CA1281412C

CA1281412C - Golf practice apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA1281412C
Application number: CA000565191A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bryan E. Ladick; Robert B. Ladick
Original assignee: SYNTRONIX SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: SYNTRONIX SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-04-27
Filing date: 1988-04-27
Publication date: 1991-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-27
Also published as: EP0340936B1; JPH0213482A; DE68902006D1; ATE77965T1; JPH078302B2; AU615051B2; EP0340936A1; KR890015766A; AU3325889A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Apparatus for the practising of golf swings has a club member to be swung by a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club, the club member having a simu-lated golf club handgrip and a source of radiation for providing a beam extending from one end of the club member in the longitudinal direction of the club member, the beam having a flat leading side. Sensors responsive to the radiation for sensing the swinging of said club member are disposed in a predetermined array in the vici-nity of a simulated golf ball impact location for pro-viding sensor signals in response to the passage of the beam over the array. The sensor signals are processed for providing first signals corresponding to the direc-tion of travel of the beam, second signals corresponding to the speed of travel of the beam and third signals corresponding to the orientation of the beam. The first, second and third signals are employed for computing a golf ball flight and providing corresponding output signals to a monitor for providing a visual represen-tation of the flight of the golf ball.

Description

' ~7673-1 The presen-t invention relates to apparatus for the practicing of golf swings and, more particularly, -to apparatus whi~h provides the user with a visual display of the resul-t of a golf swing by -the user.

As will be readily apprecia-ted by golfers, much of the difficulty in playing golf in a successful manner is involved in ensuring tha-t -the orien-tation of -the golf club head is exactly correc-t at the instant of impac-t of -the : 1~ club head against the ball.

Consequently, many golfers spend much -time ~: practicing their golf swings with dif.ferent types of golf club. ~owever, such practicing cannot be performed, for example, in a room of a normal household, because most houses and apartments have ceilings which are only eight : feet high and a full swing with a wood or iron golf club ~.
would therefore produce holes and other damage to the ceilinys of such rooms. Furthermore, a wide-open space is required in order tc~ avoid damage to the contPnts of the room, and it has been estimated that an area of at least ~`~ fifteen feet by twelve feet of open space would be .: required to enable a golfer to swing a drive:r comfortahly.
A s-till further danger is the risk of damage to the . -- 1 --,~

surface of the floor, because o:E the abso.lLIt.e necessity of contact o:f -the gol.f club wi-th the 1.oor. In thi.s connecti.on, golfers will appreciate -that, on a go:l.L
course, it is necessary t.o remove a sma.ll divot (:lu.ring a swing in order -to achieve co.rrect fligh-t of the ball.
Even if the contents of a room could be displaced to pro-vide suffi.cient space for a full swing, and if a protec--tive covering could be placecl on the floor, i-t is never-theless not feasible, without great expense and dif-ficulty, to raise the cei.lings of most rooms to avoid damage.

Previous attempts have been made to provide apparatus for facilitating the practicing of golf swings.

For examplel United States Patent 4,137,566, issued January 13, 1987 -to Steven I,. Haas e-t al, disclosed an apparatus and method for analyzing a golf swing and displaying the results in which light sources are attached to appropriate locations on -the gol:Eer himself or on a golf club, the light from these light sources being : 20 detected by electro-optical sensors having dif.Eerent fields of view encompassing the golfer and the golf club during at least a portion of the golf swing. The outputs of the sensors are electronically processed -to provide alpha numeric or graphic data for display. However, as will be immediately apparent :Erom -the above remarks, the disadvan-tage of th:is prior apparatus and method :is that " ~L2814~

they require the user -to swinc3 a yolf club, whic~h as explained above :is impractical in many rooms, Another prior art golf swing prac-ticinq apparatus is shown in United States Paten-t 4,25~,956, issued March L0, 1981 -to Thomas L. Rusnak, which discloses apparatus for photoelectrically sensing -the time and position of a golf club head at selected stations along a prac-tice ; swing. Corresponding charac-teristics of the swing and -the resulting ball flight are computed electrically and displayed -to the player. However, once again, -this prior apparatus has the disadvantagé -that it requires -the use oE
a real golf club or~ at least, a simula-ted golf club having the same dimensions as a real golf club.

