JP2010536514A - Golf club hitting accuracy control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

  A device is used to control accuracy, whereby the striking surface (16) of the golf club strikes the golf ball. It has a plate sensor (18), which is fixed to the striking surface (16), so that the striking point can be located. The sensor (18) is connected to the measurement arithmetic circuit (30) via the signal line (26), is removably fixed behind the golf club shaft (12) or the head, and is mounted with a voltage source in the housing. A measurement process is performed to determine the coordinates of the strike point relative to a predetermined reference point (22) position in each series of strikes. The wireless module (34) connected to the measurement arithmetic circuit (30) is directed to the evaluation device (36) such as a mobile phone in order to display the measurement result on the program-controlled evaluation and display screen (40). Send.

Description

  The present invention relates to an accuracy control apparatus and method using which a striking surface of a club head of a golf club strikes a golf ball.

  Particularly in putting, it is important to hit a golf ball while taking the center of gravity into consideration at the ideal point on the hitting surface, so-called sweet spot, with the putter used for this purpose accurately guided. This situation is similar in chipping and pitching.

  Whether or not the golfer has mastered the putting technique and repeatedly hits the sweet spot can be known only from the results of many putts. Cameras are occasionally used as an aid to best continuous operation, but taking photos and evaluating film is time consuming and enormously expensive, so this is only considered as a temporary measure It is done. Prior to each putt, it is also possible to apply a foil that changes color under pressure to the surface of the putter and then evaluate the continuous foil. This method is also cumbersome and cannot be practiced for a long time.

  Finally, a golf club called “Dixx Digital Instruction Putter” is sold by Alan Electronics GmbH, 63303 Dreieich, Internet address www.dixxgolf.de, with acceleration sensors, electronic measurements And a housing containing a flat display screen, or a weight of the same weight as the unit, is provided in a replaceable manner behind the club head. The acceleration sensor is suitable for detecting several parameters of the movement of the golf club in a series of golf swings, in particular, the hit point position on one surface or the other surface of the sweet spot. However, it is impossible to determine the point on the striking surface where the ball actually hits by such a measuring method.

US 6,239,790 B1

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is an apparatus of the type described at the outset, which can be routinely attached to a golf club without substantially changing the characteristics of the golf club, A device that records the hitting points on the golf ball more precisely than before and displays the recorded measurement results in an available form at any time after evaluation according to the program without requiring interference of movement even for the purpose Is to bring

The above problem is in accordance with the present invention,
-A plate sensor, which can be removably fixed at a predetermined position on the striking surface, thereby locating the exact point of the striking point position in a series of golf ball hits; A plate sensor that is possible;
A housing, removably fixed on the back of the golf club shaft or head, having a voltage source and an electrical measurement arithmetic circuit that works with the sensor via a signal line; A housing, wherein a measurement process that determines the alignment (coordinates) of the hitting point to a predetermined reference point position can be performed in a series of golf ball hits; and
-A wireless module for wirelessly transmitting measurement results to an evaluation device having the characteristics of a mobile phone, a smartphone or a PDA to display program-controlled evaluation and measurement results on a display screen; This is achieved by a device having a wireless module connected to the measurement arithmetic circuit.

  Since the plate-like sensor is light and thin, it does not actually give a touch when a hit is made. Each hitting point is recorded very precisely because it is attached to the hitting surface, not the back of the golf club. The measurement arithmetic circuit, which can preferably be fixed to the shaft of the golf club, only increases its weight to a minimum, as it is necessary to control the measurement process and determine the hit point alignment. This is because it only needs to execute the function and transmit the measurement result wirelessly to, for example, a mobile phone or a smartphone. They are stored there and can be evaluated by an appropriate program. In most cases, mobile phones, smartphones, etc. are available anyway and are usually carried to golf courses. An appropriate program for evaluating the measurement result can be downloaded to a mobile phone or a smartphone through the Internet. Therefore, as soon as the ball is hit, it is possible to read on the screen of the mobile phone which point on the hitting surface the ball hits. The player can then attempt to hold the club and possible error correction of the guide in the next series of strikes. In addition, at any time, for example, while traveling on a train or in a restaurant, take out the mobile phone alone or with other golfers, for example, inspect the scores of hit accuracy collected, evaluated and tabulated over a period of time. In addition, it is possible to compare and discuss with other players.

