US6093923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf driving range distancing apparatus and methods
Assignee: TV-ARISE LLC
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Filing: 1998-08-21
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Granted: 2000-07-25
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Expires: 2018-08-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention monitors the driving range and tracks golf balls from users at the driving range and informs those users of characteristics such as driving distance. A solid state camera images the range, and preferably one or more tee-off positions, and collects frames of image data to track a ball's motion through space. Simulation routines augment that track and assist in isolating the start location as well as where the ball lands, or would have landed had it not been obstructed (e.g., by a net). Preferably, the invention also determines the ball's position in 3-D to increase the accuracy. In one technique, two or more solid state cameras are used, and synchronized, to specify stereoscopic imaging. In another technique, the ball's energy or physical extent is used to determine an absolute distance between the camera and the ball. A computer at the club house monitors the entire system and further manages a network including an array of displays at the several tee off positions. The computer thus sends information such as distance to the several users via the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis A. Vock
- 👤 Kevin J. Grealish
- 👤 Robert D. Frey
- 👤 Dennis Darcy
- 👤 Joseph Bianco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:31
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B24/00; A63B24/0003; A63B24/0021; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3658; G; G01; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/12; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; A63B2024/0028; A63B2024/0031; A63B2024/0034; A63B2024/0037; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/05; A63B2220/80; A63B2220/805; A63B2220/806; A63B2220/807; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for tracking golf balls within a driving range, the driving range being of the type having a fairway for driving a golf ball therein and at least one tee-off position adjacent to the fairway, comprising: imaging at least a portion of the fairway onto a solid-state detector focal plane array with a plurality of detectors, the focal plane being constructed within a solid state camera; sequentially capturing, from the array, frames of data corresponding to an image of the fairway; detecting frame-to-frame movement of golf ball images through one or more detectors; determining distances between the camera and the golf ball; and tracking the golf ball motion to determine a distance traveled for the golf ball originating from the tee-off position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for tracking golf balls within a driving range, the driving range being of the type having a fairway for driving a golf ball therein and at least one tee-off position adjacent to the fairway, comprising: imaging at least a portion of the fairway onto a solid-state detector focal plane array with a plurality of detectors, the focal plane being constructed within a solid state camera; sequentially capturing, from the array, frames of data corresponding to an image of the fairway; detecting frame-to-frame movement of golf ball images through one or more detectors; determining distances between the camera and the golf ball; and tracking the golf ball motion to determine a distance traveled for the golf ball originating from the tee-off position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of informing a user at the tee-off position of the distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring reflected energy of the ball at the tee-off position, storing the energy, and determining a distance between the golf ball and the camera by determining the change of energy reflected by the ball during motion through the frames.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a distance between the camera and the ball by comparing the image of the golf ball to one or more detector elements.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
47 words
A method according to claims 1, further comprising the step of determining a distance between the ball and the camera and whether the distance is approximately equal to a distance between the camera and fairway ground, thereby determining whether the ball is airborne or on the ground.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of utilizing a plurality of solid state cameras to image the fairway so as to determine a three-dimensional position of the golf ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of utilizing the three-dimensional position to determine whether the ball is airborne or on the ground.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of utilizing the three-dimensional position to discriminate tracking between a plurality of golf ball motions through the frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of synchronizing the cameras in time so that golf ball images can be correlated between the cameras.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of imaging comprises imaging a plurality of tee-off positions, and further comprising the steps of determining origination points of each moving golf ball by curve-fitting golf ball motion along an arc and associating the origination points with one tee-off position, the arc being determined by discrete points representing golf ball detections through a plurality of frames.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a distance traveled beyond a fairway net by estimating golf ball motion along an arc, the arc being determined by discrete points representing golf ball detections through a plurality of frames.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a three-dimensional location of the ball and tracking golf ball motion to determine an angle of golf ball motion relative to the tee-off position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12, further comprising informing a user at the position of the angle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing user station mounted with the tee-off position to inform a user of information such as distance and slice angle of balls hit from the position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing information relative to a plurality of golf ball tracks from the tee-off position so as to compile statistical information for a user thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising mounting a camera housing the solid state focal plane onto a pole so as to image the fairway and the position from a selected altitude.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of detecting the golf ball within each frame, transmitting detect information to a computer connected to the focal plane, and utilizing a computer to track golf ball motion based upon the detect information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 17, further comprising transmitting distance information from the computer to a user at the position.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for tracking golf balls from a plurality of tee-off positions at a driving range, comprising: a camera having a solid state focal plane for imaging the range and the positions; signal processing means for capturing frames of data from the camera, for detecting golf balls moving through successive frames, and for determining distance between the camera and the balls; a computer connected to the camera for processing detect information and for determining, for each of the golf balls, a golf ball track and an associated tee-off position for the track; a plurality of user stations, each station being situated at a unique tee-off position and connected to the computer, the computer transmitting information about the golf ball track, in three dimensions, to the associated tee-off position; and a light source to facilitate determining distance between the camera and the golf balls.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for tracking golf balls from a plurality of tee-off positions at a driving range, comprising: a camera having a solid state focal plane for imaging the range and the positions; signal processing means for capturing frames of data from the camera, for detecting golf balls moving through successive frames, and for determining distance between the camera and the balls; a computer connected to the camera for processing detect information and for determining, for each of the golf balls, a golf ball track and an associated tee-off position for the track; a plurality of user stations, each station being situated at a unique tee-off position and connected to the computer, the computer transmitting information about the golf ball track, in three dimensions, to the associated tee-off position; and a light source to facilitate determining distance between the camera and the golf balls.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 19, wherein the light source comprises a laser.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for tracking golf balls from a plurality of tee-off positions at a driving range, comprising: a camera having a solid state focal plane for imaging the range and the positions; signal processing means for capturing frames of data from the camera, for detecting golf balls moving through successive frames, and for determining distance between the camera and the balls; a computer connected to the camera for processing detect information and for determining, for each of the golf balls, a golf ball track, a golf ball track and an associated tee-off position for the track; a plurality of user stations, each station being situated at a unique tee-off position and connected to the computer, the computer transmitting information about the golf ball track, in three dimensions, to the associated tee-off position; and means for displaying advertising information at the user stations.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for tracking golf balls from a plurality of tee-off positions at a driving range, comprising: a camera having a solid state focal plane for imaging the range and the positions; signal processing means for capturing frames of data from the camera, for detecting golf balls moving through successive frames, and for determining distance between the camera and the balls; a computer connected to the camera for processing detect information and for determining, for each of the golf balls, a golf ball track, a golf ball track and an associated tee-off position for the track; a plurality of user stations, each station being situated at a unique tee-off position and connected to the computer, the computer transmitting information about the golf ball track, in three dimensions, to the associated tee-off position; and means for displaying advertising information at the user stations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-25 | 2004-01-24 | 2004-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-25 | 2008-01-24 | 2008-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-25 | 2012-01-24 | 2012-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |