Patent Publication Number: US-2009239672-A1

Title: System for measuring dynamic information of golf ball for screen golf

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball for a screen golf, and more particularly to, such a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball, which accurately measures the angle and speed of a golf ball and a golf club from four different optical beam planes positioned in front of a golf ball hitting platform in a screen golf facility installed mainly in an indoor driving range so as to implement an expected carry distance and falling point of the golf ball in the form of a three-dimensional image based on the measurements of the angle and speed of the golf ball. 
     (b) Description of the Related Art 
     Currently, a golf simulation system has been developed to overcome a spatial limitation in an indoor driving range. That is, the golf simulation system measures the kinetic information regarding the speed and flight angle of a golf ball in a given space in the vicinity of a golf ball hitting platform so as to predict the flight trajectory of the golf ball, and outputs a predicted flight trajectory on a screen installed in front of the golf ball hitting platform in the form of a three-dimensional image based on the measurements of the speed and flight angle of the golf ball. 
     In this case, since the same image as that of a golf field of an actual driving range has been input to a controller for controlling the output of the predicted flight trajectory of the golf ball, a golf player can get the same visual effect as if he or she directly played in an actual golf field. Such a golf simulation system is typically called “screen golf”. 
     The most importance technical factor in a green golf implementing system is an accurate prediction of the flight trajectory and falling point of a golf ball. To this end, it is required that the dynamic information of the golf ball should be measured more variously and accurately in a limited space. 
     Conventionally, various devices have been proposed to measure the kinetic information of a golf ball. For example,  FIG. 1  is a portable golf training system  10  with an light sensor net disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,802 issued to Yi-Ching Pao on Oct. 16, 2001. The portable golf training system  10  includes a substantial L-shaped frame having a first leg  12  and a second leg  14 , a light emitter assembly with a first light emitter  16  connected to one end of the first leg  12  of the frame and a second light emitter  18  connected to one end of the second leg  14  of the frame, an array of light detectors with a first set of spaced apart light detectors positioned along the first leg  12  of the frame to receive the non-parallel light rays emitted from the second light emitter  18  and a second set of spaced apart light detectors positioned along the second leg  14  of the frame to receive the non-parallel light rays emitted from the first light emitter  16 , and a data processor  22  connected to the array of light detectors to process relational kinetic information for the golf ball and the golf club. 
     In this case, each of the first and second emitters  16  and  18  emits a spread of non-parallel light rays to form a light sensor net  20  in a substantial single plane. When a golf player swings a club to make impact to a golf ball in the ball hitting area, light rays to some selected light detectors are interrupted or blocked off while the golf ball and the golf club pass through the light sensor net  20 . At this time, the data processor  22  measures the location and the interruption time for each selected light detector where and when the light rays are interrupted by the golf ball and the golf club, and detects the relational kinetic information for the golf ball and the golf club based on the measurements to predict the flight trajectory of the golf ball. The flight trajectory predicted by data processor  22  is processed in the form of a three-dimensional image and is then displayed on a screen installed in front of the ball hitting area. 
     However, the above conventional golf ball dynamic information measuring system entails a problem in that it has a large error range, and thus a limitation in obtaining an accurate dynamic information for a golf ball, kinetic information for a golf ball and a golf club is all measured in a single plane which is called an light sensor net  20 . Particularly, in order to measure the flight angle of the golf ball it is required that a golf player should hit the golf ball at a specific position with a golf club. In addition, the conventional golf ball dynamic information measuring system has a problem in that since it measures the speed of the golf ball only through the interruption time of each selected light detector when the light rays are interrupted by the golf ball, there occurs a large error range for the speed of the golf ball. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to address and solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball in a simulation system for a screen golf, which can accurately measure the flight angle of the golf ball irrespective of a golf ball hitting position and simultaneously greatly reduce an error range for the speed of the golf ball. 
     To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball for a screen golf, the system comprising: a vertical frame including first and second vertical bars which are arranged in parallel with each other in front of a golf ball hitting platform in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground; a horizontal frame including first and second horizontal bars which are arranged in parallel with each other at a lower end of the vertical frame; first and second groups of spaced apart vertical light sensors which are positioned along the first and second vertical bars; first and second groups of spaced apart horizontal light sensors which are positioned along the first and second horizontal bars; first and second vertical light emitters which are disposed spaced apart from each other at an upper end portion of the vertical frame to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors in a substantially singular plane; first and second horizontal light emitters disposed spaced apart from each other at a distal end portion of the horizontal frame to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of vertical light sensors in a substantially singular plane; and a data processor connected to the first and second groups of vertical light sensors and the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors, wherein the linear laser beams emitted from first and second vertical light emitters and the first and second horizontal light emitters form four light beam planes arranged in parallel with one another in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform  300  at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately measure the flight angle of the golf ball irrespective of a golf ball hitting position and simultaneously greatly reduce an error range for the speed of the golf ball, thereby enabling to accurately display the flight trajectory and falling point of the golf ball on a screen in a simulation system for a screen golf. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the construction of a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an optical beam plane formed by a laser beam in a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the construction of a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an optical beam plane formed by a laser beam in a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     The system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention comprises: a vertical frame  100  including a first vertical bar  110  and a second vertical bar  120  which are arranged in parallel with each other in front of a golf ball hitting platform  300  in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform  300  at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground; a horizontal frame  200  including a first horizontal bar  210  and a second horizontal bar  220  which are arranged in parallel with each other at a lower end of the vertical frame  100 ; first and second groups of spaced apart vertical light sensors  130  and  140  which are positioned along the first and second vertical bars  110  and  120 ; first and second groups of spaced apart horizontal light sensors  230  and  240  which are positioned along the first and second horizontal bars  210  and  220 ; first and second vertical light emitters  150  and  160  disposed spaced apart from each other at an upper end portion of the vertical frame  100  to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors  230  and  240  in a substantially singular plane; first and second horizontal light emitters  250  and  260  disposed spaced apart from each other at a distal end portion of the horizontal frame  200  to emit a spread of linear laser beams toward the first and second groups of vertical light sensors  130  and  140  in a substantially singular plane; and a data processor  500  connected to the first and second groups of vertical light sensors  130  and  140  and the first and second groups of horizontal light sensors  230  and  240 . 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the linear laser beams emitted from first and second vertical light emitters  150  and  160  and the first and second horizontal light emitters  250  and  260  form four light beam planes  410 ,  420 ,  430  and  440  arranged in parallel with one another in such a fashion as to be oriented toward the golf ball hitting platform  300  at a predetermined angle (θ) ranging from 30 to 70 degrees with respect to the ground. 
     That is, a first light beam plane  410  is formed between the first vertical light emitter  150  and the first group of horizontal light sensors  230 , a second light beam plane  420  is formed between the first horizontal light emitter  250  and the first group of vertical light sensors  130 , a third light beam plane  430  is formed between the second vertical light emitter  160  and the second group of horizontal light sensors  240 , and a fourth light beam plane  440  is formed between the second horizontal light emitter  260  and the second group of vertical light sensors  140 . 
     In the present invention, the vertical frame  100  and the horizontal frame  110  form a substantially L-shaped structure. Each of the light beam planes  410 ,  420 ,  430  and  440  takes a triangular shape between the vertical frame  100  and the horizontal frame  110 . The angle between the vertical frame  100  and the horizontal frame  110  is specifically not limited, but is preferably 90 degrees. 
     In addition, the angle (θ) between the light beam planes  410 ,  420 ,  430  and  440  and the ground is determined depending on the angle (θ) between the first vertical bar  110  and the second vertical bar  120  and the ground. The angle (θ) is not limited specifically, but it is possible to most effectively measure the dynamic information of the golf ball if it ranges from 30 to 70 degrees. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second vertical light emitters  150  and  160  are mounted on a vertical linkage bar  170  for interconnecting the upper end portions of the first and second vertical bars  110  and  120 . Also, the first and second horizontal light emitters  250  and  260  are mounted on a horizontal linkage bar  270  for interconnecting the distal end portions of the first and second horizontal bars  210  and  220 . 
     The spatial intervals R 1  between the first vertical light emitter  150  and the second vertical light emitter  160 , between the first horizontal light emitter  250  and the second horizontal light emitter  260 , between the first vertical bar  110  and the second vertical bar  120 , and between the first horizontal bar  210  and the second horizontal bar  220  are set to be identical to one another. The spatial interval R 1  determines the spatial intervals R 1  between the first light beam plane  410  and the third light beam plane  430 , and between the second light beam plane  410  and the fourth light beam plane  440 . The spatial intervals R 1  are not limited specifically, but most preferably range from 10 to 20 cm. 
     Further, the spatial intervals R 2  between the first vertical bar  110  and the first vertical light emitter  150 , between the second vertical bar  120  and the second vertical light emitter  160 , between the first horizontal bar  210  and the first horizontal light emitter  250 , and between the second horizontal bar  220  and the second horizontal light emitter  260  are set to be identical to one another. The spatial interval R 2  determines the spatial intervals R 1  between the first light beam plane  410  and the second light beam plane  432 , and between the third light beam plane  430  and the fourth light beam plane  440 . The spatial intervals R 1  are not limited specifically, but most preferably range from 7 to 12 mm. 
