Golf Ball Position Tracking With a Movable Measurement Terminal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require a fixed measurement terminal to identify the geographical position of a shot golf ball, limiting flexibility and accuracy in tracking ball positions during golf play.

Innovation Solution

A ball position identifying system that includes a captured moving image acquisition module, intra-image position identifying module, and shot identifying module to track the flight distance and angle of a golf ball without fixing a measurement terminal to a predetermined position, using a user terminal with imaging and sensor units to analyze golf swings and recommend club selection based on ball position data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a measurement terminal is fixed to a predetermined position to identify ball position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and flexibility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveball position identification accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement terminal fixation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement terminal is made movable rather than fixed. The terminal can be positioned at different locations and orientations during use, allowing dynamic adaptation to various golf course layouts and shot conditions while maintaining position identification accuracy through real-time coordinate transformation calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of terminal position from fixed to variable. By allowing the terminal to change its position and orientation parameters during operation, the system achieves both flexibility and accuracy through computational methods that adjust for each terminal position rather than requiring a predetermined fixed location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If a measurement terminal is fixed to a predetermined position, then ball position identification accuracy is improved, but adaptability to different golf courses and conditions is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveball position identification accuracyVSAvoidflexibility in tracking ball positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic movable position system. This allows the measurement terminal to be repositioned according to different golf course layouts, hole positions, and shot conditions, providing adaptability while maintaining identification accuracy through real-time coordinate transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement terminal is designed to perform position identification across multiple locations and conditions rather than being optimized for a single predetermined position. The terminal can universally measure ball positions on various golf courses and for different shot types by adjusting its position and orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If multiple sensors are combined to track ball and player motion, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of ball and player motion dataVSAvoidsensor integration and data processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensors including the imaging unit, GPS receiver, and sensor unit are merged into a single integrated measurement terminal. This combination allows simultaneous acquisition of ball position, player position, and environmental data, improving information completeness while managing complexity through unified hardware and software architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement terminal is designed as a multi-functional device that performs imaging, GPS positioning, and sensor-based motion detection simultaneously. This universal design consolidates multiple sensing functions into one terminal, reducing the need for separate specialized devices and simplifying overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4080466B1Ball position identification system, ball position identification method, and program
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP4080466B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4080466B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4080466B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shot identifying module (220) identifies a flight distance of the golf ball and an angle of a direction from the measurement terminal (10) toward the golf ball with respect to a direction toward which the user terminal (10) is directed at a time of the measurement. A terminal position and orientation identifying module (222) identifies a terminal position and a terminal orientation. A ball position identifying module (224) identifies a ball position based on the terminal position, the terminal orientation, the flight distance of the golf ball, and the angle.