US5489099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for tracking the flight of a golf ball
Assignee: AccuSport International Inc
•
Filing: 1994-08-29
•
Granted: 1996-02-06
•
Expires: 2014-08-29
Abstract
Abstract The golf ball tracking apparatus has a video camera for producing data representative of video images of a golf ball, a video frame processor connected to receive data from the video camera for determining the golf ball image position within a video frame of the camera, a flight path predictor responsive to the video frame processor for predicting the flight path of the golf ball in response to data from the video frame processor, and a motion controller responsive to the flight path predictor for controlling the movement of the camera to thereby track the actual flight of the golf ball.
Inventors
- 👤 David B. Rankin
- 👤 Edgar P. Roberts, Jr.
- 👤 James W. Kluttz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:45
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B24/00; A63B24/0003; A63B24/0021; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3658; A63B2024/0028; A63B2024/0034; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/05; A63B2220/80; A63B2220/805; A63B2220/806; A63B2220/807; A63B2220/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for evaluating the complete flight path of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising: a video camera positioned for producing data representative of video images of a complete flight path of a golf ball; processing means connected to receive data from said video camera for determining a golf ball image position within a video frame of said camera; predicting means responsive to said video frame processing means for predicting the flight path of the golf ball; image control means responsive to said predicting means for adjusting the focal length of the camera lens and for focusing the camera lens on the golf ball; and determining means responsive to said predicting means for determining the actual flight path of the golf ball.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for evaluating the complete flight path of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising: a video camera positioned for producing data representative of video images of a complete flight path of a golf ball; processing means connected to receive data from said video camera for determining a golf ball image position within a video frame of said camera; predicting means responsive to said video frame processing means for predicting the flight path of the golf ball; image control means responsive to said predicting means for adjusting the focal length of the camera lens and for focusing the camera lens on the golf ball; and determining means responsive to said predicting means for determining the actual flight path of the golf ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image control means comprises a zoom lens controller and a focusing controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining means comprises: distance determining means for determining an actual distance of travel of the golf ball; and angular attitude determining means for determining an actual angular attitude of the golf ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for communicating actual flight path information to the golfer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said communication means comprises a display monitor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of tracking a golf ball during actual flight, comprising the steps of: producing data representative of a video image of a golf ball during actual flight by use of a video camera; predicting a flight path of the golf ball responsive to the data representative of the video image; and adjusting the predicted flight path in response to the actual flight path of the golf ball.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of tracking a golf ball during actual flight, comprising the steps of: producing data representative of a video image of a golf ball during actual flight by use of a video camera; predicting a flight path of the golf ball responsive to the data representative of the video image; and adjusting the predicted flight path in response to the actual flight path of the golf ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said producing a video image step comprises the steps of: locating the golf ball within a video frame; locating the center of the golf ball within the video frame; and determining the area of the ball in response to its location and center within the video frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said flight predicting step comprises the steps of: determining the velocity and acceleration of the golf ball; and predicting the location of where the ball should be in a subsequent video frame.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of evaluating of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising the steps of: producing data representative of a video image of a golf ball during actual flight by directing a video camera toward a struck golf ball; predicting a flight path of a golf ball responsive to the data representative of the video image; adjusting the predicted flight path in response to the actual flight path of the golf ball; and determining the actual flight path of the golf ball.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of evaluating of a golf ball during actual flight, comprising the steps of: producing data representative of a video image of a golf ball during actual flight by directing a video camera toward a struck golf ball; predicting a flight path of a golf ball responsive to the data representative of the video image; adjusting the predicted flight path in response to the actual flight path of the golf ball; and determining the actual flight path of the golf ball.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said producing a video image step comprises the steps of: locating the golf ball within a video frame; locating the center of the golf ball within the video frame; and determining the area of the ball in response to its location and center within the video frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said flight predicting step comprises the steps of: determining the velocity and acceleration of the golf ball; predicting the location of where the ball should be the next video frame; and generating a signal for moving the camera in response to the predicted location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of communicating the flight path of the golf ball to a golfer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3194562A
Cited
US3508440A
Cited
US4005261A
Cited
US4025718A
Cited
US4160942A
Cited
US4572512A
Cited
US4612575A
Cited
US4713686A
Cited
US4673183A
Cited
US4774589A
Cited
US4695891A
Cited
US4893182A
Cited
US4898388A
Cited
US5029866A
Cited
US5053876A
Cited
US4858922A
Cited
US5056791A
Cited
US5101268A
Cited
US5056068A
Cited
US5160839A
Cited
US5075776A
Cited
US5102140A
Cited
US5342051A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-05 | 1999-08-07 | 2000-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | 2004-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-05 | 2007-08-07 | 2008-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |