Virtual Golf Sensing Device Using Multi-Frame Trajectory Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual golf simulation systems face challenges in accurately sensing the trajectory and spin of a golf ball using low-resolution and low-speed cameras, leading to difficulties in deriving physical properties and providing a realistic simulation experience at a low cost.
Innovation Solution
A sensing device and method that utilize a camera unit to acquire frame images and a processing unit to extract three-dimensional coordinates of the ball and club trajectory, enabling accurate calculation of physical properties and spin estimation through two-dimensional and three-dimensional analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an ultrahigh-speed camera with high resolution is used for accurate sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional image analysis to three-dimensional analysis by introducing time as a third dimension through multi-frame image sequences. This allows accurate measurement of ball trajectory, velocity, and spin using standard cameras by analyzing spatial-temporal relationships across multiple frames, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple frames before the ball actually moves significantly, establishing a temporal baseline. This allows the standard camera to accurately track ball motion and calculate physical properties by comparing sequential frames, achieving high measurement precision without requiring ultrahigh-speed cameras
2Ease of manufacture
If a camera with relatively low resolution and low speed is used, then device cost is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates making it difficult to accurately extract ball and club information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action by capturing multiple sequential frames of the ball and club motion. This continuous imaging approach allows standard low-resolution cameras to accurately determine ball trajectory, velocity, and spin by analyzing the continuous motion across frames, compensating for the lower spatial resolution through temporal sampling
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the time dimension through multi-frame analysis, transforming limited two-dimensional spatial data into three-dimensional spatio-temporal information. This enables accurate extraction of ball physical properties and club trajectory using affordable standard cameras, resolving the contradiction between device cost and measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If image analysis is performed to extract ball physical properties, then sensing accuracy is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases particularly for spin measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent solves the difficult spin measurement problem by introducing time as a third dimension. By analyzing the sequential positions of the ball across multiple frames and calculating spatial-temporal relationships, the system can derive spin information from standard camera images, significantly reducing measurement difficulty while maintaining high accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a sensing device and method used for a virtual golf simulation apparatus in which an image acquired by an inexpensive camera having a relatively low resolution and velocity is analyzed to relatively accurately extract information on physical properties, such as velocity, direction and altitude angle, of a moving ball, and, particularly, in which the moving trajectory of a golf club is relatively accurately calculated from the acquired image to relatively accurately estimate spin of the ball and to reflect the estimated spin of the ball in golf simulation, thereby constituting a virtual golf simulation apparatus having high accuracy and reliability at low costs and further improving reality of virtual golf.