Launch monitor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining golf club and golf ball kinematics, comprising:
- a RFID reader operatively connected to a housing;
a golf club including a RFID tag wherein the RFID reader is capable of communicating with the RFID tag to automatically identify the golf club; and
a camera configured to acquire an image of the golf club in motion in order to determine the kinematic characteristics of the golf club;
a processor configured to provide a comparison of the kinematic characteristics of at least two golf clubs in motion, wherein the comparison includes at least two properties of each of the at least two golf clubs.
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.
285 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining golf club and golf ball kinematics, comprising:
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a RFID reader operatively connected to a housing; a golf club including a RFID tag wherein the RFID reader is capable of communicating with the RFID tag to automatically identify the golf club; and a camera configured to acquire an image of the golf club in motion in order to determine the kinematic characteristics of the golf club; a processor configured to provide a comparison of the kinematic characteristics of at least two golf clubs in motion, wherein the comparison includes at least two properties of each of the at least two golf clubs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining the kinematics of a golf object, comprising the steps of:
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a) storing unique identifiers in a computer system for a plurality of golf objects; b) communicating with a RFID tag included with a first golf object; c) receiving a unique identifier from the RFID tag; d) automatically identifying the golf object based on the received unique identifier; e) acquiring an image of the golf object in motion in order to determine the kinematic characteristics of the golf object; f) repeating steps a) through e) with a second golf object; and g) providing a comparison of the kinematic characteristics of the first and second golf objects, wherein the comparison includes at least two properties of each of the first and second golf objects. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for determining the kinematics of one or more golf objects, comprising the steps of:
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a) including a RFID tag with a golf ball; b) transmitting information between the RFID tag and a RFID reader; c) determining when the golf ball is in motion based on the information transmitted between the RFID tag and the RFID reader; d) providing at least one trigger operable to trigger a camera to acquire images of the golf ball when the golf ball is in motion; e) determining the kinematic characteristics of the golf ball based on the acquired images; f) repeating steps a) through e) with at least two golf balls; and g) providing a comparison of the kinematic characteristics of each golf ball, wherein the comparison includes at least two properties of each golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for determining the kinematics of one or more golf objects, comprising the steps of:
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a) including a RFID tag with a golf object; b) transmitting information between the RFID tag and a RFID reader; c) determining when the golf object is in motion based on the information transmitted between the RFID tag and the RFID reader; d) providing at least one trigger operable to trigger a camera to acquire images of the golf object in motion; e) determining the kinematic characteristics of the golf object based on the acquired images; f) repeating steps a) through e) with at least two golf objects; and g) associating at least two properties of each of the two golf objects with the kinematic characteristics of each golf object; h) providing a recommendation of which of the at least two golf objects provides a desired trajectory, wherein the desired trajectory is based on comparison of at least two properties of each golf object and the kinematic characteristics of each golf object.
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Specification