Lighting and Imaging Synchronization for Golf Ball Flight Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf ball launch monitors face challenges in accurately determining flight parameters due to the long recharge time of flashtubes, leading to variations in light emission and increased cost, size, and weight, as well as synchronization issues between strobe lights and high-speed cameras.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an imaging device, sensors to capture position data, a lighting device, and a control unit to synchronize the lighting device with the imaging device by calculating the number of synchronization pulses to skip between emissions based on imaging and position data, allowing precise control of flash duration and frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the duration of the flash of light is reduced to freeze motion, then motion blur is reduced, but the available light for illuminating the object decreases, leading to darker images
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic strobe flashes synchronized with the camera's frame rate to illuminate the scene at specific intervals. By controlling the timing and duration of each flash periodically, the system achieves motion freezing while maintaining adequate illumination through cumulative light exposure across multiple synchronized flashes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the camera captures test images and the system analyzes the quality of motion freezing and illumination. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the flash duration and intensity to optimize the balance between motion freeze precision and image brightness.
2Productivity
If multiple flashtubes or power supplies are used to reduce recharge time, then flash frequency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of a single flashtube to a higher voltage level, allowing it to produce multiple flashes in quick succession without requiring multiple tubes. The capacitor is pre-charged to store sufficient energy for rapid sequential flashes, eliminating the need for parallel flashtube configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters by using a single flashtube with a programmable power supply that can rapidly adjust voltage and current delivery. By dynamically changing the power delivery parameters rather than adding more tubes, the system achieves high flash frequency while maintaining component simplicity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If flashtube recharge time is reduced by adding multiple power supplies, then flash duration is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in light emission
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control where the actual flash duration and intensity are measured and compared against target values. The power supply adjusts subsequent flashes based on this feedback to compensate for variations, ensuring consistent illumination conditions for accurate flight parameter measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs precise electronic control to dynamically adjust the electrical parameters (voltage, current, pulse width) delivered to the flashtube. By making fine parameter adjustments rather than using fixed multi-power-supply configurations, the system achieves stable, repeatable flash characteristics essential for measurement precision.
4Loss of information
If synchronization between strobe light and camera is not precise, then imaging accuracy is improved, but speed measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synchronization by pre-calculating and setting the trigger timing based on the camera's frame rate and the strobe's characteristics before actual imaging begins. This preliminary timing setup ensures that each flash occurs at the precise moment the camera shutter opens, eliminating synchronization errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates synchronization feedback where the actual trigger timing is measured and compared against the ideal timing. Any drift or deviation is detected and corrected by adjusting the trigger signal timing in real-time, ensuring continuous precise synchronization between strobe flashes and camera exposure.
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 ensures accurate synchronization of lighting and imaging devices, reducing errors in flight parameter measurements and minimizing the need for additional components, thus improving measurement precision and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting device configured to emit a light in response to receiving a triggering signal
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a system may include an imaging device, at least one sensor configured to capture position data associated with positions of an object, a lighting device configured to emit a light in response to receiving a triggering signal, the triggering signal being determined based on synchronization pulses emitted by the imaging device. The system may include a control unit, the control unit being configured to: receive imaging data from the imaging device including the synchronization pulses, each synchronization pulse being associated with a frame captured by the imaging device; receive the position data from the at least one sensor; determine a sequence of triggering signals by calculating, based on the imaging data and the position data, a number of synchronization pulses to skip between emissions of successive triggering signals; and transmit the triggering signals to the lighting device.