High Speed Camera Flight Data Measurement Using Segmented Image Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for measuring flight data of golf balls or baseballs using high-speed cameras are inefficient due to the need for expensive equipment and complex image processing, often resulting in inaccurate data due to considerations of rotation and require pre-determined camera settings that can be triggered by non-target objects, leading to reduced resolution and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a launch signal generator and high-speed image cameras to define small image capture areas only where the ball passes, allowing for real-time preliminary and final flight data calculation using integrated processing units, reducing equipment costs and improving accuracy by focusing on the ball's trajectory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high speed cameras photograph wide area multiple times to capture ball flight at high speed and high rotation, then measurement precision is improved, but equipment cost and processing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The total image capture area is divided into multiple sub-areas, with only the sub-area containing the ball being actively processed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high measurement precision for the ball while reducing the overall processing burden and equipment requirements by ignoring irrelevant areas of the image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing quality levels to different regions of the image. The sub-area containing the ball receives full high-speed processing and analysis, while other areas are either ignored or processed at lower quality, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Productivity
If image capture area is reduced to increase photographing speed and reduce processing time, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the image into sub-areas and processing only the relevant one, the system achieves high processing speed equivalent to photographing a smaller area, while maintaining measurement precision by ensuring the ball-containing sub-area retains sufficient resolution and detail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent processes only the partial area containing the ball rather than the entire image, achieving the speed benefits of reduced processing while maintaining precision through targeted high-quality processing of the critical region.
3Measurement precision
If trigger lines are positioned to capture ball flight, then measurement capability is improved, but false triggers from non-target objects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by processing only the specific sub-area where the ball is detected, rather than analyzing the entire image. This allows trigger lines to be positioned optimally for ball detection without being affected by other objects in different areas of the image, as those areas are not processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and processes only the relevant portion of the image containing the ball, separating it from the rest of the scene. This extraction eliminates interference from non-target objects that might otherwise cause false triggers, while maintaining accurate ball flight measurement.
4Measurement precision
If full image processing is performed to ensure accurate flight data, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time in processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task to focus only on the sub-area containing the ball, maintaining measurement precision through detailed analysis of the relevant region while dramatically reducing total processing time by excluding irrelevant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial processing on only the necessary portion of the image, achieving sufficient measurement precision for ball flight data without the time cost of processing the entire image, thus optimizing the precision-time tradeoff.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for measuring flight data of a flying object by using a high speed image camera is provided. The device includes: a launch signal generator which determines whether the flying object is launched and generates a signal when it is determined that the flying object is launched; and a high speed image camera system which includes an integrated control unit and a high speed image camera which photographs the flying object after the launch signal generator generates the launch signal. The integrated control unit controls the high speed image camera and calculates preliminary flight data and final flight data from images photographed by the high speed image camera. A position through which the flying object passes at a point in time when a predetermined photographing time elapses is estimated using the preliminary flight data, and, on the basis of the position, an image capture area is set.