US20110250981A1

US20110250981A1 - Sensing system for entering angle and space velocity and hitting point

Info

Publication number: US20110250981A1
Application number: US13/133,696
Authority: US
Inventors: Song Hwan Choi
Original assignee: RD TEK CO Ltd
Current assignee: RD-TEK Co Ltd; RD TEK CO Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-12
Filing date: 2009-12-11
Publication date: 2011-10-13
Also published as: CN102245269B; CN102245269A; WO2010068064A3; KR100920949B1; WO2010068064A2

Abstract

A sensing system for providing an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point to a golf simulation system is provided, in which a club head sensing part and a horizontal sensing part horizontal with a bottom surface are disposed at a position that the club head swung by a golf practicer is entered, so as to sense shadow information of the club head, thereby obtaining the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point of the club head.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a golf simulation system; and, more particularly, to a sensing system for an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point, which can sense a shadow of a club head when a user practices a golf swing in a golf simulation system and obtain an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point of the club head.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, an indoor golf practice range is a place for practicing a golf swing in order to make a player proficient in golf.
However, since the indoor golf practice range has different atmosphere and environment from an actual outdoor golf course, there is large difference between the indoor golf practice range and the outdoor golf course, and also as compared with the practice in the indoor golf practice range, it is difficult to obtain the desired result in the actual outdoor golf course.
To solve the above problems, there has been proposed a golf simulation system in which an environment similar to that in an actual outdoor golf course is provided at an indoor golf practice range so as to obtain an effect of hitting or putting a golf ball in the actual outdoor golf course.
As shown in FIG. 1, the golf simulation system includes a main computer 110 which executes a golf simulation program for providing an environment similar to an actual outdoor golf course, a projector 120 which is connected with the main computer 110 so as to project a virtual image corresponding to the environment in the actual outdoor golf course, a screen 130 which displays the virtual image projected from the projector 120, a sensing system which has a plurality of sensors for detecting a movement velocity, direction and trajectory of a club head, and a direction, velocity and launch angle of a ball when a golf practicer hits the ball, and a camera 150 which takes a picture of a swing motion of the golf practicer when hitting or putting the ball and then provides the pictures to the golf practicer.
In an operation of the golf simulation system as described above, the golf practicer chooses a golf club for hitting the ball and then hits or putts toward a screen the ball supplied by a ball supplying unit.
When the golf practicer hits or putts the ball, a sensing part having a plurality of optical sensors detects the club head swung by the golf practicer and the ball flown by the hitting, analyzes a swing result and then projects the ball on the screen connected with the main computer.
However, since the conventional golf simulation system as described above measures only the velocity, direction and launch angle of the ball flown by the hitting and calculates a flying trajectory of the ball, the flying trajectory of the ball may be partially inaccurate.
In case of a system of analyzing golf ball and head information using a laser and a four-axial optical sensor, in order to complement the above-mentioned problem, a trajectory of the club head is obtained by using the velocity, direction and launch angle of the ball and a sensing system that is proposed by the applicant and installed at a bottom surface, and then it is determined whether the trajectory of the club head is OutSide-InSide, InSide-InSide or InSide-OutSide, thereby increasing accuracy of the flying trajectory of the golf ball.
However, there is also a problem that it is not possible to directly measure a back spin of the ball. In other words, since the back spin is obtained by just reflecting the launch angle, the accuracy of the flying trajectory of the golf ball is deteriorated.
Further, in view of the fact that every golf practicer has to swing with optimal entering angle and velocity for each club in order to achieve an accurate swing, information of the entering angle and velocity of the club head is very important to the golf swing analysis. However, since the sensor cannot the information, the accuracy is deteriorated.
As shown in FIG. 2, in Korean Patent No.10-0753657 issued by the applicant of the present invention, there has been proposed a system of analyzing golf ball and head information, that includes a bottom sensing part 202 in which a plurality of optical sensors (not shown) are arranged straight at regular intervals in a bottom surface, and the bottom surface having the optical sensors is illuminated by light generated from a light source 240 so as to detect a shadow according to movement of the ball (not shown) or the golf club (not shown); and a vertical sensing part 204 which is inclinedlyinclinedlyvertically disposed on the bottom surface so as to receive light from a laser 250 faced therewith and detect a shadow generated when the ball and the club are passed through a laser surface 251; a controlling part (not shown) which measures a velocity, direction and trajectory of the club head and calculates a driving distance, pattern and direction of the ball so as to obtain final position coordinates of the ball in the space; and a displaying part 220 for displaying on a screen the position coordinates of the ball in the space, which is obtained by the controlling part, wherein vertical position coordinates, horizontal position coordinates and velocity of the ball in a space are obtained by using the shadow information detected by the bottom sensing part 202 and vertical sensing part 204, and the launch angle and direction of the ball is obtained by using the position coordinates of the ball.
Herein, the bottom sensing part 202 includes a first bottom sensing part 202 a in which the desired number of optical sensors are formed into the desired number of rows, a second bottom sensing part 202 b which is spaced apart from the first bottom sensing part 202 a and in which the desired number of optical sensors are formed into the desired number of rows, and a third bottom sensing part 202 c which is spaced apart from the second bottom sensing part 202 b and in which the desired number of optical sensors are formed into the desired number of rows.
According to the above-mentioned structure and shape, when the golf practicer swings the golf club and hits the ball, the shadow of the club head moved above the bottom surface is detected by the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c which are arranged, in turn, at regular intervals in a length direction of the bottom surface.
Herein, the shadow of the club head is generated by a light source positioned at an upper side of the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c.
If each of the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c detects the shadow of the club head passing through the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c, the velocity and moving coordinates of the club head is obtained by using a time difference of the club head detected by each of the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c.
And the trajectory and velocity of the club head with respect to the bottom surface is obtained by using the shadow information of the club head detected by the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c.
Further, it can be also determined whether the trajectory of the club head passing through the first, second and third bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c is OutSide-InSide, InSide-InSide or InSide-OutSide.
Meanwhile, the vertical sensing part 204 which is inclinedlyinclinedlyvertically disposed with respect to a vertical surface receives the light from the laser 250 positioned at a rear side of the vertical sensing part 204, detects the shadow generated when the club head is passed through the laser surface 251, and then analyzes the golf ball and the club head using the detected shadow information.
The launch angle and space velocity of the golf ball can be measured by using the shadow information of the golf ball and the club head detected by the vertical sensing part 204, thereby improving the accuracy of the driving distance and the accuracy of flaying simulation of the golf ball.
As described above, the plurality of bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c are arrange at regular intervals in the bottom surface and the inclined vertical sensing part 204 is provided, such that the shadows of the golf head and the golf ball, that are formed by the laser 250 and the light generated from the light source, are detected by the bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c and the vertical sensing part 204. The trajectory and velocity of the golf ball and the golf club are calculated by these processes.
The shadow information detected by the bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c and the vertical sensing part 204 is transferred to the controlling part, and the controlling part obtains the velocity, direction, launch angle and driving distance of the golf ball and the trajectory and velocity of the golf club using the shadow information. In other words, the controlling part analyzes digital values according to the shadow information that is continuously input from the bottom sensing parts 202 a, 202 b and 202 c and digital values according to the shadow information that is continuously input from the vertical sensing part 204, thereby obtaining the velocity, direction, launch angle and driving distance of the golf ball and the trajectory and velocity of the golf club.
Meanwhile, in the above sensing system as described above, it is facile to sense the golf ball and the golf club and thus detect the information such as velocity of the golf ball, prospective driving distance of the golf ball, impulse of the golf head, accuracy of the swing angle of the club head, and inclination of the hit ball to one side, but it is different to precisely sense the entering angle of the club head for hitting the ball, the space velocity and the hitting point and the like.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a sensing system for providing an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point to a golf simulation system, in which a club head sensing part and a horizontal sensing part horizontal with a bottom surface are disposed at a position that the club head swung by a golf practicer is entered, so as to sense shadow information of the club head, thereby obtaining the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point of the club head.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point of the club head to the golf practicer, thereby providing information of the swing direction and entering direction of the club head, and the hitting point of the golf ball hit by the club head.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a degree of back spin applied to the golf ball through the sensed and obtained entering angle and space velocity of the club head and the hitting point of the golf ball.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

To achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention provides a sensing system for an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point, that comprises a bottom sensing part 10 having first, second and third bottom sensing part 11, 12 and 13 which are disposed to be spaced apart at regular intervals in a length direction of a bottom surface and in which a plurality of optical sensors 11 a, 12 a and 13 a are arranged straight in a width direction so as to receive light from a light source and sense a shadow of a golf ball and a club head; a vertical sensing part 20 which is inclinedlyinclinedlyvertically disposed at one side of the third bottom sensing part 13 of the bottom sensing part 10 in a vertical direction so as to sense the shadow of the golf ball and the club head passing through a laser surface formed by receiving laser from a vertical layerlaser emitting unit opposed to the vertical sensing part 20; and a controlling part for obtaining position coordinates of the golf ball in a space using shadow information of the golf ball and the club head sensed by the bottom sensing part 10 and the vertical sensing part 20, including an entering sensing part 50 which is vertically disposed at one side of the first bottom sensing part 11 that the club head swung by a golf practicer is entered, and also which is inclined to be symmetrical with the vertical sensing part 20; and a horizontal sensing part 70 which is disposed at a lower side of the entering sensing part 50 to be horizontal with the bottom surface of a swing plate 3, wherein the controlling part obtains the entering angle of the club head using the shadow information of the club head sensed by the entering sensing part 50 and the horizontal sensing part 70, and also obtains the hitting point of the club head using the shadow information of the club head sensed by the horizontal sensing part 70.
Preferably, the entering sensing part 50 receives laser from a layerlaser emitting unit 90 a opposed to the entering sensing part 50 so as to sense a shadow of the club head passing through a laser surface 53 formed between the layerlaser emitting unit 90 a and the entering sensing part 50.
Preferably, the horizontal sensing part 70 receives laser from a layer laser emitting unit 90 b opposed to the horizontal sensing part 70 so as to sense a shadow of the club head passing through a laser surface 73 formed between the layerlaser emitting unit 90 b and the horizontal sensing part 70.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

As described above, the present invention senses the entering angle, space velocity and hitting point of the club head swung by the golf practicer in the golf simulation system and provides information such as the swing and entering direction of the club head and the hitting point of the golf ball hit by the club head.
Further, the present invention displays the swing and entering direction of the club head and the hitting point of the golf ball hit by the club head on the screen so as to show them to the golf practicer, thereby providing the analyzed results of the golf ball hit by the club head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a general golf simulation system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventional system of analyzing golf ball and head information.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state that a sensing system for an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point is installed at the golf simulation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the state that the sensing system for the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point is installed at the golf simulation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing an operation process of the sensing system for the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS

3: swing plate 11: bottom sensing part
11: first bottom sensing part 11 a: optical sensor
12: second bottom sensing part 12 a: optical sensor
13: third bottom sensing part 13 a: optical sensor
20: vertical sensing part
50: entering sensing part 53: laser surface
70: horizontal sensing part 73: laser surface

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

The advantages, features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which is set forth hereinafter.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state that a sensing system for an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point is installed at the golf simulation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the state that the sensing system for the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point is installed at the golf simulation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing an operation process of the sensing system for the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the drawings, a sensing system for providing a velocity and trajectory of a club head, and a velocity, direction and launch angle of a golf ball hit in the golf simulation system of the present invention includes a bottom sensing part 10, a vertical sensing part 20 and a controlling part (not shown). The sensing system is applied to a general golf simulation system.
The bottom sensing part 10 includes a first bottom sensing part 11, a second bottom sensing part 12 and a third bottom sensing part 13 which are respectively disposed in a bottom surface for hitting a golf ball so as to be spaced apart at regular intervals in a length direction, respectively, and in which a plurality of optical sensors 11 a, 12 a and 13 a are arranged straight in a width direction.
The first, second and third bottom sensing parts 11, 12 and 13 respectively receive light from a light source so as to sense a shadow according to movement of a golf ball (not shown) and a golf club (not shown).
The first, second and third bottom sensing parts 11, 12 and 13 are arranged in turn from a direction that a club head of the golf club swung by a golf practicer is entered. In other words, the club head swung by the golf practicer is entered to an upper side of the first bottom sensing part 11, and passed through upper sides of the second and third bottom sensing parts 12 and 13, and then gone out of a swing plate (main body).
The vertical sensing part 20 is vertically disposed at one side of the first bottom sensing part 13 of the bottom sensing part 10 so as to be inclined to one side.
Herein, the vertical sensing part 20 receives laser from a vertical laser emitting unit (not shown) that is opposed to the vertical sensing part 20, and thus a laser surface (not shown) is formed between the vertical laser emitting unit and the vertical sensing part 20.
When the golf ball and the club head are passed through the laser surface formed between the vertical laser emitting unit and the vertical sensing part 20, the shadow of the golf ball and the club head is sensed by the vertical sensing part 20.
The controlling part obtains the velocity and position coordinates of the golf ball in a space using the shadow information of the golf ball and the club head sensed by the bottom sensing part 10 and the vertical sensing part 20.
The golf simulation system further includes a sensing system for an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point of the club head.
In other words, an entering sensing part 50 is vertically disposed at one side of the first bottom sensing part 11 that the club head is entered when the golf practicer swings the golf club, and a horizontal sensing part 70 is horizontally disposed at a lower side of the entering sensing part 50 in a length direction of the bottom surface of the swing plate 3.
At this time, the entering sensing part 50 is inclinedly disposed to be symmetrical with the vertical sensing part 20.
Meanwhile, the entering sensing part 50 receives laser from a laser emitting unit 90 a that is opposed to the entering sensing part 50, and thus, a laser surface 53 is formed between the entering sensing part 50 and the laser emitting unit 90 a.
The horizontal sensing part 70 receives laser from a laser emitting unit 90 b that is opposed to the horizontal sensing part 70, and thus, a laser surface 73 is formed between the horizontal sensing part 70 and the laser emitting unit 90 b.
The shadow of the club head is sensed by the laser surfaces 53 and 73 formed between the entering sensing part 50 and the laser emitting unit 90 a and between the horizontal sensing part 70 and the laser emitting unit 90 b.
As described above, the shadow information of the club head sensed by the entering sensing part 50 and the horizontal sensing part 70 is transferred to the controlling part. The controlling part obtains the entering angle, the space velocity and the hitting point of the club head using the shadow information.
In other words, it is possible to obtain the entering angle of the club head when the club head swung by the golf practicer is passed in turn through the entering sensing part 50 and the horizontal sensing part 70, and it is possible to obtain the space velocity of the club head using a time difference of the club head that is passed through the entering sensing part 50 and the horizontal sensing part 70, and it is possible to obtain the hitting point of the golf ball by the horizontal sensing part 70.
Preferably, the entering sensing part 50 has an inclined angle which is facile to increase a sensing surface area for sensing the entering and moving club head according to the swing of the golf practicer.
Further, preferably, a position of the horizontal sensing part 70 is not limited to the lower side of the entering sensing part 50.
Herein, a method of obtaining the velocity, direction and launch angle of the golf ball and the moving velocity and trajectory of the club using the shadow information sensed by the bottom sensing part and the vertical sensing part of the sensing system of providing the velocity and trajectory of the club head, and the velocity, direction and launch angle of the golf ball hit in the golf simulation system of the present invention is the same as that described in Korean Patent No. 10-0753657 issued by the applicant of the present invention.
The entering angle, space velocity and hitting point of the club head obtained by the controlling part are transferred to a displaying part (not shown), and values of the entering angle, space velocity and hitting point of the club head swung by the golf practicer are displayed on a screen. Furthermore, the entering angle, space velocity and hitting point of the club head obtained by the controlling part may be output through a data outputting unit (not shown).
While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A sensing system for an entering angle, a space velocity and a hitting point, that comprises a bottom sensing part having first, second and third bottom sensing parts which are disposed to be spaced apart at regular intervals in a length direction of a bottom surface and in which a plurality of optical sensors are arranged straight in a width direction so as to receive light from a light source and sense a shadow of a golf ball and a club head; a vertical sensing part which is inclinedly inclinedly disposed at one side of the third bottom sensing part of the bottom sensing part in a vertical direction so as to sense the shadow of the golf ball and the club head passing through a laser surface formed by receiving laser from a vertical layerlaser emitting unit opposed to the vertical sensing part; and a controlling part for obtaining position coordinates of the golf ball in a space using shadow information of the golf ball and the club head sensed by the bottom sensing part and the vertical sensing part, comprising:

an entering sensing part which is vertically disposed at one side of the first bottom sensing part 11 that the club head swung by a golf practicer is entered, and also which is inclined to be symmetrical with the vertical sensing part; and

a horizontal sensing part which is disposed at a lower side of the entering sensing part to be horizontal with the bottom surface of a swing plate,

wherein the controlling part obtains the entering angle of the club head using the shadow information of the club head sensed by the entering sensing part and the horizontal sensing part, and also obtains the hitting point of the club head using the shadow information of the club head sensed by the horizontal sensing part.

2. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the entering sensing part receiuves laser from a layerlaser emitting unit opposed to the entering sensing part so as to sense a shadow of the club head passing through a laser surface formed between the layerlaser emitting unit and the entering sensing part.

3. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal sensing part receives laser from a layerlaser emitting unit opposed to the horizontal sensing part so as to sense a shadow of the club head passing through a laser surface formed between the layerlaser emitting unit 90 b and the horizontal sensing part.