CA2462358A1 - Ball detection viewer with side shields - Google Patents
Ball detection viewer with side shields Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2462358A1 CA2462358A1 CA 2462358 CA2462358A CA2462358A1 CA 2462358 A1 CA2462358 A1 CA 2462358A1 CA 2462358 CA2462358 CA 2462358 CA 2462358 A CA2462358 A CA 2462358A CA 2462358 A1 CA2462358 A1 CA 2462358A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- filter
- user
- eye
- ball
- light
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C7/00—Optical parts
- G02C7/10—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses
- G02C7/104—Filters, e.g. for facilitating adaptation of the eyes to the dark; Sunglasses having spectral characteristics for purposes other than sun-protection
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C11/00—Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof
- G02C11/12—Side shields for protection of the eyes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C7/00—Optical parts
- G02C7/16—Shades; shields; Obturators, e.g. with pinhole, with slot
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
- Eyeglasses (AREA)
Abstract
The optical filter enhances the perception of a stationary white object such as a golf ball to help a user to locate a lost object. The filter attenuates light transmission for colours having wavelengths over 500 nanometer such as the light reflected by vegetation and transmits colours having shorter wavelengths such as reflected by the ball. The filter is worn in an eyeglass frame with opaque side shields that force the user to utilise a high visual acuity portion of their sight when the move their head from side to side.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an enhancement to an existing invent:ion which is an optical device to aid ip the finding of a white or light-coloured golf ball lost to the view of a player.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various technologies have been proposed in the past to assist golfers in finding golf balls on a course or in the adjacent rough terrains. Some inventors have proposed to use a fluorescent covering on a ball and to illuminate that ball with ultraviolet light to make the ball glow. Other inventors have proposed to use the reflection of radio waves against metal plates inside a golf ball to locate the ball. Other proposals include emitters of various sort, installed inside the core of the ball.
However, none of the previous devices has enjoyed a lasting success. A
previous proposal uses a similar filter to locate a white object, however, it did not focus the user's vision efficiently and therefore lessened the likelihood of locating the desired object.
PRIOR ART
This invention relates to an enhancement to an existing invent:ion which is an optical device to aid ip the finding of a white or light-coloured golf ball lost to the view of a player.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various technologies have been proposed in the past to assist golfers in finding golf balls on a course or in the adjacent rough terrains. Some inventors have proposed to use a fluorescent covering on a ball and to illuminate that ball with ultraviolet light to make the ball glow. Other inventors have proposed to use the reflection of radio waves against metal plates inside a golf ball to locate the ball. Other proposals include emitters of various sort, installed inside the core of the ball.
However, none of the previous devices has enjoyed a lasting success. A
previous proposal uses a similar filter to locate a white object, however, it did not focus the user's vision efficiently and therefore lessened the likelihood of locating the desired object.
PRIOR ART
2,314,137 Ball Detection Viewer (Inventors: Leslie, Chapman and Gibb) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention improves the performance of a ball detection viewer that enhances the visual perception of a stationary white object, such as a golf ball, to help the user to locate the object. The present invention comprises of an optical filter that attenuates light transmission for light rays having wavelengths longer than approximately 500 nanometer and transmits light rays having shorter wavelengths. The optical filter is worn in eyeglasses with opaque side shields. The side shields force the user to use the area of highest visual acuity of their eye as they sweep their head from side to side searching for the object. The present invention is advantageous for helping a golfer avoid penalty strokes, wasted time and expenses due to lost balls. The present invention also improves golf course efficiency through the reduction of round times by lessening search times.
The filter for this invention is worn as eyeglasses with opaque side shields.
The eyeglasses constitute a relatively inexpensive, light, portable device that can be used by any player under a wide range of weather and foliage conditions. This invention can be used, without modification, to find any light-coloured object in a field of vegetation or in a background that reflects different colours than the colour of the object.
LTST OF FIGURES
FIG. 1 - A graphical representation of the filter used in the invention FIG. 2 - Illustration of the Iight transmission characteristics of the filter used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 - The field of vision of the average user FIG. 4 - The area of highest visual acuity FIG. 5 - A graphical representation of the field of vision blocked by invention FIG. 6 - Depiction of the user focusing their vision near the opaque shield FIG. 7 - A pictorial representation of a possible form of the invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring firstly to FIG. l, the light reflected from the foliage l, tree trunks 2, undergrowth 3, grass 4, dirt or gravel 5 and the stationary object to be located 6, in this case the ball, are represented by arrows. The filter 7 blocks most of the light reflected by the foliage 1, tree trunks 2, undergrowth 3, grass 4, dirt or gravel 5 (indicated by the arrows stopping at the viewing apparatus).
The filter 7 allows the light reflected by ball 6 to pass through (indicated by the arrow passing through the filter) and reach the eye 8 of the user.
The characteristics of the filter 7 are illustrated in FIG. 2.. These characteristics are shown in the form of light transmission in percentage, for different wavelengths of light in nanometers.
FIG. 3 is an overhead view of a person 9, who is facing the top of the page.
Lines 12 and 15 bound the person's horizontal field of vision. The field of vision can be divided for each eye into two regions. The temporal region 10 is shown on the figure for the left eye (the region bounded by lines 12 and 13). The nasal region 11 is also shown on the figure for the left eye (the region bounded by lines 13 and 14.
The overhead view of a person 16, who is facing the top of the page, is shown again in FIG.
The present invention improves the performance of a ball detection viewer that enhances the visual perception of a stationary white object, such as a golf ball, to help the user to locate the object. The present invention comprises of an optical filter that attenuates light transmission for light rays having wavelengths longer than approximately 500 nanometer and transmits light rays having shorter wavelengths. The optical filter is worn in eyeglasses with opaque side shields. The side shields force the user to use the area of highest visual acuity of their eye as they sweep their head from side to side searching for the object. The present invention is advantageous for helping a golfer avoid penalty strokes, wasted time and expenses due to lost balls. The present invention also improves golf course efficiency through the reduction of round times by lessening search times.
The filter for this invention is worn as eyeglasses with opaque side shields.
The eyeglasses constitute a relatively inexpensive, light, portable device that can be used by any player under a wide range of weather and foliage conditions. This invention can be used, without modification, to find any light-coloured object in a field of vegetation or in a background that reflects different colours than the colour of the object.
LTST OF FIGURES
FIG. 1 - A graphical representation of the filter used in the invention FIG. 2 - Illustration of the Iight transmission characteristics of the filter used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 - The field of vision of the average user FIG. 4 - The area of highest visual acuity FIG. 5 - A graphical representation of the field of vision blocked by invention FIG. 6 - Depiction of the user focusing their vision near the opaque shield FIG. 7 - A pictorial representation of a possible form of the invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring firstly to FIG. l, the light reflected from the foliage l, tree trunks 2, undergrowth 3, grass 4, dirt or gravel 5 and the stationary object to be located 6, in this case the ball, are represented by arrows. The filter 7 blocks most of the light reflected by the foliage 1, tree trunks 2, undergrowth 3, grass 4, dirt or gravel 5 (indicated by the arrows stopping at the viewing apparatus).
The filter 7 allows the light reflected by ball 6 to pass through (indicated by the arrow passing through the filter) and reach the eye 8 of the user.
The characteristics of the filter 7 are illustrated in FIG. 2.. These characteristics are shown in the form of light transmission in percentage, for different wavelengths of light in nanometers.
FIG. 3 is an overhead view of a person 9, who is facing the top of the page.
Lines 12 and 15 bound the person's horizontal field of vision. The field of vision can be divided for each eye into two regions. The temporal region 10 is shown on the figure for the left eye (the region bounded by lines 12 and 13). The nasal region 11 is also shown on the figure for the left eye (the region bounded by lines 13 and 14.
The overhead view of a person 16, who is facing the top of the page, is shown again in FIG.
4. The lines 17 and 18 bound the field of vision that accounts for 90% of the average person's visual acuity 19.
In FIG. 5 the overhead view of a person 20, who is facing the top of the page, is wearing the described invention 25. The described invention (a pair of glasses) consists of a lens (represented on the figure as a dotted line) and two opaque side shields 21 and 22. The left side shield 21 blocks a portion of the temporal region 23 bounded by lines 27 and 28. The right side shield 22 blocks a portion of the temporal region 24 bounded by lines 29 and 30. This limits the person's field of vision to region 26, which is bounded by lines 28 and 29.
In FIG. 6 the overhead view of a person 31, who is facing the top of the page, is wearing the described invention 32. The wearer of the invention is moving their head from left to right (clockwise from the overhead view) and in doing so, focusing their high acuity vision region 37 (described in FIG. 4) near the opaque side shield of the glasses. The opaque side shields block the temporal region 33 (bounded by lines 35 and 36) and the user can see through the lens region 37 (bounded by lines 34 and 35).
FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a possible form of the invention showing the frames 37, the lenses 38 and the side shield 39.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The filter 7 transmits light in the blue colour range and attenuates the transmission of light with wavelengths over 500 manometer (500 nm). This filter attenuates colours most commonly found in vegetation, i.e. greens, yellows, oranges and reds; and transmits the blue and violet colours which are not reflected by vegetation but which are reflected to a much greater extent by white obj ects.
The degree of transmission of light through the filter 7 above approximately 500 nm should be less than 15%, and the degree of transmission of light at wavelengths shorter than 500 nxn should be more than 30%.
A a.~~~ :r ~ ~ ~ . ,~ _~ w._n.~, ",..... ~. ~,M_._. ..__...__~.~,._".~.."
...u. ~~ ~__..-. ~.._. ~..__~__ _.... . _.___.__..
,r~,,~..w,.~,A. ,~ ..~m~~,.,~.~.m~a~,-.
A preferred filter 7 is a plastic filter sold by Rosco Corporation under the trade name Roscolux #85 "Deep blue"TM.
The filter 7 mentioned above is advantageous because it has a good light transmission below the 500 nm mark, a good light attenuation above the 500 nm mark, and a sharp drop in light transmission at the 500 nm mark. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the; light transmission curve of the filter 7 shows a light transmission of about 90% below 500 nm and a light teansmission of less than 10%
above 500 nm. The light transmission curve makes a sharp drop at the 500 nm mark, showing a light transmission of 50% at that wavelength. In other words, the filter 7 blocks about 90% of the light coming from a vegetative background and blocks only less than about 10%
of the light reflected from the white object.
The preferred filter 7 is mounted into a standard eyeglass frame that blocks a portion of the user's peripheral vision. The filter 7 could also be mounted in many other viewing devices such as goggles, snap-on-shades, or a hand-held eye-piece as long as there is a method of blocking the user's peripheral vision.
Blocking a portion of the peripheral vision of the user increases the efficacy of the filter 7 for two reasons. Firstly, as the user looks from side to side by turning their head, the natural tendency is for the eye to fixate on the new information being presented. That is, the eye will focus on the information just coming in to view as the user moves their head. from side to side. By encouraging the user to focus on this region the user is utilising the portion of their vision with the highest visual acuity 19 to analyse the new information and this also limits the amount of saccades. This claim is supported by published scientific literature, "Global effects of feature-based attention in human visual cortex" by Melissa Saenz, Giedrius T. Buracas & Geoffrey M. Boynton.
For the average person the portion of their vision with the highest visual acuity 19 can be represented by a 10°
(degree) cone starting from the person's eye. Outside of this convergence region the average visual acuity drops by 90%.
Secondly, in the previous use of the filter 7 the ball would slowly come into view through the user's peripheral vision and given the natural saccades it would be possible to not see the ball.
By blocking this peripheral vision and moving their head from side to side the ball will suddenly appear from the blocked region. This sudden 'reveal' or flash of white will increase the likelihood that the user will fixate on the white object thereby greatly increasing the efficacy of the invention.
In FIG. 5 the overhead view of a person 20, who is facing the top of the page, is wearing the described invention 25. The described invention (a pair of glasses) consists of a lens (represented on the figure as a dotted line) and two opaque side shields 21 and 22. The left side shield 21 blocks a portion of the temporal region 23 bounded by lines 27 and 28. The right side shield 22 blocks a portion of the temporal region 24 bounded by lines 29 and 30. This limits the person's field of vision to region 26, which is bounded by lines 28 and 29.
In FIG. 6 the overhead view of a person 31, who is facing the top of the page, is wearing the described invention 32. The wearer of the invention is moving their head from left to right (clockwise from the overhead view) and in doing so, focusing their high acuity vision region 37 (described in FIG. 4) near the opaque side shield of the glasses. The opaque side shields block the temporal region 33 (bounded by lines 35 and 36) and the user can see through the lens region 37 (bounded by lines 34 and 35).
FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a possible form of the invention showing the frames 37, the lenses 38 and the side shield 39.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The filter 7 transmits light in the blue colour range and attenuates the transmission of light with wavelengths over 500 manometer (500 nm). This filter attenuates colours most commonly found in vegetation, i.e. greens, yellows, oranges and reds; and transmits the blue and violet colours which are not reflected by vegetation but which are reflected to a much greater extent by white obj ects.
The degree of transmission of light through the filter 7 above approximately 500 nm should be less than 15%, and the degree of transmission of light at wavelengths shorter than 500 nxn should be more than 30%.
A a.~~~ :r ~ ~ ~ . ,~ _~ w._n.~, ",..... ~. ~,M_._. ..__...__~.~,._".~.."
...u. ~~ ~__..-. ~.._. ~..__~__ _.... . _.___.__..
,r~,,~..w,.~,A. ,~ ..~m~~,.,~.~.m~a~,-.
A preferred filter 7 is a plastic filter sold by Rosco Corporation under the trade name Roscolux #85 "Deep blue"TM.
