Launch monitor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining golf club and ball kinematics, comprising:
- a camera system having a field of view and a display device;
a teeing aid operable to assist a golfer in placing the golf ball within the camera'"'"'s field of view in order to locate the ball within a predetermined teeing position;
wherein the teeing aid determines the distance between a trigger and the placement of the golf ball.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A launch monitor that includes substantially all of its functional components on or within a housing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the launch monitor is capable of being transported and used in any desired location. One or more camera'"'"'s, flashes, and triggers may be used to acquire images of a golf club and golf ball. The launch monitor is preferably capable of receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network. Acquired images and other data may be analyzed by a processor, and then displayed using an LED, LCD or other type of display or printer. The launch monitor may “recognize” a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls based on an optical fingerprint. The optical fingerprints, which are preferably stored in a memory, allow the launch monitor to identify a golf club and/or ball substantially soon after they are placed in the field of view of the monitor Optical fingerprinting enables automatic record keeping, and storing performance data and equipment used simultaneously. This feature eliminates tedious record keeping, eliminates data entry errors, and enables rapid equipment optimization.
262 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining golf club and ball kinematics, comprising:
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a camera system having a field of view and a display device; a teeing aid operable to assist a golfer in placing the golf ball within the camera'"'"'s field of view in order to locate the ball within a predetermined teeing position; wherein the teeing aid determines the distance between a trigger and the placement of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for determining golf club and ball kinematics, comprising:
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grabbing and sequentially presenting a plurality of video images using a teeing aid; selectively activating at least one light source operable to illuminate the field of view presented by the teeing aid; and detecting the presence of the golf club and ball based on a trigger; wherein the teeing aid determines the distance between the trigger and the placement of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for determining golf club and ball kinematics, comprising:
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a camera system having a field of view and a display device; a teeing aid to assist a golfer in placing the golf ball within the camera'"'"'s field of view in order to locate the ball within a predetermined teeing position; wherein the teeing aid automatically activates after a predetermined amount of time if the golf ball is not positioned within the predetermined teeing position; and wherein the teeing aid determines the distance between a trigger and the placement of the golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification