Distance measurement device and program

Abstract

A distance measuring device 1 is provided with: a memory unit 15 for storing a reference position in a green of a golf course; a current position identification unit 161 for identifying a current position of the distance measuring device; a measurement unit 162 for measuring a distance from the current position to the measurement target and a direction of the measurement target with respect to the current position; a measurement target position recognition unit 163 for recognizing a measurement target position, which is the position of the measurement target, on the basis of the current position and the distance and direction measured by the measurement unit; and a display processing unit 165 that displays the reference position and an edge line of the green on a display unit 14 when the measurement unit 162 does not recognize the measurement target position or when the measurement target position does not fall within a prescribed range corresponding to the reference position, and when the measurement target position falls within a prescribed range corresponding to the reference position, a display processing unit 165 displays the measurement target position and the green edge line on a display unit 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a distance measuring device and program for a golf club. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a device that displays the position of a flagpole on a green of a golf course is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior art

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 7062329 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the present invention

[0007] In a golf course, the position of a flagpole changes every day. The device described in Patent Document 1 displays the position of a flagpole by receiving data indicating the position of the flagpole on that day from a computer of the golf course. However, if the data indicating the position of the flagpole on that day cannot be obtained from the computer of the golf course, there arises a problem that the position of the flagpole of the flagpole cannot be displayed.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of this problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device capable of displaying the position of a flagpole even when data indicating the position of the flagpole on the day cannot be acquired from a computer of a golf club.

[0009] Means to solve this problem

[0010] A distance measuring device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a distance measuring device used in a golf course, comprising: a memory unit storing a reference position within a green of the golf course; a current position identifying unit identifying the current position of the distance measuring device; a measuring unit measuring the distance from the current position to a measuring target and the direction of the measuring target relative to the current position; a measuring target position identifying unit identifying a measuring target position as a position of a measuring target based on (i) the current position and (ii) the distance and direction measured by the measuring unit; and a display processing unit causing a display unit to display the reference position and an edge line of the green when the measuring unit does not identify the measuring target position or when the measuring target position is not within a predetermined range corresponding to the reference position, and causing the display unit to display the measuring target position and the edge line of the green when the measuring target position is within the predetermined range corresponding to the reference position.

[0011] The display processing unit may cause the display unit to display the reference position as the flagpole position when the measurement target position is not within the predetermined range, and may cause the display unit to display the measurement target position as the flagpole position when the measurement target position is within the predetermined range.

[0012] The display processing unit may cause the display unit to display the distance from the current position to the measurement target position and the distance to a position where a straight line connecting the current position and the measurement target position intersects an edge line of the green.

[0013] The memory unit may also store teeing position information indicating the positions of teeing areas of a plurality of greens, and the display processing unit may cause the display unit to display the reference position as the flagpole position when the current position is within a predetermined range from the position of the teeing area and the measurement unit does not identify the measurement target position.

[0014] The display processing unit may store the measurement target position in the memory unit when the measurement target position is within the predetermined range, and cause the display unit to display the measurement target position as the flagpole position after storing the measurement target position in the memory unit.

[0015] The memory unit may store hole range data indicating an area of ​​each hole in association with the hole number, and the display processing unit may store the measurement target position in the memory unit in association with the hole number, and after storing the measurement target position in the memory unit, cause the display unit to display the measurement target position corresponding to the hole number including the current position as the flagpole position by referring to the hole range data.

[0016] The distance measuring device may further include an operation accepting unit which accepts an operation of a user, wherein when the operation accepting unit accepts a first operation, the display processing unit may cause the display unit to display the measuring target position stored in the memory unit as a flagpole position, and when the operation accepting unit accepts a second operation, after the measuring unit performs measurement, the display processing unit may cause the display unit to display the measuring target position identified by the measuring target position identifying unit.

[0017] When the operation acceptance unit accepts the second operation, the display processing unit may update the measurement target position stored in the memory unit in a case where the measurement target position identified by the measurement target position identification unit is within a predetermined range from the reference position.

[0018] The program according to the second aspect of the present invention causes a processor included in a distance measuring device to function as: a current position identification unit that identifies the current position of the distance measuring device; a measuring unit that measures the distance from the current position to a measuring target and the direction of the measuring target relative to the current position; a measuring target position identification unit that identifies a measuring target position as the position of a measuring target based on (i) the current position and (ii) the distance and direction measured by the measuring unit; and a display processing unit that causes a display unit to display a reference position and an edge line of a green when the measuring unit does not identify the measuring target position or when the measuring target position is not within a predetermined range corresponding to the reference position, and causes the display unit to display the measuring target position and the edge line of a green when the measuring target position is within the predetermined range corresponding to the reference position.

[0019] Effects of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, an effect is achieved in which the flagpole position can be displayed even when data indicating the flagpole position on the day cannot be acquired from the computer of the golf course. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 2 is a diagram showing an overview of the distance measurement device 1 .

[0022] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display included in the distance measurement device 1 .

[0023] Figure 3 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the distance measurement device 1 .

[0024] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of reference position information.

[0025] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of reference information.

[0026] Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the measurement target position identifying unit 163 identifies the position of the measurement target.

[0027] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of flagpole edge distance information generated by the information generating unit 164 .

[0028] Figure 8 2 is a diagram showing a method in which the information generating unit 164 generates flagpole edge distance information.

[0029] Fig. 9 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the measurement target position and the green G.

[0030] Fig.10is a diagram showing another example of the relationship between the measurement target position and the green G.

[0031] Fig.11 is a diagram showing an example of a reference position C.

[0032] Fig.12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when measuring the flagpole position of another hole.

[0033] Fig.13 : is a flowchart showing the processing in the distance measurement device 1 .

[0034] Fig.14 is a flow chart of the measuring process (S8). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] [Overview of Distance Measuring Device 1]

[0036] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a distance measuring device 1. The distance measuring device 1 is designed to measure distances in a golf course. For example, the distance measuring device 1 allows a user U who is playing golf and uses the distance measuring device 1 to measure the distance to a flagpole P on a green G.

[0037] Figure 1 A situation is shown in which a flagpole marker flag P is installed on a green G and a user U is measuring the distance to the flagpole marker flag P. When the user U starts distance measurement, the distance measuring device 1 emits a laser beam L and detects reflected light of the emitted laser beam L reflected at the flagpole P. The distance measuring device 1 measures the distance to the flagpole P based on at least one of: (i) the time elapsed between the emission of the laser beam L and the detection of the reflected light, or (ii) the amount of change in the phase in the reflected light.

[0038] Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display included in the distance measuring device 1. When the distance measurement is finished, the user U can see Figure 2 The screen shown in . Figure 2 (a) in FIG. 1 shows an example of a screen showing that the laser beam L has hit the flagpole P and the distance from the position of the user U to the flagpole P is 150 yards. In the upper left of the screen, a diagram showing the relationship between the position of the green G and the flagpole P is displayed.

[0039] In the upper left of the screen, the distance from the current position of the user U to the back of the green G (B 170), the distance from the current position of the user U to the flagpole P (P 150), and the distance from the current position of the user U to the front of the green G (F 140) are also displayed. In addition, the distance from the position of the flagpole P to the left edge of the green G (9 yards) and the distance from the position of the flagpole P to the right edge of the green G (7 yards) are also displayed. From these displayed contents, the user U can grasp the distance to the flagpole P and the position of the flagpole P on the green G.

[0040] When the user U measures the distance to the flagpole P using the distance measuring device 1, the laser beam may hit a tree or an artificial structure located near the direction of the flagpole P. In this case, if the distance from the position of the user U to the tree or the artificial structure is displayed, the user U may mistake it for the distance to the flagpole P. Therefore, the distance measuring device 1 is characterized in that different screens are displayed depending on whether the measured distance is the distance to an object outside the range of the green G or the distance to an object within the range of the green G. Specifically, the distance measuring device 1 displays the measurement result in different modes depending on whether the edge position where a straight line connecting a reference position in the green G and a measurement target position intersects with an edge line of the green G is located between the reference position and the measurement target position, which is the position of the object hit by the laser beam.

[0041] Figure 2 (b) in FIG. 1 shows an example of a screen showing a situation where a tree behind the flagpole P is hit by a laser beam. On this screen, the measured distance is displayed as 180 yards, accompanied by a warning indicating that the measured object is not the flagpole. In addition, in the upper left of the screen, the distance to the center position of the green G as an example of a pre-stored reference position (C 155) is displayed without displaying the position of the flagpole P. By viewing this display, the user U can grasp that the distance to the flagpole P has not been measured and can perform re-measurement.

[0042] The reference position may be any position as long as it is within the green G, but is preferably, for example, a center position. For example, the center position is the midpoint of two points where a first straight line of the green G in a first direction (e.g., north-south direction) passes through and intersects with the edge line of the green G and the midpoint of two points where a second straight line perpendicular to the first direction intersects with the edge line of the green G. By setting the reference position within the green G, the probability that an object other than the flagpole P exists between the reference position and the edge line of the green G is reduced. Therefore, compared with a conventional distance measuring device that determines whether the laser beam hits the flagpole P based on whether the position hit by the laser beam is between the foremost position and the rearmost position of the green G, the accuracy is improved.

[0043] The reference position is preferably set so that a straight line passing through the reference position intersects the edge line of the green G only at two points. Since the reference position is set as described above, when the edge position on the green G is located between the reference position and the measurement target position, the distance measuring device 1 can reliably determine that the laser beam has hit an object outside the green G. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the distance measuring device 1 will be described in detail.

[0044] [Configuration of the distance measuring device 1]

[0045] Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a distance measuring device 1. The distance measuring device 1 includes a radio wave receiving unit 10, a laser unit 11, a sensor unit 12, an operation accepting unit 13, a display unit 14, a memory unit 15, and a control unit 16. The control unit 16 includes a current position identifying unit 161, a measuring unit 162, a measurement target position identifying unit 163, an information generating unit 164, and a display processing unit 165.

[0046] The radio wave receiving unit 10 receives radio waves from a positioning satellite such as a global positioning system (GPS) or a quasi-zenith satellite system. The radio wave receiving unit 10 inputs data included in the received radio waves to the current position identifying unit 161.

[0047] The laser unit 11 emits a laser beam under the control of the measuring unit 162. In addition, the laser unit 11 receives a reflected laser beam as the emitted laser beam reflected from the object. For example, the laser unit 11 calculates a delay time from the emission of the laser beam to the reception of the reflected laser beam based on a difference between a phase of the emitted laser beam and a phase of the received reflected laser beam. The laser unit 11 inputs the calculated delay time to the measuring unit 162.

[0048] The sensor unit 12 includes an azimuth sensor for detecting the orientation of the distance measuring device 1. For example, the sensor unit 12 includes a three-axis acceleration sensor as an azimuth sensor. The sensor unit 12 may also include a geomagnetic sensor for detecting a direction in a horizontal plane as an azimuth sensor. The sensor unit 12 inputs azimuth data indicating the azimuth detected by the azimuth sensor to the measuring unit 162.

[0049] The operation accepting unit 13 includes means for accepting an operation of the user U. For example, the operation accepting unit 13 includes an operation button or a touch panel. The operation accepting unit 13 inputs operation data indicating the content of the input operation to the current position recognition unit 161 , the measurement unit 162 , and the display processing unit 165 .

[0050] The display unit 14 is a display that displays various types of information. Figure 2As shown in , the display unit 14 displays information indicating the distance to the object hit by the laser beam and the distance to the green G.

[0051] The memory unit 15 includes a storage medium such as a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM). The memory unit 15 stores a program to be executed by the control unit 16. In addition, the memory unit 15 stores various types of information used by the control unit 16 to calculate the distance to the flagpole P and determine whether the distance to the flagpole P has been correctly measured. These pieces of information may be information stored when the distance measuring device 1 is manufactured, for example, or may be information sent from an external device via a communication interface (not shown).

[0052] As one example, the memory unit 15 stores reference position information indicating a reference position (eg, center position) of each green G of the golf course. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of reference position information. Figure 4 In the reference position information shown in , a hole number (which is an example of green identification information for identifying each green G) is associated with latitude and longitude information indicating the reference position.

[0053] In addition, the memory unit 15 stores reference information indicating a reference position within the green G of the golf course and a plurality of edge positions on the edge of the green G. For example, the reference information is information in which (i) a plurality of reference distances from the reference position within the green G of the golf course to a plurality of edge positions on the edge of the green G and (ii) a plurality of reference angles that are angles formed between a reference direction and a direction connecting the reference position to each of the plurality of edge positions are associated with each other. The reference information may be information including the latitude and longitude of the reference position and the latitude and longitude of the plurality of edge positions on the edge of the green G. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of reference information.

[0054] Figure 5 (a) in FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of reference information. Figure 5 In (a) of the figure, the distance from the reference position C of the green G (indicated by the black square) to the edge of the green G (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "reference distance") is shown at intervals of 30 degrees relative to a reference direction (e.g., the north direction). Figure 5 (b) in FIG. 1 shows an example of reference information stored in the memory unit 15, wherein a reference angle and a reference distance are associated with each other in the reference information. Figure 5 In the embodiment, the reference angles are defined at intervals of 30 degrees, but the intervals between the reference angles are preferably narrower, for example, defined every 1 degree.

[0055] The memory unit 15 may store a plurality of pieces of reference information corresponding to the plurality of greens G. The memory unit 15 may store (i) the plurality of pieces of reference information and (ii) teeing position information indicating the positions of teeing areas corresponding to the plurality of greens G in association with the hole numbers. The memory unit 15 may store hole range data indicating the area of ​​each hole in association with the hole numbers.

[0056] Furthermore, the memory unit 15 stores the position of the flagpin P recognized by the control unit 16. For example, the memory unit 15 stores the position of the flagpin P in association with the hole number. The memory unit 15 can update the position of the flagpin P under the control of the control unit 16.

[0057] The control unit 16 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The control unit 16 functions as a current position identification unit 161 , a measurement unit 162 , a measurement target position identification unit 163 , an information generation unit 164 , and a display processing unit 165 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 15 .

[0058] The current position identification unit 161 identifies the current position of the distance measuring device 1 based on the data acquired from the radio wave receiving unit 10. For example, when the operation acceptance unit 13 accepts an operation for measuring the distance, the current position identification unit 161 identifies the latitude and longitude of the current position of the distance measuring device 1 based on the data acquired from the radio wave receiving unit 10. The current position identification unit 161 notifies the measuring unit 162 of the identified current position. The current position identification unit 161 can identify the hole number of the hole that the user U is playing by identifying the hole including the current position. This is done by comparing the latitude and longitude of the current position with the latitude and longitude corresponding to each hole indicated by the hole range data.

[0059] When the operation accepting unit 13 accepts an operation for measuring a distance, the measuring unit 162 measures the distance from the current position of the distance measuring device 1 to the measurement target and the direction of the measurement target relative to the current position. The measurement target is an object hit by the laser beam emitted by the laser unit 11. The measuring unit 162 calculates the distance from the current position of the distance measuring device 1 to the measurement target based on the delay time input from the laser unit 11.

[0060] The measuring unit 162 measures the direction of the measurement target by identifying the direction that the distance measuring device 1 faces (i.e., the direction in which the distance measuring device 1 emits a laser beam) based on the azimuth data input from the sensor unit 12. For example, the direction of the measurement target is represented by an angle (0° to 259°) relative to the north direction. The measuring unit 162 notifies the measurement target position identification unit 163 of the measured distance and direction.

[0061] The measurement target position identification unit 163 identifies the measurement target position as the position of the measurement target based on (i) the current position and (ii) the distance and direction measured by the measurement unit 162 . Figure 6 1 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the measurement target position identifying unit 163 identifies the measurement target position.

[0062] When the distance to the flagpole P measured by the measuring unit 162 is D and the direction from the current position to the flagpole P is 40° relative to the north direction, the distance between the distance measuring device 1 and the flagpole P in the north-south direction is D1, and the distance between the distance measuring device 1 and the flagpole P in the east-west direction is D2. The measurement target position identification unit 163 identifies the latitude and longitude of the position shifted by D1 in the north-south direction and D2 in the east-west direction relative to the latitude and longitude of the current position of the distance measuring device 1 as the measurement target position. The measurement target position identification unit 163 notifies the information generation unit 164 and the display processing unit 165 of the identified measurement target position.

[0063] The information generating unit 164 generates green information indicating a relationship between (i) a measurement target position indicating a position of a flagpole P and (ii) a distance to an edge line of a green G. Specifically, the information generating unit 164 generates green information including flagpole edge distance information based on the reference information and the measurement target position. The flagpole edge distance information reflects an association between (i) a plurality of edge distances from the measurement target position to a plurality of edge positions and (ii) a plurality of edge angles, which are angle differences between a reference direction and a direction connecting the measurement target position to each of the plurality of edge positions. Although the details will be described later, the information generating unit 164 calculates the edge distance and the edge angle using the positional relationship between the reference position and the measurement target position, the reference distance, and the reference angle, and then generates the flagpole edge distance information.

[0064] The information generating unit 164 provides notification of the generated flagpole edge distance information to the display processing unit 165. The information generating unit 164 may store the flagpole edge distance information in the memory unit 15, thereby allowing the display processing unit 165 to read the flagpole edge distance information from the memory unit 15.

[0065] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of flagpole edge distance information generated by the information generating unit 164 . Figure 7 The flagpole edge distance information shown in FIG. 1 is generated by the information generating unit 164 based on Figure 5 The reference information shown in FIG. 1 and the flagpole position are generated, and the flagpole position is the measurement target position identified by the measurement target position identifying unit 163 .

[0066] Figure 7(a) in FIG. 1 shows the distance from the pin position P indicated by a black circle on the green G to the edge of the green G at intervals of 30 degrees with respect to the reference direction. Figure 7 The black square shown in (a) represents Figure 5 The reference position C shown in (a). Figure 7 (b) in FIG. 1 shows an example of flagpole edge distance information generated by the information generating unit 164, in which the edge angle and the edge distance are associated with each other. Figure 7 In the embodiment, the reference angle is determined at intervals of 30 degrees, but the intervals between the edge angles are preferably narrower, for example, defined every 1 degree.

[0067] Figure 8 is a diagram showing a method in which the information generating unit 164 generates flagpole edge distance information. Figure 8 In FIG, a black square represents a reference position C, a black circle represents a flagpole position P, and a black triangle represents an example of an edge position E. Figure 8 In FIG. 5 , the distance between the reference position C and the edge position E is represented as d1.

[0068] The information generating unit 164 calculates the distance Δd between the reference position C and the flagpole position P based on the relationship between the latitude and longitude of the reference position C and the latitude and longitude of the flagpole position P. In addition, the information generating unit 164 calculates the angle θ formed between (i) the direction of the straight line connecting the reference position C and the edge position E and (ii) the direction of the straight line connecting the flagpole position P and the edge position E. This calculation is performed based on (i) the relationship between the latitude and longitude of the reference position C and the latitude and longitude of the edge position E and (ii) the relationship between the latitude and longitude of the flagpole position P and the latitude and longitude of the edge position E.

[0069] When the intersection point of the extension line of the straight line connecting the reference position C and the flagpole position P and the straight line perpendicular to the extension line and passing through the edge position E is T, the distance Δd+x from C to T is calculated as d1×cosθ. The information generation unit 164 calculates the distance x from P to T by subtracting Δd from Δd+x. In addition, the information generation unit 164 calculates the distance y from T to E as d1×sinθ. Then, the information generation unit 164 calculates the distance between the flagpole position and the edge position as d2=√(x 2 +y 2 ).

[0070] Furthermore, the information generating unit 164 calculates the angle formed between PT and PE using Arctan(y / x) angle represents the edge angle of the edge position E corresponding to the reference angle θ.

[0071] The information generating unit 164 calculates the edge distances corresponding to all the edge angles by performing the above calculation on all the reference angles included in the reference information, and generates Figure 7 The information generation unit 164 stores the generated flagpole edge distance information in the memory unit 15.

[0072] It should be noted that since the reference angle θ is different from the edge angle Therefore, even if the reference angle θ changes by 1 degree, the edge angle corresponding to the reference angle θ It does not necessarily change by 1 degree. Therefore, the interval between the reference angles may be smaller than the interval between the edge angles (e.g., 1 degree). In addition, the information generation unit 164 may interpolate positions between a plurality of edge positions corresponding to a plurality of reference angles to calculate edge positions corresponding to edge angles at predetermined intervals centered on the flagpole position, and may calculate the distance between the calculated edge position and the flagpole position.

[0073] The information generating unit 164 may generate flagpole edge distance information based on the measurement target position, assuming that the object hit by the laser beam is the flagpole P. For example, the information generating unit 164 generates the flagpole edge distance information based on the flagpole position information in which the distance from the reference position to the flagpole position is smaller than the distance from the reference position to the plurality of edge positions. When the distance from the reference position to the flagpole position exceeds the distance from the reference position to the plurality of edge positions, the flagpole position is outside the green G. In this case, the information generating unit 164 does not generate the flagpole edge distance information. Having the information generating unit 164 operate in this manner prevents inappropriate flagpole edge distance information from being generated based on the measurement target position that is different from the position of the flagpole P.

[0074] The display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display various types of information. Figure 2 As shown in , the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display at least one of (i) the distance to the object hit by the laser beam emitted by the laser unit 11 or (ii) an image indicating the position of the flagstick P on the green G. When the measurement target position is within a predetermined range corresponding to the reference position (for example, when the measurement target position is within the edge line of the green G), the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position and the edge line of the green G, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 In this case, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position as the position of the flagpole P. The predetermined range may be a range slightly wider than the range of the green G or a range slightly narrower than the range of the green G.

[0075] Specifically, Figure 2As shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position, which is the flagpole position on the green G, together with the plurality of edge positions. The display processing unit 165 may display the plurality of edge positions by a curve connecting the plurality of edge positions. In addition, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit 14 to display the distance from the current position to the measurement target position and the distance to the edge position where the straight line connecting the current position and the measurement target position intersects with the edge line of the green G.

[0076] When the measurement target position is not within the predetermined range corresponding to the reference position, such as Figure 2 As shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the reference position (e.g., the center position) and the edge line of the green G. When the measurement target position is not within the predetermined range, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the reference position as the flagpole position. At this time, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display text indicating that the reference position is displayed as the flagpole position (e.g., "Display center position").

[0077] When the measurement target position recognition unit 163 does not recognize the measurement target position, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit 14 to display the reference position and the edge line of the green G. In this case, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit 14 to display the reference position as the flagpole position. For example, the case where the measurement unit 162 does not recognize the measurement target position is a case where an operation of measuring the distance has not been performed on the hole that the user U is playing and the measurement target position is not stored in the display unit 14.

[0078] When the current position is within a predetermined range from the position of the teeing area and the measurement unit 162 does not recognize the measurement target position, the display processing unit 165 can cause the display unit 14 to display the reference position as the flagpole position. The display processing unit 165 can cause the display unit 14 to display the distance from the current position to the reference position. When the current position is in a teeing area where the flagpole P cannot be seen or the distance to the position of the flagpole P is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance (e.g., 300 yards or more), the display processing unit 165 can cause the display unit 14 to display the reference position as the flagpole position. Since the display processing unit 165 operates in this manner, the user U can grasp the shape of the green G and the distance to the green G even in the teeing area where the distance to the flagpole P cannot be measured.

[0079] When the measurement target position is outside the area defined by the plurality of edge positions identified by the reference information, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display information (e.g., warning information) in a mode different from the mode when the measurement target position is within the area. Specifically, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display information in different modes depending on whether the measurement target position is the flagpole P within the green G.

[0080] Fig. 9 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the measurement target position and the green G. Fig. 9 (a) in FIG. 1 shows a case where the measurement target position M1 is the position of the flagpole P within the green G. In FIG. Fig. 9 (b) in FIG. 1 shows a case where the measurement target position M2 is an object outside the green G (eg, a tree on the back side of the green G). The display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display information in a different mode according to each of these cases.

[0081] like Fig. 9 As shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , when the laser beam emitted by the laser unit 11 hits the flagpole P in the green G, the measurement target position M1 should be located between the reference position C and the edge position E1 or edge position E2 on the straight line connecting the reference position C and the measurement target position M1. Therefore, if the measurement target position is located between the reference position and at least one edge position ( Fig. 9 If the measurement target position is between the edge position E2 in the green G, the display processing unit 165 determines that the laser beam emitted by the laser unit 11 has hit the flagpole P, and causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position as the flagpole position on the green G together with the plurality of edge positions.

[0082] On the other hand, Fig. 9 As shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , when the laser beam emitted by the laser unit 11 hits an object outside the green G, the measurement target position M2 measured by the measurement unit 162 is not located between the reference position C and the edge position E1 or E2 on the straight line connecting the reference position C and the measurement target position M2. In this case, the distance from the distance measurement device 1 to the measurement target identified by the measurement target position identification unit 163 is not the distance from the distance measurement device 1 to the flagpole P. Therefore, when the measurement target position is outside the green G, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result in a mode different from the mode used when the measurement target position is inside the green G.

[0083] Specifically, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result in different modes according to whether at least one edge position on the straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position is located between the reference position and the measurement target position. In other words, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result in different modes according to whether the distance between the reference position and the measurement target position exceeds a reference distance corresponding to a plurality of edge positions on the straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position.

[0084] exist Fig. 9 In the example shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , edge positions E1 and E2 exist on a straight line connecting the reference position C and the measurement target position M1. In the case where the reference position C is the center position of the green G, if the distance between the reference position C and the measurement target position M1 is less than or equal to the distance between the reference position C and the edge position E1 and less than or equal to the distance between the reference position C and the edge position E2, the display processing unit 165 determines that the measurement target position M1 is within the green G. Fig. 9 In the example shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , since the distance between the reference position C and the measurement target position M2 exceeds at least the distance between the reference position C and the edge position E1, the display processing unit 165 determines that the measurement target position M2 is outside the green G. Then, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result in different modes depending on whether the measurement target position is inside the green G or outside the green G.

[0085] like Figure 2 As shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , as an example of display of measurement results in different modes, when it is determined that the measurement target position is outside the green G, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display a warning indicating that the position of the flagpole is not correctly measured. The display processing unit 165 may display the distance to the measurement target position in green when it is determined that all edge positions on a straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position are not located between the reference position and the measurement target position and the measurement target position is within the green G, and may display the distance to the measurement target position in red when it is determined that the measurement target position is outside the green G.

[0086] Fig.10is a diagram showing another example of the relationship between the measurement target position and the green G. When the edge line of the green G includes an inward curve, the measurement target position may be located between (i) at least one edge position on the straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position and (ii) the reference position even though the measurement target position is outside the green G. Therefore, when there are three or more edge positions on the straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit to display the measurement result in different modes according to whether the measurement target position is located between a first edge position that is an odd-numbered position from the reference position and a second edge position that is an even-numbered position farther from the reference position than the first edge position.

[0087] exist Fig.10 In the example shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , edge positions E1, E2, E3, and E4 exist on a straight line connecting the reference position C and the measurement target position M1. There is no measurement target position between edge position E3 and edge position E4, which are the first edge position and the second edge position from the reference position C, respectively. The measurement target position M1 is located between the reference position C and the edge position E2. In this case, since the measurement target position M1 is within the green G, the display processing unit 165 determines that the position of the measurement target position M1 is the position of the flagpole P.

[0088] On the other hand, Fig.10 In the example shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , the measurement target position M2 is located between the edge position E3 and the edge position E4, which are the first edge position and the second edge position from the reference position C, respectively. In this case, since the measurement target position M2 is outside the green G, the display processing unit 165 determines that the position of the measurement target position M2 is not the position of the flagpole P. In this way, the display processing unit 165 can correctly determine whether the laser beam emitted by the laser unit 11 hits the flagpole P regardless of the shape of the green G.

[0089] If the edge line of the green G includes an inward curve, such as Fig.10 As shown in , it is desirable to set the reference position so that a straight line passing through the reference position intersects the edge line of the green G only at two points. That is, it is desirable to set the reference position at a position where the straight line does not cross the inward curve. Fig.11 is a diagram showing an example of such a reference position C. Since the reference position is set in this manner, even if the edge line of the green G includes an inward curve, the display processing unit 165 can determine that the laser beam hits an object outside the green G when the edge position on the green G is located between the reference position and the measurement target position.

[0090] When the measurement target position is within a predetermined range (for example, within the green G), the display processing unit 165 stores the measurement target position in the memory unit 15, and causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position as the flagpole position after the measurement target position is stored in the memory unit 15. The display processing unit 165 may store the measurement target position in association with the hole number in the memory unit 15. In this case, after the measurement target position is stored in the memory unit 15, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position corresponding to the hole number including the current position as the flagpole position by referring to the hole range data.

[0091] Specifically, when the operation acceptance unit 13 accepts the first operation for displaying the measured distance, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position stored in the memory unit 15 as the flagpole position. Since the display processing unit 165 operates in this manner, once the user U measures the position of the flagpole P for the hole, the user U does not need to re-measure the position of the flagpole P thereafter.

[0092] When the operation acceptance unit 13 accepts the second operation for measuring the distance again, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position identified based on the distance to the measurement target newly measured by the measurement unit 162 as the flagpole position. The measurement target position identification unit 163 identifies the measurement target position based on the current position of the distance measurement device 1, the direction of the distance measurement device 1, and the distance (i.e., the distance to the object hit by the laser beam) identified by the measurement unit 162 when the operation acceptance unit 13 accepts the second operation. By causing the measurement target position identification unit 163 and the display processing unit 165 to operate in this manner, the user U can more accurately grasp the distance to the flagpole P when he / she approaches the green G.

[0093] When the measurement target position identified by the measurement target position identification unit 163 is different from the measurement target position stored in the display unit 14, the display processing unit 165 may update the measurement target position stored in the display unit 14. When the operation acceptance unit 13 accepts the second operation, the display processing unit 165 may update the measurement target position stored in the memory unit 15 under the condition that the measurement target position identified by the measurement target position identification unit 163 is within a predetermined range from the reference position (for example, within the range of the green G). By causing the display processing unit 165 to operate in this manner, when the laser beam hits an object other than the flagpole P, the position of the object can be prevented from being stored in the memory unit 15 as the position of the flagpole P.

[0094] When at least one edge position on the straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position is located between the reference position and the measurement target position, that is, when the laser beam hits an object outside the green G, the display processing unit 165 can cause the display unit 14 to display the measurement target position in a mode different from the mode of the flagpole position, and can cause the display unit 14 to display the distance from the measurement target position to the edge position closest to the measurement target position. As an example, in the case where the measurement target position is a tree located at the back of the green G, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the distance from the tree to the farthest back edge of the green G. By causing the display processing unit 165 to cause the display of such a distance, the user U can grasp how far the ball will exceed the green G to reach the position of the tree.

[0095] Since a golf course has a plurality of holes, reference information corresponding to each hole is stored in the memory unit 15. To determine whether the laser beam has hit the flagpole P, the display processing unit 165 needs to use the edge position included in the reference information of the hole that the user U is playing.

[0096] Therefore, when the current position is within a predetermined range from the position of the teeing area, the display processing unit 165 identifies the hole number corresponding to the teeing area as the current hole number, wherein the current hole number is the hole number of the hole being played by the user U. For example, the display processing unit 165 regards the hole corresponding to the teeing area position closest to the current position among the positions of the plurality of teeing areas stored in the memory unit 15 as the hole being played by the user U. The display processing unit 165 can identify the hole being played by the user U by referring to the data indicating the position of the area of ​​each hole stored in the memory unit 15.

[0097] In the case where it is determined that the measurement target position does not exist within the green G of the hole being played by the user U but exists within the green G of another hole, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit 14 to display predetermined information indicating that the flagpole of another hole is being measured. For example, the predetermined information is warning information indicating that the flagpole position of another hole is being measured, and the predetermined information may be displayed using a color different from the color used when the flagpole position of the hole being played by the user U is correctly measured.

[0098] Fig.12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when measuring the flagpole position of another hole. Fig.12As shown in , in a case where the measurement target position does not exist within the area defined by the plurality of edge positions identified by the reference information corresponding to the current hole number, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display information indicating that the flagpole position of another hole different from the hole being played by the user U is being measured. When the measurement target position does not exist within the area defined by the plurality of edge positions identified by the reference information corresponding to the reference position closest to the measurement target position among the plurality of reference positions corresponding to the plurality of pieces of reference information associated with the plurality of holes, the display processing unit 165 may cause the display unit 14 to display predetermined information.

[0099] The display processing unit 165 may refer to the reference information corresponding to each hole number stored in the memory unit 15. If the reference position closest to the measurement target position does not correspond to the reference position corresponding to the current hole number, the display processing unit 165 may display predetermined information on the display unit 14. By causing the display processing unit 165 to operate in this manner, it is possible to prevent, for example, the user U from misinterpreting that the distance to the flagpole P has been properly measured even though the laser beam has hit the flagpole P on the green G of the adjacent hole.

[0100] In the case where noise is superimposed on the radio waves received by the radio wave receiving unit 10, an error may occur in the current position identified by the current position identification unit 161, which may lead to misidentification of the hole that the user U is playing. In addition, when the user U moves through the hole that he / she is playing, the distance to the teeing area of ​​the adjacent hole decreases, which may lead to another situation of misidentification of the hole that he / she is playing. Therefore, after identifying the hole that the user U is playing based on the position of the teeing area, before the user U arrives within a predetermined distance of the green G of the identified hole, if the display processing unit 165 determines that the current position is in another hole, the display processing unit 165 can cause the display unit 14 to display a warning. The display processing unit 165 can display a warning, and can also cause the display unit 14 to display a screen for accepting input of a hole number.

[0101] [Response to two greens]

[0102] In some golf courses, each hole may have a plurality of greens (e.g., two greens). For such golf courses, the memory unit 15 stores reference information of each of the plurality of greens in association with the hole number. The display processing unit 165 determines, for each of the plurality of greens, whether at least one edge position on a straight line connecting a reference position and a measurement target position is located between the reference position and the measurement target position. The display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result in different modes depending on whether all edge positions on a straight line connecting a reference position and a measurement target position in one of the plurality of greens are located between the reference position and the measurement target position.

[0103] Specifically, when a condition is satisfied that all edge positions on a straight line connecting a reference position and a measurement target position of one of a plurality of greens are not located between the reference position and the measurement target position, the display processing unit 165 determines that the measurement target position is the flagpole position of the green satisfying the condition. If at least one edge position on each of a plurality of straight lines connecting the reference position and the measurement target position of each of two greens is located between the reference position and the measurement target position of each green, the display processing unit 165 determines that the measurement target position is not the flagpole position, and, for example, displays a warning. Since the display processing unit 165 operates in this manner, the user U can confirm whether the flagpole position has been correctly measured even in a hole having two greens.

[0104] It should be noted that the control unit 16 may acquire information about the green used on the day from a computer of the golf course via a communication unit (not shown). Then, the display processing unit 165 may determine whether at least one edge position on a straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position of the green in use is located between the reference position and the measurement target position. Alternatively, the control unit 16 may acquire information about the green used on the day via the operation acceptance unit 13.

[0105] [Processing in Distance Measurement Device 1]

[0106] Fig.13 : is a flowchart showing the processing in the distance measurement device 1 . Fig.13 The flowchart starts from a standby state in which the distance measuring device 1 is powered on.

[0107] In the standby state, the control unit 16 monitors whether the operation acceptance unit 13 has accepted an operation from the user U (S1). If the user U has performed an operation for measuring a distance (Yes in S1), the current position identification unit 161 identifies the current position and direction of the distance measuring device 1 (S2). In addition, the current position identification unit 161 identifies the hole number corresponding to the identified current position by referring to the hole range data (S3).

[0108] The display processing unit 165 determines whether the measurement history of the flagpole position is stored in association with the identified hole number (S4). If the measurement history is stored (Yes in S4), the display processing unit 165 calculates the distance between (i) the flagpole position stored in association with the hole number and (ii) the current position (S5). The display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the calculated distance to the flagpole P and the position of the flagpole P on the green G (S6).

[0109] If the operation accepting unit 13 accepts an operation for re-measuring the flagpole position (Yes in S7), or if the measurement history is not stored (No in S4), the measuring unit 162 causes the laser unit 11 to emit a laser beam and measure the distance to the object (S8). Fig.14 Describe the details of the measurement process.

[0110] Next, the display processing unit 165 determines whether the measured object is a flagpole P (S9). If it is determined that the measurement target position is within the green G and the measured object is a flagpole P (Yes in S9), the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result including the measured distance and the position of the flagpole P (S10).

[0111] If it is determined that the measurement target position is outside the green G and the measured object is not the flagpole P (No in S9), the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display a warning indicating that the flagpole has not been measured (S11). Here, if the operation acceptance unit 13 accepts an operation for re-measurement (Yes in S12), the measurement unit 162 performs measurement again (S8).

[0112] The control unit 16 repeats the process from S1 to S12 until the power of the distance measuring device 1 is turned off (No in S13). The display processing unit 165 may turn off the display of the display unit 14 after a predetermined time (eg, 30 seconds) has passed from the start of operation to reduce power consumption.

[0113] Fig.14 1 is a flowchart of the measurement process (S8). The measuring unit 162 measures the distance to the measurement target by causing the laser unit 11 to emit a laser beam (S81). The measurement target position identification unit 163 identifies the measurement target position based on the measured distance, the current position of the distance measurement device 1, and the direction of the distance measurement device 1 (S82).

[0114] Next, the display processing unit 165 identifies a straight line passing through the reference position and the measurement target position of the hole being played by the user U (S83), and determines whether a condition that at least one edge position on the straight line is not located between the reference position and the measurement target position is satisfied (S84). If it is determined that the edge position is not located between the reference position and the measurement target position (Yes in S84), the display processing unit 165 determines that the position of the flagpole P has been correctly measured (S85). If it is determined that the edge position is located between the reference position and the measurement target position (No in S84), the display processing unit 165 determines that the position of the flagpole P has not been correctly measured (S86).

[0115] [Variation]

[0116] In the above description, a configuration in which the display processing unit 165 displays various types of information on the display unit 14 is illustrated. However, the display processing unit 165 may display various types of information on the display of the display unit 14. As an example, the distance measuring device may transmit and receive data to and from an information terminal (e.g., a smartphone) via short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the display processing unit 165 may display information such as the distance measurement device 165 on the information terminal of the user U. Figure 2 The screen shown in .

[0117] In addition, Figure 2 In the example shown in , an image indicating the position of the flagpole P on the green G is displayed on the display unit 14 together with the distance to the measurement target, but whether to display the image indicating the position of the flagpole P on the green G is optional. The display processing unit 165 may display only the distance to the measured object on the display unit 14. In this case, the display processing unit 165 may cause the information terminal of the user U to display the image indicating the position of the flagpole P on the green G.

[0118] [Effects of distance measuring device 1]

[0119] As described above, the measurement target position identification unit 163 identifies the measurement target position as the position of the measurement target based on the current position and the distance to the measured object and the direction of the measured object. When the measurement target position is within the green G, the display processing unit 165 determines that the measurement target position is the flagpole position, and causes the display unit 14 to display the flagpole position and the edge line of the green G. Since the distance measurement device 1 is configured in this manner, even when data indicating the flagpole position of the day cannot be acquired from the computer of the golf club, the distance measurement device 1 can display the flagpole position, thereby allowing the user U to grasp the position of the flagpole P during play.

[0120] Furthermore, the display processing unit 165 causes the display unit 14 to display the measurement result in different modes depending on whether at least one edge position on a straight line connecting the reference position and the measurement target position on the green G is located between the reference position and the measurement target position. By causing the display processing unit 165 to operate in this manner, the accuracy with which the distance measuring device 1 determines whether the measured position is within the green G is improved. This allows the user U to grasp whether the distance to the flagpole P has been correctly measured.

[0121] The present disclosure is described based on exemplary embodiments. The technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by any unit that is functionally or physically dispersed or integrated. In addition, new exemplary embodiments generated by any combination of multiple embodiments are included in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the effects of the new exemplary embodiments brought about by the combination also have the effects of the original exemplary embodiments.

[0122] [Description of Reference Signs]

[0123] 1Distance measuring device

[0124] 10 Radio wave receiving unit

[0125] 11 Laser units

[0126] 12 sensor units

[0127] 13 Operation receiving unit

[0128] 14 display units

[0129] 15 memory cells

[0130] 16Control Unit

[0131] 161 Current position recognition unit

[0132] 162 measuring units

[0133] 163 Measurement target position recognition unit

[0134] 164 Information generation unit

[0135] 165 Display Processing Unit

Claims

1. A distance measuring device for use in a golf course, comprising: a memory unit storing a reference position within a putting green of a golf course; a current position identification unit, for identifying the current position of the distance measuring device; a measuring unit, measuring a distance from the current position to a measurement target and a direction of the measurement target relative to the current position; a measurement target position identifying unit that identifies a measurement target position as a position of the measurement target based on (i) the current position and (ii) the distance and the direction measured by the measurement unit; as well as A display processing unit causes a display unit to display the reference position and an edge line of the green when the measuring unit does not identify the measuring target position or when the measuring target position is not within a predetermined range corresponding to the reference position, and causes the display unit to display the measuring target position and the edge line of the green when the measuring target position is within the predetermined range corresponding to the reference position.

2. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein: The display processing unit causes the display unit to display the reference position as a flagpole position when the measurement target position is not within the predetermined range, and causes the display unit to display the measurement target position as the flagpole position when the measurement target position is within the predetermined range.

3. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein: The display processing unit causes the display unit to display the distance from the current position to the measurement target position and the distance to a position where a straight line connecting the current position and the measurement target position intersects an edge line of the green.

4. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein: The memory unit also stores teeing position information indicating positions of teeing areas for a plurality of greens, and When the current position is within a predetermined range from the position of the teeing ground and the measurement unit does not recognize the measurement target position, the display processing unit causes the display unit to display the reference position as a flagpole position.

5. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein: The display processing unit stores the measurement target position in the memory unit when the measurement target position is within the predetermined range, and causes the display unit to display the measurement target position as a flagpole position after storing the measurement target position in the memory unit.

6. The distance measuring device according to claim 5, wherein: The memory unit stores hole range data indicating an area of ​​each hole in association with the hole number, and The display processing unit stores the measurement target position in the memory unit in association with the hole number, and after storing the measurement target position in the memory unit, causes the display unit to display the measurement target position corresponding to the hole number including the current position as a flagpole position by referring to the hole range data.

7. The distance measuring device according to claim 5, further comprising: The operation accepting unit accepts the user's operation, wherein: When the operation acceptance unit accepts a first operation, the display processing unit causes the display unit to display the measurement target position stored in the memory unit as a flagpole position, and when the operation acceptance unit accepts a second operation, the display processing unit causes the display unit to display the measurement target position identified by the measurement target position identification unit after the measurement unit performs the measurement.

8. The distance measuring device according to claim 7, wherein: When the operation acceptance unit accepts the second operation, the display processing unit updates the measurement target position stored in the memory unit if the measurement target position identified by the measurement target position identification unit is within the predetermined range from the reference position.

9. A program for causing a processor included in a distance measuring device to: a current position identification unit, for identifying the current position of the distance measuring device; a measuring unit, measuring a distance from the current position to a measurement target and a direction of the measurement target relative to the current position; a measurement target position identifying unit that identifies a measurement target position as a position of the measurement target based on (i) the current position and (ii) the distance and the direction measured by the measurement unit; as well as A display processing unit causes a display unit to display the reference position and an edge line of a green when the measuring unit fails to identify the measuring target position or when the measuring target position is not within a predetermined range corresponding to the reference position, and causes the display unit to display the measuring target position and the edge line of the green when the measuring target position is within the predetermined range corresponding to the reference position.

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