In ~nited States Patent 4,542,906, issued September 24, 1985 to ~kio Takase e-t al, there is disclosed a computer-aided golf -training device which de-tects movement of a golf ball immedia-tely af-ter -the ball has been ; impac-ted by a club head, Consequently, -this prior appara-tus again requires the use of a yolf club and, ; 20 further, has the disadvan-tage tha-t i-t requires a ball to be struck and thereby put into flight, which would increase even further the space required.
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It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved apparat~ls for the practicing of golf swings which avoicls the use of a : - 3 -. .

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golf c1ub ~but senses -the correctness or othe.rwise. o.f the swings.

To -that end, the presen-t invention provides an elongate member, which is swung by a user in simula-tion of -the swingi.ng of a golf club and which pro~ects a beam of radiation from one end -thereof, -the beam being detec-ted by sensors to provide signals which are electronically processed to provide a visual display corresponding to -the ; swing.

In particular, according -to the invention there is provided apparatus for the pract;icing of golf swings, comprising an elongate member -to be swung hy a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club, -the elonga-te member comprising a simulated golf club hand grip, a source of radia-tion and means for forming -the radiation into a beam extending from one end of the elongate member . in -the longitudinal direction of the elongate member. A
plurality of sensor means responsive to the radiation are disposed i.n a predetermined array for providing sensor signals in response to the passage of -the beam over -the array during the swinging of the elongate member. Means are provided for processing the sensor signals to produce output signals corresponding to -the motion of -the elongate member, and visual disp:Lay means responsive to -the output signals provide a visual representation corresponding -to the output signals.

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The visua:l representation may, for example, take the form of a picture il:lustrating the fl:ight o~ a gol ball, the flight varyincJ in depenclence on variolls characteristics of -the swinging of the elongate member.

~y thus employing cletec-tion o:E the beam during the swing, instead of detecting motion of a golf club head, the elongate member may have a length substantially less than that of a golf club, thus avoiding the space requiremen-ts for the s~Jinging of a golf club.

In a pre:Eerred embodiment of -the invention, -the array of sensor means is supported on the floor, benea-th ` the pa-th of travel of the elongate member during the swinging of the elongate member, and in the vicinity of a :, simulated golf ball impac-t location. The sensor means comprise groups of sensors which are diferently arranged for sensing the direction of movemen-t of the bearn through the impact location, the -timing of the beam during the passage of the beam over the array and the inclination of the beam as the beam passes through -the impact location.

The inven-tion will be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given, by way of example, with reference -to the ~ accompanying drawings, in which:
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Figure 1 shows a vlew in perspective of a golf swing practice apparatus embodyi.ng the preserlt i.nverltion while in use by a go~fer;
Figure 2 shows a view .in si.de elevation of a club forming part of -the appara-tus of Figure l;
Figure 2A shows a rnore detailed view, partially broken away in longitudinal cross-section, of the club of E'igure 2;
Figure 3 shows a view in eleva-tion of a diaphragm forming part of the optical system of the club of Figure 2, Figure 4 diagramma-tically illustrates an array of ligh-t sensors included in -the apparatus of E'igure 1;
Figure 4A shows a modification of Figure 4;
Figure 5 shows a block diagram of the electronic components of the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 6 shows a flow chart illus-trating the operation of -the components shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a more detailed block diagra~ of the fast sensor array of Figure 5;
Figure 8 shows a circuit diagram of an end bank light sensor circuit included in the end bank sensor array '~ of Figure 5~ and associa-ted components; and Figures 9 and lO show circuit diagrams of two of the light sensors incorporatecl in -the fast sensor array of Figure 5, toge-ther with associated components.
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Referr:ing now to Figllre l o.f -the acc~omp<lrlying draw:ings, -the golf swing pract:i.ce apparatus i.llust:ra-teci therein comprises a simulated go:l:E c:Lub in the form of an elongate cl.ub member indicated yenerall.y by reference S numeral 10, which has a length app.roxima-te:Ly one-half of -the length of a conventi.onal gol club and which, as illustra-ted in Figure 1, is swung by the user of the apparatus i.n simulation of the swinging of a golf club.

The apparatus further includes a shallow, elongate housing 12 of rectangular shape, which is placed on the floor while the apparatus i-s in -use and which, as described in grea-ter detail below, incorporates an array of light detectors for de-tecting a light beam, indica-ted generally by reference numeral 14~ which extends from one end of -the club member 10 in -the longitudinal direction of -the club member 10, the arrangement be:ing such that the ligh-t beam 14 sweeps along at least a portion of -the upper surface of the shallow rectangular housiny 12 during the simulated golf swing.

The shallow rectangular housing 12 is connec-ted by . a cable 16 -to a moni-tor 24 for providing the user of -the appara-tus with a visual display of the results of his simula-ted golf swings. A control switch uni-t 20 is con-nec-ted by means of a cable 22 to the housing L2 for pro-vicling user input in-to -the appara-tus, as descr:ibed in greater detail below.

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Referring now to ~igures 2 and 2A, .Lt; wiLl be seen tha-t -the club memher 10 compri,ses a tubular metal sha.Et 26 provicled at one end thereof wi-th a simulated golf club hand grip 23 and, at the other end thereof, wi.t.h a club ; 5 head indica-ted generally by reference numeral 30.

; The club head 30 comprises an elonga-te housing 32 formed at one end -thereof with an end closure 34, which is in -threaded engagemen-t with the corresponding end of the housing 32 and formed with a cylindrical opening 35 for receiving an end 27 of the shaft 26, the end 27 being adjustable secured by a grub screw 29 in threaded engagement, with -the end closure 34.

~he housing 32 contains a light source in the form of a light bulb 36 provided wi-th a reflec-tor 33~ A pair . 15 of condensing lenses 37 and 3~ are provided for :~ redirecting the light from the light bulb 36 through a :' mask or diaphragm 39, which is described in greater detail :~ below with reference to Figure 3, and a focussing lens 40 to form the beam 14.

The lenses 37 and 38 are held apart in a cylindrical bore 41 in the housing 32 by a cy:Lindrical spacer 42, and threaded retainer rings 43 and 44 are : screwed into an internal -thread 45 in t:he housing 32 to _ ~ _ 2~3~4~:

retain the diaphragm 39, the ~.enses .37 arlcl 3~ ancl the spacer 42 1n po~iti.on i~ -the housi.ng 32.

The focussiny lens 40 i.s securecl i.n a sleeve 46 by a retainer ring 47 in threaded engagement with an in-ternal thread 48 in -the sleeve 46. ~n exte:rnal thread 49 on -the sleeve 46 is in threaded engagement with the internal thread 45 of the housing 32. The sleeve 46 has at one end a cylinclrical peripheral projection 50, -the per:iphery of which is knurled to facilitate manual ro-ta-tion of the sleeve 46 relative to -the housing 32 for axially displacing the focussing lens 40 and thereby focussing the beam 14.

The housing 32 is formed wi-th an integral auxiliary ~ housing 51, which serves to con-tain a pair of batteries 52 : 15 for energiæing the ligh-t bulb 36. The batteries 52 are retained in the auxiliary housing 51 by means of a closure 53 in snap-in engagement with the auxiliary housing 51.
` Manually actuatable switch 54 ~Figure 2) .serves, when closed, for completing a circuit throwgh the ligh-t bulb 36 and the batteries 50 illuminating -the light bulb 36 to produce the light bearn 14.

`. The diaphragm 39 comprises a disc of transparent mate.rial, e.g~ glass, provided with an opac.lue coating. As shown in Figure 3, this coating comprises an outer por-tion ~ 25 70, and is formed with a central rectangular opening 71, : - 9 -~L28~

wi-thin which there lS a substarlt.:La:L ly smaller~ rectarlyular opaque portion 72. Consequent].y, as w:ill be reaclily apparent, the ligh-t which is transmittecl by the conclensirly lenses 37 and 38 -through -the diaphragm 39 is forrned so that the light beam 14 is of rectangular cross-section and, a-t its midclle, has a dark spo-t or por-tion 74 (Figure 4), iOe. a light-free portion, which is o:E rectangular shape and which corresponds to -the opaque por-tion 72 of the diaphragm, this dark portion of -the beam cross-section being surrounded by an illumina-ted area or portion 75 of rec-tangular shape~

The planar or flat leading side of -the light beam 14, which forms the leading edge 76 of the rectangular illuminated area 75, and the dark spot or portion 74 are lS sensed by an array of light sensors in the housing 12 in order to determine the direction, speed and orientation of the light beam 14 as the club member 10 is swung to move the light beam 14 through an imaginary golf ball impact location on the housing 12, as described in greater detail below.

This array of light sensors, which comprise pho-totransistors, is illustrated in Figure 4 o:E the drawings, which shows two fla-t, horizon-tal, vertically spaced support boards 80 and 81, which are mounted in the housing 12.

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On -the uppe.r suppvrt board 64 there :is shown the above-described area 75 of l.ight wh:ich :is pro-jectecl on to the upper board 80 by -the liclht bearn 14. The array of light sensors comp.rises, firstly, -two paralleL rows or en-l banks, inclicated generall-y by reference numerals 82 and 84, of light sensors 86, -the rows 82 and 84 being spaced apart in the .Longi-tudinal direction oE the board 80, which is indicated by arrow A, with -the rows 82 and 84 ex-tending transversely of the direction A.

In the present embodimen-t of the invention, each of -the rows or end banks 82 and 84 comprises -twen-ty-four sensors 86. ~owever, the number oE sensors is not critical and may be varied cdepending upon the particular -type of sensor employed ancl the dimensions of the sensor array as a whole.

; As the light beam 14 sweeps across the end banks 82and 84 in succession, -the rectangular illum:ina-ted area 75 and the rectangular dark spot 74 cause some o:E the light sensors of each end bank 82 and 84 to be successively energized, de-energized, energized again and, :Einally, again de-energized. It is the first oE these de-energizations, corresponding to the passage of the dark spot 74 over -the light sensors, which is detected to indicate the passage of the axis of the ligh-t beam 14 over the rows 82 and 84. Also, -the individual light sensors 86 oE each row or end bank 82 and 84 are cons-tantly monitored ~, in succession, and the Light sensors, :in eacll row, whi-h respond to the dark spot 74 are used -to inclicate the presence of the dark spot 74. These light sensors thus provide an inclication of the direction of the path of movement of -the light beam 14 across the board 80 and, thus, through the location of impact of the ligh-t beam with an imaginary golf ball. The location of this imaginary golf ball is indica-ted by a clisk 87 painted on -the top of the housing L2 in a colour, e.g. white, which contrasts with the colour, e.g. green, of -the remainder of the housing 12 to inclica-te to the user where he should aim his swing.

The board 80 is formed, at a central portion thereof, with a longitudinal slot 88, which allows a por-tion of the light beam 14 -to pass downwardly through the board 80, and an array of four light sensors 90a, 90b, 90c and 90d are spaced apart at opposite sides o and longitudinally of the slo-t 88.

Two parallel sensor rows, indicated generally by reference numerals 92 and 94, each comprising eigh-t light sensors 96, are mounted on the lower board 81, and are spaced apart longitudinally along the board 81 beneath the slo-t 88, the rows 92 and 94 extending -transversely of the longi-tudinal direction A. More par-ticularly, these two rows 92 and 94 are posi-tioned -to in-tercept -the above-: ~' ~L2~

mentlonecl portion oE the light beam 14 which passes clownwardly throucJh the slot 88.

The light sensors 90a - 90d are employed to detect -the timing of -the travel of the planar front or leading side of the Iight beam 14 cluring the passage of the light beam 14 -through -the imaginary golf balL irnpact location represented by -the disk 87.

In addition, the ligh-t sensors 96 are employed -to sense the angle of the light beam during the passage of the ligh-t beam through -the imaginary golf baL1 impact location, i.e. the inclination of the longi-tudinal axis of the club 10~
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More particularly, considering for a momen-t only the four sensors 90a - 90d, as the leading edge 76 of the illurninated area 75 sweeps in succession over -these ~-; sensors~ they will be energi~ed a-t successive time intervals which vary in dependence, Eirstly, on the direction of travel of -the light beam 14 relative to the housing 12 and, secondly, on the orientation of -the ill-u-mina-ted area on -the board 80.
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Consequen-tly, -these four light sensor 90a - 90d are insufficien-t to dis-tinguish variations of those time intervals resulting from differences in the direction of travel of the ligh-t beam from those variations resulting :, :;

from d:ifEerences in the orientation of the iLIIlminated area 75.

However, these differences can be clistingwished from one another by also taking wi-th accourlt -the tirning and location of the beam por-tion which passes downwardly -through the slot.

This beam portion is so narrow as to :illuminate only one sensor in row 92 ancl one sensor in row 94.

Which of the sensors 96 of each row is illuminated depends on the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beam 14 and, thus, that of the club 10, assuming -that those two axes are co-incident.

~onsequen-tly, by detecting the timings of the energization not only of the fowr sensors 90a - 90d but also those of the two illuminated sensors 96, and by also -taking into account the direction of travel of the beam, as detec-ted by -the end bank sensors, the spatial orientation, i.e. -the three-dimensional orienta-tion of -the plane of the leading side of the light bearm 14 can be determined by the processing of the sensor signals, and also the speed of travel of the light beam can be measured.

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In Fi~ure 4~, par-ts wh-i~;h correspon(l to those shown in Fiqure 4 have, :for conveni.ence, been indic,-lted by -the same re:Eerence numera:ls.

However, the sensor array of Fi.gure 4A differs from that of Figure 4 in tha-t, instead of having the sensor rows 92 and 94 mown-ted on -the board 8l. at a spacing below the board 80, in this case a corresponding pair of sensors rows, indicated by reference numerals 92a and 94ar are mounted in a downwardly facing fashion on the underside of the board 80 and the board 81 of E'igure 4 is replaced by a board 81a which is closer to the board 80. The board 81a is prov:ided with a mirrored upper surface 97 for re~lecting upwardly onto the sensor array comprising the sensor rows 92a and 94a -the portion of the light beam 14 which passes downwardly through the slot 88.
;, Referring now to -the block diagram of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, a central processing uni-t CPU 100 is connected to the control switch unit 20, which comprises three manually operable switches for providing user input into the CPU :L00.
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The CPU 100 is also provided with input data from an end bank sensor array 104, which incorporates -the -two - rows or end banks 82 and 84 of light sensors 86, and a ~ fast sensor array 106, which incorporates -the light :. 25 sensors 90a - 90d and 96.

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A system memory 108 is connectect to the CPU 100 and serves to store program clata for controllirlg the opera-tion ; of the apparatus.

The CP~ 100 outputs a signal -to a graphics control circuit 110 which, in response -to da-ta from the CPU 100 and -to data s-tored in a graphics memory 112, provides a display on -the screen of the monitor 24.

More particularly, the switch unit 2a may be employed by the user/ a-t the beginning of a yame, to pro-vide appropriate inpu-t into the CPU 100 Eor selecting, for ; example, which of the eighteen holes of a golf course he wishes to play. Graphics data relating to -this hole is -then transferred from the system memory 108 to the graphics memory 112. Also, the switch uni-t 102 may, for example, be employed for presetting parameters such as wind speed, the speed of the green on which a game is to -~ be played, etc.
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When the user then swings the club 10 so as to cause the light beam 14 to sweep across the sensor array in the housing 12, the direc-tion and orien-ta-tion of the light beam 14, and thus of the club member 10, as -the light beam passes through -the simula-ted golf ball impact location, are sensed as described above and corresponding data is fecl from the encl bank sensor array :10~1 anLI the :East sensor array 106 to the CPU 100.

More par-ticula.rly, at the beginning of the sensing of a golf swing, the sensors 86 of ~ows ~2 and 84, represented as the end bank sensor array 104 :i.n Figure 5, - is checked for -the presence of a signal from any o:E -the end bank sensors 86, as indicated in the flow chart of Figure 6. In xesponse to detection of such a signal, -the end bank sensors 86 are monitored to determine which of them first de-tects the dar]s spo-t 74, as described above, and -the fast sensors, i,e. the fast sensor array 106 comprising the fas-t sensors 90a - 90d and 96, are.set up so that the timings of the energization of those sensors can be detected. Under control of -the data stored in -the system memory 108, the CPU 100 then computes the trajectory or flight of an imaginary golf ball and outputs corresponding flight data to -the graphics con-trol 110~

~r~ The graphic control 110 combines the flight data with data relating to -the golf course obtained from -the graphics memory 112 to provide on the screen of the ~, monitor 2~ a graphical representation of a hole of -the golf course with, superimposed thereon~ the -trajectory or flight of the imag.inary golf ball. Thus, the user can : observe on the screen of -the monitor 24 a graphical display of -the results of his swing.

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~he CPU 100 ~lso provlcles an outEIut to a speaker unit 116, for provicling an audi.o sicJnal. More particularly, the speaker unit 1.16 is operaterl by the CP~
100 to provicle an audi.o signal corresponding to the sound of a ~o:lf club s-triking golf ball as -the li.ght beam 14 passes through -the imaginary gol:E ball impact. location.
~lso, -the speaker unit 116 is con-trolled so as to provide appropri.ate sound signals when, :Eor example, the imaginary fligh-t of the golE ball lands in wa-ter.

Referrlng now to Figure 7, which illustra-tes in block diagram form the fast sensor array 106 comprising the sensors 90a - 90d and the rows of sensors 92 and 94 shown in Figure 4, there are shown sensor circui-ts 120a -120h and 121a - 121h.

. 15 The sensor circuits 120a - 120h each comprise Gne : .
of the sensors 96 of the sensor row 92 (or 92a) with associated circui-try, and -the sensors 121a - 121h each ` comprise one of -the sensors 96 of the sensor row 94 (or 94a) with associ.ated circuitry, as will be described in greater detail below.

The sensor circuits 120a - 120h and 121a - 121h are ; corrected to a common input conductor 123, -to which a DAC
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Fiqllre 7 also shC3WS two Ci.rCl.litS 122a ancl:L22b connected to the outputs of the sensot circui.ts 1.20a and 121a, respectively, for processing -the outpu-t of these circuits, and four sensor circuits 124a - 124cl, which each comprise a respec-tive one of the sensors 90a - 90d and associated componen-ts, as described in greater detail below wi-th reference to Figure 9A.

I'he sensor circuits 120a - 120h each have an output connected to the ci.rcui-t 122a and -the sensor circuits 121a - 121h each have an ou-tput connec-tecl-to -the circuit 122b.

In addition, the sensor circui-ts 120a - 120h and 121a - 121h also each have an outpu-t connected by a conductor 126 -to the CPU 100.

The outputs of circuits 122a, 122b and 124a 124d are connected to respective la-tches 127 of an 8-bit counter 128, the output which is connected by conductor : 130 to a 16-bit counter in the CPU lOOo .
The sensor circuits will now be descended in greater detail with reference -to Figures 8, 9 and 10.

Figure 8 shows a sensor circui.-t incorporating one o:E the end bank sensors 86, each of which has a simi:Lar circuit. The sensor 86 shown in Figure 8 is implemen-ted as an infra-red pho-totransis-tor Trl which, when energized, ~, . , provides a voltage at the output of an operati.onal amplifier OA1. A voltage divider comprising resistors rl - and r2 is used -to reduce this voltage, the reduced voltage being applied by conduc-tor 132 to a digital i.nput cireuit 133, implemen-ted as an 8255 chip, whieh is one o a pair of sueh cireuits respeetively connected -to the end banks 82 and 8~.

The DAC vol-tage from eonduc-tor 123 and a resistor r3 are employed to compensate -the pho-totransistor Trl when there is ambien-t infra-red radiation, by providing a current to null the output of the operational amplifier OAl.

A diode ~1 is provided to protec.t the input of the ~: di.gital input circuit 133. This is re~uired since, when the eireuit is eompensating for infra-red and if the ambient infra-red then clisappears, the OUtpllt of the :: : operational amplifier OAl would be driven negative and, therefore, so would the input of the digital input eircuit if the di.ode D1 were not present.
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The digital input cireuit is polled by the CPU100 to determine the status o:E the end bank sensors 86.

i Figure 9 shows one of -the sensor eireuits 124a -124d of the sensors 90a - 90d, -the remainder o:E whieh are similar -to that shown in Figure 9. In this ease, the ~` - 20 -F' ~

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light sensor, e.g. sensor 90a, comprises a phototrarlsistor Tr2, which produces an A.C. pulse at -the output of an operational amplifier OA2, which is eoupled -through a capacitor Cl to -the res-t of -the cireuit. The capaci-tor Cl and a resistor r4 forrn a high pass fil-ter, ancl a d:iode D2 clamps negative voltage. A comparator 125 eompares this pulse with a referenee voltage provided by a vol-tage divider formecl by resistor r4 and rS, and a resistor r6 provides hysteresis for the comparator circuit. Since the eomparator output is open collector, resistor r7 is provided to raise the ou-tput voltage of the circuit.

The cireuits 122a and 122b (Figure 7) are similar to the circuits 124a - 124b exeept that -the photo-transistor Tr2 and the operational amplifier OA2 are omitted and the circuits 122a and 122b have capacitors, eorresponding to -the eapacitor Cl, which couple the outpu-ts of sensor circuits 120a - 120h and 121a - 121h, respeetively, supplied hy conduc-tors 136 and 13~, -to -the eireuits 122a and 122b.

