Golf Simulator Spin Measurement via Optical and Image Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf simulators inaccurately measure golf ball spin due to indirect estimation methods, leading to significant errors in simulating the flying trajectory of a golf ball.
Innovation Solution
A golf simulator system that combines optical sensors for measuring velocity and direction with an image sensor for direct spin rate calculation, using a separate image input device to enhance accuracy and reduce errors, and includes a spin rate comparison unit to validate spin rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If spin rate is measured using indirect calculation or statistical approach from optical sensor data, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to large errors in spin measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optical sensors for velocity/direction measurement with a separate image sensor (camera) for direct spin rate measurement. This merging of different sensing approaches allows the system to maintain relatively simple device architecture while achieving high measurement precision for spin rate through direct image analysis rather than indirect calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image sensor as an intermediary device that directly captures visual information of the golf ball to calculate spin rate. This intermediary approach bypasses the need for complex indirect calculations from optical sensor data, thereby improving spin measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If continuous image input is used to calculate spin rate, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and processing resources increase due to analysis of unnecessary images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic image capture triggered by specific events (golf ball detection and club detection) rather than continuous image input. The image input start signal generating unit activates the image sensor only at these critical moments, ensuring sufficient data for spin rate calculation while dramatically reducing energy consumption and processing requirements by excluding unnecessary images from analysis.
3Measurement precision
If spin rate from image input is used directly, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to serious errors that may occur in spin rate calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the spin rate comparison unit validates the spin rate calculated from image input by comparing it with the spin rate calculated from optical sensor data. This cross-validation feedback loop identifies and excludes serious errors in image-based spin rate calculation, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while improving overall reliability through error detection and correction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a more accurate simulation of the golf ball's flying trajectory by combining optical and image sensor data, reducing unnecessary resource usage and minimizing spin rate calculation errors.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor unit, which detects a movement path of a golf ball
Implementation Method 2
an image inputting unit, which inputs a movement image of the golf ball
Data Source
AI summary
A golf simulator comprises a photosensor unit, an image input unit, a movement information calculation unit, a spin information calculation unit and a flight trajectory calculation unit. The photosensor unit detects a moving path of a golf ball by using a plurality of photosensors, the image input unit inputs movement images of the golf ball, the movement information calculation unit calculates a moving direction and speed of the golf ball from information acquired from the photosensor unit, the spin information calculation unit calculates a spin amount of the golf ball from the inputted images, and the flight trajectory calculation unit calculates a flight trajectory of the golf ball by using movement information and spin information. The speed and direction of a golf ball, and a spin of the golf ball are accurately measured by using a separate image input device to calculate a spin amount of the golf ball.