Golf distance recommendation device capable of generating a recommended distance at a third position

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a golf distance recommendation method for a golf distance recommendation device to provide a recommended distance from a ball to a target at a third location, the method including the steps of (a) acquiring position information of a ball located within a hole, (b) acquiring position information of a target located within the hole, and (c) generating a recommended shot distance from the ball to the target based on the acquired information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf distance recommendation device that can generate a recommended distance at a third position, and to a distance recommendation device that can recommend a shot distance from a golf ball to a target even at a point far from the golf ball or the target. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, with the increase in golf facilities such as screen golf courses and indoor golf driving ranges, golf is gradually developing into a popular sport in Korea. In particular, as the golfing population increases, the number of golfers playing rounds on golf courses is also increasing.

[0003] When playing a round on a field, after sending a golf ball far away, the golfer rides a cart to the location where the golf ball landed. The golfer estimates the approximate distance from the golf ball to the target from the cart, selects a specific club from the various clubs on the cart, and then walks to the golf ball with the selected club.

[0004] However, if the golf ball is far away from the cart, it is common to move to the golf ball's location with two or three clubs, depending on the estimate, since it is not possible to know the distance from the golf ball to the target and the strategy for hitting the target in detail.

[0005] On the other hand, from the perspective of golf spectators, they watch golf games near roads where carts can pass, but because they cannot know the exact distance from the golf ball to the target on the field, the information they can acquire while watching is limited. Therefore, there is a need for a technology that allows a player to grasp the target distance from the golf ball to the target in detail even at a third position other than the position of the golf ball. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to enable a user to accurately obtain the target distance from the ball to the target at a third position other than the position of the ball or the target. Another object of the present invention is to enable spectators of a golf game to grasp information on the distance from the ball to the target and information on the target distance for an accurate shot. The object of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned object, and other objects not mentioned above will be clearly understood from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention to achieve the above object, a golf distance recommendation method is provided for a golf distance recommendation device to provide a recommended distance from a ball to a target at a third location, the method including the steps of (a) acquiring position information of a ball located within a hole, (b) acquiring position information of a target located within the hole, and (c) generating a recommended shot distance from the ball to the target based on the acquired information.

[0008] The step (a) includes a step of calculating the horizontal distance to the ball based on measurement information including the straight-line distance from the current position to the ball and the inclination to the ball; the step (b) includes a step of calculating the horizontal distance to the target based on measurement information including the straight-line distance from the current position to the target and the inclination to the target; and the step (c) includes a step of calculating the horizontal distance from the ball to the target based on measurement information for the angle between the ball and the target relative to the current position, the horizontal distance to the ball, and the horizontal distance to the target.

[0009] The step (c) may further include a step of generating a recommended distance for sending the ball to the target based on the straight-line distance and inclination to the ball, the vertical distance from the ball to the target calculated based on the straight-line distance and inclination to the target, and the horizontal distance from the ball to the target.

[0010] The step (a) may include a step of confirming absolute position information of the ball, and the step (b) may include a step of confirming absolute position information of the target.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a golf distance recommendation device is provided, which includes a ball characteristic calculation unit that acquires position information of a ball located within a hole, a target characteristic calculation unit that acquires position information of a target located within the hole, and a distance recommendation unit that generates a recommended shot distance from the ball to the target based on the acquired information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user can accurately obtain the target distance from the ball to the target at a third position that is not the position of the ball or the target. According to an embodiment of the present invention, even spectators of a golf game can grasp information about the distance from the ball to the target and information about the target distance for an accurate shot, making the viewing experience more interesting. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a golf distance recommendation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a method for calculating the horizontal distance from a ball to a target according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a method for generating a recommended distance for sending a ball to a target according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The following detailed description of the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that various embodiments of the present invention, although different from one another, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, a particular shape, structure, and characteristic described herein in connection with one embodiment may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not intended to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which those claims, when properly interpreted, are entitled. Like reference numerals in the figures refer to the same or similar functionality throughout the various aspects.

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a golf distance recommendation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a golf distance recommendation device 100 according to one embodiment may include a distance measurement unit 110, an angle measurement unit 120, a ball characteristic calculation unit 130, a target characteristic calculation unit 140, a ball-to-target characteristic calculation unit 150, and a distance recommendation unit 160.

[0017] At least some of the distance measurement unit 110, angle measurement unit 120, ball characteristic calculation unit 130, target characteristic calculation unit 140, ball-target characteristic calculation unit 150, and distance recommendation unit 160 may be program modules or hardware capable of communicating with an external device. Such program modules or hardware may be included in the distance recommendation device 100 or other devices capable of communicating therewith in the form of an operating system, application module, or other program module, and may be physically stored in various known storage devices. Meanwhile, such program modules or hardware include, but are not limited to, routines, subroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific tasks or execute specific abstract data types, as described below, according to the present invention.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the distance measurement unit 110 may include a laser emitter, and may measure the distance to the target by emitting a laser to the target, measuring the time it takes for the emitted laser to be reflected by the target and return, and multiplying the measured time by the speed of the laser. The distance measurement unit 110 may also include a GPS-based distance measurement unit or other module for measuring the distance to the target.

[0019] The distance measurement unit 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention measures the distance from the user's position, that is, the position of the distance recommendation device 100, to the golf ball and the target.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the angle measurement unit 120 may be implemented in the form of a gyro sensor, and when the distance recommendation device 100 is positioned to face a specific target, the angle of inclination of the distance recommendation device 100 with respect to a horizontal plane, i.e., the angle of inclination from the current position to the target. In addition, when the first point and the second point are viewed from the third point, the angle measurement unit 120 may also measure the angle between the first point and the second point relative to the third point. For this purpose, the angle measurement unit 120 may further include an acceleration sensor or a geomagnetic sensor.

[0021] The operations of the ball characteristic calculation unit 130, the target characteristic calculation unit 140, and the ball-target characteristic calculation unit 150 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0022] When the user lifts the distance recommendation device 100 and points it toward the golf ball B, the distance measurement unit 110 of the distance recommendation device 100 measures the straight-line distance MA' to the ball B. In addition, the inclination angle measurement unit 120 can measure the inclination angle MAA to the ball B based on the horizontal plane on which the distance recommendation device 100 is located.

[0023] In the example of Figure 2, assume that MA' is 48.531 m and MAA is 5.77 degrees. The ball distance characteristic calculation unit 130 can calculate the height A'A to the ball and the horizontal distance MA to the ball based on the horizontal plane where the distance recommendation device 100 is located, using trigonometric functions based on the MA' and MAA values. Specifically, they can be calculated as in the following Equation 1 and Equation 2, respectively. [Formula 1] JPEG0007785363000001.jpg16127[Formula 2] JPEG0007785363000002.jpg16127

[0024] Meanwhile, when the user lifts the distance recommendation device 100 and faces the target T, the distance measurement unit 110 of the distance recommendation device 100 measures the linear distance MB' to the target T. In addition, the tilt angle measurement unit 120 can measure the tilt angle MBA to the target T based on the horizontal plane on which the distance recommendation device 100 is located.

[0025] 2, it is assumed that MB' is 73.99 m and MAA is −3.10 degrees. MAA being a negative number means that target T is located 3.10 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0026] Meanwhile, when the distance recommendation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a GPS-based distance recommendation device or a GPS and laser combined distance recommendation device, the ball characteristic calculation unit 130 can acquire absolute position information of the ball B (e.g., information including latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.).

[0027] For example, the current position of the distance recommendation device 100 is sensed via a GPS satellite signal, and the position of ball B from the current position can be determined based on the above equations 1 and 2, thereby making it possible to confirm the absolute position of ball B.

[0028] The target characteristic calculation unit 140 can calculate the height B'B to the target and the horizontal distance MB to the target based on the horizontal plane where the distance recommendation device 100 is located, using trigonometric functions based on the MB' value and the MBA value. Specifically, they can be calculated as in Equation 3 and Equation 4 below, respectively. [Formula 3] JPEG0007785363000003.jpg16127[Formula 4] JPEG0007785363000004.jpg16127

[0029] Meanwhile, when the user lifts the distance recommendation device 100 and points it toward the ball B, and then points it toward the target T, the angle measurement unit 120 can measure the horizontal angle ABA between the ball B and the target T based on the position of the distance recommendation device 100. In the example of Figure 2, assume that ABA is 90.23 degrees.

[0030] Meanwhile, when the distance recommendation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a GPS-based distance recommendation device or a GPS and laser combined distance recommendation device, the target characteristic calculation unit 140 can acquire absolute position information of the target T (e.g., information including latitude, longitude, altitude, etc.).

[0031] For example, the current position of the distance recommendation device 100 is sensed via a GPS satellite signal, and the position of the target T from the current position can be determined based on Equations 3 and 4, thereby making it possible to confirm the absolute position of the target T.

[0032] In addition, hole information for each golf course may be stored in a database or other server, and this information includes the position information of the target T for each hole. Therefore, by obtaining such information, the absolute position of the target T can be determined.

[0033] According to this embodiment, it is sufficient to know the absolute position of the target T, so when the distance recommendation device 100 calculates the position of the ball B and the position of the target T, they do not need to be located at the same point.

[0034] That is, after the user calculates the position of the ball B through the distance recommendation device 100 in the cart, the user can move to another position and detect the position of the target T.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the ball-to-target characteristic calculation unit 150 can calculate the horizontal distance AB from ball B to target T based on the horizontal distance MA from the position of the distance recommendation device 100 to ball B, the horizontal distance MB to target T, and the horizontal angle ABA between ball B and target T, as follows: [Formula 5] JPEG0007785363000005.jpg40127 Meanwhile, based on the height A'A from the current point to ball B and the height B'B to target T, the height from ball B to target T can be calculated (B'B-A'A). Using this value and the horizontal distance AB(x) from ball B to target T calculated above, the tilt angle y from ball B to target B can be calculated as follows: [Formula 6] JPEG0007785363000006.jpg24127

[0036] Meanwhile, the distance recommendation unit 160 according to an embodiment may calculate a recommended shot distance from the ball B to the target T based on the calculated horizontal distance AB from the ball B to the target T.

[0037] This process will now be described with reference to FIG. First, a user can input reference information through the distance recommendation device 100 or a separate device capable of communicating with the distance recommendation device 100, for example, a separate smart device, etc. Here, the reference information is information for determining the landing angle, i.e., the angle between the direction in which the golf ball hits the ground and the vertical after the golfer hits the shot, and the landing angle is used to calculate a recommended shot distance for sending the golf ball to the target.

[0038] The reference information may be, for example, the distance that a golf ball can be sent when a shot is made using a 7-iron 7i for each golfer. Such reference information may be input by the user, or may be set in advance (for example, 140 m or 150 m).

[0039] The landing angle for each reference information may be obtained based on information matched in a table format, for example, as follows. [Table 1]

[0040] The distance recommendation unit 160 calculates the recommended distance for the shot to send the ball to the target, using the height h from the ball B to the target T and the landing angle acquired by referring to the reference information. Since the horizontal distance AB from the ball B to the target T has already been calculated, it is only necessary to calculate the additional distance Z for sending the ball B to the target T. This is calculated according to the following formula 7. [Formula 7] JPEG0007785363000008.jpg15120h is the height from ball B to target T, which can be calculated based on the already calculated height A'A from the current position to ball B and the height B'B to target T (h=B'B-A'A=-4.0m-4.8m=-8.8m).

[0041] Assuming that the landing angle C is 41 degrees, the additional distance Z is −7.7 m. The recommended distance for sending ball B to target T is calculated as the sum of the horizontal distance AB from ball B to target T and the additional distance Z, and in the above example, 80.7 m (= 88.4 m - 7.7 m) can be calculated.

[0042] Meanwhile, when the distance recommendation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a GPS-based distance recommendation device or a distance recommendation device using a combination of GPS and laser, the absolute position information of the ball B and the target T can be confirmed as described above, and thus the linear distance, horizontal distance, height, etc. from the ball B to the target T can be calculated, and the additional distance Z and the recommended distance can be calculated in the same manner as described above.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the present invention, even if the user is not at the position of the ball B or the target T, the attack distance from the ball B to the target T can be obtained at a third position. In particular, when the positions of the ball B and the target T are confirmed based on GPS, the process of confirming the position of the ball B and the process of confirming the position of the target T may be performed at different positions.

[0044] This allows players to set their target from the cart and select the right club. Also, spectators of golf games can see the distance information from ball B to target T and the target distance information for an accurate shot, making for a more interesting viewing experience.

[0045] The above description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting. For example, each component described as a single component may be implemented in a distributed form, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

[0046] The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims that follow, and all modifications and variations that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. 1. A method for a golf distance recommendation device to provide a recommended distance from a first location to a second location at a third location, comprising: calculating a height and a horizontal distance to the first position based on the position of the golf distance recommendation device based on measurement information including a straight-line distance and a slope from the golf distance recommendation device to the first position, thereby obtaining position information of the first position; calculating a height and a horizontal distance to the second location based on the position of the golf distance recommendation device based on measurement information including a straight-line distance and a slope from the golf distance recommendation device to the second location, thereby obtaining position information of the second location; and calculating a horizontal distance between the first position and the second position based on a horizontal angle between the first position and the second position, a horizontal distance to the first position, and a horizontal distance to the second position, using the golf distance recommendation device as a reference, to generate a shot recommendation distance from the first position where a ball is located to the second position, calculating an additional distance for sending the ball from the first position to the second position using a difference between a height to the first position and a height to the second position measured based on the position of the golf distance recommendation device; and generating the recommended distance by reflecting the additional distance calculated at the position of the golf distance recommendation device in the recommended shot distance. A method for providing a recommended distance from the first location to the second location at a third location.

2. The step of calculating the additional distance includes:

2. The method for providing a recommended distance from a first position to a second position at a third position, comprising: inputting reference information from a user to determine a landing angle; and calculating the additional distance by taking the landing angle into account together with the height from the first position to the second position.

Images