Figure 10 shows one of -the sensor circui-ts 120a -120h and 121a - 121h, the remainder of which are similar.
The respective sensor 96 is implemented as a ` photo-transis-tor Tr3, which con-trols an opera-tional ~ amplifier oA3, the output voltage of which is applied through a diode D3 -to the conduc-tor 136, in the case of one of the eircuits 120a - 120h, or 133, in the case of v one o:E the circLIits 121a - :L21h. '[he out~put vo.L-tage of the operational ampli:f:ier OA3 is reducecl by a voltacJe divider comprislng tesistors r8 ancl r9 and app:Li.ecl to the respecti.ve conductor 1.26, which is connec-ted to a respective por-t of one of a pair of digita:L inpu-t circuits 140, 142, ~igure 7) which are implemen-ted as 8255 chips and se:rve as inputs -to the CP~ 100.

When the phototransistor Tr3 is energized, it provides a signal -through -the respec-tive conduc-tor 126 to the respective part of the digital input circuit 140 or 142 by which the CPU 100 de-termines which of the pho-totransistors Tr3, i.e. which of -the light sensors 96, has been illuminated by -the portion of the ligh-t beam passing through the slot 88. As clescribed above, this data is employed in -the computation of -the orien-tation of the longitudinal axis of the club 10.
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Also, the same phototransistor Tr3, through its ~ eonduc-tor 136 or 138 and its associated circwit 122a or 122br and through the correspondi.ng latch 127, latches -the timer 128.
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Likewise, when one of the four sensors 90a 90d is energi.2ed, its sensor circui-t 124a - 124d, through the corresponding latch 127, latches the -timer :L28.

: - 22 --. ~LZ~3~4~Z
The timer 12~ i.s an ~-bi.t counter, and :is connected to a 16-bi-t counter :in the CPU :LOO.

With thi.s arranclement, the timings of the illu-minations of the sensors 96 and 90a -- 90cl are :la-tched in hardware ancl can be retrievecl dur:ing -the i.nterrupt service routine of the CP~ 100 to enable the tlmings for -these sensors to be measurecl accura-tely, and a 24 bit time resolution is employed, at 0.5 microseconds, to provide an interval of 8 seconds. This accuracy directly determines -the accuracy of the measurements as a functi.on of veloci-ty of the ligh-t beam.

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Claims

1. Apparatus for the practicing of golf swings, comprising:
an elongate member to be swung by a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club;
said elongate member comprising a simulated golf club handgrip, a source of radiation and means for forming radiation from said radiation source into a beam extending from one end of the elongate member in the longitudinal direction of said elongate member;
a plurality of sensor means responsive to the said radiation and determined array for producing sensor signals in response to the passage of said beam over said array during the swinging of said elongate member;
means for processing said sensor signals to produce output signals corresponding to the speed and orientation of said elongate member; and visual display means responsive to said output signals for providing a visual representation corresponding to said output signals.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized by means for supporting said array of sensor means in the vicinity of as imaginary golf ball impact location disposed beneath the path of travel of said elongate member during the swinging of said elongate member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supporting means comprise means for supporting said sensor means array on a floor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for forming said beam comprise means for imparting a planar shape to a leading side of said beam, said processing means including means responsive to passage of said beam leading side over said predetermined array for detecting the three-dimensional orientation of said beam leading side relative to said predetermined array.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for forming the beam further comprise means for forming a radiation-free zone within said beam, said processing means including means responsive to passage of said radiation-free zone over the predetermined array for detecting the direction of travel of said beam over said predetermined array.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensor means comprise first sensor means for sensing the direction of movement of said beam through a simulated golf ball impact location, second sensor means for sensing the timing of said light beam during the passage of said beam over said predetermined array and third sensor means for sensing the inclination of said beam as said beam passes through the simulated golf ball impact location.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensor means comprise first and second rows of sensors arranged with said first row parallel to and laterally spaced from said second row for sensing the direction of movement of said beam through a simulated golf ball impact location.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined array of sensor means comprises first and second rows of sensors arranged with said first row parallel to and laterally spaced from said second row, means providing an opaque covering over said first and second rows for shielding said first and second rows from said beam, and means defining in said opaque covering a slot extending transversely of said first and second rows for allowing radiation from said beam to reach portions of said first and second rows, depending upon the inclination of said beam.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of sensor means comprise first and second rows of sensors arranged with said first row parallel to and laterally spaced from said second row for sensing the direction of movement of said beam through a simulated golf ball impact location.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensor means comprise a group of sensors mutually spaced in an array for sensing the timing of said beam.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visual display means comprise memory means for storing data relating to a graphical display of portions of a golf course, and means responsive to said graphical display data and said output signals for displaying a graphical representation of said golf course portions and of a golf ball flight corresponding to said output signals, with said flight superimposed on said golf course portions.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing means includes means responsive to the motion of said elongate member for outputting sound control signals, said apparatus including means for generating sound in response to said sound control signals.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processing means includes means responsive to the motion of said elongate member and to the graphical display data for outputting sound control signals, said apparatus including means for generating sound in response to said sound control signals.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprise a plurality of sensors distributed in a three-dimensional array, said processing means comprising means responsive to said sensor signals for determining the three-dimensional orientation of said beam during the passage of said beam over said array.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sensors comprise a plurality of said sensors arranged at a first level for detecting the speed and direction of said beam, and a plurality of said sensors arranged at a second level lower than said first level, and further comprising mask means between said first and second levels and defining a slot through which a portion of said beams can reach said sensors on said second level to enable the orientation of said beam to be determined by orientation determining means.