  The plate sensor is preferably composed of a computer touch pad provided with a rectangular support plate and a flexible protective plate, and the rectangular support plate is a first conductive layer attached in front of the rectangular touch plate and is disposed facing each other. A first conductive layer connected to each of the print strip conductors connected to one signal line along two edge regions, and behind the flexible protective plate, A second conductive layer is attached to each printed strip conductor connected to one signal line along the edge region and extending across the strip conductor connected to the first conductive layer, the conductive layer being elastic Separated by the spacer, the resilience of the spacer causes a temporary contact between the conductive layers only when the golf ball hits the strike point Is sea urchin selected.

  Such a touchpad is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 and is used as a reference regarding the functional description of the sensor having the above characteristics for the sake of simplicity. However, it should be noted here that, for example, a laptop-type computer touchpad is fixedly mounted within the computer housing and is intended to be lightly and slowly touched with a finger. In contrast, the sensor of the measuring device according to the invention is subjected to a much greater degree of mechanical stress when hitting a hard golf ball. Moreover, other requirements are made on the sensor because it is intended to be easily removable from the support surface as opposed to a computer touchpad.

  Despite the greater shock-like stress compared to the touchpad, when similar materials are used, the solution to problems resulting from different conditions is surprisingly thicker and more robust than the sensor It was shown that the plate thickness is decreasing, not the design. For touchpads of the type described above, the support plate typically has a thickness of about 1.6 mm, but the support plate for the new sensor can be half as thick as the golf club striking surface. This is because the entire surface is supported, so that a large thickness is not necessary.

  At the same time as the thickness of the support plate is reduced, it and the plate sensor provided with it become more flexible, so that it can be removed more easily when fixed on the golf club striking surface by a double-sided adhesive foil. The advantage of being able to do so is acquired.

  A further difference between the sensor of the proposed measuring device and the computer touchpad is that the touchpad support plate is provided with strip conductors on its back or on each lower surface and supports electronic components. In contrast, the sensor electronics of the proposed sensor is in the housing of the measurement arithmetic circuit, preferably attached to the shaft of the golf club. The transfer of the sensor electronics to the thinner support plate and club shaft has the further advantageous result that the entire plate sensor need only have a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm, thus hitting the golf club. The plane is displaced forward by a minimum.

  The sensor of the new device is exposed to much more temperature changes and moisture than the computer touchpad. It is therefore advantageous for the protective plate to be firmly and hermetically bonded to the support plate in a material bonding manner in the edge region, for example glued together except for the air inlet and outlet openings. The air inlet and outlet openings are at least protected against dust and splashes in accordance with IP (Ingress Protection) 54 by a water-resistant but air-permeable foil or by a cover, for example a labyrinth seal. It is possible to cover.

  Tests have shown that the actuation sensor surface need only be about 45 to 55 mm wide, about 16 to 20 mm high for the putter and 20 to 30 mm high for the pitching and chipping clubs. Preferably, the sweet spot is located in the center.

  Furthermore, it is effective that the signal line between the sensor and the measurement arithmetic circuit has a detachable plug connection. This allows for separate use and replacement of each two units on the golf club. Preferably, one half of the plug connection is fixedly mounted on the measuring arithmetic circuit housing or on a support plate, while the other half of the plug connection is located at the free end of the cable. Many different embodiments are possible for securing the housing to the golf club shaft. It may already be sufficient to fix the housing with a frictional connection with at least one clamp or clamping strap, in which case a rubber-like contact surface or an intermediate layer is advantageous.

  Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with the aid of the drawings.

It is the schematic of the whole structure of the proposed apparatus. FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view through a sensor. It is a circuit diagram of a corresponding sensor. FIG. 4 is a diagram of essential elements of sensor electronics attached to a club shaft. FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a housing of a sensor electronic device and a club shaft at a mounting position.

