Virtual golf apparatus for displaying hitting mat and virtual golf system

Abstract

To provide a virtual golf apparatus and a virtual golf system for displaying a hitting mat.SOLUTION: A virtual golf apparatus includes: a display unit that displays golf images; a hitting mat on which an actual golf ball to be struck by a user is placed; and a calculation unit that, when the user hits the actual golf ball, calculates the movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on a virtual golf course in the golf images on the basis of the state of the hit actual golf ball. The golf images include an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball is placed before the user hits the actual golf ball.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for virtual golf play, and more particularly, to a virtual golf apparatus and a virtual golf system that display a hitting mat on which a golf ball to be hit by a user is placed.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, while the popularity of golf has been increasing, the number of people playing golf has been rising. Golf can be played not only outdoors on a golf course but also in the form of screen golf using a virtual golf apparatus or the like, and its popularity has been growing. In screen golf, since the image of a golf course is displayed through a screen, users can experience the reality as if they were actually playing outdoors. Also, compared to playing in an outdoor field, screen golf saves time and cost, so it is popular among modern people who find it difficult to play in an outdoor field for reasons such as time and economic factors.

[0003] While the number of people using screen golf is increasing, users' expectations for screen golf are rising. Comparing screen golf with actual golf, due to the characteristics of screen golf being served in a closed indoor space, there is an advantage that it can provide users with technical services that are difficult to offer in actual golf played in an open outdoor space. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize the advantages of screen golf alone to provide various technical services in order to facilitate users in virtual golf play. For example, in screen golf, the situation where a user hits a golf ball is carried out by swinging a golf club in reality, but the result of hitting the golf ball is seen in an unrealistic situation of the image on the screen, so there is a gap between reality and the unrealistic situation. Since such a gap causes a problem of reducing the reality of screen golf, it is necessary to improve this.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention has been invented in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a virtual golf device that can reduce the gap between the realistic situation and the unrealistic situation in virtual golf play and improve the reality of virtual golf play. Another object of the present invention is to provide a virtual golf system that can reduce the gap between the realistic situation and the unrealistic situation in virtual golf play and improve the reality of virtual golf play. Another object of the present invention can be clearly understood from the following description and the attached drawings.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit that displays a golf video, a hitting mat on which an actual golf ball to be hit by a user is placed, and when the user hits the actual golf ball, based on the state of the hit actual golf ball, a calculation unit that calculates the movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on a virtual golf course in the golf video, and the golf video includes an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball is placed before the user hits the actual golf ball.

[0006] In the above virtual golf device, the hitting mat in the golf video is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the virtual golf ball on the virtual golf course before the user hits the actual golf ball.

[0007] In the above virtual golf device, the golf video is formed by combining a first image showing the virtual golf course and a second image showing the hitting mat, and the second image is overlaid on the first image so that the terrain of the portion covered by the hitting mat in the first image can be identified.

[0008] In the virtual golf device, the golf video further includes at least one of an image near the hitting mat and an image of the user located near the hitting mat.

[0009] In the virtual golf device, the image of the hitting mat in the golf video is formed using a captured image of the actual golf ball placed on the hitting mat.

[0010] When the virtual golf device sets the area where the hitting mat is located and the area where the user near the hitting mat is located as the hitting area, the virtual golf device further includes terrain adjustment means capable of forming at least a part of the hitting area into flat terrain or non-flat terrain.

[0011] A virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a service device and at least one or more virtual golf devices communicatively connected to the service device. The virtual golf device includes a display unit for displaying a golf video, a hitting mat on which an actual golf ball to be hit by a user is placed, and a calculation unit that calculates the movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on a virtual golf course in the golf video based on the state of the hit actual golf ball when the user hits the actual golf ball. The golf video includes an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball is placed before the user hits the actual golf ball.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the virtual golf device and the virtual golf system of the present invention, there is an effect that the gap between the realistic situation and the unrealistic situation in virtual golf play can be reduced, and the reality of virtual golf play can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

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[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples. The object, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood from the following examples. The present invention is not limited to the examples described herein and can also be embodied in other forms. The examples introduced here are provided so that the disclosed content is thorough and complete, and that the idea of the present invention is sufficiently conveyed to those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited by the following examples.

[0015] In this specification, terms such as first and second are used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by such terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish the elements from each other. Also, when it is mentioned that a certain layer (film) is on another layer (film) or a substrate, it means that it can be directly formed on the other layer (film) or substrate, or a third layer (film) can be interposed therebetween.

[0016] In the drawings, the size of the elements or the relative size between the elements can be illustrated with some exaggeration for a clearer understanding of the present invention. Also, the shape of the illustrated elements may be somewhat changed due to variations in the manufacturing process or the like. Therefore, the examples disclosed in this specification should not be limited to the illustrated shapes and should be understood to include a certain degree of deformation unless otherwise specifically described.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hitting plate (10), a control unit (20), a sensing unit (30), an input unit (40), a sound unit (50), and a display unit (60).

[0018] The hitting plate (10) is an area where the user positions to hit a golf ball. The hitting plate (10) may be composed of a separately provided plate-shaped object, or may be composed of the part where the user is located as the floor of the place where the virtual golf device is installed instead of a separate object. Although not shown in the drawings, the hitting plate (10) is equipped with a hitting mat on which a golf ball for hitting is placed, and an auto tee with a vertically movable structure is provided on the hitting mat. Through the auto tee, a golf ball for hitting can be automatically provided to the user.

[0019] The control unit (20) controls the overall operation among the components of the virtual golf device. For example, the control unit (20) controls the auto tee provided on the hitting mat so that the auto tee operates to provide a golf ball for hitting in accordance with the timing when the user hits. Specifically, immediately after the user hits the golf ball placed on the hitting mat, the control unit (20) recognizes that the hitting is completed and can control the auto tee so that the auto tee provides a golf ball for the next hit. The control unit (20) includes a calculation unit (21), a video unit (22), and a storage unit (23) (it is also possible to configure the calculation unit (21), the video unit (22), the storage unit (23), etc. to be separated from the control unit (20) and provided independently). The calculation unit (21) performs a calculation process of calculating the trajectory when it is assumed that the golf ball moves in the golf course where the golf ball is currently playing in the physical state based on the physical state of the golf ball hit by the user, etc. The video unit (22) serves to form the video to be displayed on the display unit (60). For example, when the user selects a specific golf course, the video unit (22) forms the video of the golf course selected by the user, and the above video is transmitted to the display unit (60) and displayed. In the virtual golf device according to this embodiment, the display unit (60) can display the image of the hitting mat, and the video unit (22) can serve to form related videos so that the image of the hitting mat is displayed (alternatively, the video unit (22) can form a normal golf course video, and the operations related to the hitting mat image can also be processed by separately provided components). Details of the operations related to the hitting mat image will be described later. The storage unit (23) includes a storage device such as a memory or a hard disk, and stores various programs and / or data necessary for the operations of the control unit (20) / calculation unit (21) / video unit (22), etc. For example, when the video unit (22) forms the video of the golf course, the storage unit (23) stores the information related to the golf course necessary for forming the video.The data such as information about the golf course stored in the storage unit (23) does not necessarily have to be provided in the virtual golf device, and may be provided in the server when the virtual golf device is connected to the server via a communication network.

[0020] The sensing unit (30) is for sensing the movement of the golf club and / or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user when hitting the golf ball, etc., to grasp the information necessary for the calculation process. As the sensing unit (30), sensing means such as a camera capable of photographing the movement of the golf club and the golf ball, or a sensing sensor having a sensing function can be used. Various sensing methods such as image sensing, light emission / reception sensing, laser sensing, and radar sensing can be applied to the sensing means, and the state information of the golf club and the golf ball hit by the user can be grasped by such sensing methods. The camera, the sensing sensor, etc. can be used alone or together, and only one or a plurality of them can be used. The information sensed by the sensing unit (30) is transmitted to the control unit (20), and the calculation unit (21) of the control unit (20) performs the calculation process based on the information from the sensing unit (30).

[0021] The input unit (40) is for receiving various information and commands from the user, and a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, etc. can be used as input devices. When the user inputs their ID and password for login when login is required first to use the virtual golf device, or when the user selects the golf course they want to play, the play difficulty level, etc., the input unit (40) is used.

[0022] The sound unit (50) includes acoustic devices such as speakers, and through this, it guides the user about the progress of the game and reproduces various sound effects according to the progress of the game.

[0023] The display unit (60) includes devices for display operations such as a projector and a screen. The projector projects golf-related videos onto the screen so that the golf course and the golf ball are displayed on the screen, and the screen displays the projected golf-related videos and provides them to the user. Although not shown in the drawings, the display unit (60) may further include a display device such as a kiosk that serves as an auxiliary display in addition to the screen.

[0024] In this specification, the term "virtual" may be used to describe some of the objects displayed on the screen. This is for the purpose of avoiding confusion with the objects existing in the real world, meaning that they do not exist in the real world but are displayed in the video on the screen. For example, "virtual golf course" means the golf course displayed on the screen, and "virtual golf ball" means the golf ball displayed on the screen.

[0025] The virtual golf device is a device that can be installed in a home or commercial screen golf course to enable playing screen golf. The general operation process of the virtual golf device when a user plays screen golf is as follows. When the user strikes a golf ball, the sensing unit (30) senses parameters indicating the state of the golf ball, such as the movement of the golf club and the moving speed / direction of the golf ball struck by the user (alternatively, the sensing unit (30) can also be configured to only obtain the basic information for grasping the above parameters, and the control unit (20) and the calculation unit (21) are configured to grasp the actual parameter values based on the above basic information). The information sensed by the sensing unit (30) is transmitted to the control unit (20), and the calculation unit (21) in the control unit (20) performs a calculation process based on the transmitted information. When the movement, trajectory, etc. of the golf ball are calculated in the calculation process, the video unit (22) forms a video in which the virtual golf ball moves along the trajectory calculated in the calculation process, and the video is transmitted to the display unit (60) and displayed on the screen. At this time, the virtual golf ball lands at a specific point on the virtual golf course displayed on the screen after moving according to the calculated trajectory, and the user continues the next strike from the point where the virtual golf ball landed. In the user's next strike, the above operation process is repeated.

[0026] When playing through the above strike process, various golf play information can be provided to the user. In relation to this, in the virtual golf device according to this embodiment, information regarding the actual situation where the user strikes an actual golf ball can be provided on the screen. Specifically, as will be described with reference to the drawings below, by displaying on the screen the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball struck by the user is placed, information on the realistic situation where the user strikes the actual golf ball can be provided.

[0027] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall process for displaying the hitting mat on the screen, and Figures 3 to 6 are diagrams exemplarily showing the individual processes for displaying the hitting mat on the screen.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the process of displaying the hitting mat on the screen includes the first to fourth steps (S1, S2, S3, S4). In the first step (S1), the user positions himself / herself on the hitting plate and prepares to hit the golf ball. In the second step (S2), an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball to be hit by the user is placed is formed. In the third step (S3), the virtual golf course displayed on the screen is combined with the image of the hitting mat. In the fourth step (S4), an image in which the image of the hitting mat is combined is displayed on the screen.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, in the first step (S1), the user positions himself / herself on the hitting plate to hit the golf ball. The hitting plate is equipped with a hitting mat, and the golf ball for hitting is placed on the hitting mat. When the user plays alone in a solo game, only the user hits, so the user always positions himself / herself on the hitting plate. When multiple users play together, the user corresponding to his / her hitting order positions himself / herself on the hitting plate. When multiple users play together, the hitting order of the users is usually determined by where the virtual golf balls of the corresponding users are on the virtual golf course, and depending on the positions of the virtual golf balls, specific users will hit continuously or multiple users will hit alternately.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, in the second step (S2), an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball hit by the user is placed is formed. Although not shown in the drawings, an auto tee for automatically providing a golf ball to the user is installed under the hitting mat. The auto tee has a structure that can move up and down with a golf ball placed thereon. When the auto tee moves upward from under the hitting mat (a hole is formed in the hitting mat at the position where the auto tee moves up and down), the golf ball placed on the auto tee is exposed to the outside and provided to the user. The user can either hit the golf ball placed on the auto tee as it is (in the case of a tee shot), or hit the golf ball placed on the auto tee after moving it to another position on the hitting mat (in the case of a shot other than a tee shot or putting, etc.). Before the user hits the golf ball, when the golf ball is placed on the auto tee or on the hitting mat other than the auto tee, the golf ball and the hitting mat can be photographed with a camera, and an image of the hitting mat can be formed using the photographed object.

[0031] Here, the camera may be a camera that serves as the aforementioned sensing unit (refer to the reference numeral 30 in FIG. 1). That is, a camera can be used as a sensing means for sensing the physical state of the golf ball hit by the user, and the camera can be configured to perform the role of photographing the hitting mat and the golf ball before hitting in addition to the role of the sensing means. Alternatively, a camera different from the sensing means for sensing the physical state of the golf ball can be additionally provided, and the additional camera can be configured to only perform the role of photographing the hitting mat and the golf ball before hitting without performing the role as a sensing means.

[0032] The camera shown in FIG. 4 is arranged on the right side wall of the place where the virtual golf device is installed. However, the position of the camera is not limited to the side (right side and / or left side). The camera may be arranged on the ceiling wall or the rear wall (the wall on the opposite side of the front wall where the screen is installed) of the place where the virtual golf device is installed. Also, the camera may have not one but a plurality of units as required.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, the image taken in the second step (S2) (named "striking mat image") is combined with a video image (conveniently named "screen image") for displaying a virtual golf course in which the "striking mat image" is displayed on the screen.

[0034] The striking mat image can directly utilize the object taken in the second step (S2).

[0035] Alternatively, the striking mat image may be an image obtained by correcting the image of the object taken in the second step (S2). The correction means performing computer graphic correction processing etc. on the original object for reasons such as improving visibility and / or discriminability or other reasons. For example, when there are differences in resolution, image size, etc. between the screen image and the striking mat image, operations such as correcting the resolution and size to match the differences, deleting unnecessary parts such as shadows generated during shooting, and adjusting brightness and transparency can be performed. In particular, when other parts of the screen golf course other than the striking mat and the golf ball placed thereon are photographed in the striking mat image, the other parts can be deleted by the correction work.

[0036] Alternatively, the impact mat image may be a newly created image by computer graphics with reference to the captured object image in the second step (S2). When forming a new image, it is possible to generate a new image so that matters corresponding to the "causes (such as improving visibility and deleting unnecessary parts)" that require correction when correcting and using the aforementioned captured object do not occur.

[0037] When combining the screen image with the impact mat image, after arranging the screen image in the lower layer and the impact mat image in the upper layer, the impact mat image can be overlaid on the screen image. When overlaying the impact mat image and the screen image, the portion of the existing screen image that overlaps with the impact mat will be covered by the impact mat and not be distinguishable. Or, through a correction process such as adjusting the transparency of the impact mat image, etc., it is also possible to make the portion covered by the impact mat in the existing screen image distinguishable to the outside.

[0038] When combining the impact mat image with the screen image, the impact mat in the combined video (named "combined image") is arranged at the location where the virtual golf ball is located on the virtual golf course. In particular, it is preferable to form the combined image so that the position of the actual golf ball in the impact mat image corresponds to the position of the virtual golf ball in the screen image. Since the actual golf ball in the impact mat image corresponds to the virtual golf ball in the screen image, it is preferable to combine the impact mat image and the screen image so that their positions correspond to each other.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, in the fourth step (S4), an image including a combined image in which the impact mat image is combined with the screen image is displayed on the screen. As a result, in the graphic image of the golf course that the user is currently playing (screen image showing a virtual golf course), a situation where the user hits an actual golf ball (impact mat image) is displayed. From the user's perspective, there are the following advantages.

[0040] In virtual golf play such as screen golf, the situation where the user hits a golf ball is carried out in a real situation where the user actually swings a golf club and impacts the golf ball. On the other hand, the result of hitting the golf ball is not confirmed by visually observing the flight of the golf ball in the actual field, but indirectly by viewing the image of the virtual golf ball flying on the screen, which is an unrealistic situation. Therefore, there is a gap between the real situation and the unrealistic situation, and such a gap has a problem of reducing the reality of screen golf. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the image of the impact mat showing the real situation is displayed on the screen, there is an advantage that the reality of virtual golf play can be improved while reducing the gap between the real situation and the unrealistic situation in virtual golf play.

[0041] In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, since the actual hitting environment where the user hits an actual golf ball is represented on the screen, from the user's perspective, there is an advantage that the realistic situation of hitting a golf ball can be directly confirmed on the virtual golf course currently being played. According to the prior art, the place where the user actually hits a golf ball is the hitting mat. However, since the result of the hit performed on the hitting mat is represented on the virtual golf course in the screen, the user has to formulate strategies such as course-playing strategies while looking at the virtual golf course on the screen. That is, since the environment where the hit is performed (the hitting mat) is different from the environment indicated by strategic information such as the target to be aimed at during the hit (the screen where only the virtual golf course is displayed), there has been a difficulty in accurately applying the course-playing strategies formulated by the user while looking at the screen image to the actual golf ball placed on the hitting mat. However, as in the embodiments of the present invention, when the image of the hitting mat, which is the place where the actual golf ball is hit, is displayed on the screen, since the actual environment (the hitting mat) where the hit is performed is reproduced in the virtual golf course where the hit result is realized, the user can consider the virtual golf course on the screen and the hitting mat image indicating his / her hitting environment together, which has the advantage of being able to formulate an accurate course-playing strategy.

[0042] FIGS. 7 to 12 are diagrams showing various embodiments of displaying a hitting mat on the screen. Referring to FIG. 7, when combining and displaying the hitting mat image on the screen, the hitting mat image can directly use the photographed image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball is placed (or the hitting mat image can also use the image obtained by correcting the photographed image). When displaying the photographed object or the corrected image of the photographed object of the hitting mat in this way, since the actual real hitting mat showing the actual situation is directly displayed on the screen, the gap between the actual situation and the unrealistic situation in virtual golf play can be greatly reduced, and the reality of virtual golf play can be significantly improved.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 8, when combining and displaying the impact mat image on the screen, a display (for example, the arrow shown in FIG. 8) that indicates the impact direction for hitting the golf ball on the impact mat can be displayed. The impact direction can be automatically formed by a control unit (refer to reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1) or the like. Alternatively, when the user determines the impact direction according to the strategy after formulating the strategy for course conquest by himself / herself, the user may operate an input unit (refer to reference numeral 40 in FIG. 1) or the like so that the impact direction determined by the user is displayed. The user can hit the golf ball placed on the impact mat in consideration of the impact direction displayed on the screen. If only the impact direction is displayed on the screen without an impact mat, although the impact direction in the screen is displayed on the virtual golf course, since the user actually has to hit the golf ball placed on the impact mat, there is a difference between the background screen where the impact direction is displayed (such as the virtual golf course other than the impact direction in the screen) and the object to which the actual impact direction is applied (the impact mat), and it is difficult to hit according to the impact direction in the screen. However, when the impact direction is displayed on the impact mat image as in the embodiment of the present invention, there is no difference between the background screen where the impact direction is displayed (the impact mat image) and the object to which the actual impact direction is applied (the impact mat), so the golf ball can be hit according to the impact direction without major problems.

[0044] When the hitting direction is displayed in the hitting mat image, it is also possible to adjust the hitting direction through aiming so that it becomes the front direction where the screen is located. As shown in FIG. 8, assume that the flag where the hole cup in the screen is located is positioned in front of the user's golf ball, and the hitting direction is not the front but the 11 o'clock direction in terms of the strategy of course play (when there are obstacles such as trees or bunkers in the front, or when it is necessary to hit in a direction other than the front due to various factors such as the result of slice / hook analysis based on the user's past play records). In this state, instead of hitting the golf ball in the 11 o'clock direction, the user can hit after aiming. The aiming can be performed through the input unit and the like described above. For example, the input unit is equipped with adjustment buttons (< and >) indicating the left and right directions, and the user can perform aiming by pressing the right direction adjustment button (>). In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the direction in which the flag is viewed in the image on the screen will change, and the position of the flag will be changed to a point shifted to the right from the front with respect to the user's golf ball, and thereby the hitting direction will also be changed to the front direction. As a result, the user can hit in the front direction in accordance with the direction of the changed arrow. There may also be a situation opposite to that shown in FIG. 8. That is, when the hitting direction indicates a direction tilted to the right from the front, the user can perform aiming by pressing the left direction adjustment button (<), change the hitting direction to the front direction, and then hit in the front direction.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 10, a multi-region impact mat divided into a plurality of regions can be used as an impact mat. In this case, when an impact mat image is combined and displayed on the screen, the multi-region impact mat is displayed. On the virtual golf course in the screen, terrains with various attributes such as fairway, rough, bunker, etc. are displayed in the same way as an actual golf course. The fairway is a turf area managed by the golf course, and since the turf is mowed short, it is easy to play. The rough is an area where the turf is not managed and the length of the turf is longer than that of the fairway, and the bunker is an area mainly composed of sand. In the multi-region impact mat, each divided region can be configured to correspond to terrains with various attributes on an actual golf course. For example, the multi-region impact mat can be configured to include a fairway region corresponding to the fairway on an actual golf course and a non-fairway region corresponding to non-fairway (as an area that is not a fairway, a trouble area with a higher hitting difficulty compared to the fairway such as rough / bunker is conveniently named "non-fairway") on an actual golf course. Also, the non-fairway region can be configured to include a rough region and a bunker region corresponding to the rough and bunker on an actual golf course, respectively. When manufacturing the multi-region impact mat, the fairway region and the rough region are all formed of artificial turf, but the lengths of the artificial turf in the fairway region and the rough region are formed to be different from each other, and the bunker region is formed of a material that can give a hitting feeling like hitting with sand.

[0046] In screen golf play, when a user hits a golf ball, they actually hit the real golf ball placed on the hitting mat. However, in the settings of screen golf play, it is assumed that the user hits the golf ball at the location where the virtual golf ball is placed on the screen. When the hitting mat is divided into multiple regions corresponding to multiple regions displayed on the screen, the user places the real golf ball and then hits the real golf ball so that the region where the virtual golf ball is placed on the screen corresponds to the region where the real golf ball of the hitting mat is placed. For example, if the virtual golf ball is located on the virtual fairway in the virtual golf course on the screen, it is assumed that the user hits the golf ball placed on the fairway, and accordingly, the user places the real golf ball in the fairway region of the hitting mat and hits it. Also, if the virtual golf ball is located in the virtual rough / virtual bunker in the virtual golf course on the screen, it is assumed that the user hits the golf ball placed in the rough or bunker, and accordingly, the user places the real golf ball in the rough region / bunker region of the hitting mat and hits it. Thus, when using a hitting mat having multiple regions according to the terrain characteristics of the virtual golf course on the screen, an image of the hitting mat having multiple regions can also be displayed on the screen.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 11, when combining and displaying the hitting mat image on the screen, not only the hitting mat but also the hitting area where the user is located can be displayed together. That is, the entire hitting plate can be displayed, so that from the user's perspective, the user can confirm which part of the virtual golf course on the screen image corresponds to the position of the hitting area where they hit. When the screen displays not only the hitting mat but also the user's hitting area, it is also possible to display the shape of the user located in the hitting area on the screen. The user shape on the screen can be formed using a real image obtained by photographing the actual appearance of the user or a user image generated by computer graphics.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 12, when combining the screen image and the hitting mat image, the hitting mat image can be overlaid on the screen image to form a combined image so that the terrain characteristics of the virtual golf course in the screen image are reproduced as they are in the hitting mat image. For example, at least a part of the screen image is named as the first image (I1), at least a part of the hitting mat image is named as the second image (I2), and at least a part of the combined image is named as the third image (I3). As shown in FIG. 12, the terrain at the point where the virtual golf ball is placed on the virtual golf course in the first image (I1) is uneven, non-flat terrain rather than flat, and it is assumed that the second image (I2) shows a flat state. When combining the first and second images (I1, I2), with the first image (I1) as the lower layer and the second image (I2) as the upper layer, and combining the images based on the same principle so that the uneven shape appears on the surface of the flexible film when the uneven part is covered with a flexible film, when the second image (I2) is overlaid on the first image (I1), in the third image (I3), the first image (I1) itself is curved by the second image (I2) and does not appear outside, but the terrain characteristics (uneven, non-flat terrain) of the virtual golf course in the first image (I1) can be identified from the outside through the uneven shape on the surface of the combined second image (I2). In this way, when the hitting mat image and the screen image are combined, the terrain characteristics of the virtual golf course on the screen can also be directly represented on the hitting mat displayed on the screen. For example, when the virtual golf course where the virtual golf ball is placed on the screen has a terrain sloping from left to right, when the hitting mat image is displayed on the screen by the above method, the terrain characteristics sloping from left to right can also be represented at the point where the virtual golf ball is currently placed on the hitting mat on the screen, and the user can hit the golf ball considering the terrain characteristics of the point where the golf ball is placed as grasped from the hitting mat image.In particular, during the putting stage, since the golf ball is rolled, the movement path of the golf ball after putting can be significantly affected by the slope at the location where the current golf ball is placed. If it is possible to grasp the slope characteristics of the location where the golf ball is placed from the hitting mat image on the screen, the user can formulate a putting strategy according to the slope characteristics. For example, if there is a hole cup in front of the golf ball during the putting stage, and the location where the current golf ball is and its vicinity have a sloping terrain with the left being higher and the right being lower, instead of putting towards the hole cup in front, the user can consider the above slope direction and target a location slightly to the left from the front where the hole cup is located to put the golf ball. In this case, the golf ball can curve to the right along the slope and hole in one to the hole cup.

[0049] When attempting to represent the terrain characteristics of the location where the golf ball is placed on the hitting mat in the screen, not only the method illustrated in FIG. 12 but also various other methods can be used. As an example, the hitting mat in the combined image on the screen can be displayed flat, and the hitting mat can be displayed in various colors according to the slope state of the location where the golf ball is placed. Specifically, there is a method of displaying locations with a high slope in red and locations with a low slope in blue. Here, by distinguishing and displaying the degree of redness of the red color in detail, the slope difference between locations with a high slope can be distinguished, and by distinguishing and displaying the degree of blueness of the blue color in detail, the slope difference between locations with a low slope can be distinguished.

[0050] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are exemplary diagrams for explaining the operating principle of the terrain adjustment means.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 13, the virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hitting plate (10), a control unit (20), a sensing unit (30), an input unit (40), a sound unit (50), a display unit (60), and a terrain adjustment means (70).

[0052] The hitting plate (10) is an area where the user positions to hit a golf ball. The hitting plate (10) is equipped with a hitting mat on which a golf ball for hitting is placed, and an auto tee with a vertically movable structure is provided on the hitting mat.

[0053] The control unit (20) controls the overall operation among the components of the virtual golf device. The control unit (20) includes a calculation unit (21), a video unit (22), and a storage unit (23). The calculation unit (21) performs a calculation process of calculating the trajectory when it is assumed that the golf ball moves on an actual golf course in the physical state, based on the physical state of the golf ball hit by the user, etc. The video unit (22) serves to form the video to be displayed on the display unit (60), and the storage unit (23) stores various programs and / or data necessary for the operations of the control unit (20) / calculation unit (21) / video unit (22), etc.

[0054] The sensing unit (30) is for sensing the movement of the golf club and / or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user, etc., to grasp the information necessary for the calculation process, and sensing means such as a camera or a sensing sensor having a sensing function can be used as the sensing unit (30). The input unit (40) is for receiving various information and commands from the user, etc., and a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, etc. can be used as the input device. The sound unit (50) includes an acoustic device such as a speaker, and through this, it serves to guide the user about the progress of the game and play various effect sounds according to the progress of the game. The display unit (60) includes devices for display operations such as a projector and a screen. The projector projects the golf video onto the screen so that the video of the golf course and the golf ball is displayed on the screen, and the screen serves to display the projected golf video and provide it to the user.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 14, the terrain adjusting means (70) is for adjusting the terrain of the hitting mat and is disposed under the hitting mat. The terrain adjusting means (70) includes a plurality of adjusting mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74). The configurations of the plurality of adjusting mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74) are not limited to one form and can have various forms. For example, each of the plurality of adjusting mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74) includes a contact portion that contacts a specific point on the bottom surface of the hitting mat and a driving portion that can move the contact portion up and down. When the contact portion moves upward, the portion of the bottom surface that contacts the corresponding contact portion rises, and when the contact portion moves downward, the portion of the bottom surface that contacts the corresponding contact portion can be in a flat or downward concave form. By appropriately adjusting the heights of the plurality of contact portions in this way, the terrain of the hitting mat can be formed into a desired form. For example, as shown in FIG. 14a, if all the contact portions in the plurality of adjusting mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74) are at the same height, the hitting mat will have a flat terrain. As shown in FIG. 14b, if some of the contact portions in the plurality of adjusting mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74) rise upward and some are located downward, an inclined terrain can be formed on the hitting mat. In this way, the terrain characteristics of the hitting mat can be adjusted to a desired form using the terrain adjusting means (70).

[0056] Specifically, referring to FIG. 15, when the point where the virtual golf ball is placed in the screen is an uneven non-flat terrain, the control unit (20) can control the terrain adjusting means (70) to operate so that the uneven shape of the non-flat terrain is formed on the actual hitting mat so that the non-flat terrain characteristics are embodied on the hitting mat. By using the terrain adjusting means (70) in this way, the terrain characteristics of the point where the virtual golf ball is placed in the screen can be embodied on the actual hitting mat, and the user can experience the reality as if hitting a golf ball on an actual golf course.

[0057] In the terrain adjustment means (70), the greater the number of adjustment mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74), the smaller the range of the area where the terrain is adjusted by one adjustment mechanism. Therefore, if the number of adjustment mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74) increases and they are uniformly arranged over the entire hitting mat, more complex and diverse terrain characteristics can be formed on the hitting mat. In an actual golf course, not only the terrain where the golf ball is placed but also the terrain where the user who hits the golf ball is located may be uneven terrain that is not flat. Therefore, in order to improve the reality of virtual golf play, the terrain at the location where the user of the hitting plate (10) is located can also be formed as uneven terrain. For example, the adjustment mechanisms (71, 72, 73, 74) of the terrain adjustment means (70) are also provided at the hitting area where the user is located on the hitting plate (10), and by controlling the operation of the adjustment mechanisms in the hitting area, the terrain characteristics in the vicinity of the location where the virtual golf ball is located on the screen (near the left side of the virtual golf ball (the location where the user is located when a right-handed user hits) or near the right side of the virtual golf ball (the location where the user is located when a left-handed user hits)) can be reproduced.

[0058] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 16, the virtual golf apparatus according to this embodiment includes a plurality of booths (101, 102, 103). Each booth (101, 102, 103) is identically configured. For example, the first booth (101) includes a hitting plate (101a), a computer device (101b) having a kiosk screen, a screen (101c), etc., and the other booths (102, 103) also have the same components. Although not shown in the drawings, each booth (101, 102, 103) is further provided with sensing means such as a camera for sensing the movement of the golf club / golf ball during hitting and other devices. In each booth (101, 102, 103), a large number of users can play golf alternately. Alternatively, in each booth (101, 102, 103), a user can play solo in a state of being separated from the users in other booths. In the virtual golf apparatus according to this embodiment, the computer device (101b) can serve as a control unit having functions such as a calculation unit / video unit / storage unit in the virtual golf apparatus of the foregoing embodiment. Also, in the virtual golf apparatus according to this embodiment, similar to the foregoing embodiment, an image of a hitting mat on which a virtual golf course on which the user plays and a hitting golf ball are placed can be displayed on the screen (101c).

[0059] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a virtual golf system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 17, the virtual golf system includes a virtual golf device (100) and a service device (200). As the virtual golf device (100), a virtual golf device as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 16 or the like can be used. Similar to the virtual golf device in the foregoing embodiments, an image of a hitting mat on which a virtual golf course on which a user plays and a golf ball for hitting are placed can be displayed on the screen provided in the virtual golf device (100). The virtual golf device (100) is installed in a home or public screen golf course where screen golf can be played. When there are a plurality of screen golf courses, the virtual golf device (100) is installed for each screen golf course and a plurality of them are provided in total. The virtual golf device (100) is connected to the service device (200) via a wired or wireless communication network or the like. The service device (200) includes a server used by a service provider operating a plurality of screen golf courses to manage the virtual golf devices (100) provided in the plurality of screen golf courses.

[0060] The service device (200) includes a storage unit (210). The storage unit (210) stores various information including golf course information and user information. When a user who intends to use the screen golf service first logs in to receive the above service, the service device (200) verifies the identity of the user and determines whether to approve the login, and the storage unit (210) stores information for verifying the identity of the user. The storage unit (210) stores not only information for verifying the identity of the user but also various user information regarding the user's play record and golf ability, etc., and also stores golf course information necessary for forming an image of a virtual golf course in the virtual golf device (100). By storing various information in the storage unit (210) in this way, the plurality of virtual golf devices (100) connected to the service device (200) by wire and / or wirelessly can utilize the information stored in the storage unit (210), and it is not necessary to separately store user information and / or golf course information, etc. in each of the virtual golf devices (100).

[0061] The specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains will be able to understand that the present invention can be embodied in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered from an illustrative rather than a limiting perspective. The scope of the present invention is shown not in the foregoing description but in the claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 10: Impact plate 20: Control unit 30: Sensing unit 40: Input unit 50: Sound unit 60: Display unit 70: Terrain adjustment means 100: Virtual golf device 200: Service device

Claims

1. A display unit for displaying a golf video, A hitting mat on which an actual golf ball to be hit by a user is placed, A calculation unit that, when the user hits the actual golf ball, calculates the movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on a virtual golf course in the golf video based on the state of the hit actual golf ball comprising, The golf video includes an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball is placed before the user hits the actual golf ball A virtual golf device.

2. The hitting mat in the golf video is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the virtual golf ball on the virtual golf course before the user hits the actual golf ball. The virtual golf device according to claim 1.

3. The golf video is formed by combining a second image showing the hitting mat with a first image showing the virtual golf course, and the second image is overlaid on the first image so that the terrain of the portion covered by the hitting mat in the first image can be identified. The virtual golf device according to claim 1.

4. The golf video further includes at least one of an image near the hitting mat and an image of the user located near the hitting mat. The virtual golf device according to claim 1.

5. The image of the hitting mat in the golf video is formed using a captured image of the actual golf ball placed on the hitting mat. The virtual golf device according to claim 1.

6. When the area where the hitting mat is located and the area where the user is located near the hitting mat are defined as a hitting area, the virtual golf device further includes terrain adjustment means capable of forming at least a part of the hitting area into a flat terrain or an uneven terrain. The virtual golf device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A service device, and at least one or more virtual golf devices communicatively connected to the service device comprising, The virtual golf device includes a display unit that displays a golf video, a hitting mat on which an actual golf ball to be hit by a user is placed, and a calculation unit that calculates the movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the actual golf ball on a virtual golf course in the golf video based on the state of the hit actual golf ball when the user hits the actual golf ball. The golf video includes an image of the hitting mat on which the actual golf ball is placed before the user hits the actual golf ball. Virtual golf system.

Images