Patent Publication Number: US-11642583-B1

Title: Putting alignment system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of putting alignment systems. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     A variety of different putting trainers have improved golf swing training over the years. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,499,828, issued Mar. 3, 2009 to inventor Mario Barton, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, the relative displacement of a rigid object with three data sources can have predefined movement parameters based on the position of each data source on the object. A receiver unit can display positional information. 
     Golf swing trainer technologies measure principals using algorithms to monitor, analyze and report the position of a rigid object in space by attaching a transmitter to a putter shaft that is calibrated to a tripod mounted stationary receiver with feed the registered data into a software program without first calibrating their algorithms to an accurate intended target line. These systems generate feedback in the form of graphic reports of the stroke for training and addressing specific stroke flaws for motor learning without the information that the golf club (putter face) is aimed directly at the intended target. Golf pros know that when the putter face is not directly aimed at the intended target then the feedback generated by these systems would be flawed as they (the measured principals) relate to the intended target line. There could be a variance to the intended target line the player is not aware of when receiving feedback from the system. This variance could be significant making the feedback incorrect. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A putting alignment system includes a lateral imaging alignment guide having a set of indicia, including an upper indicia, a lower indicia, a right indicia, and a left indicia. The set of indicia can be multiple portions of a single QR code or can be two, three, or four separate QR codes. The lateral imaging alignment guide has a generally flat body that is configured to removably connect to a golf club shaft. A club lower distal tip reflector is configured for mounting on a distal tip of a golf club. A lateral imaging apparatus includes an imaging system. The imaging system has a main camera. The main camera captures and records motion of the lateral imaging alignment guide. A secondary alignment system includes a forward receiver sensor. The forward receiver sensor detects orientation of the club lower distal tip reflector when the club lower distal tip reflector is facing the forward receiver sensor. 
     The lateral imaging alignment guide is formed with a lateral body having a right arm for mounting the right indicia, a left arm for mounting the left indicia, and upper arm for mounting the upper indicia, and a lower arm for mounting the lower indicia. The upper arm has an upper connector formed as an upper loop strap for connecting to the golf club shaft. The lower arm has a lower connector formed as a lower loop strap for connecting to the golf club shaft. The putting alignment system optionally includes an emitter mounted on the secondary alignment system. The emitter emits radiation toward the club lower distal tip reflector. The forward receiver sensor is mounted adjacent to the emitter but does not see the emitter because there is no direct line of sight between the forward receiver sensor and the emitter. 
     The data from the aligner sensor input is transmitted wirelessly from the secondary alignment system to the lateral imaging apparatus. The putting alignment system has a right leg and a left leg formed on the secondary alignment system. The right leg and the left leg are dimensioned and proportioned to straddle a golf cup to align the forward receiver sensor over the golf cup. 
     The secondary alignment system also has a receiver sensor antenna and a receiver sensor antenna transmitter. The receiver sensor antenna transmitter sends data to a main camera antenna receiver of a main camera antenna. The main camera antenna is mounted to the lateral imaging apparatus. The imaging system combines data from and aligner sensor input with data from a base sensor input using a trigonometric algorithm to generate xyz data, which is data in three dimensions. The xyz data locates the golf club in a coordinate system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram showing the entire system. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of the software. 
         FIG.  3    is a close-up view of the lateral imaging alignment guide. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram showing calculation of the location of the lateral body plane. 
     
    
    
     The following callout list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings. 
     
         
           20  club 
           21  club shaft 
           22  club lower distal tip reflector 
           23  club face 
           24  club lower distal tip 
           25  grip handle 
           26  lateral imaging alignment guide 
           27  golfer 
           28  golf ball 
           30  coordinate system 
           31  x axis 
           32  y axis 
           33  z axis 
           40  lateral imaging apparatus 
           41  main camera antenna 
           42  imaging system 
           43  main camera 
           44  display screen 
           45  controls 
           46  lower vector 
           47  right vector 
           48  left vector 
           50  secondary alignment system 
           51  emitter 
           52  forward receiver 
           53  receiver sensor antenna 
           54  secondary alignment left beam 
           55  right leg 
           56  left leg 
           57  feed back indicator 
           61  alignment 
           62  aligner sensor 
           63  aligner sensor input 
           64  aligner memory 
           65  aligner wireless transceiver 
           71  swing 
           72  base sensor 
           73  base sensor input 
           74  base transceiver 
           75  zx plane data 
           76  trigonometric algorithm 
           77  xyz data 
           80  lateral body 
           81  right arm 
           82  left arm 
           83  upper arm 
           84  lower arm 
           85  motion sensor 
           86  upper indicia 
           87  right indicia 
           88  left indicia 
           89  lower indicia 
           91  upper connector 
           92  lower connector 
           93  right bend 
           94  left bend 
           95  lateral body plane 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As seen in  FIG.  1   , a golfer  27  has a putter and holds a club  20  by a grip handle  25 . The club  20  has a club shaft  21 . The club  20  has a club face  23 . At a club lower distal tip  24 , on the club face  23 , the golfer  27  mounts a club lower distal tip reflector  22 . The golfer also mounts a lateral imaging alignment guide  26  to the club shaft  21 . The cover aligns the golfball  28  with the club face  23 . When the club alignment is true to the cup, a secondary alignment system  50  provides a feedback indicator  57 . The feedback indicator  57  provides an audible or visual indication of alignment. The club face  23  may be parallel to the club shaft  21 . 
     The secondary alignment system  50  has an emitter  51  which can be an infrared emitter. The secondary alignment system  50  has a forward receiver sensor  52  which receives the beam from the emitter  51 . The emitter  51  emits light or infrared radiation which bounces from the mirror on the club face  23 . The mirror is the club lower distal tip reflector  22 . When the forward receiver sensor  52  sees the reflected emitter beam, the forward receiver sensor  52  activates the feedback indicator  57 . 
     The emitter  51  and forward receiver sensor  52  are mounted on a pair of legs, namely a right leg  55  and a left leg  56  so that the right leg  55  and the left leg  56  straddle the cup. The forward receiver sensor  52  is preferably aligned directly over the middle of the cup. The forward receiver sensor  52  is electronically connected to a receiver sensor antenna  53  which can have a Bluetooth or wireless connection with the lateral imaging apparatus  40 . 
     The lateral imaging apparatus  40  receives data regarding the orientation of the club face  23 . The lateral imaging apparatus  40  has a main camera antenna  41  connected to a transceiver that connects with the transceiver of the receiver sensor antenna  53 . The main camera antenna  41  sends data to the imaging system  42 . The main camera  43  images the lateral imaging alignment guide  26  with a right vector  47 , a left vector  48 , a lower vector  46 , and an upper vector  49 . The lateral imaging apparatus  40  has a display screen  44 , and controls  45 . The display screen can display a status of the golfer swing. 
     By combining the input from the secondary alignment system  50  and the lateral imaging apparatus  40 , the location of the club face  23  can be calculated on a coordinate system  30 . The coordinate system  30  has an X axis  31 , a y-axis  32 , and a z-axis  33 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  2   , the present invention first obtains swing data  71  through the main camera  43  interfacing with the lateral imaging alignment guide  26 . The base sensor  73  is the main camera  43 . The base sensor calculates a base sensor input  73  which is received in a processor that could be mounted on a printed circuit board within the housing of the lateral imaging apparatus  40 . The base transceiver  74  receives the YZ plane data  66  which is derived from the orientation of the club face  23 . When the emitter  51  bounces a beam off the club lower distal tip reflector  22 , which could be formed as a mirror. The rebounding beam aligns to the forward receiver sensor  52  which could be an infrared sensor lodged within a cavity such as a tube. 
     The alignment data  61  is received by an aligner sensor  62 . The aligner sensor input  63  is received into an aligner memory  64 . The aligner sensor  62  can be made as the forward receiver sensor  52 . When the forward receiver sensor  52  receives a reflection from the club lower distal tip reflector  22 , the forward receiver sensor  52  registers existence of club face  23  alignment with the cup. The aligner memory  64  can retain a time function database of aligner sensor input  63 . The aligner memory  64  can be transmitted by the aligner wireless transceiver  65  to the base transceiver  74 . Then, the lateral imaging apparatus  40  can convert the aligner sensor input  63  to a YZ plane data  66 . When YZ plane data  66  input along with the ZX plane data into a trigonometric algorithm  76 , the trigonometric algorithm  76  can generate XYZ data  77 . The XYZ data  77  can be recorded and played back to the user for improving a golf swing. 
     As seen in  FIG.  3   , the lateral imaging alignment guide  26  is formed with a lateral body  80  which is a main body of the alignment guide. The lateral body  80  has a right arm  81  extending to the right, and a left arm  82  extending to the left. The right arm anyone has a right bend  93  and the left arm has a left bend  94 . The right and left bend may change the plane of the indicia slightly. The lateral body  80  also includes an upper arm  83  and a lower arm  84 . The upper arm  83  has an upper indicia  86 , and the lower arm  84  has a lower indicia  89 . Optionally, a motion sensor  85  can be mounted on the lower arm  84 . The lower arm  84  preferably includes a lower connector  92 . The lower connector can be formed as a strap or a fabric loop that encircles the shaft of the golf club. Similarly, the upper arm  83  can have an upper connector  91  which can also be a strap or elastic fabric loop such as a hook and loop tape strap. The upper connector  91  also connects to the shaft of a golf club. 
     The right arm  81  has a right indicia  87 , and the left arm  82  has a left indicia  88 . The set of indicia which includes the right indicia  87 , left indicia  88 , upper indicia  86 , and the lower indicia  89  can be a QR code format, or other machine-readable icons or symbols. The indicia can be lit with LEDs, fiber-optic passive solar or tritium vials in lowlight. Preferably, the set of indicia are printed in black-and-white for high contrast. The set of extending arms, namely: the right arm  81 , the left arm  82 , the upper arm  83 , and the lower arm  84  are flat and may be flexible. The right bend  93  may bend backwards, and the left bend  94  may also bend backwards so that the right indicia  87  and the left indicia  88  are displayed to the main camera  43  when the main camera  43  is viewing the golfer  27  while the golfer is swinging the club  20 . The QR code can be one large QR code where the right indicia  87 , the left indicia  88 , the upper indicia  86 , and the lower indicia  89  are merged into one large single graphic where the software captures the motion of the four corners of the QR code. QR code stands for quick response code and typically has three distinctive squares in three corners to allow alignment. The three distinctive squares can be indicia for alignment. The lack of a distinctive square for alignment in a QR code is also an indicia which allows for the detection of the other three alignment squares in a QR code. The software can use the four indicia to align a single QR code without having four separate QR codes. 
     As seen in  FIG.  4   , for every instantaneous moment, the lateral body plane  95  can be calculated from any of the two or three vectors of the set of vectors, namely: the upper vector  49 , the lower vector  46 , the right vector  47 , and the left vector  48 . The lateral body plane  95  is an approximation of the plane that the club shaft  21  is swinging through. The club shaft  21  can be assigned a vector relating to its motion such as the X axis  31  which is the instantaneous moment of the club movement. Although three vectors are typically used for triangulating a lateral body plane  95  using three vectors, the present invention has a fixed lateral imaging alignment guide  26 , and thus requires only a pair of vectors. Any indicia in the set of indicia made also have an orientation, however since the orientation indicia is shown relatively short, it would be preferred to use a pair of indicia to find the lateral body plane  95 . 
     The X axis  31  determined from the lateral imaging alignment guide  26  can be compared to the aligner sensor input  63  of the forward receiver sensor  52  to determine a variance between where the golfer is trying to aim, compared to where the golfer is actually aiming. Although the motion capture software analyzes the motion of the lateral imaging alignment guide  26  and approximates a relative alignment at address based on the lateral imaging alignment guide  26  alignment to the camera, this measurement is not vey accurate. Additional data from the forward receiver sensor  52  allows a true alignment at address calculation by also aligning the swing relative to the cup, rather than only relative to the camera. The alignment at impact, and a path at impact calculation can also be improved in the same way. 
     With a few angular adjustments, the golfer can align the club face  23  to the forward receiver sensor  52  which is over the cup, assuming no break to the left or right. The forward receiver sensor  52  can be positioned according to the topology of the green, which means that in certain situations, the golfer could be aiming to the left or right of the cup or behind the cup. 
     This ensures that the golfer is putting with a straight clubface due to the feedback indicator  57  which could be an LED light, LED lights, or LCD display to indicate alignment, and optionally a second LED for indicating nonalignment. The straight clubface is largely along the YZ plane. The golfer also provides swing motion data to the imaging system  42  via the lateral imaging alignment guide  26 . This provides stroke execution feedback largely along the ZX plane. Using a trigonometric algorithm, the putting alignment system can capture, playback and transmit XYZ data replaying the swing in 3D to the user. The data from the putting alignment system can be transmitted to a golf pro remotely so that the golf pro can give lessons remotely to the golfer, or suggest improvements to the golfer&#39;s swing. Optionally, the display screen  44  can display the video camera recording with superimposed swing data from the lateral imaging alignment guide, and the club lower distal tip reflector. The display screen  44  can be implemented on a tablet laptop or other personal device which is separated from the base and wirelessly communicates with the base such as by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or otherwise. 
     In a best mode, the putting alignment system determines the intended target line of a rigid object and its target. The putting alignment system provides monitoring, analyzing and reporting the relative displacement of the object based on a predefined location and other movement parameters being analyzed relative to the specified target line originally identified during calibration of the system. The calibration of the system occurs with the secondary alignment system which defines the X axis. When the system is calibrated, the golf club face is facing the golf cup on the green. Therefore, the putting alignment system has two main steps. The first step is to calibrate the system using the club lower distal tip reflector and the secondary alignment system  50 . This occurs by moving the clubface or rotating it so as to align the clubface with the infrared receiver on the secondary alignment system  50 . The second step is to capture the swing motion now having a target line reference. Combining the calibration of the system with the swing motion capture automatically provides improved data, without manual alignment and calibration. Automated target line alignment and improved data collection allows for remote golf coaching over the Internet and also for do-it-yourself personal improvement. 
     More particularly, a user first places the lateral imaging apparatus  40  perpendicular to the intended target line and then turns it on. The user then places the aligner which is the secondary alignment system within 25 feet of the base. After the user turns on the secondary alignment system, the user can turn on the laser and infrared beams that emit from the emitter. The emitter can emit a laser which draws a line on the ground to allow visual alignment, and also produce an infrared beam for alignment of the putter face. The infrared beam is parallel to the laser line and approximately one and a half inches apart. The user then attaches a removable reflector to the toe end of the putter face approximately one and a half inches from the center of the putter. The removable reflector can be a self-adhesive sticker. The player stands approximately 18 inches perpendicular to the base with the four markers on the lateral imaging alignment guide  26 . The lateral imaging alignment guide can be clipped to the shaft rather than strapped to the shaft. The four indicia are formed as markers and the markers are facing the main camera  43  in the base of the lateral imaging apparatus  40 . The player is now ready to calibrate the system to the intended target line. 
     Calibrating the system to the intended target line occurs in a calibration mode that the user can activate through a mobile device that is wirelessly connected to the base. The imaging system  42  has a calibration mode and an operation mode. In calibration mode, the user moves the putter face so that the infrared sensor detects the reflected infrared beam. The infrared sensor can detect the presence of both a moving and stationary object. Within microseconds of the sensor detecting the presence of the reflected infrared beam, a wireless Bluetooth signal is transmitted from the secondary alignment system  50  to the lateral imaging apparatus  40 . For example, a small processor such as a Raspberry Pi can provide a transceiver function. The computer can process the motion capture of the main camera  43  and compare it with the Bluetooth signal. This provides the system with an exact reference point of where the marker is in space relative to the putter face and its orientation to the intended target line. Now, the system is calibrated and ready to properly analyze the putting stroke relative to the intended target line. The base also has a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module and placed on a gimbal with the camera on the gimbal. The gimbal can have two axis or three axis movement. 
     Variance to the left or right of the intended target line is negligible. Because the secondary alignment system, the computer having a microchip, and the main camera can identify the location of the markers in space within 2-3 microseconds, the variance of the putter face direction relative to the intended target line is zero for all practical purposes. 
     In a best mode, the base, which is the lateral imaging apparatus  40  has an on-off switch, a camera, a processor such as a Raspberry Pi model 4 with 4-8 gigabytes of RAM. The base also has a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi module and a gimbal or leveler which has pan tilt multi-servo control for automatic leveling. Additionally, the base preferably includes a rechargeable lithium battery with a built-in USB port that can be charged through a detachable AC/DC power cord that has a USB plug. 
     The aligner, also called the secondary alignment system  50  has an on-off switch, and preferably an FDA complaint high-powered solid green surveying leveling and alignment laser with an external USB port. The aligner also has an RIR, which is a reflective infrared presence, proximity or motion detector with self programming detection within a specific range. The aligner also preferably has a 3.7 V rechargeable lithium battery with a built-in USB port. The aligner may have a P-NUCLEO-WB55 which is a multi-protocol wireless and ultra-low-power device embedding a powerful and ultra-low-power radio compliant with the Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) SIG specification v5.0 and with IEEE 802.15. The USB dongle may support Arduino Uno V3 and ST morpho conductivity.