first range by the factor.

21. A device for determining a range to a target on a golf course, the device comprising:

a range sensor for determining a first range to the target;

a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target relative to the device;

a computing element, coupled with the range sensor and the tilt sensor, for determining a second range based on the first range, the determined angle, and a precalculated factor based on the determined angle and golf ball flight characteristics in air and scaled based on the first range where;

when the first range is less than or equal to a first threshold value, the factor is scaled by a first value;

when the first range is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value, the factor is scaled by a second value; and

when the first range is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the multiplier is a third value; and

a display for indicating the first range and data or a representation related to the second range.

22. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the second range is representative of a flat-ground distance the golf ball must travel such that the golf ball'"'"'s trajectory intersects the target.

23. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the computing element retrieves the factor from memory to determine the second range.

24. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the computing element calculates the factor with an algorithm to determine the second range.

25. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the computing element determines the second range by multiplying the first range by the factor.

26. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the computing element determines the second range by selecting it from a look-up table based on the determined angle and the first range.

27. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the computing element further compares the first range to the second range to determine a desired change of a golf club length.

28. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the range sensor is a laser range sensor.

29. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the tilt sensor is an inclinometer that determines the angle based on an orientation of the device.

30. The device as set forth in claim 21, further including a display, coupled with the computing element, for indicating the first range, the second range, and the determined angle.

31. The device as set forth in claim 21, further including a portable handheld housing for housing the range sensor, the tilt sensor and the computing element.

32. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein the data or the representation related to the second range is a numerical indication of the second range or a graphical representation of the second range.

33. A device for determining a range to a target, the device comprising:

a range sensor for determining a first range to the target;

a tilt sensor for determining an angle to the target relative to the device; and

a computing element, coupled with the range sensor and the tilt sensor, for determining a second range based on the first range, a precalculated factor based on the determined angle and golf ball flight characteristics in air, and scaled based on the first range where;

when the first range is less or equal to a first threshold value, the factor is scaled by a first value;

when the first range is greater than the first threshold value, the factor is scaled by a second value;

the second range being a representation of a flat-ground distance the projectile must travel such that the projectile'"'"'s trajectory intersects the target.