  A golf club is represented in FIG. 1, identified as club head 10, shaft 12 and grip 14. A sensor 18, described in more detail below, is secured on the striking surface 16 of the club head and its action sensing surface is identified by 20. Here, the coordinate directions x, y, and z that are substantially adopted are also described. The common origin is located in the sweet spot 22 on the striking surface 16.

  The sensor 18 is a sensor electronic device identified as a whole by 30 through a plug connection 24 and a signal line 26 combined to form a cable, and includes a measurement arithmetic circuit and can be easily removed. 32 is connected to the sensor electronics mounted in the protective housing 28 attached to the shaft 12 by means of 32, and via the wireless module 34, preferably via Bluetooth, the corresponding wireless module 38 and the flat display screen 40 And the keyboard communicates with the mobile evaluator 36, identified as 42, which is of the nature of a mobile phone, smartphone or PDA. If necessary, a laptop can also be employed as the evaluation device 36.

  The x- and y-coordinates of the golf ball hitting point relative to the sweet spot 22 as determined by the measurement arithmetic circuit 30 and accurately recorded at one point by the sensor 18, along with the hitting point coordinates of further ball collision, are program controlled Below, it is evaluated by the evaluation device 36 and displayed as a chart.

  The sensor 18 has the structure shown in FIG. It consists of a support plate 48 that can be fixed to the striking surface 16 by a double-sided adhesive foil 46 and a protective plate 50 arranged on the front outside of the support plate 48. For example, the support plate 48 can be made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin (preferably FR4 or FR5). The protective plate 50 can be made of a plastic material (preferably polyester). The foil marketed under the registered trademark Tesa, the registered trademark Herma, or the registered trademark Scotch is considered to be a foil 46 having double-sided adhesiveness, in which case the adhesive strength is greater than the side connected to the striking surface 16. The side connected to 48 is preferably slightly stronger.

  Conductive layers 52 and 54 are provided on the support plate 48 and the protection plate 50, respectively, on their facing sides. These may be semiconductor layers having a predetermined linear resistance according to Patent Document 1. Spacers 56 of sufficient dimensions and well dispersed are disposed between the two conductive layers 52 and 54, and the conductive layers 52, 54, for example, when the golf ball hits, a sufficient pressure is applied locally to the flexible protective plate 50. It can be seen that they touch each other only when they are added to each other. As shown at 58, the guard plate 50 is fixedly glued with the support plate 48 along the edge region, but at least one air inlet and outlet opening is not shown. It remains open and is designed like a labyrinth seal, whereby the sensor is protected from dust and water splash according to IP54.

  Further not shown are two printed strip conductors that extend along oppositely disposed edge regions of the support plate 48 and are electrically connected to the conductive layer 52 over their length. is doing. Inside, the support plate 48 is further provided with two printed strip conductors, extending at right angles to the first-mentioned strip conductors along the oppositely disposed edge regions and in the assembled state. , Contact with the conductive layer 54 on the protective plate 50 over its length.

  Alternatively, a strip conductor electrically connected to the conductive layer 54 may be printed on the protective plate 50. Each one of the four strip conductors is connected to the measurement arithmetic circuit 30 via a signal line following the cable 26.

  If the flexible protective plate 50 is sufficiently present in one place to the intended range so that the conductive layer 54 contacts another conductive layer 52 on the support plate 48, it is connected to one of the two layers. Following the application of a predetermined reference voltage to the strip conductor, it is possible to measure the voltage between the strip conductors connected to the other layers, respectively, and to change in the distance of the strike point from the strip conductor to which the reference voltage is applied. Each rises or falls proportionally, so that it is also possible to determine the x- and y-coordinates following normalization.

  The compression point distance from the strip conductors arranged at right angles to each other connected to the computer touchpad of Patent Document 1 is based on the length of time required to charge a predetermined capacitor connected to the strip conductor with current. Calculated. An increase in the current path through one of the conductive layers is equivalent to an increased resistance, i.e., a decreased current intensity, and thus a longer time required to charge each capacitor.

  In contrast, to work with the new sensor, a different and faster measurement method is provided by shock-like loading. For this purpose, a reference is made to the equivalent circuit diagram in FIG. 3 and the strip conductors identified by Yl and Yr are arranged on the left edge or the right edge of the conductive layer 52, respectively, for example, identified by Zo and Zu. The strip conductors are respectively arranged on the upper edge or the lower edge of the conductive layer 54, and the fixed resistors assigned to the respective strip conductors are identified by Ryr, Ryl, Rzo, and Rzu, respectively, between the striking point and the four strip conductors. The resistors in the kΩ range of the conductive layer 52 or the conductive layer 54 are identified by Rya, Ryb, and Rza, Rzb.

Without contact between the two conductive layers 52, 54 at the strike point, the resistance between the strip conductor of layer 52 and the strip conductor of layer 54 is infinite due to the spacer 56. When a sufficiently large pressure is applied on the protective plate 50 at one point, the two layers 52 and 54 constitute the resistance network shown in FIG. A predetermined reference voltage Vref is applied alternately during hitting between Yl and Yr and hitting between Zo and Zu for determining the golf ball's hitting point coordinates, and a voltage with high impedance at one end of the other layer. The descent is measured simultaneously. As you can see, the measured voltage between Zu and Yr is
Vz = Vref x (Rzb + Rzu) / (Rzo + Rza + Rzb + Rzu)
And between Yl and Zo
Vy = Vref x (Rya + Ryl) / (Ryl + Rya + Ryb + Ryr)
Corresponds to the hit point positions in the Z- and Y-directions on the sensor surface. For example, in the case of compression onto four positioning markers 44 which are imprinted on the support plate 50 at a predetermined interval in the sensor working surface area and which are arranged symmetrically around the origin 22 of the coordinate system, the voltage is applied. By measuring, it becomes possible to determine the relationship between voltage and spacing, and the sensor can be calibrated in this way, thereby the origin 22 of the coordinate system placed on the sweet spot. Conversion from the voltage value to the mm position with respect to is possible.

The measurement is carried out continuously at a suitable scanning frequency between 1 kH and 4 kH, preferably at 2 kH, allowing a clear positioning of the strike point in both coordinate directions during the compression period. Furthermore, it is possible to determine the collision time and compression period of the golf ball, in which case the correct measurement can be distinguished from 0 volts by the fixed end resistors Ryl, Ryr, Rzo and Rzu. The voltage that can be measured when pressure is applied is
For the z-axis,
Vref x (Rzo + Rza + Rzb) / (Rzo + Rza + Rzb + Rzu) bolts,
Vref x Rzu / (Rzo + Rza + Rzb + Rzu) Between the bolts,
For the y-axis,
Vref x (Ryl + Rya + Ryb) / (Ryl + Rya + Ryb + Ryr)
Vref x Ryr / (Ryl + Rya + Ryb + Ryr) between the bolts.
Scanning is performed at 8 bits to 12 bits, preferably 10 bits.

  FIG. 4 shows the essential part of the measurement arithmetic circuit 30. The part is attached to a board 60 in the housing 28 and interconnected in a conventional manner.

  Most important is the microcomputer identified at 62, which has RAM, FlASH memory, A / D converters, input outputs (GPIOs) and serial interfaces, preferably UART and SPI. The microcomputer 62 controls the application of the reference voltage to the signal line connected to the conductive layers 52 and 54, records the voltage measured in a series of measurement processes and the time associated therewith, and coordinates of the strike point. Calculate These are stored on the way and transmitted to the evaluation device 36 via a radio module 34 equipped with an antenna, preferably a ceramic antenna 35. A battery 64 is used as a current supply source, and this charge control device is represented by 66. Charging is performed by a jack 68, preferably a Mini-B type USB jack, or a 2.5 mm jack bush. The microcomputer 62 can also be reprogrammed through this jack.

