Ball hitting parameter measurement device and ball hitting parameter measurement method

Abstract

In the present invention, a sensor control unit 201 uses a Doppler sensor to receive emitted microwaves and waves reflected from a moving body in a hitting area. A generation control unit 202 generates distribution data indicating the distribution of signal strength at each speed at the time of reception. An accumulation control unit 203 starts accumulation of the distribution data generated over time. A reverse reproduction control unit 204 reproduces the distribution data accumulated over time in reverse time toward the past from the time of the distribution data at which the signal strength dropped below an analysis start threshold. A BS calculation control unit 205 specifies, as a ball peak, a prescribed peak among peaks of the signal strength of the distribution data reproduced in reverse time, and calculates the speed of a golf ball. An HS calculation control unit 206: specifies, from among the distribution data reproduced in reverse time, distribution data of a time at which the ball peak disappeared; and calculates the speed of a golf club head on the basis of a prescribed head peak from among the peaks of the signal strength of the specified distribution data.

Description

Ball hitting parameter measuring device and ball hitting parameter measuring method

[0001] The present invention relates to a hitting ball parameter measuring device and a hitting ball parameter measuring method.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a technology for measuring the speed of a golf ball (also called ball speed) and the speed of a golf club head (also called head speed) when a golf player hits the golf ball with the head of a golf club at a golf driving range or golf course.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2014-178292 (Patent Document 1) discloses a speed detection device, a speed detection method, and a program. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2014-062882 (Patent Document 2) discloses a device for measuring the rotation speed of a moving object. International Publication No. 2022 / 254996 (Patent Document 3) discloses a processing device. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008 / 0188353 (Patent Document 4) discloses an apparatus and method for predicting athletic ability. U.S. Patent No. 6,456,232 (Patent Document 5) discloses a system for determining the speed and timing of an object. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-210638 (Patent Document 6) discloses a device for measuring the movement of a golf club head. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-153930 (Patent Document 7) discloses a head speed measurement device. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-022739 (Patent Document 8) discloses a golf support system and program. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-253238 (Patent Document 9) discloses a head speed measurement device. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-089907 (Patent Document 10) discloses a moving object speed measurement device. Republished Patent No. 2014 / 045496 (Patent Document 11) discloses a moving object measurement device and measurement method. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-071387 (Patent Document 12) discloses a ball tracking device and ball tracking method. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-169950 (Patent Document 13) discloses a ball flight detection device and ball flight detection method.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-178292 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-062882 International Publication No. 2022 / 254996 US Patent Application Publication No. 2008 / 0188353 US Patent No. 6,456,232 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-210638 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-153930 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-022739 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-253238 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-089907 Republished Patent No. 2014 / 045496 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-071387 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-169950

[0005] Here, the ball speed and head speed when hitting a golf ball with a golf club head, and the smash factor calculated using these, are also called hit ball parameters, and indicate the quality of a golf player's play. Therefore, hit ball parameters are values ​​that are of great interest to golf players, and golf players are always seeking hit ball parameter measuring devices that can measure hit ball parameters with high accuracy.

[0006] On the other hand, a hitting ball parameter measurement device typically measures ball speed and head speed by installing a Doppler sensor behind the batter's box. Here, the Doppler sensor emits microwaves toward the batter's box and receives the microwaves reflected from the moving object, such as a golf club head or golf ball, present at the batter's box. The hitting ball parameter measurement device then calculates the ball speed and head speed of the moving object based on the difference between the frequency of the emitted microwaves and the frequency of the received microwaves from the Doppler sensor.

[0007] Since the Doppler sensor receives reflected microwaves from all moving objects at bat, it receives reflected microwaves related to the golf player's body movements as well as the golf club head and golf ball, and calculates the velocities related to these movements as noise. As a result, it is difficult to distinguish between ball speed and head speed, which poses a problem in that it is not possible to measure head speed or ball speed with high accuracy.

[0008] In particular, with regard to head speed, the Doppler sensor receives microwaves reflected from the movement of the golf club head as well as microwaves reflected from the movement of the golf player's hands and arms operating the golf club. Therefore, when calculating head speed, the ball hitting parameter measurement device also calculates velocities related to the movement of the golf player's hands and arms, which always includes noise in the head speed, making it difficult to identify the head speed. Here, the technologies described in Patent Documents 1-13 have the same problems as those described above, and are unable to measure ball speed or head speed with high accuracy.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a hitting ball parameter measurement device and a hitting ball parameter measurement method that are capable of measuring ball speed and head speed with high accuracy.

[0010] The hit ball parameter measurement device according to the present invention includes a sensor control unit, a generation control unit, an accumulation control unit, a reverse playback control unit, a BS calculation control unit, and an HS calculation control unit. The sensor control unit uses a Doppler sensor to emit microwaves toward a tee where a golf player hits a golf ball with a golf club head, and receives the emitted microwaves and reflected waves from a moving object at the tee. The generation control unit generates distribution data indicating a distribution of signal strength for each velocity at the time of reception based on the received microwaves and reflected waves. The accumulation control unit starts accumulating distribution data generated over time when the signal strength of some velocities in the generated distribution data exceeds a predetermined acquisition start threshold. The reverse playback control unit plays back the distribution data accumulated over time in a reverse chronological manner, starting from the time of distribution data at which the signal strength fell below the predetermined analysis start threshold, when the signal strength of all velocities in the accumulated distribution data falls below the predetermined analysis start threshold. The BS calculation control unit identifies, among the signal intensity peaks of the distribution data reproduced in the reverse chronological order, a peak indicating a maximum velocity or a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined ball peak as a ball peak, and calculates the velocity of the golf ball based on the identified ball peak.The HS calculation control unit identifies, among the distribution data reproduced in the reverse chronological order, distribution data at the time when the ball peak disappeared, and identifies, among the signal intensity peaks of the identified distribution data, a peak indicating a maximum velocity or a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined head peak as a head peak, and calculates the velocity of the head of the golf club based on the head peak.

[0011] The hitting ball parameter measurement method according to the present invention includes a sensor control step, a generation control step, an accumulation control step, a reverse playback control step, a BS calculation control step, and an HS calculation control step, where each control step of the hitting ball parameter measurement method corresponds to each control unit of the hitting ball parameter measurement device.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to measure ball speed and head speed with high accuracy.

[0013] 1 is a schematic diagram of a hitting ball parameter measurement device according to the present invention; 2 is a functional block diagram of a hitting ball parameter measurement device according to the present invention; 3 is a flowchart showing the execution procedure of a hitting ball parameter measurement method according to the present invention; 4A is a diagram showing an example of a Doppler sensor, a measurement device, a display device, and an image capture device of a hitting ball parameter measurement device according to the present invention, and 4B is a diagram showing an example of first distribution data at a first time obtained by the Doppler sensor; 5A is a diagram showing an example of first distribution data at a first time and second distribution data at a second time, and 5B is a diagram showing an example of third distribution data at a third time and storage in a memory; 6A is a diagram showing an example of fourth distribution data at a fourth time and fifth distribution data at a fifth time, and 6B is a diagram showing an example of sixth distribution data at a sixth time and seventh distribution data at a seventh time. FIG. 7A shows an example of calculating ball speed using analysis data played back in reverse chronological order, and FIG. 7B shows an example of calculating head speed using analysis data played back in reverse chronological order. FIG. 8A shows an example of various head peak shapes, and FIG. 8B shows an example of an image of a turn at bat and a trajectory of a golf ball using a trigger time. FIG. 9A shows an example of identifying a ball peak, and FIG. 9B shows an example of identifying a head peak. FIG. 10A shows an example of an embodiment of a ball hitting parameter measurement device, and FIG. 10B shows an example of an image of a golf player's swing. FIG. 11A shows an example of third distribution data at a third time indicating an acquisition start threshold, and FIG. 11B shows an example of seventh distribution data at a seventh time indicating an analysis start threshold. 12A is a diagram showing an example of calculating a ball speed using sixth distribution data at a sixth time, and FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of calculating a head speed using fourth distribution data at a fourth time. It is a diagram showing an example of calculation results of the ball speed and the head speed in a reference example and an example.

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to help understand the present invention. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the hitting ball parameter measuring device 1 according to the present invention is provided at a hitting box 100 where a golf player P hits a golf ball B with a golf club head H, and comprises a Doppler sensor 10 and a measuring device 11.

[0016] Doppler sensor 10 includes transmitter 10a and receiver 10b, and emits microwaves from transmitter 10a above batter's box 100. The microwaves are then irradiated onto a moving object (e.g., golf club head H, golf ball B, golf player P, etc.) present above batter's box 100 and reflected, and Doppler sensor 10 receives the reflected microwaves at receiver 10b.

[0017] The measuring device 11 is communicatively connected to the Doppler sensor 10, and calculates the speed of the golf ball B (ball speed) and the speed of the golf club head H (head speed) based on the frequency of the microwaves emitted from the Doppler sensor 10 and the frequency of the reflected waves of the received microwaves (described below).

[0018] The hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 may also include a display device 12. The display device 12 is communicably connected to the measurement device 11 and displays the ball speed, head speed, etc. calculated by the measurement device 11. Here, the measurement device 11 may also serve as the display device 12, and may be, for example, a terminal device or a mobile terminal device in which the measurement device 11 and the display device 12 are integrated.

[0019] The hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 may also include an image capture device 13. The image capture device 13 is communicably connected to the measurement device 11 and captures images of the tee box 100. The measurement device 11 utilizes the image from the image capture device 13 and the calculated ball speed and head speed to display the trajectory of the ball B and the movement of the golf player P within the image. Here, the image capture device 13 may be, for example, a high-performance camera capable of high-resolution, high-speed continuous shooting. The image capture device 13 is basically a single camera, but may also be multiple cameras (for example, two).

[0020] Here, there are no particular limitations on the configuration of the Doppler sensor 10, measuring device 11, display device 12, and image capturing device 13, but for example, all of the devices may be configured as terminal devices or mobile terminal devices, or the Doppler sensor 10 and image capturing device 13 may be installed at the hitting bay 100, the measuring device 11 may be a cloud on the network, and the display device 12 and image capturing device 13 may be mobile terminal devices that the golf player carries with them to the field.

[0021] The Doppler sensor 10 and the measuring device 11 each incorporate a CPU (GPU), ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown), and the CPU uses the RAM as a work area, for example, to execute programs stored in the ROM, etc. Furthermore, if a display device 12 and an image capturing device 13 are present, the display device 12 and the image capturing device 13 also incorporate a CPU (GPU), ROM, RAM, etc. Furthermore, each control unit (described later) is realized by the CPU executing a program.

[0022] Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Golf player P visits a golf driving range or golf course and, as shown in Figure 4A, turns on the Doppler sensor 10 and measurement device 11 of the ball hitting parameter measurement device 1 installed at the hitting box 100. This then activates the Doppler sensor 10 and measurement device 11 (Figure 3: S101).

[0023] Here, there are no particular limitations on the configuration of the Doppler sensor 10 and the measuring device 11 of the hitting ball parameter measuring device 1. For example, the Doppler sensor 10 and the measuring device 11 can be connected via wireless communication, and the Doppler sensor 10 is installed in advance behind the batter's box 100. Then, when the golf player P turns on the power to the Doppler sensor 10 and the Doppler sensor 10 starts up, the Doppler sensor 10 emits microwaves toward the batter's box 100. Then, if there is a moving object above the batter's box 100, the microwaves are reflected by the moving object and become reflected waves, and the Doppler sensor 10 receives the reflected waves from the moving object above the batter's box 100.

[0024] Furthermore, the measuring device 11 may be, for example, a terminal device that is installed in advance at the batter's box 100, or a portable terminal device carried by the golf player P. Then, when the golf player P starts software (app) that has been downloaded in advance to the measuring device 11, the sensor control unit 201 of the measuring device 11 begins wireless communication with the Doppler sensor 10. Here, when the Doppler sensor 10 emits microwaves toward the batter's box 100 or receives reflected waves from a moving object above the batter's box 100, the sensor control unit 201 communicates with the Doppler sensor 10 to receive the microwaves emitted from the Doppler sensor 10 and the reflected waves from the moving object above the batter's box 100.

[0025] If the ball hitting parameter measuring device 1 is equipped with a display device 12, when the golf player P turns on the display device 12, the display device 12 starts wireless communication with the measuring device 11. The display device 12 is provided, for example, on the side of the tee box 100, and the golf player P who has taken a swing at the tee box 100 can immediately check the ball speed, head speed, etc. that have been measured thereafter on the display device 12.

[0026] Furthermore, if the hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 is equipped with an image capturing device 13, when the golf player P activates the image capturing device 13, the image capturing device 13 begins wireless communication with the measurement device 11. The image capturing device 13 is provided, for example, behind the tee box 100 and captures images of the area around the tee box 100, and the golf player P can immediately check the images and videos captured by the image capturing device 13 on the measurement device 11 or the display device 12.

[0027] 4B, when golf player P stands on the batter's box 100 and places golf ball B on the batter's box 100, the sensor control unit 201 receives the emitted microwaves and the reflected waves from golf player P using the Doppler sensor 10 (FIG. 3: S102). This makes it possible to use the Doppler sensor 10 to monitor golf player P on the batter's box 100 swinging golf ball B with the head H of the golf club.

[0028] Now, when the sensor control unit 201 receives the microwaves and reflected waves, the generation control unit 202 of the measuring device 11 then generates distribution data indicating the distribution of signal strength for each speed at the time of reception based on the received microwaves and reflected waves (Figure 3: S103).

[0029] Here, there is no particular limitation on the generation method of the generation control unit 202. For example, the generation control unit 202 performs a predetermined frequency analysis process on the transmitted microwaves and the received reflected waves to generate distribution data D1 that indicates the distribution of signal strength I(-) for each speed V (m / s), as shown in Fig. 4B. Here, there is no particular limitation on the frequency analysis, and examples include fast Fourier transform and complex fast Fourier transform.

[0030] Here, in addition to the received microwaves and reflected waves, the generated distribution data D1 may contain noise specific to the Doppler sensor 10. In such cases, the generation control unit 202 may apply a predetermined filter to the generated distribution data D1 to remove the noise specific to the device from the distribution data D1. This allows the ball speed BS and head speed HS to be calculated with high accuracy.

[0031] The generation control unit 202 then obtains the first time t1 (s) at which the microwave and the reflected wave were received from a pre-installed timer, and generates the first distribution data D1 at the first time t1 by associating the obtained first time t1 with the generated first distribution data D1. This makes it possible to represent the movement of the golf player P at the hitting box 100 as a distribution of signal strength I(-) for each speed V (m / s), and to associate the time with the distribution.

[0032] After the generation control unit 202 generates the first distribution data D1, the accumulation control unit 203 of the measuring device 11 determines whether the signal strength I(-) of some speeds V (m / s) in the generated first distribution data D1 exceeds a preset acquisition start threshold Ts(-) (FIG. 3: S104). If the signal strength I(-) of some speeds V (m / s) in the first distribution data D1 exceeds the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) (FIG. 3: S104 YES), the accumulation control unit 203 starts accumulating the distribution data D generated over time (FIG. 3: S105).

[0033] There is no particular limitation on the accumulation method of the accumulation control unit 203. For example, as shown in Fig. 5A, the accumulation control unit 203 sets an acquisition start threshold Ts(-) for the signal intensities I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) of the first distribution data D1, and determines whether the signal intensities I(-) of some velocities V (m / s) of the first distribution data D1 exceed the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) (Fig. 3: S104).

[0034] Here, the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) is set appropriately depending on the environment of the tee box 100, the type of golf player P, the type of golf club, etc., but it is preferable to, for example, acquire distribution data D in advance when golf player P swings at the tee box 100, and set the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) to the maximum signal strength of the signal strength I(-) of the acquired distribution data D, or a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the maximum signal strength.

[0035] If the result of the determination is that the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) of the first distribution data D1 does not exceed the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), that is, if the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) of the first distribution data D1 is equal to or less than the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), the accumulation control unit 203 determines not to start accumulating the first distribution data D1 yet (FIG. 3: S104 NO). In this case, the process returns to S102, where the sensor control unit 201 receives the microwave and the reflected wave (FIG. 3: S102), and the generation control unit 202 generates distribution data for the next time (FIG. 3: S103).

[0036] In this way, if the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) of the distribution data D does not exceed the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), it means that the golf player P is not moving vigorously on the hitting box 100 and is not swinging the golf club head H. In this case, the accumulation control unit 203 does not start accumulating the distribution data D, thereby making it possible to prevent the accumulation of distribution data D that is not related to the calculation of the ball speed BS or the head speed HS.

[0037] In particular, since the swing time of golf player P is as short as a few seconds, accumulating analysis data D for a long period of time in order to capture a swing time of a few seconds would require a huge amount of memory capacity, which is not realistic. In the present invention, by streamlining the start timing of accumulating distribution data D, it is possible to avoid accumulating unnecessary distribution data D.

[0038] 5A, for example, when golf player P prepares to swing at the plate 100, second analysis data D2 is generated at second time t2 (s) in S103. In this case, golf player P is not swinging the golf club head H, and therefore, in S104, the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the second distribution data D2 does not exceed the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) (FIG. 3: S104 NO). Therefore, in this case, too, the process returns to S102.

[0039] 5B , for example, when golf player P is about to take a swing while standing at the plate 100, third analysis data D3 is generated at a third time t3(s) in S103. In this case, golf player P moves vigorously as he swings the head H of his golf club while standing at the plate 100. As a result, the signal strength I(-) at a particular speed V (m / s) in the third analysis data D3 at the third time t3(s) becomes significantly high, and the signal strength I(-) at some speeds V (m / s) in the third distribution data D3 exceeds the acquisition start threshold Ts(-).

[0040] That is, in S104, if the signal strength I(-) of a portion of the velocity V (m / s) in the third distribution data D3 exceeds the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), the accumulation control unit 203 determines to start accumulating the third distribution data D3 (FIG. 3: S104 YES). In this case, the accumulation control unit 203 stores the third analysis data D3 at the third time t3 (s) in a predetermined memory M provided in advance, and starts accumulating the distribution data D (FIG. 3: S105). This makes it possible to start accumulating the distribution data D from the time when the golf player P is about to take a swing at the hitting box 100, and makes it possible to efficiently accumulate the distribution data D related to the calculation of the ball speed BS and the head speed HS.

[0041] In the above description, the accumulation control unit 203 sets the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) for the signal intensities I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the distribution data D, but this is not limiting. For example, the accumulation control unit 203 may set, among the generated distribution data, velocities equal to or greater than the swing speed related to the swing as the speeds to be determined, and when the signal intensities I(-) of some of the set speeds to be determined exceed the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), start accumulating the distribution data D generated over time. In this way, even if the signal intensity of noise unrelated to the swing, among the generated distribution data, exceeds the acquisition start threshold for some reason, the distribution data is not accumulated, thereby preventing unnecessary accumulation.

[0042] After the storage control unit 203 starts storing the distribution data D, the reverse playback control unit 204 of the measuring device 11 determines whether the signal strength I(-) of all speeds V (m / s) in the stored distribution data D is less than a predetermined analysis start threshold Ta(-) (FIG. 3: S106 YES). When the signal strength I(-) of all speeds V (m / s) in the stored distribution data D is less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-) (FIG. 3: S106 YES), the reverse playback control unit 204 plays back the distribution data D stored over time in a reverse chronological manner, starting from the time of the distribution data D at which the signal strength I(-) became less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-) and moving backward (FIG. 3: S107).

[0043] Here, there is no particular limitation on the reverse time-lapse playback method of the reverse playback control unit 204. For example, following the third time t3 (s), as shown in FIG. 6A , if golf player P swings at the batter's box 100 and hits golf ball B with the head H of the golf club, fourth analysis data D4 is generated at the fourth time t4 (s) and stored in memory M. Then, the reverse playback control unit 204 sets an analysis start threshold Ta(-) for the signal intensities I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the fourth analysis data D4, and determines whether the signal intensities I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the fourth distribution data D4 are less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-) ( FIG. 3 : S106).

[0044] Here, like the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), the analysis start threshold Ta(-) is set appropriately depending on the environment of the tee box 100, the type of golf player P, the type of golf club, etc., but it is preferable to, for example, acquire distribution data D in advance when golf player P completes his swing at the tee box 100, and set the minimum signal strength or an added value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the minimum signal strength from the signal strength I(-) of the acquired distribution data D as the analysis start threshold Ta(-).

[0045] Furthermore, it is preferable that the analysis start threshold Ta(-) be set lower than the acquisition start threshold Ts(-). As a result, when the analysis start threshold Ta(-) is low, the timing to start analysis of the analysis data D, which will be described later, can be brought closer to the completion of the golf player P's swing, making it possible to efficiently accumulate the analysis data D. When the acquisition start threshold Ts(-) is high, the timing to start accumulating the analysis data D can be brought closer to the time just before the golf player P's swing, making it possible to efficiently accumulate the analysis data D.

[0046] If the result of the determination shows that the signal strength I(-) of all speeds V (m / s) of the fourth distribution data D4 is not less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), that is, if the signal strength I(-) of all speeds V (m / s) of the fourth distribution data D4 is equal to or greater than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), the reverse playback control unit 204 determines not to start analysis of the analysis data D yet (FIG. 3: S106 NO). In this case, the process returns to S105, and the storage control unit 203 stores the analysis data D for the next time (FIG. 3: S105).

[0047] In this way, if the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the distribution data D is not less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), there is a high possibility that the golf player P is currently swinging. In this case, the reverse playback control unit 204 does not start analyzing the distribution data D, thereby making it possible to continuously accumulate distribution data D of movements related to the calculation of the ball speed BS and the head speed HS.

[0048] For example, as shown in FIG. 6A , when golf player P is swinging, fifth analysis data D5 is generated at fifth time t5 (s) and stored in memory M. In this case, the fifth distribution data D5 represents the time immediately after golf ball B has been launched, and a peak of signal intensity I(-) appears as a peak of golf ball B at a speed faster than the movement speed of golf player P and the movement speed of golf club head H. Again, since golf player P is still swinging, in S106, none of the signal intensities I(-) at any speed V (m / s) in the fifth distribution data D5 are less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-) ( FIG. 3 : NO in S106). Therefore, in this case, too, the process returns to S105.

[0049] Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B , after golf player P has taken a swing, sixth analysis data D6 is generated at sixth time t6 (s) and stored in memory M. In this case, the sixth analysis data D6 indicates a point when golf ball B has traveled a further distance, with a stronger peak of golf ball B appearing at the same speed as before. Again, since golf player P is still swinging, in S106, the signal intensities I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the sixth distribution data D6 are not less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-) ( FIG. 3 : S106 NO). In this case, too, the process returns to S105.

[0050] On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B , when golf player P finishes his swing and stops his body, seventh analysis data D7 is generated at seventh time t7 (s) and stored in memory M. In this case, the seventh distribution data D7 indicates the time when golf ball B was flying far and golf player P stopped his body. Therefore, in the seventh distribution data D7, the peak of golf ball B appears weaker, at the same velocity as before. Furthermore, because golf player P has stopped his body, the signal strength I(-) of the seventh analysis data D7 is generally weaker at all velocities, and the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the seventh distribution data D7 is less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-).

[0051] That is, in S106, if the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) of the seventh distribution data D7 is determined to be less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), the reverse playback control unit 204 determines to start analyzing the analysis data D (FIG. 3: S106 YES). In this case, the reverse playback control unit 204 refers to the analysis data D stored in the memory M, and plays back the distribution data D accumulated over time in a reverse chronological manner, starting from the seventh time t7 (analysis start time) of the seventh distribution data D7, at which the signal strength I(-) became less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), toward the past (FIG. 3: S107). Here, "playback" means referring to (reading) data arranged over time in order from the beginning, whereas "reverse playback" in the present invention means referring to the chronologically arranged distribution data D in reverse order (reverse chronological manner) from the analysis start time t. This makes it possible to start analyzing the distribution data D from the moment the golf player P finishes his swing, and thus makes it possible to analyze the distribution data D efficiently.

[0052] Furthermore, when the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the accumulated distribution data D becomes less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), the accumulation control unit 203 may terminate accumulation of the analysis data D. This makes it possible to avoid accumulating analysis data D after the golf player P has finished his swing.

[0053] In the above description, the reverse playback control unit 204 sets the analysis start threshold Ta(-) for the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the distribution data D. However, this is not limiting. For example, the reverse playback control unit 204 may set, among the generated distribution data, velocities equal to or greater than the swing end speed related to the swing end as the determination target speed, and when the signal strength I(-) of all the set determination target speeds falls below the analysis start threshold Ta(-), the distribution data accumulated over time may be played back in reverse over time. In this way, even if, for some reason, the signal strength of noise-related signals in the generated distribution data never falls below the analysis start threshold Ta(-), the end of the swing can be accurately determined by limiting the determination target speed to the one at which the signal strength related to the swing end falls below the analysis start threshold Ta(-).

[0054] Now, when the reverse playback control unit 204 plays back the distribution data D in reverse time, the BS calculation control unit 205 of the measuring device 11 next identifies the peak BP indicating the maximum speed among the peaks of the signal strength I(-) of the distribution data D played back in reverse time as the ball peak, and calculates the ball speed BS (m / s) based on the identified ball peak BP (Figure 3: S107).

[0055] Here, the calculation method of the BS calculation control unit 205 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A , based on the memory M, starting from the seventh time t7 of the seventh distribution data D7, the sixth distribution data D6 at the immediately preceding sixth time t6 is reproduced (referenced), and the fifth distribution data D5 at the even earlier fifth time t5 is reproduced. Then, among the signal intensities I(-) of the seventh distribution data D7, the sixth distribution data D6, and the fifth distribution data D5, there is a ball peak BP indicating the maximum velocity. This ball peak BP appears as a narrow peak because it is caused by the golf ball B. This is because the moving object with the fastest velocity in the swing of the golf player P is the golf goal B. Therefore, the BS calculation control unit 205 identifies the ball peak BP indicating the maximum velocity from the signal intensities I(-) of each velocity V (m / s) of the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order.

[0056] Here, there is no particular limitation on the method by which the BS calculation control unit 205 identifies the golf peak BP. For example, the BS calculation control unit 205 identifies the distribution data D at time t (for example, the sixth distribution data D6 at the sixth time t6) at which the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP is strongest from the distribution data D played back in reverse chronological order, and identifies the ball peak BP from the identified distribution data D6, which makes it easier to calculate the ball speed BS (m / s), and is therefore preferable.

[0057] Next, the BS calculation control unit 205 determines the ball speed BS (m / s) using the identified ball peak BP. Here, since the determined ball speed BS (m / s) varies slightly depending on the shape of the ball peak BP, the BS calculation control unit 205 can appropriately adopt a method for determining the ball speed BS (m / s), which will be described later.

[0058] For example, as shown in Figure 7A, the ball speed BS (m / s) may be determined as the velocity V (m / s) representing the peak top PT of the ball peak BP. Alternatively, the peak start PS and peak end PE of the ball peak BP may be identified, and the velocity V (m / s) representing the median value between the peak start PS and peak end PE may be determined as the ball speed BS (m / s). Furthermore, the peak top PT, peak start PS, and peak end PE may be identified, and the peak area of ​​the ball peak BP may be calculated using the peak top PT, peak start PS, peak end PE, and the height of the ball peak BP. The velocity V (m / s) representing the median value of the peak area of ​​the ball peak BP may be determined as the ball speed BS (m / s).

[0059] In this way, by reproducing the distribution data D in reverse chronological order, it is possible to immediately identify the ball peak BP, and to easily calculate the ball speed BS (m / s).

[0060] After the BS calculation control unit 205 calculates the ball speed BS (m / s), the HS calculation control unit 206 of the measurement device 11 next identifies the distribution data D at time t when the ball peak BP disappeared from the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order, and calculates the head speed HS (m / s) based on the head peak HP, which indicates the maximum speed, among the peaks of signal intensity I(-) in the identified distribution data D (FIG. 3: S108). The time t when the ball peak BP disappeared can also be considered to be the time t immediately before the ball peak BP appeared.

[0061] Here, the calculation method of the HS calculation control unit 206 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B , based on the memory M, starting from the sixth time t6 of the sixth distribution data D6 that identified the ball peak BP, the fifth distribution data D5 at the previous fifth time t5 is reproduced, and then the fourth distribution data D4 at the even earlier fourth time t4 is reproduced. Then, as the sixth distribution data D6 is reproduced to the fourth distribution data D4, the signal intensity I(-) of the ball peak BP gradually weakens, and the ball peak BP disappears in the fourth distribution data D4. This indicates the time immediately before the golf player P hits the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club in the swing of the golf player P. Therefore, the HS calculation control unit 206 identifies the fourth distribution data D4 at the fourth time t4, at which the ball peak BP disappeared, from the signal intensity I(-) of the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order.

[0062] Here, there are no particular limitations on the method by which the HS calculation control unit 206 identifies the distribution data D. For example, the HS calculation control unit 206 focuses on the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP among the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order, and determines whether the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP gradually weakens and reaches zero. If the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP reaches zero, the HS calculation control unit 206 infers that the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP has disappeared, and identifies the distribution data D for the time t when the ball peak BP disappeared (for example, the fourth distribution data D4 for the fourth time t4), which is preferable because it makes it easier to calculate the next head speed HS (m / s). Furthermore, depending on the distribution data D, the signal strength I(-) may not be completely zero. Therefore, for example, the HS calculation control unit 206 may determine whether the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP in the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order is below a preset lower threshold value. If the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP is below the lower threshold value, the HS calculation control unit 206 may assume that the signal strength I(-) of the ball peak BP has disappeared, and identify the distribution data D at that time t.

[0063] Next, the HS calculation control unit 206 identifies a head peak HP indicating the maximum speed among the peaks of the signal intensity I(-) of the identified fourth distribution data D4. Here, in the swing of golf player P, the moving object indicating the maximum speed immediately before golf player P hits golf ball B with the head H of the golf club is the head H of the golf club. In other words, the maximum speed immediately after golf player P hits golf ball B with the head H of the golf club is ball speed BS (m / s), while the maximum speed immediately before golf player P hits golf ball B with the head H of the golf club is head speed HS (m / s). Therefore, by estimating the time t at which the ball peak BP disappears to be the time immediately before golf player P hits golf ball B with the head H of the golf club and estimating the fastest moving object at that time to be the head H of the golf club, it is possible to appropriately identify the ball speed BS (m / s) and the head speed HS (m / s).

[0064] 7B , unlike the ball peak BP caused by the golf ball B, the head peak HP caused by the head H of the golf club often appears combined with peaks caused by the arms and legs of the golf player P. Therefore, the HS calculation control unit 206 identifies the wide peak that includes the maximum velocity V (m / s) in the fourth distribution data D4 at the fourth time t4 when the ball peak BP disappeared as the head peak HP.

[0065] The HS calculation control unit 206 then determines the head speed HS (m / s) using the identified head peak HP. Here, since the determined head speed HS (m / s) varies slightly depending on the shape of the head peak HP, the HS calculation control unit 206 can appropriately adopt a method for determining the head speed BS (m / s), which will be described later.

[0066] For example, as shown in Figure 7B, if the head peak HP and a large peak P indicating a slow speed are combined, but the peak top PT of the head peak HP can be confirmed, the speed HV (m / s) indicating the peak top PT of the head peak HP may be determined as the head speed HS (m / s). Alternatively, the peak end PE of the head peak HP may be identified, and the speed HV (m / s) indicating the peak end PE may be determined as the head speed HS (m / s). Furthermore, the peak top PT and the peak end PE may be identified, and the intermediate value HV (m / s) between the peak top PT and the peak end PE may be determined as the head speed HS (m / s).

[0067] In this way, by reproducing the distribution data D in reverse chronological order, it becomes possible to immediately identify the disappearance of the ball peak BP, and to easily calculate the head speed HS (m / s).

[0068] Incidentally, depending on the environment of the tee box 100, the type of golf player P, the type of golf club, etc., the shape of the head peak HP may be a narrow peak like the ball peak BP, a weak peak, or may be combined with a large peak P indicating a slow speed, as shown in Figure 8A. In these cases, the method for determining the head speed HS may be changed depending on the shape of the head peak HP, or a common determination method may be adopted that can determine the head speed HS in common regardless of the shape of the head peak HP.

[0069] For example, if the shape of the head peak HP is a narrow peak like the ball peak BP, the head speed BS (m / s) may be determined as the head speed BS (m / s) by using the speed V (m / s) indicating the peak top PT of the head peak HP, similar to the method for determining the ball speed BS (m / s). Alternatively, the peak start PS and peak end PE of the head peak HP may be identified, and the speed V (m / s) indicating the median value between the peak start PS and the peak end PE may be determined as the head speed BS (m / s). Furthermore, the peak top PT, peak start PS, and peak end PE may be identified, and the peak area of ​​the head peak HP may be calculated using the peak top PT, peak start PS, peak end PE, and the height of the head peak HP, and the speed V (m / s) indicating the median value of the peak area of ​​the head peak HP may be determined as the head speed BS (m / s).

[0070] Furthermore, when the shape of the head peak HP is a weak peak, the head speed BS (m / s) may be determined by using the speed V (m / s) indicating the peak top PT of the head peak HP as the head speed BS (m / s) from among the above-mentioned determination methods. Furthermore, when the shape of the head peak HP is combined with a large peak P indicating a slow speed, the head speed BS (m / s) may be determined by using the speed HV (m / s) indicating the peak end PE as the head speed HS (m / s) from among the above-mentioned determination methods. Furthermore, regardless of the shape of the head peak HP, a common determination method that can be applied may be, for example, determining the speed HV (m / s) indicating the peak end PE as the head speed HS (m / s).

[0071] Once the HS calculation control unit 206 calculates the head speed HS (m / s), the display control unit 207 of the measuring device 11 displays the calculated ball speed BS (m / s) and head speed HS (m / s) (Figure 3: S109).

[0072] Here, there are no particular limitations on the display method of the display control unit 207, but for example, the display control unit 207 displays the ball speed BS (m / s) and the head speed HS (m / s) on the display device 12 connected to the measurement device 11. This allows the golf player P to easily check the ball speed BS (m / s) and head speed HS (m / s) related to the swing, thereby enabling him / her to check the condition of his / her swing and improve it.

[0073] Furthermore, the display control unit 207 calculates the smash factor by dividing the head speed HS (m / s) by the ball speed BS (m / s), and displays the calculated smash factor (-) on the display device 12. This allows the golf player P to easily check the smash factor related to his swing.

[0074] Furthermore, if the ball hitting parameter measuring device 1 is provided with an image capturing device 13, the sensor control unit 201 acquires an image of the batting cage 100 from the image capturing device 13 when receiving microwaves and reflected waves from the Doppler sensor 10, and the display control unit 207 may display the acquired image of the batting cage 100 directly on the display device 12, or may display the image of the batting cage 100 together with the ball speed BS (m / s) and the head speed HS (m / s).

[0075] Here, the present invention may further include a trigger control unit 208 that acquires the time t immediately before the appearance of the ball peak BP as the trigger time at which the golf player P hits the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club. In other words, the time t immediately before the appearance of the ball peak BP in the analysis data D accumulated over time corresponds to the time at which the golf player P hits the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club. Therefore, in S108, when the HS calculation control unit 206 identifies the distribution data D at the time t immediately before the appearance of the ball peak BP in the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order, the trigger calculation control unit 208 acquires the time t immediately before the appearance of the ball peak BP as the trigger time. Generally, to acquire the trigger time, images before and after the swing of the golf player P are captured with the image capturing device 13 along with the time, an image of the golf player P hitting the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club is identified from the captured images, and the time of that image is acquired as the trigger time. In the present invention, it is not necessary to take images of the golf player P before and after his swing using the image capturing device 13, or to identify an image of the golf player P hitting the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club, and it is possible to obtain the trigger time with high accuracy by analyzing the distribution data D.

[0076] Here, the trigger time t is used, for example, to identify, from among the images captured by the image capturing device 13, an image of the golf player P hitting the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club or an image after the golf player P has hit the golf ball B with the head H of the golf club. For example, when the sensor control unit 201 acquires an image of the turn at bat 100 from the image capturing device 13 and the trigger control unit 208 acquires a trigger time t (e.g., a fourth time t4), the display control unit 207 displays, on the display device 12, an image of the turn at bat 100 from the trigger time t4 onwards, as shown in FIG. 8B . This allows the golf player P to easily check his or her own swing.

[0077] Furthermore, by acquiring the trigger time t, the display control unit 207 identifies golf ball B in images of the at-bat 100 taken over time from the trigger time t onwards, connects the identified golf balls B over time with a line L, and displays on the display device 12 the trajectory of golf ball B formed by the golf balls B and the line L. This allows golf player P to easily check the trajectory of golf ball B caused by his or her own swing.

[0078] In the above description, the BS calculation control unit 205 identified the peak BP indicating the maximum speed as the ball peak among the peaks of the signal strength I(-) of the distribution data D. However, a wide variety of noises occur outdoors, and simply identifying the peak BP indicating the maximum speed may result in a noise peak. Therefore, the BS calculation control unit 205 may identify, as the ball peak, a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined ball peak among the peaks of the signal strength I(-) of the distribution data D. Here, the BS calculation control unit 205 calculates a peak shape value indicating the flatness of the peak from the peak of the signal strength I(-) of the distribution data D, and determines whether the calculated peak shape value is included in a ball peak shape range corresponding to the predetermined ball peak shape, thereby identifying the peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of the ball peak.

[0079] 9A , the BS calculation control unit 205 detects a first peak P1 within a predetermined speed range from the distribution data D at a predetermined time ta, calculates the maximum height H1 of the first peak P1, calculates the actual height H11 of the first peak P1 from the basic noise height H0 to the maximum height H1, and calculates the width W1 of the first peak P1. The BS calculation control unit 205 then divides the width W1 of the first peak P1 by the actual height H11 of the first peak P1 to calculate a peak shape value R1(-), and determines whether the calculated peak shape value R1(-) falls within a ball peak shape range corresponding to a predetermined ball peak shape. Here, the peak shape value R1(-) indicates the flatness of the peak. A large peak shape value R1(-) indicates a wide peak with a flat shape, while a small peak shape value R1(-) indicates a narrow peak with a sharp shape. The ball peak shape range is made up of an upper limit value and a lower limit value corresponding to the ball peak shape, and is appropriately set based on past empirical values.

[0080] If the determination result shows that the peak shape value R1(-) is outside the ball peak shape range, the BS calculation control unit 205 determines that the first peak P1 used to calculate the peak shape value R1(-) is not a ball peak. In this case, the BS calculation control unit 205 searches for another peak (e.g., the second peak P2) and repeats the calculation and determination described above. On the other hand, if the determination result for the second peak P2 shows that the peak shape value R2(-) is within the ball peak shape range, the BS calculation control unit 205 determines that the second peak P2 used to calculate the peak shape value R2(-) is a ball peak and identifies the second peak P2 as the ball peak BP. This makes it possible to accurately identify the ball peak BP based on the shape of the ball peak.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above description, the HS calculation control unit 206 identified the head peak HP, which indicates the maximum velocity, among the peaks of the signal intensity I(-) of the distribution data D at the time t when the ball peak BP disappeared. However, a wide variety of noises are generated outdoors, and even if the peak BP indicating the maximum velocity is simply identified as described above, there is a possibility that the peak may be a noise peak. Therefore, the HS calculation control unit 206 may identify, as the head peak, a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined head peak among the peaks of the signal intensity I(-) of the distribution data D. Here, the HS calculation control unit 206 calculates a peak shape value from the peak of the signal intensity I(-) of the distribution data D, and determines whether the calculated peak shape value is included in a head peak shape range corresponding to the predetermined head peak shape, thereby identifying the peak having a shape corresponding to the head peak shape as the head peak.

[0082] For example, as shown in FIG. 9B , the HS calculation control unit 206 detects a third peak P3 within a predetermined speed range from the distribution data D at time tb when the ball peak BP disappears, calculates the maximum height H3 of the third peak P3, calculates the actual height H31 of the third peak P3 from the basic noise height H0 to the maximum height H3, and calculates the width W3 of the third peak P3. The HS calculation control unit 206 then divides the width W3 of the third peak P3 by the actual height H31 of the third peak P3 to calculate a peak shape value R3(-), and determines whether the calculated peak shape value R3(-) falls within a head peak shape range corresponding to a predetermined head peak shape. The head peak shape range is composed of an upper limit and a lower limit corresponding to the head peak shape, and is appropriately set based on empirical values. Furthermore, the head peak shape range is set to be larger than the ball peak shape range.

[0083] If the determination result shows that the peak shape value R3(-) is outside the head peak shape range, the HS calculation control unit 206 determines that the third peak P3 used in calculating the peak shape value R3(-) is not a head peak. In this case, the HS calculation control unit 206 searches for another peak (for example, the fourth peak P4) and repeats the above-mentioned calculation and determination. On the other hand, if the determination result for the fourth peak P4 shows that the peak shape value R4(-) is included within the head peak shape range, the HS calculation control unit 206 determines that the fourth peak P4 used in calculating the peak shape value R4(-) is a head peak and identifies the fourth peak P4 as the head peak HP. This makes it possible to accurately identify the head peak BP based on the shape of the head peak.

[0084] The effects of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0085] First, a prototype of a hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 was created based on Figures 1 to 9, and this hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 was used as an example. As shown in Figure 10A, this hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 includes a Doppler sensor 10 and a measurement device 11. The Doppler sensor 10 was installed behind the batting cage 100 and emitted microwaves above the batting cage 100. A commercially available product capable of measuring ball speed BS and head speed HS was installed at the batting cage 100, and this commercially available product was used as a reference example.

[0086] Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, when golf player P stands at the batter's box 100 and hits golf ball B with the head H of the golf club, the Doppler sensor 10 receives the reflected waves of the swing of golf player P, and the sensor control unit 201 of the measuring device 11 receives the microwaves from the Doppler sensor 10 and the reflected waves from golf player P.

[0087] Next, the generation control unit 202 of the measuring device 11 generates distribution data at the time of reception based on the received microwaves and reflected waves, and the accumulation control unit 203 of the measuring device 11 determines whether the signal strength I(-) of a part of the generated distribution data D at a speed V (m / s) exceeds a predetermined acquisition start threshold Ts(-).

[0088] 11A, in the third distribution data D3 at the third time t3, the signal intensity I(-) of some velocities V (m / s) exceeded the acquisition start threshold Ts(-), so the accumulation control unit 203 started accumulating the distribution data D generated over time. The analysis data D from the third time t3 onwards was accumulated over time.

[0089] Furthermore, the reverse playback control unit 204 of the measuring device 11 determined whether the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) in the accumulated distribution data D was less than a predetermined analysis start threshold Ta(-).

[0090] 11B, in the seventh distribution data D7 at the seventh time t7, the signal strength I(-) of all velocities V (m / s) became less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-), so the reverse playback control unit 204 played back the distribution data D accumulated over time in a reverse chronological manner, starting from the time of the distribution data D at which the signal strength I(-) became less than the analysis start threshold Ta(-). Next, the BS calculation control unit 205 of the measurement device 11 identified the peak BP indicating the maximum velocity among the peaks of the signal strength I(-) of the distribution data D referenced in a reverse chronological manner as the ball peak, and calculated the ball speed BS (m / s) based on the identified ball peak BP.

[0091] Here, in the sixth distribution data D6 at the sixth time t6 that was reverse-played, as shown in FIG. 12A, a ball peak BP indicating the maximum speed was identified, and the ball speed BS (m / s) was calculated based on the ball peak BP.

[0092] The HS calculation control unit 206 of the measuring device 11 identified the distribution data D at the time t when the ball peak BP disappeared from the distribution data D reproduced in reverse chronological order, and calculated the head speed HS (m / s) based on the head peak HP indicating the maximum speed from the peaks of the signal intensity I(-) of the identified distribution data D.

[0093] Here, in the fourth distribution data D4 at the fourth time t4 that was played back in reverse, as shown in Figure 12B, the ball peak BP disappeared, and the head peak HP indicating the maximum speed at that time was identified, and the head speed HS (m / s) was calculated based on the head peak HP.

[0094] Here, when the calculated ball speed BS (m / s) and head speed HS (m / s) were confirmed, as shown in Figure 13, the head speed HS (m / s) of the Example was 41.1 m / s, and the head speed HS (m / s) of the Reference Example was 40 m / s, which was approximately the same as the head speed HS (m / s) of the Reference Example. Furthermore, the ball speed BS (m / s) of the Example was 55.0 m / s, and the ball speed BS (m / s) of the Reference Example was 55 m / s, which was approximately the same as the ball speed BS (m / s) of the Reference Example. This confirms that the present invention can accurately measure ball speed BS (m / s) and head speed HS (m / s).

[0095] In the embodiment of the present invention, the hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 is configured to include each control unit, but it is also possible to configure the hitting ball parameter measurement device 1 so that a program that realizes each control unit is stored on a storage medium and the storage medium is provided. In this configuration, the program is read into the device, and the device realizes each control unit. In this case, the program read from the storage medium itself achieves the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a method for storing the control steps executed by each control unit on a hard disk.

[0096] As described above, the ball hitting parameter measuring device and ball hitting parameter measuring method of the present invention are effective as devices and methods for measuring ball speed and head speed in any field where balls are handled, and are effective as ball hitting parameter measuring devices and ball hitting parameter measuring methods that can measure ball speed and head speed with high accuracy.

[0097] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Ball batting parameter measuring device 10 Doppler sensor 11 Measuring device 12 Display device 13 Image capturing device 201 Sensor control unit 202 Generation control unit 203 Storage control unit 204 Reverse playback control unit 205 BS calculation control unit 206 HS calculation control unit 207 Display control unit 208 Trigger control unit

Claims

1. A sensor control unit that uses a Doppler sensor to emit microwaves toward a batter's box where a golf player hits a golf ball with the head of a golf club, and receives the emitted microwaves and reflected waves from a moving object at the batter's box; a generation control unit that generates distribution data indicating a distribution of signal strength for each speed at the time of reception based on the received microwaves and reflected waves; a storage control unit that starts accumulating distribution data generated over time when the signal strength of some speeds in the generated distribution data exceeds a preset acquisition start threshold; a reverse playback control unit that plays back, in reverse chronological order, the distribution data accumulated over time from the time of distribution data at which the signal strength fell below a preset analysis start threshold when the signal strength of all speeds in the accumulated distribution data falls below the analysis start threshold; a BS calculation control unit that identifies, among the signal strength peaks of the distribution data played back in reverse chronological order, a peak indicating a maximum speed or a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined ball peak as a ball peak, and calculates the speed of the golf ball based on the identified ball peak; a HS calculation control unit that identifies the distribution data at the time when the ball peak disappeared from the distribution data reproduced in reverse chronological order, identifies the peak of signal strength of the identified distribution data as the peak indicating the maximum speed or a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined head peak as the head peak, and calculates the speed of the head of the golf club based on the head peak.

2. The ball hitting parameter measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the analysis start threshold is set lower than the acquisition start threshold.

3. The hitting ball parameter measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger control unit that acquires the time immediately before the appearance of the ball peak as the trigger time at which the golf player hits the golf ball with the head of the golf club.

4. The hitting ball parameter measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the generation control unit applies a predetermined filter to the generated distribution data to remove noise specific to the device from the distribution data.

5. The ball hitting parameter measuring device of claim 1, wherein the HS calculation control unit determines whether the signal strength of the ball peak in the distribution data reproduced in reverse chronological order is less than a predetermined lower threshold, and if the signal strength of the ball peak is less than the lower threshold, the HS calculation control unit estimates that the signal strength of the ball peak has disappeared and identifies the distribution data at that time.

6. The hitting ball parameter measuring device of claim 1, wherein the accumulation control unit sets, among the distribution data generated, speeds equal to or greater than the swing speed related to the swing as the speeds to be judged, and when the signal strength of some of the set speeds to be judged exceeds the acquisition start threshold, starts accumulating the distribution data generated over time.

7. The ball hitting parameter measuring device of claim 1, wherein the reverse playback control unit sets, among the generated distribution data, speeds equal to or greater than the swing end speed related to the end of the swing as the speeds to be judged, and when the signal strength of all of the set speeds to be judged becomes less than the analysis start threshold, the distribution data accumulated over time is played back in reverse over time.

8. The ball hitting parameter measuring device of claim 1, wherein the BS calculation control unit calculates a peak shape value indicating the flatness of the peak from the signal intensity peak of the distribution data, and determines whether the calculated peak shape value is included in a ball peak shape range corresponding to a predetermined ball peak shape, thereby identifying a peak having a shape corresponding to the ball peak shape as the ball peak.

9. The hitting parameter measuring device of claim 1, wherein the HS calculation control unit calculates a peak shape value indicating the flatness of the peak from the peak of the signal intensity of the distribution data, and determines whether the calculated peak shape value is included in a head peak shape range corresponding to the shape of a predetermined head peak, thereby identifying a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of the head peak as the head peak.

10. A sensor control process using a Doppler sensor that emits microwaves toward a hitting box where a golf player hits a golf ball with the head of a golf club, to receive the emitted microwaves and reflected waves from a moving object at the hitting box; a generation control process that generates distribution data indicating the distribution of signal strength for each speed at the time of reception based on the received microwaves and reflected waves; an accumulation control process that starts accumulating distribution data generated over time when the signal strength of some speeds among the generated distribution data exceeds a predetermined acquisition start threshold; a reverse playback control process that, when the signal strength of all speeds among the accumulated distribution data falls below a predetermined analysis start threshold, plays back the distribution data accumulated over time in a reverse chronological manner from the time of distribution data at which the signal strength fell below the analysis start threshold; a BS calculation control process that identifies, as a ball peak, a peak indicating a maximum speed or a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined ball peak among the signal strength peaks of the distribution data played back in the reverse chronological manner, and calculates the speed of the golf ball based on the identified ball peak; a HS calculation control process for identifying the distribution data at the time when the ball peak disappeared from the distribution data reproduced in reverse chronological order, identifying the peak of signal strength of the identified distribution data that indicates the maximum speed or a peak having a shape corresponding to the shape of a predetermined head peak as a head peak, and calculating the speed of the head of the golf club based on the head peak.

Images