Golf Ball Dispenser Display Housing for Impact-Safe Ball Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball dispensing systems lack integrated display devices for providing real-time information on ball flight and safety features to protect against errant shots, and they often require manual intervention for ball dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball dispenser with an embedded touchscreen display device for real-time ball flight information, impact-resistant design, and automated ball delivery system, featuring a metal frame, modular panels, and safety features like a protruding lip to redirect errant balls, along with a camera system for capturing swing data and controlling lighting effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a display device is embedded in the golf ball dispenser, then real-time ball flight information can be provided to players, but the device becomes more complex and vulnerable to damage from errant shots
Solution Approach 1:
The display device is nested within a protective housing structure that is itself embedded in the dispenser. The housing contains the display device while providing a layered protective barrier against errant golf balls, allowing the display function to be integrated without direct exposure to harmful elements.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective housing is provided beforehand to cushion and absorb the impact of errant golf balls before they can reach and damage the display device. This pre-positioned protective structure prevents direct contact between potential harmful elements and the vulnerable display components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the dispenser is designed to be impact resistant, then safety against errant shots is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into separate modular components including a protective housing, front panel, back panel, and side panels. Each component can be manufactured independently using standard fabrication processes, then assembled together to create the complete impact-resistant structure, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser utilizes composite construction combining metal framing members with panel materials that have varying degrees of impact resistance. This allows different parts of the dispenser to have optimized protective properties without requiring the entire structure to be over-engineered for maximum impact resistance.
3Productivity
If automated ball delivery is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect when a golf ball is needed and automatically triggers the gateway to dispense a ball without requiring manual intervention. The automated delivery system serves itself by monitoring its own state and executing dispensing actions based on detected conditions, improving productivity while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball dispenser includes: a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls; a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf dispenser with the receptacle; a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle to restrict a passage of the multiple golf balls into the passageway, the gateway being selectively moveable to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway for delivery to a tee area; and a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser to present at least information regarding the golf ball in flight after the golf ball is hit from the tee area. Further, methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for use with such golf ball dispensers, can control holding and dispensing of golf balls at a golf facility, e.g., a driving range.