  A quick fixing device for removably fixing the housing 28 of the measurement arithmetic circuit 30 to the shaft 12 of the golf club is shown in FIG. 5, preferably according to FIG. 1, preferably opposite to the club head 10. It is preferably located on the side of the shaft 12 or on the side opposite the striking surface 16. As described, on the side resting relative to the shaft 12, there is a groove-like cutout having a slightly larger diameter than the shaft warp. A rubber insert 70 may be placed between the housing 28 and the shaft 12 and glued to the housing 28 and may assist in protecting the housing from dust and splashes according to IP54. The connection between the shaft 12 and the housing can be made by a flexible plastic shackle or a clamp strip 72, for example a cloth strip, each of which can be covered with rubber. One end of the clamp strip 72 is fixed on a deflection pin 74 connected to the housing 28. On the side of the housing 28 facing the deflection pin, a clamp strip placed around the shaft 12 clamps the cut-out 78 of the housing 28 and clamps the clamp strip 72 in its series of closing movements. 76. Other devices for securing the housing 28 on the shaft 12, such as hooks on at least one side of the housing 28 in which a rubber clamp strip passed around the opposite side of the shaft 12 is hooked It is understood that there are many.

  The evaluation device 36 receives measurement data from several measurement arithmetic circuits 30 when necessary, for example, measurement data transmitted respectively to the evaluation device 36 via Bluetooth or an appropriate communication protocol, preferably SPP or HDI, Operate in master mode to save, evaluate and display. In this way, for example, two or four players can directly compare evaluation data with each other on a common curve chart.

Claims (9)

An apparatus for controlling accuracy, wherein a striking surface (16) of a club head (10) of a golf club equipped with said apparatus hits a golf ball,
A plate sensor (18), which is removably fixed in place on the striking surface (16) so that the exact point of the striking point position in the coordinate system in a series of golf ball hits can be A plate sensor (18), which can be determined by measuring a voltage that varies in proportion to the change in distance from
A housing (28) removably secured to the rear of the golf club shaft (12) or head (10), together with a voltage source (64) and a sensor (18) via a signal line (26); A measuring process for determining the coordinates of the hitting point with respect to the position of the reference point (22) determined in advance by the electronic measuring and calculating device (30). A housing (28), which is performed in a ball hit, and
A wireless module (34) for evaluating the measurement result in a program-controlled manner and displaying it on the display screen (40), the measurement result being an evaluation device with the properties of a mobile phone, smartphone or PDA ( 36) A device characterized by a wireless module (34) connected to the measurement arithmetic circuit (30) for wireless transmission to 36). The plate sensor (18) is a touch pad, and has a rectangular support plate (48) and a flexible protective plate (50).
A rectangular support plate (48) is a first conductive layer (52) attached in front of each printed strip conductor connected to one signal line along two opposing edge regions. A first conductive layer (52) connected to
The flexible protective plate (50) is disposed in front of the support plate (48), and behind the second conductive layer (54) is a signal line along two opposing edge regions. And a second conductive layer (54) connected to each printed strip conductor is connected to and extends across the strip conductor connected to the first conductive layer (52);
The conductive layers (52, 54) are separated by elastic spacers (56) and their resilience is such that there is a temporary contact between the conductive layers (52, 54) only when the golf ball hits the strike point. The device of claim 1, wherein   3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the protective plate (50) is fixedly connected to the support plate in a material bonding manner in the edge region excluding at least one air inlet and outlet opening.   Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the support plate (48) is up to 1 mm thick and flexible.   The working surface of the sensor (18) is about 45 to 55 mm wide, about 16 to 20 mm high for putters and 20 to 30 mm high for pitching and chipping clubs. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4.   Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate sensor (18) can be removably attached to the striking surface (16) by means of a double-sided adhesive foil (46).   Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal line (26) has a releasable plug connection between the sensor (18) and the measurement arithmetic circuit (30).   The housing (28) of the measuring arithmetic circuit (30) can be fixed in a frictional connection manner to the shaft (12) via a rubber-like contact surface (70) by means of a clamp strip (72). The device described in 1. A method for determining the position of a hitting point of a golf ball on a hitting surface (16) of a golf club by the apparatus according to claim 2.
During the contact time between the conductive layers (52, 54) at the strike point, a voltage is alternately applied between each opposing edge region of one of the conductive layers (52, 54), and each of the other At least a voltage measurement is performed in one of the edge regions of the conductive layer (54, 52); and
A method in which the voltage value is converted into the coordinates of the strike point by a proportional factor.

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