JPS60228982A - Apparatus for detecting golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to certainly detect the passage of a golf club, by providing a light sensor to a golf exercise stand and detecting the reflected light from the bottom surface of the golf club by a light detection element. CONSTITUTION:A light sensor 5 consisting of a light detection element 6 and a light emitting element 7 is attached to a golf exercise stand 1 so as to make an optical axis parallel to the bottom surface of said exercise stand 1. The light emitted from the light emitting element 7 is deflected to a vertical direction from a horizontal direction by a light deflection element 4 and, when a golf club 9 passes the part above said deflection element 4, the light is reflected toward a light passing aperture 3 by the metal part 11 of the bottom surface of the golf club 9 or the reflective plate 11' adhered to the bottom surface thereof and the reflected light in the vertical direction is deflected to the horizontal direction by the light deflection element 4 to reach the light detection element 6. Then, this optical signal is converted to an electric signal to detect the passage of the golf club 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention emits light by a light emitting element, and when a golf club passes, the light reflected by a metal part on the bottom of the club or a reflector attached to the bottom is detected by a photodetector. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a mounting structure for a sensor including a light emitting element and a photodetecting element for detecting the passage of a golf club.

Conventional Structures and Problems Some conventional golf practice machines and golf club detection devices use optical sensors that utilize reflected light to detect golf clubs. However, the optical sensor has a mounting structure in which the optical axis is vertical and is embedded in a golf practice table, which has the disadvantage that the surface of the optical sensor is easily scratched by clubs, foreign objects, etc. 1. Even if a cover is attached to the surface as a countermeasure, it is difficult to completely improve the same drawback, and if the optical sensor is installed below the surface of the golf practice table, there will be dust in the gap. However, there have been disadvantages in that dust and the like accumulate, making it impossible to detect them, and that it is difficult to remove the accumulated dust and dirt.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a golf club detection device that can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Structure of the Invention The present invention provides a golf practice table with a light passage hole penetrating from the top surface to the bottom surface, and attaches a light sensor consisting of a light emitting element and a light detection element to the side surface of the light passage hole. A light deflection element can be installed in the hole from the lateral direction, and has the function of deflecting horizontal light from the light emitting element in the vertical direction and deflecting vertically reflected light in the horizontal direction, allowing transmission and reception of optical signals. The golf club is characterized in that the golf club is detected by detecting reflected light from the bottom surface of the golf club with a photodetecting element.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a photodetector element 6 and a light emitting element 7
An optical sensor 5 consisting of the following is attached to the golf practice table 1 so that its optical axis is parallel to the bottom surface thereof. A shield plate 2 made of transparent glass or plastic is attached to the side of the light passage hole 3 so that there are no protrusions as shown in Figure 1, and the area where the optical sensor 6 is attached is sealed to prevent dirt, dust, etc. from entering. Make sure not to. Furthermore, a light leakage/closing plate 8 is attached between the photodetecting element 6 and the light emitting element 7 to prevent light from the light emitting element 7 from directly reaching the photodetecting element 6. Further, for mounting the light passage hole 3 and the optical sensor 5, a side hole 1o is provided perpendicularly to the part, and the light deflection element 4 is mounted in the side hole 1o from the outside. In this way, the 1n11 hole 10 is provided, and the optical deflection element 4 is attached to the side hole 1Q so as to be freely attachable and detachable from the outside. This makes it possible to secure a sufficient space above the top surface of the golf practice table 1 so that the surface of the optical deflection element 4, which is made of a mirror or a prism, will not be damaged by the impact or abrasion of a club or foreign object. Moreover, since the optical deflection element 4 is removable, when it is removed, dirt, dust, etc. accumulated inside the light passage hole 3 can be easily removed to the outside of the golf practice table 1, and the optical deflection element 4 can be removed. The surface of the element 4 can also be cleaned easily.

With the mounting structure described above, the light emitted from the light emitting element 7 is deflected from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction by the light deflection element 4, and when the golf club 9 passes above it, the light emitted from the light emitting element 7 is deflected by the metal part 11 on the bottom of the golf club or the golf club. Light is reflected toward the light passage hole 3 by the reflecting plate 11' attached to the bottom surface, and the reflected light in the vertical direction is deflected in the horizontal direction by the light deflection element 4Vc and reaches the photodetection element 6. This device converts this optical signal into an electrical signal and detects the passage of a golf club.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a golf club detection device that can reliably detect the passage of a golf club.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. 1 - Golf practice table, 2... Shield plate, 3 Light passage hole, 4 - Light deflection element, 5 - Optical sensor -, 6...
Photodetection element, 7...Light emitting element, 8 Light shielding plate, 9-
... Golf club, 10 ... Side hole, 11 ... Metal part of golf club, 11' ... Reflector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A light passing hole installed on a golf practice table, a light emitting element and a light detecting element installed adjacent to the side thereof,
A light deflection element installed in the light passage hole is provided, and a light signal from the light emitting element is transmitted to the outside from the light passage hole through the light deflection element, so that the bottom surface of the golf club when the golf club passes through the light deflection element is provided. A golf club detecting device having a function of detecting a golf club by receiving reflected light from the light passing hole through the light deflecting element and the light detecting element. (→ Side holes are installed in directions perpendicular to each other with respect to the light passing hole and the light emitting element and photodetecting element installed on the side thereof, so that the light deflection element can be installed in the light passing hole through the side hole. 2. The golf club detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical deflection element is detachably mounted.