     In the present invention, each of the groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors  130 ,  140 ,  230  and  240  are spatially aligned and arranged at a predetermined spatial interval of approximately 1.5 to 2.5 cm on the first and second vertical bars  110  and  120  and the first and second horizontal bars  210  and  220 , and receive linear laser beams emitted from the light emitters  150 ,  160 ,  250  and  260  corresponding thereto, respectively. At this time, the linear laser beams emitted from the light emitters  150 ,  160 ,  250  and  260  is in the form of pulsed laser beams of 10 to 30 Kz so that they are not influenced by an external scattered light or noise. The vertical and horizontal light sensor groups  130 ,  140 ,  230  and  240  can be configured to receive only the pulsed laser beams from the corresponding light emitters  150 ,  160 ,  250  and  260 . The frequency range of the pulsed beams can be preset into the data processor  500  depending on the kind of a golf club used by a golf player. The vertical and horizontal light sensor groups  130 ,  140 ,  230  and  240  are connected to the data processor  500 . 
     Now, the operation and working effect of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     When a golf player hits a golf ball  600  with his or her golf club in a golf ball hitting platform  300 , the golf ball  600  passes through the first to fourth light beam planes  410  to  440  sequentially while traveling along a linear trajectory A. At this time, the data processor  500  recognizes the serial numbers of the light sensors of each group of light sensors  130 ,  140 ,  230  and  240  for which laser beams are interrupted so as to detect a point A 1  on the linear trajectory A positioned between the first and second light beam planes  410  and  420 , where the center of the golf ball  600  passes through from the first groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors  130  and  230 , and a point A 2  on the linear trajectory A positioned between the third and fourth light beam planes  430  and  440 , where the center of the golf ball  600  passes through from the second groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors  140  and  240 . 
     Next, the data processor  500  calculates the flight speed of the golf ball  600  based on the distance between the points A 1  and A 2  and the time spent for traveling the distance. Also, a line segment on the linear trajectory A interconnecting the point A 1  the point A 2  is converted into a vector to obtain the horizontal angle and vertical angle for the flight trajectory of the golf ball. At this time, a variation in locations of the light sensors of the groups of horizontal light sensors  230  and  240  for which laser beams are interrupted is used to calculate the horizontal angle for the linear trajectory A of the golf ball. Also, a variation in locations of the light sensors of the groups of vertical light sensors  130  and  140  for which laser beams are interrupted is used to calculate the vertical angle for the linear trajectory A of the golf ball. 
     Meanwhile, a club head  700  passes through the first to fourth light beam planes  410  to  440  sequentially while traveling along a curved trajectory B. At this time, the data processor  500  recognizes the serial numbers of the light sensors of each group of light sensors  130 ,  140 ,  230  and  240  for which laser beams are interrupted so as to detect a point B 1  on the curved trajectory B positioned between the first and second light beam planes  410  and  420 , where the center of the club head  700  passes through from the first groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors  130  and  230 , and a point B 2  on the curved trajectory B positioned between the third and fourth light beam planes  430  and  440 , where the center of the golf head  700  passes through from the second groups of vertical and horizontal light sensors  140  and  240 . Then, the data processor  500  calculates the rotational speed and rotational angle of the club head  700  at the distance between the point B 1  and the point B 2  where the club head  700  travels. 
     Through the above process, the data processor  500  measures the dynamic information for the golf ball  600  and the golf head  700  to calculate the expected carry distance and falling point of the golf ball  600  based on the measurements of the dynamic information, and then processes the expected flight trajectory of the golf ball  600  in the form of a three-dimensional image to display the three-dimensional image on a screen (not shown) installed in front of the golf ball hitting platform  300 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the vertical linkage bar  17  and the horizontal linkage bar  270  are not installed, but a vertical stand  180  is installed in place thereof. In this case, the first and second vertical light emitter  150  and  160  are mounted at one ends of the first and second vertical bars  110  and  120 , respectively. Also, the first and second horizontal light emitter  250  and  260  are mounted at one ends of the first and second horizontal bars  210  and  220 , respectively. 
     While the invention has been in detail described in connection with what is presently considered to be preferred practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, the structures of the vertical and horizontal frames  100  and  200  may be configured of a plate-shape to allow the respective groups of light sensors  130 ,  140 ,  230  and  240  to be mounted at either edge thereof. But, it is to be noted that this design modification should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the present invention as long as a new effect does not appear which is not expected in the present invention due to the design modification. 
     As described above, a system for measuring dynamic information of a golf ball according to the present invention has an advantageous effect in that it can accurately measure the flight angle of the golf ball irrespective of a golf ball hitting position and simultaneously greatly reduce an error range for the speed of the golf ball, thereby enabling to accurately display the flight trajectory and falling point of the golf ball on a screen in a simulation system for a screen golf.