EP0336839B1 - A golf parcours simulating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The golf course simulator comprises a track (5) between a driving point (3) and a fronton (8). The track (5) comprises a multiplicity of holes (6) which can be covered. The fronton (8) marks the boundary of a virtual space where a target hole is located in the first phase of the game, where the shots are long range shots, and a real space, where the target hole is represented by the opening of a hole (7), when the player is sufficiently close to the target hole. A suitably programmed computer (11) controls the simulator. For long range shots, the driving point (3) comprises a ball detector, and the fronton (8) comprises an impact-detecting matrix. The measurement of the duration between the departure of the ball and the impact on the fronton (8) at a known distance and the location of the impact on the fronton provides information on the initial velocity, lift and deviation which allows the arrival of the ball in the virtual space to be determined, and target parameters to be deduced from these. When the target hole is in the real space, a hole (7) is open, and the driving length, detected by detectors (10) distributed along the track, results in the opening of another hole, corresponding to the remaining distance to be travelled. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for simulating a golf course comprising a series of holes where a player must introduce his ball successively during corresponding stages, the ball progressing from a starting mark to the hole forming the objective of 'stages by a sequence of shots.

In a real golf course, where the distances between the starting mark and the objective hole frequently reach several hundred meters, the shots of the players fall into two categories:

Long distance shots, known as "swings" or "long drives", where the player seeks to bring his ball closer to the hole by crossing the greatest possible distances, these being counted in tens or even hundreds of meters.

Precision shots, called "puttings", where the player seeks to directly reach the objective hole, and whose length hardly exceeds a few meters.

For each category of shots, players use specific "clubs".

However it is clear that the border between "swings" and "puttings" is not absolute, and partly depends on the address of the player and the configuration of the terrain around the hole.

Golf is a sport which has developed mainly in English speaking countries, so that the majority of technical terms and expressions belong to this language; very often there is no French term which corresponds precisely to the English term. In this brief, the English terms will be used as technical terms, when the French expression would be a paraphrase.

To date, to the knowledge of the Applicant, simulation devices have been proposed which relate practically to only one of the two categories of shots, and in majority to precision shots (putting).

However, certain devices designed for long-range shots can incorporate holes which allow simplified precision shots, without the presence of obstacles. And there are no links between long-range and precision shots.

Document US-A-1 904 034 describes a device for precision shooting, with a track located between a starting mark and a hole, provided with a coating which simulates a lawn. The track can be tilted using a lever to bring the ball back to the player. A counter device records the entry of the ball into the hole and displays a gain, while the impact of the ball on a pediment behind the hole determines the recording and display of a missed shot.

Document US-A-3,184,239 proposes a similar device, with however a gutter beyond the hole to collect the balls which have exceeded the objective hole and a scraper bar for the return of balls stopped on the track as a result of too short a shot.

US-A-3,601,407 and US-A-2,465,418 describe tracks of flexible material which can be deformed to create bumps or hollows and increase the difficulty of the shots. The first document has a single hole, while the second has a plurality.

US-A-3,114,554 describes a track for putting training with a plurality of holes of which only one is open at a time, in sequence. Control devices are provided to take into account the entry of a ball into an open hole, open the next hole in the sequence and display the results.

US-A-4,133,534 describes a device close to the previous one. The track has various obstacles: the holes are open, one at a time, in sequence; when a ball enters the open hole, the result is recorded and the hole closes by ejecting the ball on the track.

US-A-3,633,917 describes a starting point for golf training, but gives no indication of the location or structure of the holes.

According to this document, the initial configuration is variable; on the one hand, three types of starting terrain are available, arranged on a triangular prism turret with a horizontal axis, one simulating a short grass (green), the second a tall grass (rough) and the third a sandpit (bunker). This starting base, on the other hand, is located in the center of a platform capable of tilting around two rectangular horizontal axes. Flexible aprons connect the platform to the surrounding surface.

Other documents relate to training in long-range shooting (swings).

US-A-3,684,293 describes a tunnel cage. The walls of the cage, and in particular the bottom wall, include coatings chosen to cushion the impacts in a determined manner. We must be able to appreciate the length of the "swing" and the effects communicated to the ball. Putting training is also provided, with a hole in the cage.

US-A-4,045,023 describes a device for swing training, which essentially comprises, at a distance from a starting base, a pediment provided with impact detectors and divided into sectors both in width and in width height. The division into sectors according to the width gives an account of the precision of the shooting in a direction, while the division in height makes it possible to appreciate the theoretical range of the shooting.

The description of this patent is cluttered with accessory and superfluous descriptions, such as the arrangement of the shooting base in an individual cabin; there is a doubt about the reality of the true subject of the patent.

Anyway, the devices of the prior art are intended either to offer sports games related to golf, or to allow training in this sport, under very limited conditions. These devices are far from simulating the variety and sequence of shots a real golf course, and allow you to appreciate the qualities of a player. However, document US-A-2,783,999 has attempted to approach the simulation of a golf course, by limiting itself to long-range shots. The simulator according to this document determines the speed and direction of a ball thrown from a "tee" equipped with a ball detector in the direction of a pediment equipped with a multiplicity of impact detectors and barring an elongated track in a general direction of fire. A display shows the shooting parameters, distance and deviations. However, analog computation processes impose relatively coarse approximations; the range of the shot is considered proportional to the initial speed of the ball, and only the ranges are cumulative to determine the approach of the objective hole, and not the lateral errors. Thus the device according to this document, if it allows competitions between players, is insufficient to allow effective training in real play.

• a) définir la série d'étapes de trous, à chaque étape correspondant un champ s'étendant de la marque de départ au trou objectif, divisé en une pluralité ordonnée de cellules jointives, et mémorisé sous forme d'un fichier avec une pluralité de blocs d'informations, chaque bloc étant associé à une des cellules du champ d'étape et comportant des données de repérage de la cellule associée par rapport à la marque de départ et par rapport au trou objectif de l'étape;
• b) déterminer les paramètres de tir, soit d'après les conditions d'impact sur le fronton, soit d'après la position de balle sur la piste en fin de tir selon que le trou objectif, pour la cellule où se simule l'origine du tir, se situe respectivement dans l'espace virtuel ou dans l'espace réel;
• c) déterminer la cellule du champ d'étape où se place la balle en fin de tir à partir des paramètres de tir et de la cellule atteinte en fin de tir précédent;
• d) extraire du fichier des paramètres d'objectif correspondant à la cellule atteinte en fin de tir précédent, ces paramètres se concrétisant, si pour cette dernière cellule le trou objectif se situe dans l'espace réel, par l'ouverture d'un trou obturable particulier sur la piste; et
• e) enregistrer une fin d'étape en réponse à l'excitation d'un deuxième détecteur de balle correspondnat à l'entrée de la balle dans le trou ouvert.

This is precisely what the present invention aims to achieve, which offers for this purpose a device for simulating a golf course comprising a series of holes where a player must introduce his ball successively during corresponding stages, the ball progressing d '' a starting mark to the hole forming the stage objective by a sequence of shots, device where the player executes all his shots from the same origin and the progression of the ball results in a simulated displacement of the objective hole according to the parameters previous firing, the device comprising a firing point, where the origin of the shots comprises a first bullet detector, an elongated track from the firing point in a general direction of shooting, and a pediment blocking the track at its opposite end at the launch pad, and equipped with a multiplicity of impact detectors distributed over its surface, characterized in that the track comprises a multiplicity of closable holes asso ciés to second bullet detectors, third ball detectors, spread over the length of the track and capable of determining the extreme position reached by the ball on the track after a shot, the pediment forming a separation between an actual space below the pediment and a virtual space beyond the pediment , the device further comprising control means comprising a computer programmed for:

• a) define the series of hole steps, at each corresponding step a field extending from the starting mark to the objective hole, divided into an ordered plurality of contiguous cells, and stored in the form of a file with a plurality of blocks of information, each block being associated with one of the cells of the stage field and comprising data for locating the associated cell with respect to the starting mark and with respect to the objective hole of the stage;
• b) determine the shooting parameters, either according to the impact conditions on the pediment, or according to the position of the ball on the track at the end of the shooting depending on the objective hole, for the cell where the origin of the shot, is located respectively in virtual space or in real space;
• c) determine the cell of the stage field where the ball is placed at the end of the shot from the shooting parameters and the cell reached at the end of the previous shot;
• d) extract from the file objective parameters corresponding to the cell reached at the end of the previous shot, these parameters taking shape, if for this last cell the objective hole is located in real space, by the opening of a hole closable particular on the track; and
• e) recording an end of stage in response to the excitation of a second ball detector corresponding to the entry of the ball into the open hole.

We understand that, as long as the objective hole is located in virtual space, the player must try to get closer to the hole by "swings" whose outcome, virtual, is determined by the starting parameters of the ball, speed initial and orientation of the trajectory origin, measured by the interval between the start of the ball and its impact on the pediment at a known distance on the one hand, and by the position of the impact detector struck by the ball on the pediment, on the other hand; each virtual outcome of a swing becoming the starting base for the next shot, providing information on the relative position of the objective hole of this next shot, compared to the starting base; then, when the parameters of a swing place its outcome in real space, the objective hole is materialized by the opening of the appropriate hole of multiplicity; therefore the approach is made by "puttings", which, if they are not successful, have their length measured by the third bullet detectors, to determine the position of the objective hole of the next shot, materialized by the appropriate hole opening.

Preferably, an image synthesizer displays a synthetic image on the pediment, this image being synthesized from digital data stored in an information block associated with the cell of the step field corresponding to the origin of the shooting, the image representing a panorama centered on the objective hole, seen from the cell of the shooting origin stage field.

Preferably, the launch pad comprises a plurality of original marks of firing which can be unmasked one by one and configured in simulation of a type of terrain, the information block associated with the stage field cell comprising specific data. land type.

Preferably, the first bullet detector consists of a photoelectric element below an orifice where the bullet is placed, so that the bullet departure allows outside light to reach the photoelectric element.

In preferred arrangement, the pediment comprises in longitudinal succession from a rigid vertical stop panel towards the launch pad, a first ply of rectilinear conductors, parallel and regularly spaced, a second ply of rectilinear elastic conductors, parallel and regularly spaced, arranged parallel to the first ply with an interval between them, the conductors of one ply being horizontal and those of the other vertical, and a flexible mat parallel to the stop panel and spaced from the second ply, the distances from the mat and from the second ply to the stop sign being such that a bullet impact on the mat pushes at least one conductor of the second ply in contact with at least one conductor of the first, at the point of impact.

It is understood that the contact of a particular wire of the first ply and a particular wire of the second ply, resulting from an impact, localizes this impact in a way well suited to a digitization of the abscissa and the order of impact. Each of the conductors of each of the layers will be connected to an input of a matrix encoder. While the sheet of vertical wires gives information on the direction of the shot, the sheet of horizontal wires gives rise information which, along with the initial speed information resulting from the duration of the journey of the ball from the starting mark to the pediment, in combination with the distance between the mark and the pediment, determines range information. Insofar as this distance is a constant, at least for the swings, the length of the swing can be known by consulting a shooting table (memorized) with an entry in journey time and an entry in increase.

• la figure 1 est une perspective générale d'un dispositif selon l'invention;
• la figure 2A est une vue en plan du pas de tir;
• la figure 2B est une coupe suivant le plan IIB-IIB de la figure 2A;
• la figure 2C est une coupe suivant le plan IIC-IIC de la figure 2A;
• la figure 3 est une vue en plan de la piste de tir;
• la figure 4A est une vue en élévation de la piste de tir, en position horizontale longitudinalement;
• la figure 4B est une vue en élévation de la piste de tir, avec une inclinaison longitudinale;
• les figures 5A, 5B, 5C et 5D sont des coupes transversales de la piste de tir, respectivement transversalement horizontale, inclinée vers la gauche, inclinée vers la droite, et à forte inclinaision vers la droite, pour récupérer les balles;
• la figure 6A est une vue en plan d'un trou escamotable;
• la figure 6B est une coupe suivant le plan VIB-VIB de la figure 6A;
• la figure 67A représente en élévation le fronton de tir, avec la natte de protection partiellement arrachée;
• la figure 7B représente, en coupe, un détail du fronton, lors de l'impact d'une balle;
• la figure 8 est un schéma de circuit pour la détermination des paramètres de tir;
• la figure 9 est un schéma mémorisé de l'espace vertical entre une marque de départ et un trou objectif, où se situe l'arrivée d'un tir;
• la figure 10 est un schéma de l'espace virtuel entre marque de départ et trou objectif, pour extraire les paramètres d'objectif pour un tir intermédiaire;
• la figure 11 est un example d'image synthétisée affichée sur le fronton tant que le trou objectif est dans l'espace virtuel.

Secondary characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge moreover from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a general perspective of a device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2A is a plan view of the launch pad;
• Figure 2B is a section along the plane IIB-IIB of Figure 2A;
• Figure 2C is a section along the plane IIC-IIC of Figure 2A;
• Figure 3 is a plan view of the shooting track;
• FIG. 4A is an elevation view of the shooting track, in a horizontal position longitudinally;
• FIG. 4B is an elevation view of the shooting track, with a longitudinal inclination;
• FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are cross sections of the shooting track, respectively transversely horizontal, inclined towards the left, inclined towards the right, and with strong inclination towards the right, to recover the bullets;
• Figure 6A is a plan view of a retractable hole;
• Figure 6B is a section along the plane VIB-VIB of Figure 6A;
• FIG. 67A shows in elevation the firing pediment, with the protective mat partially torn off;
• FIG. 7B represents, in section, a detail of the pediment, during the impact of a bullet;
• FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for determining the firing parameters;
• FIG. 9 is a memorized diagram of the vertical space between a starting mark and an objective hole, where the arrival of a shot is situated;
• FIG. 10 is a diagram of the virtual space between the starting mark and the objective hole, for extracting the objective parameters for an intermediate shot;
• Figure 11 is an example of a synthesized image displayed on the pediment as long as the objective hole is in virtual space.

According to the embodiment chosen and represented in FIG. 1, the device for simulating a golf course essentially comprises a shooting area 1 as a whole, with a shooting range 3, a roof 2 equipped with means for lighting the area of shooting (not shown) and of the track, a track 5 articulated with respect to the shooting area 1, by means of a flexible mat 14, this track comprising a plurality of retractable holes 6 distributed over the track to various distances from the launch pad 3, and a movable pediment 8 mounted to slide along the track 5 by means of a carriage sliding in rails.

Runway 5 is provided on its upper surface with a covering simulating short grass. It comprises, supported by articulated hangers 15, a protective net (not shown so as not to overload the figure) which forms the side wall and roof of a shooting corridor of rectangular section, open on the launch pad and closed to the 'other end by the pediment 8. The net is pressed by suitable means on the periphery of the pediment 8, for example by magnets cooperating with steel wires of the protective net. Thus the balls, launched from the shooting range, remain in the corridor.

The launch pad 3, represented in FIGS. 2A and 2B, comprises, in centered longitudinal alignment, four marks shooting start 32, 33, 34 and 35, respectively for the putting start 35, the so-called "tee" start 34, shown in more detail in FIG. 2E, the so-called "rough" start 33, and the start of " bunker "32. All these starting marks have in common, as will be described with reference to the departure from the" tee "34 in FIG. 2C, to be mounted on a plate 41 capable of taking two positions at 180 °, by maneuvering a motor 44. In a first position, the plate 41 comes flush with the ground of the launch pad 3, by a face provided with a coating simulating short grass. In a second position, the mark appears with its own characters: that is to say, for mark 35, a simulated short grass, for mark 34, a rod 42 offering a rest for the ball B, for the mark 33, a simulated tall grass, and for the brand 32, a depression simulating the sandboxes. All brands have a centered ball rest position, with a vertical channel directed downwards, and in the axis of the channel, a photoelectric cell 43. A light generator fixed to the roof 2 above the vertical channel sends a light beam towards the cell. As the ball B in the starting position blocks the entrance to the channel, the cell 43 is in the dark, and can thus emit a signal when the ball leaves its starting position under the impact of a club. The use of the starting signal will be explained later.

It will be understood that only one starting mark is unmasked for each shot, this starting mark being chosen to correspond to the nature of the ground from which the shooting is supposed to be carried out. This too will be explained in the description part relating to operation.

The launch pad 3 comprises, on either side of the alignment of the starting marks 32 to 35, two symmetrical panels 30 and 31 of dimensions such that a player can stand on one or the other of these panels 30 or 31 to hit his ball. The panel 30, to the left of the mark alignment, is intended for a right-handed player, while the panel 31, to the right, is intended for a left-handed player.

As can be seen better in FIG. 2B, the panels 30 and 31 can be inclined by a jack 36 whose rod 37 controls two connecting rods 38 and 39, that is, in an extreme position, in a downward slope towards the starting mark (representation in solid lines) or, in the other extreme position, rising up towards the mark. It will be understood that it is thus a question of simulating the accidents of the course field, which require an adjustment of position of the player to strike his ball.

We will now refer to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D to describe the track 5. It will be noted that the features which will be described relate essentially to the game of "putting", when the results of previous shots simulated the approach of the hole by the ball at a distance less than the length of the track.

The track 5 is connected to the launch pad by a flexible apron 14, in order to allow inclinations of the track relative to the launch pad. This track 5 is coated, as already mentioned, with a coating simulating a short grass (called, in technical golf language "green" or "fairway"). Retractable holes 6 are distributed on the track, and here, a hole referenced 7 is open to constitute the objective.

The track (FIGS. 4A and 4B) rests on a frame in the form of a lattice beam, with, at its rear end connected to the platform 13 of the launch pad 3, a ball joint. At the front end 16, are attached ropes capable of being wound on the barrel 14 of a winch, to lift this front end 16, and thus put the track 5 in an ascending slope towards its front end. Furthermore, as can be seen in FIGS. 5A to 5D, a jack 21 is coupled to a lateral edge of the track 5, and its elongation (FIGS. 5C and 5D) or its retraction (5B) communicates a transverse slope to the track 5. . The inclinations shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C correspond to shooting difficulties with respect to the position of FIG. 5A. Furthermore, the sharp inclination to the right, represented in FIG. 5D, corresponds to a ball return maneuver, which will first be sent, by this inclination, into the angle between the track 5 and the flange 20 which forms recovery gutter 9, to then be chased towards the rear end of track 5 and enter a bale dispensing tank 12, the outlet of which can be seen in FIG. 1 on the firing range 1.

It will be noted that the recovery gutter 9 is dotted with photoelectric cells 10; a signal appears on these cells 10 when the ball, returning to the rear part of track 5, masks them. This gives information on the distance reached by the ball.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the retractable hole comprises a fixing plate 60, in which a circular hole is made, corresponding in diameter to conventional golf holes. In this circular hole is accommodated a circular cap 61, lined with same coating as the track 5. The cover 61 is provided with a central rod 63, downwardly directed, and which is fixed on a slide 61a, parallel at the cover 61, provided with a hinge 61 b at one end and returned by a spring 66 at its other end.

The circular orifice which comes to close the cover 61, is extended downwards by a skirt 62 in the toric sector having as axis the axis of the hinge 61 b , with lights for the passage of the blade 61 a . At the base of the central rod 63 is harnessed a rope 64 coupled to the rod of a jack 65. It is understood that the retraction of the jack 65 will lower the cover 61, pivoting around the hinge 61 b substantially up to the lower edge of the toroidal skirt sector 62.

Note, towards the outside of the skirt 62, two eyelets 67 and 68 containing, one a light source, the other a photoelectric cell. Thus, when the hole 6 is opened by lowering the cover 61, the entry of a ball into the hole will result in an interruption of the optical path between the eyecups 67 and 68. By elsewhere, the release of the actuator 65 releases the cover 61 and the blade 61 a which is integral with it via the central rod 63. The spring 66 then recalls the pivoting assembly blade 61 has a cover 61, the latter coming flush with runway 5, expelling the ball that had entered hole 6.

The pediment 8, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, is made up of a rectangular frame closed by a stop panel 85. It comprises a first ply of vertical, equidistant wires 81 (1-16) bearing on the stop panel 85, and a second ply parallel to the first ply, consisting of equidistant horizontal wires 82 (1-16). These wires 82 (1-16) are stretched elastically so as to be close to the first ply 81, but without contact with it. In front of the two plies 81 and 82 is disposed a flexible mat 80, capable of absorbing the impact of bullets B. As can be seen in FIG. 7B, the impact of a ball B coming from the launch pad will cause the mat 80 towards the stop sign 85. Consequently, the wires 82 (n) and 82 (n + 1) of the ply 83 will be deformed by the mat 80, and the wire 82 (n) will come into contact of the wire 81 (m) of the sheet 81.

The wire bundles 81 (1-16) and 82 (1-16) lead to a matrix encoder 83 which will transmit an impact address signal m , n on an output 83 a , in correspondence with the point of impact on the pediment 8.

Note that it is possible to double the resolution of the pediment by assigning address components of the form m + 1/2 or n + 1/2 when two wires of index m and m + 1, or n and n +1 are in contact simultaneously at the time of impact.

It will also be noted that the stop panel 85 can constitute the screen of an image synthesizer, as will be explained below.

As already indicated above, the implementation of the golf course simulation device calls for two phases of shooting, for each stage of course of a starting mark at an objective hole, the first phase corresponding to long-range shots, or "swings", and the second to precision shots or "puttings". It was also pointed out that FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 5A-5D, 6A, 6B mainly concerned precision shots, executed at a distance less than the length of track 5.

Also, long-range shots must be simulated, and the outcome of the ball at the end of shooting reconstitutes in a virtual space, which begins, if we neglect at first the possibilities of longitudinal displacement of the pediment 8 , precisely beyond this pediment 8.

To locate the outcome of the ball trajectory, we will start by establishing shooting parameters which will essentially be an initial speed of the ball, a rising angle or angle in a vertical plane under which the ball leaves from the passing horizontal plane. by the origin of the trajectory, and a drift angle or angle in a horizontal plane whose trajectory at the origin deviates from the line of sight.

For these simulated long-distance shots, the pediment is brought to a known distance from the mark from which the ball leaves; the initial speed will be the quotient of the duration which will separate a starting signal emitted by a photocell 43, as described with reference to FIG. 2C, and the contact between the wires 81 m and 82 n , as described with reference to FIG. 7B . In addition, the index n of the ply yarn 82 in contact with the yarn 81 m , will be representative of the angle of increase, while the number m - 8, with m index of the ply yarn 81 in contact with a wire of the sheet 82 will be representative of the drift, the sign of this drift indicating whether the drift has occurred on the right or else on the left.

FIG. 8 schematically represents a circuit for determining the firing parameters and the sequence of the next shot.

There is a starting mark 3, where a ball B intercepts the light emitted by the source 40 in the direction of the photocell 43, and the matrix encoder 83 connected to the pediment 8. A computer circuit 121, equipped with a clock 120, receives on a first input 121 has the signal emitted by the photocell 43, and on a second input the signals emitted by the matrix encoder 83. The signal emitted by the photocell 43 triggers the counting of the clock pulses 120, while the signal of contact between two wires of the pediment 8, transmitted by the matrix encoder 83, stops this counting. The computer 121 then determines the initial speed, taking into account the real distance from the start mark to the pediment, and displays the initial speed value on the output 121 c . It also shows the tangent of the upward angle, deduced from the index n on the output 121 d , and the drift angle, deduced from the index m on the output 121 e .

The two signals of initial speed on exit 121 c and of tangent of the angle of increase on exit 121 d are applied jointly to a read only memory 122 organized in table of shooting, where are recorded ranges defined by a pair of values initial velocity and tangent of rising angle, taken in a double multiplicity of discrete values.

This firing table 122 was formed from a certain number of experimental values, by appropriate interpolation.

The range appears on the output 122 a , and is applied, together with the drift angle appearing on the output 121 e , to a trajectory outcome computer 123, which performs, as will be explained below, a transformation of polar coordinates defined from a pole located on the origin of the shot, coordinates and constituted by the range and the angle of drift, in polar coordinates defined from a pole located on the objective hole. This last pair of signals (distance and orientation of the trajectory end relative to the objective hole) is stored in 124 to initialize the computer 123 for the next shot, and is directed, by an output 125, to other control circuits.

Because, of course, the circuit shown in Figure 8 is integrated into a pilot's microcomputer programmed to define a series of hole steps, determine the advance of the ball in virtual space by the process mentioned above, determine the '' instant when the outcome of the shot corresponds to the entry of the objective hole into real space, open a hole 7 at the distance of the shooting step corresponding to the distance between the outcome of the previous shot and the objective hole, then determine, from the firing length measured using the cells 10 staggered along the track 5, when the tilting represented in FIG. 5E causes the balls to return to the reservoir-distributor 12, the hole 6 to be opened for the next shot, and so on until the ball is introduced into the objective hole, to start the next stage of the course. And of course, the microcomputer records and displays (11 FIG. 1) performances, in particular the number of shots that were necessary to complete the entire stage, as well as a totalization over all of the stages already accomplished.

FIG. 9 schematically represents the configuration of a field corresponding to a stage of journey from a pole 100 corresponding to the stage start mark (tee 34) to a goal 103, corresponding to the objective hole. This field comprises a plurality of cells such as 104, delimited laterally by two rays of a beam 101 (1-16) of angularly equidistant rays, and longitudinally by two arcs of a circle of a plurality 102 (1-27) of arcs of radii increasing in regular increments. It is easy to understand that the address of a cell 101 p , 102 q is defined by the angle of drift and the range of a supposed shot fired from the pole 100.

In fact, the microcomputer has a memory where data specific to each cell are recorded in as many address memory locations p , q , this particular data being the distance to the objective hole, the orientation of the polar radius (103-104), the type of terrain, ie "fairway" 105, either "bunker" 106, or "water" 107, or "rough" without contrary indications, and the transverse slope of the terrain, all these digitally coded data being usable, either to control the launch pad (choice of the mark among 32 to 35, inclination of the panels 30 and 31 where the player stands).

Each memory location contains information which makes it possible to recall, in a floppy type memory assigned to the field in progress, elements for forming an image to be sent to the image synthesizer arranged in conjunction with the pediment 8, this image reconstituting the aspect of the field centered on the objective hole, seen from cell 104 where the previous shot ended. We will see figure 11 such an image, with in the center the hole 113 and its flag, a "fairway" 114 and a "bunker" 116. Above the pediment screen 8 there is a range where appear, in alphanumeric representation, various information of interest to the player, in particular the distance from hole 103 and from the shooting start cell 104.

The previous comments with reference to FIG. 9 have so far considered only the first shot, from the "tee" 34. As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of arcs can be superimposed on the field represented in FIG. of circles 110, with increasing radii in equal increments (the same increments as for arcs 102 (1-27)), the position of the end point 104 of the previous shot is inserted between two arcs of circle 110 consecutive, to define the distance to take into account 10 ′ at point 100 for the next shot, we make a change of scale by a factor quotient of the distance 100-103 by the distance 103-104, then we rotate the field of the angle 104-103-100. So, for the next shot, the range and angle of drift will be corrected to take into account the change of scale and the pivoting of the field to determine the cell where this next shot ends up.

We can thus chain the shots until the objective hole is located in real space, where the course continues by successive opening of holes 6.

It will be noted that the calculations, carried out by microcomputer, have been mentioned here only to make the animation of the various material means perceived by the programmed control means, in an ordered process which makes the material means cooperate in an effective simulation. from a golf course, from the starting mark of the first stage to the last hole. But in themselves, these calculations are outside the scope of the invention, and their execution could be modified as long as they determine the simulation of the progression of the ball, by real successive shots, on the stage field between mark starting point and objective stage hole.

Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the examples described, but embraces all of the variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Claims (18)

1. A golf course simulator device comprising a series of holes (6) into which a player must direct a ball successively in corresponding stages, the ball progressing from a starting area (3) to the objective hole (109-113) by a sequence of strokes, the player playing all his strokes from the same origin (3) and the progress of the ball being simulated by a simultaneous displacement of the objective hole in accordance with the parameters of the preceding stroke, the device comprising a driving area (3), where the stroke start comprises a first ball detector (43), an elongate track (5) extending from the driving area (3) in a general driving direction, and a target (8) which closes the track (5) at its end opposite the driving area (3) and is equipped with a plurality of impact detectors (81, 82) distributed over its surface, characterized in that the track comprises a plurality of closable holes (6) associated with second ball detectors (67, 68), and a plurality of third ball detectors (10) staged nut over the length of the track (5) and adapted to determine the furthest position reached by the ball on the track (5) after a drive, the target (8) forming a separation between a real space between itself and the driving area and a virtual space beyond the barrier, the device also comprising control means including a computer (11) programmed:

a) to define the series of stages of holes, each corresponding to a field extending from the starting area (100) to the objective hole (103), said field being divided into an ordered plurality of contiguous cells (101, 102) and being stored in the computer in the form of a file comprising a plurality of blocks of items of information, each block being associated with one of the cells (101, 102) of said fiend and each containing data for identifying the associated cell in relation to the starting area (100) and in relation to the objective hole (103) of that particular stage;

b) to determine stroke parameters either from the conditions of impact on the target (8), or from the position of the ball on the track (5) after the stroke, in dependence on whether the objective hone (103, 7) for the cell in which the origin of the stroke simulated is situated in said virtual space (103) or in said real space (7) respectively;

c) to determine the cell (101, 102) of said field in which the ball is located after a stroke on the basis of the stroke parameters and of the cell reached after the preceding stroke;

d) to retrieve from said file objective parameters corresponding to the cell (101, 102) reached after the preceding stroke, said parameters conditioning the opening of a particular closable hole (7) on said track if said cell is situated in the real space; and

e) to record the end of a stage in response to the excitation of a second ball detector (67, 68) corresponding to the entry of the ball into the open hole (7).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an image synthesizer connected to said computer and adapted to display a synthetic image (113, 114, 116) on said target (8), each information block in the file associated with a cell (101, 102) of the field for which the objective hole (103) is situated in the virtual space comprising data on whose basis the synthesizer synthesizes a diagrammatic panoramic view of the stage field, as viewed from the associated cell (101, 102) looking in the direction of the objective hole (103).

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the information blocks of the file also comprise objective items of information which can be displayed in alphanumerical form on the target.

4. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the driving area (3) comprises a plurality of stroke start areas (32-35) which can be exposed individually and each of which has a configuration simulating a type of ground and is exposed in response to a specific item of data comprised in the information block associated with the stage field cell (101, 102) in which the ball is situated after the previous stroke.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first ball detector comprises a photoelectric element (43) associated with each stroke start area and disposed below an orifice adapted to support a ball (B), which thus cuts off an external illumination (40) for said photoelectric device (43).

6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the driving area (3) comprises at least one tiltable ground panel (30, 31) on which the player stands to play a stroke, the inclination being controlled in response to a specific item of data comprised in the information block associated with the stage fiend cell (101, 102) in which the ball is situated after the preceding stroke.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the driving area (3) comprises two tiltable ground panels (30, 31) in conjugate positions which are disposed on either side of a longitudinal axis passing through the stroke start area (32-35).

8. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the track comprises an inclination mechanism (14, 21) in accordance with commands received from the control means.

9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in that the track (5) can be tilted longitudinally.

10. A device according to either of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the track (5) can be tilted transversely.

11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the track (5) is adapted to be tilted transversely enough for a ball to run down the slope, a longitudinal gully (9) being provided which runs alongside the track to receive a ball after it has rolled down said transverse slope and which is adapted to return the received ball to the driving area (3) and is equipped with said third ball detectors (10) staged nut along said gully (9).

12. A device according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the plurality of closable holes (6) of the track are connected to a control device adapated to open one of the holes (7) to the exclusion of the others, in accordance with commands received from the control means.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that each hole comprises a toric tubular wail (62) whose axis is perpendicular to the surface of the track and a closure member (61) movable along said axis between a bottom open position and a top position flush with the track in which the hole is closed.

14. A device according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the target (8) comprises, in longitudinal succession from a vertical rigid stop panel (85) in the direction of the driving area, a first layer (81) of rectilinear parallel and regularly spaced-nut conductors bearing against the stop panel (85), a second layer (82) of rectilinear parallel and regularly spaced-nut conductors which is disposed parallel to the first layer (81) with a gap therebetween, the conductors of one layer (82) being horizontal, while the conductors of the other layer (81) are vertical, and a flexible mat (80) parallel with the stop panel and spaced out from the second layer, the distances between said mat and the second layer and the stop panel being such that the impact of a ball (B) on the mat (80) urges at least one conductor (82n) of the second layer into contact with at least one conductor (81m) of the first layer in line with the point of impact.

15. A device according to claim 14, characterized in that the conductors (81(1-16); 82(1-16)) of each of the layers are connected to corresponding inputs of a matrix encoder (83).

16. A device according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the computer (11) incorporates a clock (120) and is programmed to measure the duration of the flight of the ball (B) between a first signal delivered by the first ball detector (43) when the ball departs therefrom, and a second signal delivered by the target (8) in response to the contact oi a conductor of the second layer (82n) with a conductor of the first layer (81m), to assign an address (m, n) to the impact in accordance with the rank of the conductors in contact in the first and second layers, to define initial stroke parameters from the duration of flight measured and the address of the impact, and to work out final stroke parameters by consulting a stroke table (122).

17. A device according to any of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the target (8) can move longitudinally, so that it can be placed at choice at any of a number of predetermined distances from the driving area.

18. A device according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it comprises protective nets forming a corridor having top and side walls through which on ball can pass between the driving area (3) and the target (8).

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