JP2001027542A - Measuring and display device for distance in golf curse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a measuring and display device by which the precise distance to a putting green of every golf player can be displayed individually to every golf player in a golf course, by a method wherein a means by which information from a GPS is processed and by which the distance up to the putting green of every golf player is displayed is installed at a device which is carried by every golf player. SOLUTION: A master device (a GPS device) 20 which can process information from a GPS is installed at a cart which is used in a golf course. In addition, a GPS operation circuit 39 which receives information from the GPS is installed at a slave device 28 which is carried by every golf player. Since the master device 20 uses the GPS, it is constituted in such a way that the longitude, the latitude, the direction and the distance up a putting green of the master device 20 can be calculated. In the slave device 28, the value of the longitude, that of the latitude, that of the direction and that of the distance up to the master device 20 are subtracted from the value of the longitude, that of the latitude, that of the direction and that of the distance up to the putting green of the master device 20. As a result, the longitude, the latitude, the direction and the distance up to the putting green of the slave device 28 are found. In addition, the precise distance up to the putting green of the slave device 28 is found so as to be displayed on a display 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a measurement and display device at a golf course, and more particularly to a cart used at a golf course for displaying information from a satellite positioning system (hereinafter referred to as "GPS"). And a measurement display device in a golf course.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a measurement and display device of this kind, a GPS antenna and a base engine unit are provided in a control center provided in a clubhouse of a golf course, and a GPS antenna and a terminal unit are provided in each of a plurality of carts. There is known a device which is mounted and transmits information between a base engine unit and a terminal unit of each cart by radio or the like.

[0003] In such a measurement display device, the control center knows its exact position.
The GPS signal received by the base engine unit is transmitted to each cart. In each cart, an error included in the GPS signal from the base engine unit and the GPS signal received by the terminal unit of the cart is calculated by a difference method or the like. By performing the correction, the position of the cart can be accurately measured by eliminating the influence of an error included in the GPS signal.

[0004] When the position of each cart is accurately obtained in this way, the position of the green at the golf course is known, so the exact distance from each cart to the green is determined and displayed on the display of the cart. can do.
This allows each golf player to be informed of the distance to the green.

[0005]

However, in a golf course, each golf player does not always stay near the cart, but usually plays at a position at a certain distance from the cart. Then, there is a problem that what is displayed on the display of the cart is the distance from the cart to the green, which is different from the exact distance from each player to the green.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem and to enable a golfer to individually display an accurate distance from the player to the green at each golf course.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve this object, the present invention provides a device configured to be carried by a golf player, a device for processing information from a GPS, and a processing result based on the processing result by the processing device. Means for displaying the distance from the golf player to the green.

[0008] In this way, at the golf course, the exact distance from the player to the green can be individually displayed for each player. In addition, the present invention provides a parent machine capable of processing information from the GPS in a cart used at a golf course, and provides a child machine that can be carried by each golf player with a means for receiving information from the GPS, The master unit is configured to be able to calculate a longitude direction distance and a latitude direction distance from the master unit to the green by using GPS, and the slave unit includes information on longitude and latitude of the master unit, Means for calculating a longitude distance and a latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit based on a difference between the longitude and latitude information of the slave unit, and a longitude and latitude direction from the master unit to the green By subtracting the longitude and latitude distance values from the slave unit to the master unit from the distance value, the longitude and latitude distances from the slave unit to the green are obtained. It is obtained by such a means for determining and displaying the distance to the over down.

[0009] In this case, the child device does not directly calculate the distance to the green by using the GPS, but obtains the longitude and latitude information of the parent device and the information of the child device. Based on the difference between the longitude and latitude information, the distance in the longitude direction and the distance in the latitude direction from the slave unit to the master unit are calculated. The means is small and easy for the golf player to carry.

Specifically, the calculating means calculates the difference between the longitude and latitude information of the master unit and the longitude and latitude information of the slave unit, and calculates the difference value and the longitude and latitude of the obtained slave unit. Means for calculating the distance in the longitude direction and the distance in the latitude direction from the slave unit to the master unit from the distance per unit angle. In addition, it is preferable that the distance per unit angle in longitude and latitude is obtained in the master unit.

More specifically, the calculating means is means for obtaining a difference in second data between the longitude and latitude information of the master unit and the longitude and latitude information of the slave unit.
Means for calculating the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit from the difference value for the second and the distance per second for the longitude and the latitude. .

In addition, it is preferable that the distance per second in the longitude and the latitude is obtained in the master unit.

[0013]

FIG. 7 shows a golf course, 1 is a club house, 2 is an optional hole, and 3 is a green in the hole 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a plurality of players who hit the ball 5 for each player 4. One set 6 is constituted by these players 4. 7 is this set 6
Is a cart for

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of a control center 11 provided in the club house 1 or the like. In the control center 11, a GPS antenna 12 is connected to a base engine unit 13. 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a computer terminal for the center. A radio unit 15 is connected to the base engine unit 13. Reference numeral 16 denotes a microphone for voice communication, and reference numeral 17 denotes a speaker.

FIGS. 5A, 5B,... (N) show a schematic configuration of the GPS device 20 mounted on the cart 7 in FIG.
Each of the carts has the same equipment.
For example, in the GPS device 20 shown in FIG. 1A, 21 is a radio unit, and 22 is a microphone / speaker for wireless voice communication. Reference numeral 23 denotes a master unit to which a GPS antenna 24 is connected and a display 25 is provided. 26 is a speaker, a cart 7
It is used to convey audio information to surroundings. 27 is
It is a battery that functions as a power supply for the GPS device 20.

FIGS. 5A, 5B,..., (N) show a schematic configuration of the slave unit 28 carried by each player 4. Each cart 7
That is, each base unit 23 is provided with a number of slave units 28 corresponding to a plurality of players. Each slave unit 28 includes an antenna 29 for a wireless system and a simple display 30.
And Fig. 1 shows the GPS on the cart side shown in Fig. 5.
5 shows a block diagram of the configuration of the device 20 and each slave unit 28, and the same members as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals. GP
In the S device 20, the master unit 23 is configured by a CPU. The radio unit 21 is, in detail, a radio 3 for transmitting and receiving to and from the control center 11.
1 and a transmitter 32 for transmitting information to the slave unit 28. A memory 33 stores a map of a golf course and the like. 34 is a GPS operation circuit. In the slave unit 28, 35 is a CPU, 36 is a receiver,
37 is a battery. As shown in FIG.
A PS antenna 38 and a GPS operation circuit 39 are mounted.

FIG. 2 shows a base engine unit 13 of the control center 11 and a GPS device 20 of each cart 7.
And the signal flow between the slave units 28. Hereinafter, the operation of the system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The control center 11 receives a GPS signal 45 from a satellite. GPS of cart 7
The device 20 similarly receives the GPS signal 45 from the satellite, and the slave unit 28 similarly receives the GPS signal 45 from the satellite. These GPS signals 45, 45, 45 include a certain error. The GPS signal 45 received by the control center 11 is sent as a correction signal 46 to the GPS device 20 of the cart 7 by the radio unit 15. Then, since the exact position of the control center 11 is known, the GPS device 20 of the cart 7 uses the GPS signal 45 from the control center 11, that is, the correction signal 46, and the GPS signal 45 received by the GPS device 20. , The error contained in the GPS signal 45 is corrected by the difference method. As a result, the influence of an error included in the GPS signal 45 received by the GPS device 20 of the cart 7 is eliminated, and the position of the cart 7 is accurately measured by the GPS device 20.
Further, the distance to the green 3 is accurately calculated with reference to the map in the memory 33. The calculation result of the distance is displayed on the display 25 of the master unit 23.

Next, a description will be given of a system for measuring and displaying an accurate distance from the slave unit 28, that is, the player 4 to the green 3. In other words, as described above, in the cart 7, the distance from the cart 7 to the green 3 is displayed on the display 25. However, since each player 4 plays at a position somewhat away from the cart 7, this is displayed. The distance is strictly different from the distance from each player 4 to the green 3. Therefore, an accurate distance from each player 4 to the green 3 is determined as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the slave unit 28 also receives the GPS signal 45, but as described above, the GPS signal 45 contains some error. Therefore, as in the case of the master unit 23, the slave unit 28 also
The error can be corrected by the correction signal 53 from the GPS device 20 of the parent machine 23, that is, the cart 7, and the influence can be eliminated. As a result, the position of each child device 28, that is, the position of each player 4 can be accurately obtained.

In this case, each of the slave units 28 also has a memory for storing a map and the same arithmetic processing capacity as the CPU of the master unit 23, similarly to the GPS unit 20 of the master unit 23, ie, the cart 7. By providing a CPU, each slave unit 28
That is, the distance from each player 4 to the green 3 can be accurately obtained. However, in the slave unit 28 that is required to be small because it is portable, it is likely that the provision of the above-described memory and a CPU with high performance will result in a specification contrary to this requirement.

Therefore, in the present invention, an accurate distance from each slave unit 28, that is, the player 3 to the green 3 can be easily obtained by the following method.
That is, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the position of the cart 7 and the distance L1 from the cart 7 to the green 3 are:
It is determined exactly as described above. However, GPS signal 4
Since 5 is information on latitude and longitude, in order to calculate the distance to the green 3 based on the information, information on latitude and longitude must be converted into information on length.

More specifically, in FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents longitude (East in Japan) and the vertical axis represents latitude (North latitude in Japan), and a rectangular coordinate system consisting of such longitude and latitude is used. , Green 3 are represented by (Eg, Ng), and the coordinates of the cart 7 are represented by (Ec, Nc). As described above, the coordinates (Eg, Ng) of the green 3 are accurately known, and the coordinates (Ec, Nc) of the cart 7 can be accurately obtained by using the GPS device 20.

At this time, these coordinates (Eg, Ng),
As described above, (Ec, Nc) is represented by the longitude and the latitude, that is, “degree, minute, and second”. Therefore, to obtain the “distance” from the cart 7 to the green, the longitude, the latitude, and the Must be transformed into a coordinate system for distance. This conversion can be performed by a known method called a Mercator conversion, whereby a longitude distance E _L1 from the cart to the green and a latitude distance N _L1 are obtained, and the distance L1 from the cart to the green is L1 = √ (E _L1 ² + N _L1 ² ). This calculation is performed by the GPS device 2 of the cart 7.
This is performed by the base unit 23 of 0.

Next, a method for obtaining an accurate distance from each player, that is, the slave unit 28 to the green will be described. That is, when performing the Mercator transform described above,
In general, it is unavoidable that the amount of calculation increases. Therefore, the GPS signal 45 received by the slave unit 28, that is, the coordinates (Ep, N) related to the longitude and latitude of the player 4
If the data of p) is converted into distance information by the CPU 35 of the slave unit 28, the CPU 35 must be a full-fledged one having the capability in accordance with the distance, which is contrary to the above demand for miniaturization.

On the other hand, in the direction of the latitude on the earth, one second is about 30 m, and the distance from the cart 7 to the player 4 can take only this order of "second". Therefore, the GPS device 20 of the cart 7 uses “1” in the latitude and longitude directions at the position where the cart 7 exists.
Accurately calculate the distance per second. In addition, CP of slave unit 28
In U35, only the data of the "second" of the received GPS signal 45, i.e., the latitude information and the longitude information, including the required digits after the decimal point, and the GP
The difference from the data of the S device 20 is obtained. And the child device 28
By multiplying the value of the difference by the above-described distance per second in the CPU 35, the position of the cart 7 is used as a reference.
The position of the slave unit 28 can be obtained very easily in units of “length”.

More specifically, the position where the cart 7 exists is accurately determined by the GPS device 20 in the order of degrees, minutes, and seconds. Further, by the above-described Mercator transform, the position displayed in this time, minute, and second can be converted into a position on the coordinate system relating to the length. Further, the coordinates of a position separated from the position of the cart by "1 second" in the latitude direction or the longitude direction can be obtained by calculation in units of length. As a result, “1 second” in the latitude and longitude directions at the position where the cart 7 and the player 4 are present
The hit distances L _ES and L _NS can be accurately determined by the CPU 23.

Therefore, "1"
_Slave unit 2 only for distances L _ES and L _NS per second and “seconds” data including the required digits after the decimal point described above.
(Ep, Np), position (Ec, Nc) between 8 and cart 7
By multiplying the difference by the distance between the player 4 and the cart 7, a distance E _{LP in} the longitude direction and a distance N _{LP in the} latitude direction are obtained. That is, E _LP = (Ep−Ec) × L _ES N _LP = (Np−Nc) × L _NS This calculation can be easily performed by the CPU 35 of the slave unit 28.

[0028] Therefore, the distance N _L of the distance E _L and latitudinal longitude from the player 4 to the green 3, CP
In U35, it is determined by E _L = E _L1 −E _LP N _L = N _L1 −N _LP . And from player 4 green 3
Distance L to, in CPU 35, can be determined easily and accurately by ^{_{L = √ (E L 2 +}} N L 2). The obtained distance L is displayed on the display 30 of the slave unit 28.

At this time, the slave unit 28 only needs to perform simple addition and multiplication, and does not need to perform a complicated operation such as Mercator transform. Therefore, a small-sized CPU 35 having a low capacity is sufficient. In addition, since the child device 28 does not require a memory for storing map information or the like, the child device 28 can have a small-sized configuration excellent in portability. In the above description, only the data of “second” of the longitude information and the latitude information and the distances L _ES , L
_The calculation is performed using _NS, and this is the simplest, but is not limited to this. It is also possible to use data of “minutes” or the like as needed, and it is also possible to calculate based on a distance per predetermined angle other than “1 second”.

On the display 30 of the slave unit 28, not only the distance L from the player 4 to the green 3 as described above, but also various other information, which are displayed on the display 25 of the cart 7, The same thing can be displayed. For example, in FIG. 2, the own vehicle position signal 47 from each cart 7 is transmitted to the control center 11.
In the cart 7 of a certain set 6, data on the position of the cart of the immediately preceding set can be obtained, and from that data, the distance to the cart of the immediately preceding set can be obtained. At this time, if the cart in the immediately preceding set is not located at a sufficient distance, and the distance to the cart in the set is short, the GPS device 20 displays on the display 25 that driving is prohibited. With the child device 28
To send a driving prohibition signal 49. Each slave unit 28 similarly displays that fact on the display 30.

In the above description, the case where the distance to the immediately preceding cart is obtained in each cart 7 has been described. The control center 11 may calculate the distance to the cart and send a driving prohibition signal to the cart.

A signal 50 relating to weather information, that is, a signal 50 relating to information on rain, wind, fog, and especially lightning, is sent from the control center 11 to the device 20 of each cart 7.
The data is transferred from the device 20 to the child device 28. Therefore,
Each player 4 can know such information not only by the display 25 of the cart 7 but also by the display 30 of the child device 28. Also, a signal 51 such as a call to each player 4 and a message to each player 4 is provided.
Is also sent to each slave unit 28 via the cart 7 in the same manner. An emergency signal 52 can be sent from the cart 7 to the control center 11.

In the above description, the case where the distance from each player 4 to the green 3 is individually displayed on each child unit 28 using the GPS operation circuit 39 of the child unit 28 has been described. Or with this,
Distance L from cart 7 to green 3 by slave unit 28
1 may be displayed. That is, as described above, in the GPS device 20 of the cart 7, since the distance L1 from the cart 7 to the green 3 is obtained, data on the distance L1 may be displayed on the display 30 of the slave unit 28. it can.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a GPS device is provided in a device which is configured to be carried by a golf player.
And a means for displaying the distance from the golf player to the green based on the result of the processing by the processing means. The exact distance can be displayed individually.

According to the present invention, a master unit capable of processing information from the GPS is provided in a cart used at a golf course, and a child unit that can be carried by each golf player receives information from the GPS. Means, wherein the master unit is configured to be able to calculate the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the master unit to the green by using GPS, and the slave unit is provided with a longitude and a latitude for the master unit. Means for calculating the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit based on the difference between the information of the slave unit and the longitude and latitude information of the slave unit, and the longitude direction distance from the master unit to the green By subtracting the values of the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit from the values of the longitude and latitude direction, the longitude direction and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the green are obtained, In addition, a means for obtaining and displaying the distance from the child device to the green is provided, so that the child device does not directly calculate the distance to the green by using the GPS, Based on the difference between the longitude and latitude information and the longitude and latitude information of the slave, the longitudinal distance and the latitude distance from the slave to the master are calculated. The size of the calculation means can be reduced as compared with a method of directly calculating the distance by using the above, and the golf player can easily carry the distance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a measurement display device at a golf course according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of signal transmission in the device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a principle of measuring a distance in the device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a green, a cart, and a player in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the measurement display device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control center.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a golf course that can use the measurement display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 GPS device 23 Master unit 28 Slave unit 30 Display 35 CPU 38 GPS antenna 39 GPS operation circuit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 24, 2000 (200.3.2.
4)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

To achieve this object, the present invention provides a GPS
A golf cart can be provided with a parent machine capable of processing information from a golf course, and a child machine that can be carried by each golf player is provided with a means for receiving information from a GPS. Is used to calculate the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the master unit to the green, and the slave unit is configured to have the longitude and latitude information of the master unit and the longitude of the slave unit. Means for calculating the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit based on the difference between the information and the latitude information, and the values of the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the master unit to the green,
By subtracting the values of the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the master unit, the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the green are obtained, and the distance from the slave unit to the green is obtained. And means for displaying.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0009] In this way, not only can the golf course be able to individually display the exact distance from the player to the green at the golf course, but also the use of the GPS in the slave unit. Instead of calculating the distance to the green directly, the longitude from the child unit to the parent unit is calculated based on the difference between the longitude and latitude information about the parent unit and the longitude and latitude information about this child unit. Since the directional distance and the latitudinal distance are calculated, the calculation means is small in size as compared with a method of directly obtaining the distance using GPS, and the golf player is easy to carry.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0034

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0034]

【The invention's effect】

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0035

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As described above, according to the present invention, a parent machine capable of processing information from the GPS is provided in a cart used at a golf course, and a child machine that can be carried by each golf player is provided to the child machine. Providing means for receiving information,
The master unit is configured to be able to calculate a longitude direction distance and a latitude direction distance from the master unit to the green by using the GPS, and the slave unit includes information on longitude and latitude of the master unit and Means for calculating the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the master unit based on the difference between the longitude and latitude information about the slave unit, and the longitude and latitude distances from the master unit to the green By subtracting the values of the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the master unit from the value of, the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the green are obtained, and further, the distance from the slave unit to the green Means to display the exact distance from the player to the green at the golf course. Instead, in the slave unit, the distance to the green is not directly calculated by using GPS, but the difference between the longitude and latitude information of the master unit and the longitude and latitude information of the slave unit is used. In this case, the distance in the longitude direction and the distance in the latitude direction from the slave unit to the master unit are calculated on the basis of the above. And a golf player can easily carry it.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Jin Ozawa 1-36 Nishi-Awaji, Higashi-Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi AC18 AD02 AD04 9A001 BB02 BB03 BB04 CC05 EE02 GG04 JJ11 JJ18 JJ78 KK37 KK44 KK60 KZ19

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A device configured to be carried by a golf player, means for processing information from a satellite positioning system, and based on a processing result by the processing means.
Means for displaying a distance from the golf player to the green. A device for measuring and displaying a distance at a golf course. 2. A base unit capable of processing information from a satellite positioning system is provided in a cart used at a golf course, and a child unit that can be carried by each golf player receives information from the satellite positioning system. Means are provided, the master unit is configured to be able to calculate a longitude distance and a latitude distance from the master unit to the green by using a satellite positioning system, and the slave unit is configured to have a longitude of the master unit. Means for calculating the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the base unit based on the difference between the base unit and the green based on the difference between the base unit and the green based on the difference between the base unit and the green. By subtracting the longitude and latitude distance values from the slave unit to the parent unit from the longitude and latitude distance values, the longitude and latitude distances from the slave unit to the green are calculated. Countercurrent distance determined, further and means for determining and displaying the distance from the handset to the green, measurement display of distance in golf, characterized in that. 3. The calculating means includes means for calculating a difference between the longitude and latitude information of the master unit and the longitude and latitude information of the slave unit; 3. A distance measuring and displaying apparatus at a golf course according to claim 2, further comprising: means for calculating a longitude direction distance and a latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit from the distance per unit angle. 4. The apparatus for measuring and displaying a distance at a golf course according to claim 3, wherein the master unit has means for obtaining a distance per unit angle in longitude and latitude. 5. The calculating means includes means for calculating a difference in second data between the longitude and latitude information of the parent device and the longitude and latitude information of the child device, and a difference value for the determined second. 3. A golf course according to claim 2, further comprising: means for calculating a longitude direction distance and a latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit from the distance per second in longitude and latitude. Measurement display device in 6. The apparatus for measuring and displaying a distance at a golf course according to claim 5, wherein the master unit has means for obtaining a distance per second in longitude and latitude. 7. A master unit capable of processing information from a satellite positioning system is provided in a cart used at a golf course, and a child device that can be carried by each golf player receives information from the satellite positioning system. Means are provided, in the master unit, by using a satellite positioning system, the longitude distance and the latitude distance from this master unit to the green are calculated, and in the slave unit, the longitude and latitude of the master unit are calculated. Based on the difference between the information and the longitude and latitude information of this slave unit, the longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the master unit are calculated, and the longitude distance and the latitude from the master unit to the green are calculated. The longitude distance and the latitude distance from the slave unit to the green are obtained by subtracting the values of the longitude distance and the latitude direction distance from the slave unit to the master unit from the value of the direction distance. Further determining the distances from the slave unit to the green, the distance measuring method of displaying in golf courses, characterized in that.