Hybrid golf system and control method thereof

Abstract

An aim of the invention is to provide a hybrid golf system and a control method for the same that allow a plurality of users to proceed with virtual golf followed by field golf inside a hybrid golf facility. This enables golf play without being affected by the surrounding temperature or weather. Additionally, the present invention aims to effectively deliver ball positions and corresponding information of all users when proceeding with field golf within the hybrid golf facility.

Description

Hybrid golf system and its control method

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid golf system and a control method thereof, which combines virtual golf, in which golf play is performed based on a virtual golf course image, like so-called screen golf, and field golf, in which golf play is performed in the same manner as playing golf on an actual golf course, so that some of the golf play in one hole is performed in the virtual golf manner and the rest is performed in the field golf manner.

[0002] As the number of golfers has increased recently, so-called screen golf systems have emerged that allow users to practice golf and enjoy virtual golf rounds using a virtual golf simulation system.

[0003] This type of screen golf system installs a screen that can display a virtual golf course indoors, and when a golfer hits a golf ball toward the screen, it detects the speed and direction of the golf ball and displays the progress of the golf ball on the screen. This system is making technological advancements in order to provide users with a realistic experience of playing a round of golf on a real golf course, going beyond the level of simply enjoying a golf game indoors.

[0004] Conventional screen golf systems have limitations in providing users with the same level of realism as playing a round of golf on an actual golf course, as they only simulate a virtual golf course and the ball trajectory on that virtual golf course through a screen installed in front of the user hitting the ball.

[0005] To overcome these limitations, a so-called hybrid golf system has emerged that goes beyond the conventional screen golf system and provides the same level of realism as playing a round of golf on an actual golf course, while also being able to be implemented in a much smaller space than an actual golf course.

[0006] The hybrid golf system is a system that combines an actual field where actual golf play can be performed and a screen golf system. It is a system that allows part of the golf play on a single hole to be performed on a virtual golf course implemented in the screen golf system, and the remaining play to be performed by actual golf play on an actual field.

[0007] For example, in the case of a par 4 hole, the tee shot and second shot are played through a virtual golf simulation on a virtual golf course using a screen golf system, and the third shot and putting are played in the same way as if the user were playing on an actual golf course by moving to an actual field.

[0008] However, since this type of hybrid golf system is played on an indoor screen golf system and an outdoor field, there is a problem that it is difficult to play in cold, hot, rainy, or snowy weather conditions, especially when playing on the field.

[0009] In addition, the most important thing in a hybrid golf system is to accurately designate the position of the user's virtual ball on the virtual golf course when playing golf in a screen golf system, that is, the position of the ball on the actual field corresponding to the position of the ball on the virtual golf course, so that the user can make a golf shot from the corresponding ball position on the field.

[0010] In the past, laser pointers were mainly used to designate the ball position on the actual field corresponding to the ball position on the virtual golf course.

[0011] That is, a laser pointer installed around the actual field illuminates the ball position on the actual field corresponding to the user's ball position on the virtual golf course and displays the location. The user places his or her golf ball at the location indicated by the laser pointer and takes a shot.

[0012] However, this method of using a laser pointer to designate the ball position has several problems, such as a reduced sense of realism and the inability to confirm the ball positions of all users on the actual green.

[0013] Prior art documents related to the present invention include Korean Patent Publication No. 2013-0030536, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1194268, Korean Patent Publication No. 2012-0036155, and Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1868584.

[0014] The present invention provides a hybrid golf system and a control method thereof that enable multiple users to play virtual golf and subsequent field golf inside a hybrid golf booth, thereby enabling golf play without being affected by the surrounding temperature or weather, and effectively transmitting ball positions and corresponding information of all users to the users when playing field golf inside a hybrid golf booth.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a hybrid golf system comprises: a hybrid golf course in which a plurality of users play hybrid golf by combining virtual golf and field golf in a predetermined space; a virtual golf device provided on one side of the hybrid golf course and projecting an image of a virtual golf course onto a screen, and performing a simulation of a ball moving as each of the plurality of users makes a golf shot on the screen, thereby performing the virtual golf; a field golf area including a green area provided on the other side of the hybrid golf course and configured to perform field golf following the virtual golf performed by the plurality of users through the virtual golf device; and a green projector installed inside the hybrid golf course and projecting an image onto the field golf area in conjunction with the virtual golf device.

[0016] In addition, it is characterized by further including a control unit that determines whether to switch from the virtual golf to the field golf, and in case of switching to the field golf, allows the play status of the virtual golf performed in the virtual golf device to be projected as an image on the field golf area through the green projector so that the plurality of users can play in the field golf area following the virtual golf.

[0017] Also preferably, when switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, the hybrid golf course further includes a control unit that allows the play status of the virtual golf performed on the virtual golf device to be projected as an image on the field golf area through the green projector, and a shot monitoring device that is installed inside the hybrid golf course and monitors the user's shot on the field golf area as the field golf progresses, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit information on the play status of each of the plurality of users from the virtual golf device to the green projector according to the shot order on the field golf area so as to be projected on the field golf area by the green projector, and when a shot of one user is performed according to a detection result of the shot monitoring device, the image projection by the green projector is stopped, and after the shot of the one user is performed, information on the play status of the next user is controlled so as to be image-projected by the green projector.

[0018] In addition, preferably, when the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users are on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen, after switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, the present invention further comprises a control unit that controls the green projector to project an image of the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users on the virtual green from the virtual golf device onto the green area.

[0019] In addition, preferably, it further includes a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, and when the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users are on the virtual green on the virtual golf course projected on the screen, an image of the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green is transmitted from the virtual golf device to the green projector according to a judgment of the control unit, and the green projector is configured to scale the images of the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users to fit the size of the green area and project them onto the green area.

[0020] Also preferably, the virtual golf device transmits an image formed so that a plurality of virtual balls placed on the virtual green are visually distinguished from each other to the green projector, and each of the plurality of users can identify their own virtual ball based on the visual distinction of the plurality of virtual balls projected on the green area by the green projector, and can play golf on the green area from the position of each of their own virtual balls.

[0021] In addition, preferably, it further includes a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, wherein the control unit recognizes the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf when the virtual ball of each of the plurality of users is on the virtual green on the virtual golf course projected on the screen, and in a play state of the virtual golf performed on the virtual golf device, an image guiding the play of each user on the green area according to the shot order is projected onto the green area by the green projector.

[0022] In addition, preferably, the hybrid golf course further includes a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, and a shot monitoring device installed inside the hybrid golf course for monitoring the user's shot on the green area as the field golf progresses, wherein the control unit recognizes the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf, and guides the position of the ball of the user by causing the virtual ball image of the user whose turn it is to take a shot on the green area to be projected by the green projector on the green area according to the shot order, and when the user takes a shot according to detection by the shot monitoring device, the image projection by the green projector is stopped, and when the shot of the user is completed according to detection by the shot monitoring device, the virtual ball image of the user whose turn it is to take the next shot is caused to be projected by the green projector on the green area to guide the position of the ball of the user, so that each user can play golf on the green area from the position of his / her virtual ball.

[0023] In addition, preferably, it further includes a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, wherein the control unit recognizes the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf, and recognizes position information of the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green from the virtual golf device, so that an image including a virtual ball image of a user whose turn it is to shoot on the green area according to the shot order and ball marker images formed at the respective virtual ball positions of the remaining users other than the user whose turn it is to shoot is projected onto the green area by the green projector.

[0024] Meanwhile, a hybrid golf system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes: a hybrid golf course in which a hybrid golf play combining virtual golf and field golf is performed by a plurality of users in a predetermined space; a virtual golf device provided on one side of the hybrid golf course and projecting an image of a virtual golf course on a screen while each of the plurality of users makes a golf shot on the screen, thereby performing a simulation of a ball moving, thereby performing the virtual golf; a field golf area provided on the other side of the hybrid golf course and provided for the plurality of users to perform the field golf following the virtual golf played through the virtual golf device, the field golf area including a green area; an optical pointing device including a plurality of optical pointers that irradiate light onto the green area to indicate a ball position; and a control unit that, after switching from the virtual golf played using the virtual golf device to the field golf played in the field golf area, matches each of the plurality of users with each of the plurality of optical pointers so that each matched optical pointer irradiates light onto a position on the field golf area corresponding to a ball position in the virtual golf of each of the users, thereby controlling the ball position to be indicated.

[0025] Also preferably, the control unit recognizes the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the field golf area following the virtual golf, and causes an optical pointer matched to the user whose turn it is to take a shot to irradiate light to a position on the field golf area corresponding to the ball position in the virtual golf of the user whose turn it is to take a shot according to the recognized shot order, thereby indicating the ball position.

[0026] Meanwhile, a control method of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a control method of a hybrid golf system that allows a plurality of users to play hybrid golf, which combines virtual golf and field golf, in a space inside a hybrid golf course, the method comprising: a step of projecting an image of a virtual golf course onto a screen by a virtual golf device provided on one side inside the hybrid golf course, and performing a simulation of a ball moving as each of the plurality of users makes a golf shot on the screen, thereby performing the virtual golf; a step of switching from the virtual golf to the field golf played by the plurality of users in a field golf area including a green area provided on the other side inside the hybrid golf course; and a step of allowing a play state of the virtual golf played by the virtual golf device to be projected as an image onto the field golf area by a green projector installed inside the hybrid golf course and linking with the virtual golf device to project an image onto the field golf area, thereby allowing the plurality of users to play in the field golf area following the virtual golf.

[0027] Also preferably, the step of enabling play in the field golf area is characterized by including a step of transmitting an image formed so that the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen are visually distinguishable from each other from the virtual golf device to the green projector, and a step of the green projector scaling the transmitted image to fit the size of the green area of ​​the field golf area and projecting it onto the green area.

[0028] Also preferably, the step of allowing play to proceed in the field golf area is characterized by including: a step of projecting a virtual ball image of a user whose turn it is to make a shot on the green area by the green projector according to the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf; a step of stopping the image projection by the green projector when the user makes a shot upon detection by a shot monitoring device installed inside the hybrid golf course and monitoring the user's shot on the green area as the field golf progresses; and a step of projecting a virtual ball image of the user whose turn it is to make the next shot on the green area by the green projector upon detection by the shot monitoring device that indicates that the user's shot has been completed.

[0029] The hybrid golf system and its control method according to the present invention enable multiple users to play virtual golf and subsequent field golf inside a hybrid golf booth, thereby enabling golf play without being affected by the surrounding temperature or weather, and has the effect of enabling ball positions and corresponding information of all users to be effectively transmitted to the users when playing field golf inside a hybrid golf booth.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the configuration of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the control system of the hybrid golf system illustrated in Figure 1.

[0032] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a control method of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams illustrating a case where field golf play is performed on a green area following a transition to field golf following virtual golf play by multiple users as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing examples of displaying ball positions through a projection image according to the shot order of multiple users during field golf play on a green area in a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a process in which a plurality of users each play field golf on a green area according to shot order in a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a case where a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention projects various information that can guide a user's putting onto a green area as an image through a green projector.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the configuration of a hybrid golf system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing an example of a process in which multiple users each play field golf on a green area according to shot order in a hybrid golf system according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9.

[0039] The hybrid golf system according to the present invention and its control method are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0040] First, the configuration of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the configuration of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control system of the hybrid golf system shown in FIG. 1.

[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention enables a plurality of users (U1, U2, U3, U4) to play both virtual golf and field golf in a space inside a hybrid golf course (100).

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hybrid golf course (100) is provided with a virtual golf device (200) inside, and a virtual golf area (102) where virtual golf play takes place, and a field golf area (104) where field golf play takes place is provided with a green area (400) and its surrounding area, and may be implemented as a building structure surrounded by walls and a roof, or may be implemented as a structure in which the walls and roof are at least partially open.

[0044] In a typical hybrid golf system, virtual golf play takes place inside a building or structure, and a green of a certain size is provided outdoors, outside the building or structure. After playing virtual golf, users come outside and play on the field on the green provided outdoors.

[0045] However, in the case of conventional hybrid golf systems, there was a problem that it became very difficult or impossible to play the field on the outdoor green when the ambient temperature was too high or too low or when it was raining or snowing.

[0046] The hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention has the special advantage of being able to play golf without being affected by the surrounding temperature or weather, since both virtual golf play by a virtual golf device inside a hybrid golf course (100) and field golf play in a field golf area can be performed.

[0047] In a virtual golf area (102) provided on one side of a hybrid golf course (100) of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention, a screen (204) may be provided in front, and a stage (202) and a batting area (206) may be provided so that users can make golf shots one by one toward the screen (204).

[0048] The simulator (210) is a device that implements various images and performs simulations so that users can play virtual golf. It uses an image processing unit (212) to implement an image of a virtual golf course and an image that implements a simulation of a ball moving on the virtual golf course.

[0049] When a user hits a golf shot toward the screen (204) on the hitting surface (206), the movement of the hit golf ball is sensed by a sensing device (250) and the sensing data is transmitted to a simulator (210). Based on the sensing data, the simulator (210) uses an image processing unit (212) to create a simulation image of the ball moving on a virtual golf course.

[0050] The image information implemented by the above simulator (210) is transmitted to the image output unit (230), and an image of a virtual golf course and an image implementing a simulation of a ball moving on the virtual golf course are output on the screen (204).

[0051] The above-mentioned 'virtual golf play' means that golf play is carried out in a manner in which multiple users use a virtual golf device (200) to make a golf shot from a batting stand (206) toward a screen (204) on which a virtual golf course image (201) is projected, and a simulation of the movement of the ball on the virtual golf course is carried out based on sensing information about the movement of the golf ball.

[0052] In this way, when a virtual golf play of multiple users through a virtual golf device is in progress and a certain requirement is met, the virtual golf play ends and, following the virtual golf play, a field golf play is in progress on a field golf area (104) including a green area (400).

[0053] The above-described requirements for initiating field golf play may include a case where, during the virtual golf play of multiple users through a virtual golf device, each user's ball, i.e., a virtual ball, is positioned within a preset area on the virtual golf course (e.g., an area corresponding to the field golf area (104) and preset on the virtual golf course).

[0054] For example, during a virtual golf play process by multiple users, if each user's ball (virtual ball) lands on the green (virtual green) or is located within a predetermined range around the virtual green, the above-mentioned requirements are considered met and the game can be switched from virtual golf to field golf.

[0055] And, field golf means that users play golf on the field in the same way as playing golf on an actual golf course. For example, it may mean that users place an actual golf ball on the green area (400) on the field golf area (104) and putt toward the hole cup (410).

[0056] The above-mentioned green area (400) may be an area made of natural grass identical to the green of an actual golf course, and may be made identical to an actual green by implementing a predetermined green curved terrain, or may be an area that implements a green curved terrain with artificial grass.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a hybrid golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit (500), and the control unit (500) determines whether the above-described predetermined requirements are met during a process in which a plurality of users play virtual golf through a virtual golf device (200), and if the predetermined requirements are met, terminates golf play on the virtual golf device and allows the plurality of users to play field golf on the field golf area (104) in that state.

[0058] The control unit (500) as described above may be implemented as a separate control device, or the simulator (210) of the virtual golf device described above may be configured to function as the control unit described above.

[0059] Meanwhile, the field golf area (104) is configured to form a portion of the terrain of an entire hole of an actual golf course and includes a green area (400). As illustrated in FIG. 1, a hole cup (410) is formed in the green area (400), and surrounding areas such as fairways, rough, and bunkers around the green are formed so that users can actually make approach shots and putts.

[0060] A hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention can allow users to play some golf through a virtual golf course on a virtual golf device (200) and play the remaining golf in a field golf area (104) including a green area (400).

[0061] For example, when playing golf on a par 4 hole, a tee shot, second shot, and approach shot are played on a virtual golf course of the par 4 hole using a virtual golf device (200) in a virtual golf play (a golf play in which a user makes a golf shot toward a screen from a teeing stand and a sensing device senses the hit ball to simulate the golf play), and when putting on the par 4 hole, the user can move to an area around the green area (400) of the field golf area (104) to play golf.

[0062] At this time, the hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention uses a green projector (300) installed inside a hybrid golf course (100) to transfer the play status that has been performed through a virtual golf device (200) on the field golf area (104) to the field golf area (104) as it is, thereby allowing users to continue playing on the field golf area (104).

[0063] The control unit (500) determines whether to switch from virtual golf using the virtual golf device (200) to field golf, and if switched to field golf, the play status of the virtual golf performed on the virtual golf device (200) can be projected as an image on the field golf area (104) through the green projector (300), so that multiple users can play the field in the field golf area (104) following the virtual golf.

[0064] For example, the control unit (500) can control the green projector (300) to receive an image of the virtual balls of each of the multiple users on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen (204) and switch from virtual golf to field golf, and to project the image onto the green area (400) by receiving the image of the virtual balls of each of the multiple users on the virtual green from the virtual golf device (200).

[0065] The above-mentioned green projector (300) is provided so as to be able to project an image in a downward direction from a predetermined distance above the green area (400) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may be installed on the ceiling inside the hybrid golf course (100) or may be installed on a predetermined frame or separately created structure provided inside the hybrid golf course (100) so as to be able to project an image onto the green area (400).

[0066] Meanwhile, a control method of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0067] A hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention allows play to be performed on at least one hole by a plurality of users within a hybrid golf course. FIG. 3 illustrates a process of hybrid golf play being performed on one hole (hole n).

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 3, when golf play begins at hole n, a virtual golf course image for hole n is implemented using a virtual golf device, and virtual golf is played by multiple users based on this (S100).

[0069] As virtual golf play progresses, for example, when each ball of multiple users is on the virtual green of hole n, the control unit switches to field golf (S110), and accordingly, virtual golf play in the corresponding hole ends and field golf progresses in the green area of ​​the field golf area (S120).

[0070] When field golf starts, the control unit transmits image information about the play status of virtual golf performed by multiple users on the virtual golf device to the green projector (S130), and the image transmitted to the green projector is scaled to fit the size of the green area and projected on the green area (S140).

[0071] For example, when playing virtual golf, an image of the position of each ball of multiple users placed on a virtual green can be scaled and projected as an image on a green area (400) by a green projector (300), and accordingly, each user can easily identify his or her ball on the green area (400) and each user can place a golf ball on his or her ball position and putt toward the hole cup (410).

[0072] More specific details regarding the case where field golf play is performed based on an image projected onto a green area by a green projector are described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0073] As previously shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of users play virtual golf in a virtual golf area within a hybrid golf course. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a case in which a plurality of users play field golf on a green area of ​​a field golf area following a transition to field golf following virtual golf play as shown in FIG. 1.

[0074] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when switching to field golf, a play state performed by multiple users (U1, U2, U3, U4) by a virtual golf device, for example, an image (IM) of each user's ball being placed on a virtual green implemented on an image (201) of a screen by a virtual golf device, can be extracted by the simulator and transmitted to a green projector (300).

[0075] The image (IM) of the play status of users extracted from the virtual golf device may be an image of each user's ball placed based on the virtual green (iVG) and the hole cup (iHC) formed on one side thereof, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the ball image (iVB1) of the first user (U1), the ball image (iVB2) of the second user (U2), the ball image (iVB3) of the third user (U3), and the ball image (iVB4) of the fourth user (U4) may be visually distinguished, for example, by being displayed in different colors, or by displaying the user's play name (ID or nickname, etc.) next to each virtual ball.

[0076] In FIGS. 4 and 5, the ball images (iVB1, iVB2, iVB3, iVB4) of each user placed on the virtual green (iVG) are displayed in different shapes in the images (IM) of the users' play states extracted from the virtual golf device. In reality, the ball images (iVB1, iVB2, iVB3, iVB4) of each user may be displayed in different colors. For example, the ball image (iVB1) of the first user (U1) may be displayed in red, the ball image (iVB2) of the second user (U2) in yellow, the ball image (iVB3) of the third user (U3) in green, and the ball image (iVB4) of the fourth user (U4) in blue.

[0077] In this way, the image (IM) of the users' play status is transmitted to the green projector (300), and the green projector (300) can project by scaling it to fit the size of the green area (400). At this time, it is preferable to align the position of the hole cup (410) with the position of the hole cup (iHC) on the image (IM) and project it. At this time, only the image related to the virtual ball can be extracted and transmitted to the green projector, and the green projector can also omit the virtual green and the hole cup and project only the virtual ball.

[0078] An example of a case where a green projector (300) projects a user's play status image onto a green area (400) is shown in FIG. 5.

[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the green projector (300) can project an image of the playing status of users in the virtual golf device, that is, the ball position on the virtual green of each user, as is, onto the green area (400), and each user can identify his / her virtual ball while viewing the image of the virtual ball projected onto the green area (400), so that each user can place a golf ball on his / her virtual ball position and proceed with putting, thereby continuing play on the green area as is following golf play using the virtual golf device.

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 5, each virtual ball image (VB1 to VB4) on the image (310) projected on the green area (400) by the green projector (300) corresponds to the virtual ball images (iVB1 to iVB4) on the image (IM) extracted from the virtual golf device illustrated in FIG. 4. That is, the first virtual ball (VB1) of the first user (U1), the second virtual ball (VB2) of the second user (U2), the third virtual ball (VB3) of the third user (U3), and the fourth virtual ball (VB4) of the fourth user (U4) on the image (310) projected on the green area (400) may be projected in different colors so as to be visually distinguishable (in the drawing, the virtual ball images of each user are displayed in different shapes, which may indicate that they are displayed in different colors).

[0081] In Fig. 5, according to the position of each virtual ball on the image (310) projected on the green area (400), putting is performed in the order of the first user (U1), the second user (U2), the third user (U3), and the fourth user (U4), and each user can place the golf ball on the green area (400) at the position of his or her virtual ball (VB1 to VB4) according to the shot order and putt toward the hole cup (410).

[0082] As described above, the image (310) projected onto the green area (400) through the green projector (300) can be projected on all users' virtual ball images at once, as shown in FIG. 5, but as shown in FIG. 6 (a), a virtual ball (VB1) image can be displayed at the ball position of the user whose current shot is in the shot order, and ball marker images (VM2, VM3, VM4) can be displayed at the ball positions of the remaining users, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6 (b), only the virtual ball (VB1) image can be displayed at the ball position of the user whose current shot is in the shot order, and neither the ball nor the ball marker can be displayed at the ball positions of the remaining users, so that the projected image of the green projector (300) can be modified and displayed under the control of the control unit so as to guide the ball position only to the user whose current shot is in the shot order.

[0083] A hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a shot monitoring device (220) installed inside a hybrid golf course to monitor a user's shot on the green area as field golf progresses.

[0084] FIG. 6 illustrates a case where a shot monitoring device (220) is installed adjacent to a green projector (300).

[0085] The above-described shot monitoring device (220) may be configured to detect and monitor whether a user takes a shot or completes a shot on the green area (400) by including a single or stereoscopic camera device.

[0086] For example, as virtual golf play ends and field golf play on a real green begins, the control unit extracts an image (IM) regarding the play state as illustrated in FIG. 4, recognizes the shot order from the image (IM), and displays only the virtual ball of the first user whose turn it is to shoot first, and does not display the image of the balls of the remaining users, or transforms them into ball markers so that the image is projected onto the green area (400) through the green projector (300) as illustrated in FIG. 6 (a).

[0087] Accordingly, the first user can view the image of the first virtual ball (VB1) displayed at his / her ball position and place the golf ball at that position and putt, and at that time, the shot monitoring device (220) can recognize the position of the first virtual ball (VB1) and detect whether the first user makes a shot at that position.

[0088] The shot monitoring device (220) can detect whether the user makes a shot at the location of the first virtual ball, can detect the location of the golf ball that has moved according to the first user's putting, and can also detect whether the first user's putting has resulted in a hole-in-one.

[0089] Meanwhile, a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention can have a control unit control a virtual golf device and a green projector to enable multiple users to effectively perform putting according to a shot order on a green area, as described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0090] Figure 7 illustrates a process in which multiple users putt on the green area one by one in shot order, and the process proceeds in the order of (a) → (b) → (c) → (d) in Figure 7.

[0091] FIG. 7(a) illustrates a case where a first user putts at a first virtual ball position according to a shot order in a state as shown in FIG. 6(a), FIG. 7(b) illustrates a case where a second user's shot position is guided by a second virtual ball image on an image projected by a green projector after the first user's putting and before the second user putts, FIG. 7(c) illustrates a case where a second user putts at a second virtual ball position in a state as shown in FIG. 7(b), and FIG. 7(d) illustrates a case where a third user's shot position is guided by a third virtual ball image on an image projected by a green projector after the second user's putting and before the third user putts.

[0092] As shown in (a) of Fig. 6, looking at the image (310) projected on the green area (400), it can be seen that the shot order is first user (U1) → second user (U2) → third user (U3) → fourth user (U4) according to the ball position of each user, and the first user can prepare for putting at the position where the image of his / her virtual ball (VB1) is displayed.

[0093] At this time, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7, the first user (U1) can place a golf ball (B1) at his / her ball position and putt, and the shot monitoring device (220) can detect that the user is preparing to putt, and accordingly, the control unit can cause the green projector (300) to stop projecting the image so that the first user (U1) can putt while looking at the hole cup (410) on the green area (400). That is, it is preferable to stop projecting the image of the green projector so that the projected image does not interfere with the user's putting.

[0094] When a first user (U1) hits a golf ball (B1) and putts, the shot monitoring device (220) can detect this and determine that the first user's putting shot is complete, and then, as shown in (b) of FIG. 7, a projection image (310) including an image of a second virtual ball (VB2), which is the second user's ball, can be projected onto the green area (400) by the green projector (300) so that the next user, a second user (U2), can putt. At this time, the virtual ball images of the third user and the fourth user other than the second user may or may not be displayed, and as shown in (b) of FIG. 7, images of ball markers (VM3, VM4) may be displayed at the ball positions of the third user and the fourth user, respectively.

[0095] In addition, if the first user fails to put the golf ball into the hole cup (410) in the previous putting, the shot monitoring device (220) can detect the position of the golf ball moved by the first user's putting, and can display a virtual ball image or a ball marker image at the position of the golf ball.

[0096] As shown in (c) of Fig. 7, a second user (U2) can place a golf ball (B2) at his / her ball position and putt. The shot monitoring device (220) can detect that the user is preparing to putt, and accordingly, the control unit can cause the green projector (300) to stop projecting the image so that the second user (U2) can putt while looking at the hole cup (410) on the green area (400). In other words, it is preferable to stop projecting the image of the green projector so that the projected image does not interfere with the user's putting.

[0097] When a second user (U2) hits a golf ball (B2) and putts, the shot monitoring device (220) can detect this and thereby detect that the second user's putting shot is complete, and then, as shown in (d) of FIG. 7, a projection image (310) including an image of a third virtual ball (VB3), which is the third user's ball, can be projected onto the green area (400) by the green projector (300) so that a third user (U3), who is the next user, can putt. At this time, the virtual ball images of the fourth users other than the third user may or may not be displayed at the ball positions of the respective users, and as shown in (d) of FIG. 7, an image of a ball marker (VM4) can be displayed at the ball position of the fourth user.

[0098] In addition, if the second user fails to put the golf ball into the hole cup (410) in the previous putting, the shot monitoring device (220) can detect the position of the golf ball moved by the second user's putting, and can display a virtual ball image or ball marker image at the position of the golf ball.

[0099] In this way, the hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention can have a control unit control a virtual golf device and a green projector to enable multiple users to effectively putt according to the shot order on a real green.

[0100] Meanwhile, the hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention not only provides an image based on a play state performed in a virtual golf device by projecting it onto a green area through a green projector as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, but also additionally provides an image to guide each user to make effective putting.

[0101] FIG. 8 illustrates a case where the control unit of a hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention projects various pieces of information that can guide a user's putting onto a green area as an image through a green projector.

[0102] As illustrated in (a) of FIG. 8, a hybrid golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention can project a projection image (310) regarding a user's virtual ball (VB) and distance information (330) from the virtual ball (VB) to the hole cup (410) onto a green area (400) through a green projector (300), and the user can make a strategic putt to the hole cup by referring to the distance information (330) from the position of his or her virtual ball (VB).

[0103] In addition, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 8, the hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention can project a projection image (310) regarding terrain grid information (340) representing information about the green lie between the user's virtual ball (VB) and the hole cup (410) onto the green area (400) through the green projector (300), and the user can identify the green lie through the terrain grid information (340) at the position of his / her virtual ball (VB) and make strategic putting based on this.

[0104] In addition, as illustrated in (c) of FIG. 8, the hybrid golf system according to one embodiment of the present invention can project a projection image (310) regarding a user's virtual ball (VB) and correct putting path information (350) according to the green terrain from the virtual ball (VB) to the hole cup (410) onto the green area (400) through a green projector (300), and the user can determine the putting direction, etc. through the putting path information (350) at the position of his / her virtual ball (VB) and make strategic putting based on this.

[0105] As described above, the hybrid golf system and its control method according to the present invention enable multiple users to play golf without being affected by the surrounding temperature or weather within a hybrid golf course, and can display status information according to virtual golf play, such as ball position information of each user, on a real green through a green projector, and further, can additionally display putting path or green lie information that enables strategic putting at each displayed ball position, so that users have the special advantage of being able to effectively play field golf on the green area following virtual golf.

[0106] Meanwhile, a hybrid golf system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0107] A hybrid golf system according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9 is basically configured the same as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 described above, in that a screen (201) and a virtual golf device (210), etc. are installed in a virtual golf area (102) provided on one side of a hybrid golf course (100), and a field golf area (104) including a green area (400) is provided on the other side. However, while the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 was configured to include a green projector (300) that projects an image onto the field golf area (104) or the green area (400) for displaying the user's ball position, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 is characterized by having an optical pointing device (500) including a plurality of optical pointers (510, 520, 530, 540) instead of a green projector.

[0108] Each of the above-described plurality of optical pointers (510, 520, 530, 540) includes a light source that irradiates a predetermined light, and the light source may be implemented as an LED or the like or may include a laser light source. That is, each of the above-described plurality of optical pointers (510, 520, 530, 540) is a device that displays light to indicate the position of each user's ball on the field golf area (104), particularly the green area (400).

[0109] The control unit of the hybrid golf system according to the present embodiment is connected to the plurality of optical pointers (510, 520, 530, 540) described above and controls the optical pointers described above to display the ball position of each user according to the virtual golf play status of the users received from the virtual golf device.

[0110] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit acquires information on the position of each user's ball on the virtual green implemented on the screen image (201) by the virtual golf device, for example, the play state performed by multiple users (U1, U2, U3, U4) by the virtual golf device as the game switches to field golf.

[0111] After switching from virtual golf played using the above-described virtual golf device (210) to field golf played in a field golf area (104), the control unit can match each of the plurality of users (U1, U2, U3, U4) and each of the plurality of optical pointers (510, 520, 530, 540) with each other.

[0112] For example, the control unit can match a first optical pointer (510) to a first user (U1), a second optical pointer (520) to a second user (U2), a third optical pointer (530) to a third user (U3), and a fourth optical pointer (540) to a fourth user (U4).

[0113] In addition, the control unit can cause each matched optical pointer to irradiate light to a location on the field golf area (104) corresponding to the ball location in each user's virtual golf to indicate the ball location.

[0114] For example, the control unit may know the virtual ball position on the virtual golf course and the position on the field golf area corresponding to the virtual ball position when each user (U1 to U4) plays virtual golf, and may aim the first optical pointer (510) matched to the first user at the position on the field golf area (104) corresponding to the virtual ball position of the first user (U1) and irradiate light of a color matching the color of the first user's ball to display the ball position (LB1) at the corresponding position on the field golf area.

[0115] Likewise, the control unit may cause a second optical pointer (520) matched to a second user to aim at a location on the field golf area (104) corresponding to a virtual ball location of a second user (U2) and to irradiate light of a color matching the color of the second user's ball to display a ball location (LB2) at the corresponding location on the field golf area, cause a third optical pointer (530) matched to a third user to aim at a location on the field golf area (104) corresponding to a virtual ball location of a third user (U3) and to irradiate light of a color matching the color of the third user's ball to display a ball location (LB3) at the corresponding location on the field golf area, and cause a fourth optical pointer (540) matched to a fourth user to aim at a location on the field golf area (104) corresponding to a virtual ball location of a fourth user (U4) and to irradiate light of a color matching the color of the fourth user's ball to display a ball location (LB4) at the corresponding location on the field golf area.

[0116] The hybrid golf system according to the present embodiment may also include a shot monitoring device (220) that monitors the user's shot on the green area, as described above.

[0117] The hybrid golf system according to the present embodiment can enable a plurality of users to effectively perform putting according to the shot order on the green area by controlling a virtual golf device and an optical pointing device by a control unit, and this will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

[0118] Figure 10 illustrates a process in which multiple users putt on the green area one by one in shot order, and the process proceeds in the order of (a) → (b) → (c) → (d) in Figure 10.

[0119] (a) of FIG. 10 shows a case where the control unit recognizes the shot order according to the virtual golf play state as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the first ball position mark (LB1) is indicated by the first optical pointer (510) at a position on the green area (400) corresponding to the position of the virtual ball of the first user (U1) whose turn is to shoot first, and (b) of FIG. 10 shows a case where the first user (U1) positions the golf ball (B1) at the first ball position mark and putts in the state illustrated in (a), and (c) of FIG. 10 shows a case where the second optical pointer (520) indicates the second ball position mark (LB2) at a corresponding position on the green area (400) before the second user (U2) whose turn is to shoot next after the first user putts, and (d) of FIG. 10 shows a case where the second user (U2) positions the golf ball (B2) at the second ball position mark and putts in the state illustrated in (c). It shows the case of doing so.

[0120] In the same way, the putting of a third user and the putting of a fourth user can also be guided using the respective optical pointers.

[0121] At this time, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 10, the first user (U1) can place a golf ball (B1) at his / her ball position and putt, and the shot monitoring device (220) can detect that the user is preparing to putt, and accordingly, the control unit can cause the light pointer (510) to stop irradiating light so that the first user (U1) can putt while looking at the hole cup (410) on the green area (400). That is, it is preferable to stop irradiating light so that the irradiated light does not interfere with the user's putting.

[0122] When a first user (U1) hits a golf ball (B1) and putts, the shot monitoring device (220) can detect this and determine that the first user's putting shot is complete, and then, as shown in (c) of FIG. 10, a second optical pointer (520) can mark a second ball position (LB2) at the second user's ball position so that the next user, a second user (U2), can putt.

[0123] At this time, as shown in (d) of FIG. 10, the second user (U2) can place a golf ball (B2) at his / her ball position and putt, and the shot monitoring device (220) can detect that the user is preparing to putt, and accordingly, the control unit can cause the light pointer (520) to stop irradiating light so as not to interfere with the user's putting.

[0124] In this way, the hybrid golf system according to the present embodiment can enable a control unit to control a virtual golf device and an optical pointing device to enable multiple users to effectively putt according to the shot order on the green area.

[0125] The hybrid golf system and its control method according to the present invention can be used in industries related to golf and in the so-called screen golf industry that allows users to enjoy golf play based on virtual golf simulation.

Claims

1. A hybrid golf course where hybrid golf play combining virtual golf and field golf is performed by multiple users in a designated space; A virtual golf device that is installed on one side of the interior of the hybrid golf course and projects an image of a virtual golf course on a screen, and simulates the movement of a ball as each of the plurality of users makes a golf shot on the screen, thereby conducting the virtual golf; A field golf area provided on the other side of the hybrid golf course and provided for the plurality of users to play field golf following the virtual golf played through the virtual golf device, and including a green area; and A green projector installed inside the hybrid golf course and projecting an image onto the field golf area in conjunction with the virtual golf device; Hybrid golf system including.

2. In paragraph 1, A hybrid golf system characterized in that it further includes a control unit that determines whether to switch from the virtual golf to the field golf, and in the case of switching to the field golf, allows the play status of the virtual golf performed by the virtual golf device to be projected as an image on the field golf area through the green projector, so that the plurality of users can play in the field golf area following the virtual golf.

3. In paragraph 1, When switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, a control unit that allows the play status of the virtual golf performed on the virtual golf device to be projected as an image on the field golf area through the green projector; Further comprising a shot monitoring device installed inside the hybrid golf course to monitor the user's shot on the field golf area as the field golf is played, The above control unit, A hybrid golf system characterized in that information about the play status of each of the plurality of users is transmitted from the virtual golf device to the green projector according to the shot order on the field golf area, so as to be projected on the field golf area by the green projector, and when a shot is performed by one user according to the detection result of the shot monitoring device, the image projection by the green projector is stopped, and after the shot of the one user is performed, information about the play status of the next user is controlled to be image-projected by the green projector.

4. In paragraph 1, A hybrid golf system characterized in that it further includes a control unit that, when the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users are placed on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen, switches from the virtual golf to the field golf, and then controls the green projector to project an image of the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green from the virtual golf device onto the green area.

5. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, When the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users are placed on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen, an image of the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green is transmitted from the virtual golf device to the green projector according to the judgment of the control unit. A hybrid golf system characterized in that the green projector is configured to scale an image of a virtual ball of each of the plurality of users to fit the size of the green area and project it onto the green area.

6. In paragraph 5, The virtual golf device transmits an image formed so that a plurality of virtual balls placed on the virtual green are visually distinguished from each other to the green projector, A hybrid golf system characterized in that each of the plurality of users can identify their own virtual ball based on visual distinction of the plurality of virtual balls projected on the green area by the green projector and can play golf on the green area from the location of each of their own virtual balls.

7. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, The above control unit, A hybrid golf system characterized in that, when the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users are on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen, the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf is recognized, and an image guiding the play of each user on the green area according to the shot order in the play state of the virtual golf performed on the virtual golf device is projected onto the green area by the green projector.

8. In paragraph 1, A control unit for switching from the above virtual golf to the above field golf, Further comprising a shot monitoring device installed inside the hybrid golf course to monitor the user's shot on the green area as the field golf is played; The control unit recognizes the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf, According to the shot order, the virtual ball image of the user whose turn it is to take a shot on the green area is projected onto the green area by the green projector to guide the ball position of the user, and when the user takes a shot based on detection by the shot monitoring device, the image projection by the green projector is stopped. A hybrid golf system characterized in that, when the shot monitoring device detects that the shot of the user has been completed, the virtual ball image of the user who is next to take the shot is projected onto the green area by the green projector to guide the position of the ball of the user, thereby allowing each user to play golf on the green area from the position of his or her virtual ball.

9. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a control unit for switching from the virtual golf to the field golf, The control unit recognizes the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf, and recognizes the location information of the virtual ball of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green from the virtual golf device. A hybrid golf system characterized in that an image including a virtual ball image of a user whose turn it is to shoot on the green area according to the shot order and ball marker images formed at each virtual ball location of the remaining users other than the user whose turn it is to shoot is projected onto the green area by the green projector.

10. A hybrid golf course where a hybrid golf game combining virtual golf and field golf is played by multiple users in a designated space; A virtual golf device that is installed on one side of the interior of the hybrid golf course and projects an image of a virtual golf course on a screen, and simulates the movement of a ball as each of the plurality of users makes a golf shot on the screen, thereby conducting the virtual golf; A field golf area provided on the other side of the hybrid golf course and provided so that the plurality of users can play field golf following the virtual golf played through the virtual golf device, and including a green area; An optical pointing device including a plurality of optical pointers that indicate a position to be viewed by irradiating light on the green area; and After switching from the virtual golf played using the virtual golf device to the field golf played in the field golf area, a control unit that matches each of the plurality of users with each of the plurality of optical pointers to control each matched optical pointer to irradiate light to a location on the field golf area corresponding to the ball location in the virtual golf of each user to indicate the ball location; Hybrid golf system including.

11. In the 10th paragraph, the control unit, A hybrid golf system characterized in that, following the virtual golf, the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the field golf area is recognized, and an optical pointer matched to the user whose turn it is to take a shot is directed to a position on the field golf area corresponding to the ball position in the virtual golf of the user whose turn it is to take a shot according to the recognized shot order, thereby indicating the ball position.

12. A control method for a hybrid golf system that allows hybrid golf play, which combines virtual golf and field golf, by multiple users in a space inside a hybrid golf course, A step in which a virtual golf course image is projected onto a screen by a virtual golf device installed on one side of the hybrid golf course, and a simulation of a ball moving as each of the plurality of users makes a golf shot on the screen is performed, thereby performing the virtual golf; A step of switching from the virtual golf to the field golf in which the plurality of users play in a field golf area including a green area provided on the other side inside the hybrid golf course; and A step of allowing the play status of virtual golf performed on the virtual golf device to be projected as an image onto the field golf area through a green projector installed inside the hybrid golf course and linked with the virtual golf device to project an image onto the field golf area, thereby allowing the plurality of users to play in the field golf area following the virtual golf; A control method of a hybrid golf system including:

13. In the 12th paragraph, the step of allowing play to proceed in the field golf area is: A step in which an image formed so that the virtual balls of each of the plurality of users placed on the virtual green of the virtual golf course projected on the screen are visually distinct is transmitted from the virtual golf device to the green projector; A control method for a hybrid golf system, characterized in that the green projector includes a step of scaling the received image to fit the size of the green area of ​​the field golf area and projecting it onto the green area.

14. In the 12th paragraph, the step of allowing play to proceed in the field golf area is: A step of projecting a virtual ball image of a user whose turn it is to shoot on the green area by the green projector according to the shot order of each of the plurality of users on the green area following the virtual golf, A step of stopping the image projection by the green projector when a user takes a shot based on detection by a shot monitoring device installed inside the hybrid golf course and monitoring a user's shot on the green area as the field golf progresses; A control method for a hybrid golf system, characterized in that it comprises a step of projecting a virtual ball image of a user who is next to take a shot onto the green area by the green projector when the shot of the user is completed as a result of detection by the shot monitoring device.