16. Apparatus for the practicing of golf swings, comprising:
a club member to be swung by a user in simulation of the swinging of a golf club;
said club member having a simulated golf club handgrip, a source of radiation, means for forming said radiation into a beam extending from one end of said club member in the longitudinal direction of said club member and with said beam having a flat leading side;
sensor means responsive to said radiation for sensing the swinging of the club member;
said sensor means being disposed in a predetermined array in the vicinity of a simulated golf ball impact location for providing sensor signals in response to the passage of said beam over said array;
means responsive to said sensor signals for providing first signals corresponding to the direction of travel of said beam through said location, second signals corresponding to the speed of travel of said beam through said location and third signals corresponding to the three-dimensional orientation of the beam leading side during passage thereof through said location;
means responsive to said first, second and third signals for computing a golf ball flight and providing output signals corresponding to said flight; and visual display means responsive to said output signals for providing a visual representation of said flight.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said visual display means comprise means for displaying a graphical representation of said flight.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for storing data representing a graphical display of portions of a golf course, said visual display means comprising means for graphically displaying said flight representation superimposed on said golf course portions.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claims 16, wherein said sensor means comprise two sets of sensors arranged with said sets spaced apart along the direction of the path of travel of said beam through said location and with the sensors of each set distributed across said path for sensing said direction, said sensor signal responsive means including means responsive to said two sets of sen-sors for providing said first signals.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said sensor means comprise individual sensors spaced apart in the vicinity of said location for sensing the speed of travel of said beam, said sensor signal responsive means including means responsive to said sensors for providing said second signal.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said sensor means comprise a mask which is opaque to said radiation, first and second sets of sensors located above and below, respectively, said opaque mask and means defining an elongate opening in said mask through which radiation from said beam can reach said sensors below said mask, said sensor signal responsive means comprising means responsive to said first and second sets of sensors for providing said third signals.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said sensor means comprise a mask which is opaque to said radiation; first and second sets of sensors located above and below, respectively, said opaque mask, means defining an elongate opening in said mask through which a portion of said beam can pass downwardly through said mask and means below said mask for reflecting said beam portion upwardly to said second set of sensors, said sensor signal responsive means comprising means responsive to said first and second sets of sensors for providing said third signals.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said sensor means comprise first and second sets of sensors arranged with said first set spaced from said second set in the direction of the path of travel of said beam through said location and with the sensors of each of said sets distributed across the path for sensing said direction;
said sensor signal responsive means including means responsive to said first and second sets of sensors for providing said first signals;

said sensor means further comprising a mask opaque to said radiation, third and fourth sets of sensors disposed, respectively, above and below said mask and means defining an elongate opening in said mask through which a portion of said beam can reach said fourth set of sensors, depending on the orientation of said beam;
said fourth set being arranged in two mutually spaced, parallel rows extending transversely of said direction; and said sensor signal responsive means including means responsive to said third set of sensors for providing said second signals and means responsive to said third and fourth sets of sensors for providing said third signals.