The filter 7 mentioned above is advantageous because it has a good light transmission below the 500 nm mark, a good light attenuation above the 500 nm mark, and a sharp drop in light transmission at the 500 nm mark. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the; light transmission curve of the filter 7 shows a light transmission of about 90% below 500 nm and a light teansmission of less than 10%
above 500 nm. The light transmission curve makes a sharp drop at the 500 nm mark, showing a light transmission of 50% at that wavelength. In other words, the filter 7 blocks about 90% of the light coming from a vegetative background and blocks only less than about 10%
of the light reflected from the white object.
The preferred filter 7 is mounted into a standard eyeglass frame that blocks a portion of the user's peripheral vision. The filter 7 could also be mounted in many other viewing devices such as goggles, snap-on-shades, or a hand-held eye-piece as long as there is a method of blocking the user's peripheral vision.
Blocking a portion of the peripheral vision of the user increases the efficacy of the filter 7 for two reasons. Firstly, as the user looks from side to side by turning their head, the natural tendency is for the eye to fixate on the new information being presented. That is, the eye will focus on the information just coming in to view as the user moves their head. from side to side. By encouraging the user to focus on this region the user is utilising the portion of their vision with the highest visual acuity 19 to analyse the new information and this also limits the amount of saccades. This claim is supported by published scientific literature, "Global effects of feature-based attention in human visual cortex" by Melissa Saenz, Giedrius T. Buracas & Geoffrey M. Boynton.
For the average person the portion of their vision with the highest visual acuity 19 can be represented by a 10°
(degree) cone starting from the person's eye. Outside of this convergence region the average visual acuity drops by 90%.
Secondly, in the previous use of the filter 7 the ball would slowly come into view through the user's peripheral vision and given the natural saccades it would be possible to not see the ball.
By blocking this peripheral vision and moving their head from side to side the ball will suddenly appear from the blocked region. This sudden 'reveal' or flash of white will increase the likelihood that the user will fixate on the white object thereby greatly increasing the efficacy of the invention.
For the average person the horizontal field of vision for each eye can be divided into two regions; the temporal region 10 and the nasal region 11 (both regions are shown on FIG. 3 for the left eye). The temporal region is on average 110° from the central axis 13 and the nasal region is on average 60° from the central axis. The nasal region is influenced by the size and shape of the person's nose. The present invention blocks a certain amount of the temporal region for the purposes outlined above. If too much of the region is blocked then it limits the person's ability to navigate and search for the ball (vision region of 120° is often required for driving) and if too little is blocked then the 'reveal' effect and the use of the person's high visual acuity is lost. For the purposes of this invention the regions, 23 and 24, blocked by the opaque shields 21 and 22 are each set to be between 20° and 40°. That is, the frames of the glasses are designed such that the angle of the region blocked for the left side 23 bounded by lines 27 and 28 is between 20° and 40° and that the angle of the region blocked for the right side 24 bounded by lines 29 and 30 is between 20° and 40°.
The eyeglasses 37 can be used when a search is required and can be stowed away when not used as is done with common sunglasses.
The eyeglasses 37 can be used when a search is required and can be stowed away when not used as is done with common sunglasses.
Claims (2)
1. A method for increasing the visibility of a white golf ball in a vegetative background, comprising the steps of; looking at said vegetative background; blocking about 90% of all light transmitted to the eye having a wavelength above 500 manometer; blocking less than 10% of all light transmitted to the eye having a wavelength below 500 manometer, blocking about 50% of all light transmitted to the eye having a wavelength of 500 manometer, and blocking 100% of a portion of peripheral vision.
2. A method for increasing the visibility of a white golf ball in a vegetative background, where the user is following the method described in claim number 1 and is moving their head from side to side thereby forcing the user to use the portion of the eye with the highest visual acuity and limit the eye's natural saccades.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2462358 CA2462358A1 (en) | 2004-04-01 | 2004-04-01 | Ball detection viewer with side shields |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2462358 CA2462358A1 (en) | 2004-04-01 | 2004-04-01 | Ball detection viewer with side shields |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2462358A1 true CA2462358A1 (en) | 2005-10-01 |
Family
ID=35006216
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2462358 Abandoned CA2462358A1 (en) | 2004-04-01 | 2004-04-01 | Ball detection viewer with side shields |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2462358A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006116833A1 (en) * | 2005-05-03 | 2006-11-09 | Visiball Solutions Inc. | Golf ball detecting optical device |
-
2004
- 2004-04-01 CA CA 2462358 patent/CA2462358A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006116833A1 (en) * | 2005-05-03 | 2006-11-09 | Visiball Solutions Inc. | Golf ball detecting optical device |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |