Golf game computing system

Claim 2

In a computer for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee from information relative to said trajectory provided by a data acquisition system, the combination of: means for receiving said trajectory information to compute the initial velocity of a golf ball and provide a signal whose magnitude is representative thereof; means for decaying the magnitude of said signal at a predetermined rate to provide a second signal whose magnitude is representative of the instantaneous velocity of a golf ball at any corresponding point in the theoretical time of flight of the golf ball; and means for utilizing said second signal to provide information relative to the theoretical free flight trajectory of the golf ball to a golfer.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said receiving means and said decaying means are comprised of electrical elements and said decaying means includes first and second resistive circuits each arranged to have said second signal applied thereto, said first circuit being continually conductive and said second circuit including means for sensing the magnitude of said second signal and for precluding said second circuit from conducting when the magnitude of said second signal drops below a predetermined level to effect a change in the rate of decay when the computed instantaneous velocity drops below a predetermined value.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said sensing and precluding means comprise diode means having a forward breakover voltage substantially equal to said predetermined level.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 further including means for receiving said trajectory information and said second signal to determine when the free flight trajectory of the golf ball would first bring the golf ball in contact with the ground, and means responsive to said determination by said determining means for causing said decaying means to increase said rate of decay until the theoretical flight of the ball has terminated.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said last named means include means responsive to said computing means to receive a signal whose magnitude is proportional to said initial velocity and for causing said decaying means to increase said rate of decay in a manner dependent upon said initial velocity.

Claim 7

A computer according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said trajectory information and said means for decaying the magnitude of said signal are operative to provide their respective signals as analog signals.

Claim 8

In a computer for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball, the combination of: means for acquiring data relative to the trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee; means for receiving said trajectory information to compute the initial velocity of a golf ball hit from a tee and for providing a signal having a characteristic representative thereof; means for decaying the characteristic of said signal at a predetermined rate providing a second signal having a characteristic representative of the instantaneous velocity of a golf ball at any corresponding point in the theoretical time of flight in the golf ball, means for increasing said rate in response to a change in magnitude of said second signal indicative of the instantaneous velocity of the golf ball falling below a predetermined level to effect a simulation of the change of the rate of decay when the instantaneous velocity of the golf ball in its theoretical flight is such that air flow about the golf ball would change to laminar flow; and means responsive to said second signal for indicating a characteristic of the theoretical free flight trajectory of the golf ball to a golfer.

Claim 9

In a computer for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball, the combination of: means for acquiring data relative to the trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee; means for receiving said trajectory information to compute the initial velocity of a golf ball hit from a tee and for providing a signal having a characteristic representative thereof; means for decaying the characteristic of said signal at a predetermined rate providing a second signal having a characteristic representative of the instantaneous velocity of a golf ball at any corresponding point in the theoretical time of flight in the golf ball, means for increasing said rate in response to a change in magnitude of said second signal indicative of the instantaneous velocity of the golf ball falling below a predetermined level to effect a simulation of the change of the rate of decay when the instantaneous velocity of the golf ball in its theoretical flight is such that air flow about the golf ball would change to laminar flow; and means responsive to said second signal for indicating a characteristic of the theoretical free flight trajectory of the golf ball to a golfer.

Claim 10

The computer according to claim 7 and further including bounce and/or roll signal generating means operative when the theoretical free flight of the trajectory of the golf ball bring the same into contact with the ground; and means operative simultaneously with said bounce and/or roll generating means for increasing said rate of decay to simulate increased resistance to movement of the ball due to contact with the ground.

Claim 11

In a computing system for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee, the combination comprising: a. means for acquiring data relative to the trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee; b. means for receiving said data and for computing the initial velocity of a golf ball hit from a Tee therefrom and for providing a first signal representative thereof; c. summing means for summing said first signal with a second signal and for providing a third, output signal representing the instantaneous velocity of the golf ball hit from the tee during its theoretical free flight trajectory; d. means for receiving said third signal and for providing a fourth signal representing the mathematical square of said third signal; e. means for receiving said fourth signal and for providing a fifth signal representing the negative of mathematical square of said output signal; f. means for receiving said fifth signal and for mathematically integrating the same to provide said second signal; and g. means for providing said second signal from said integrating means to said summing means.

Claim 12

In a computing system for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee, the combination comprising: a. means for acquiring data relative to the trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee; b. means for receiving said data and for computing the initial velocity of a golf ball hit from a Tee therefrom and for providing a first signal representative thereof; c. summing means for summing said first signal with a second signal and for providing a third, output signal representing the instantaneous velocity of the golf ball hit from the tee during its theoretical free flight trajectory; d. means for receiving said third signal and for providing a fourth signal representing the mathematical square of said third signal; e. means for receiving said fourth signal and for providing a fifth signal representing the negative of mathematical square of said output signal; f. means for receiving said fifth signal and for mathematically integrating the same to provide said second signal; and g. means for providing said second signal from said integrating means to said summing means.

Claim 13

A computing system according to claim 9 and further including means for diminishing one of said fourth, fifth and second signals in accordance with a preselected drag coefficient.

Claim 14

A computing system according to claim 10 wherein said diminishing means is operative to diminish one of said fourth, fifth and second signals at a first, relatively high rate when said second signal represents an instantaneous velocity of the golf ball of a magnitude such that air flow around a golf ball traveling at such a velocity would be in laminar flow, and means for diminishing one of said fourth, fifth and second signals at a second, relatively lesser rate when said second signal represents an instantaneous velocity of a golf ball of a magnitude such that air flow around a golf ball traveling at that velocity would not be in laminar flow.

Claim 15

In a golf game computing system for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee, the combination comprising: means for receiving data relative to the initial trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee and for utilizing the same to compute the initial velocity of a golf ball hit from the tee; and means for receiving initial velocity information from said first named means and for providing an output signal having a characteristic representative of the instantaneous velocity of a golf ball during its theoretical free flight trajectory according to the following relation: where: Vi is the computed instantaneous velocity of the golf ball, Vo is the computed initial velocity of the golf ball, and K1 is a drag coefficient.

Claim 16

In a golf game computing system for computing the theoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee, the combination comprising: means for receiving data relative to the initial trajectory of a golf ball hit from a tee and for utilizing the same to compute the initial velocity of a golf ball hit from the tee; and means for receiving initial velocity information from said first named means and for providing an output signal having a characteristic representative of the instantaneous velocity of a golf ball during its theoretical free flight trajectory according to the following relation: where: Vi is the computed instantaneous velocity of the golf ball, Vo is the computed initial velocity of the golf ball, and K1 is a drag coefficient.

Claim 17

A golf game computing system according to claim 12 further including means for altering the value of K1 according to the magnitude of Vi.