Smart Putter Stroke Detection via Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional miniature golf scoring methods are inaccurate, prone to misplacement, difficult for children or some players to use, and detract from the game experience due to manual recording and potential discretionary scoring, with existing automation techniques failing to differentiate between true strokes and false detections.
Innovation Solution
A smart putter equipped with a combination of sensors, including accelerometers and magnetometers, that sign-in with a game system, detect strokes by filtering acceleration data and magnetic field changes, and transmit signals for automatic scoring, minimizing false detections and providing accurate stroke counting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual scoring is used, then players can carry score cards and self-score, but the scoring is inaccurate, easy to misplace, difficult for children to use, and subject to discretionary scoring
Solution Approach 1:
The smart putter automatically detects and records strokes without requiring player intervention. The accelerometer and magnetometer sensors self-monitor putter movements and ball interactions, automatically tallying scores without manual input from players, thus eliminating inaccuracies and ease-of-use issues associated with manual scoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual scoring system with an electronic sensing system. Accelerometers and magnetometers detect physical movements and convert them into digital stroke counts, substituting the manual paper-based scoring mechanism with automated electronic detection and recording
2Extent of automation
If mechanical stroke counters are attached to a golf club, then scoring is automated, but false detections occur such as striking the ground or bumping objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (accelerometer for motion detection and magnetometer for magnetic field detection) into a unified stroke detection system. By merging these different sensing approaches, the system cross-validates detections to distinguish true strokes from false detections caused by ground strikes or object bumps
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensors to verify stroke detections. The accelerometer and magnetometer provide complementary feedback signals that must both indicate a stroke event for it to be counted, creating a feedback mechanism that filters out false detections while maintaining automation
3Extent of automation
If impact sensors are used to detect ball strokes, then automation is achieved, but the sensors fail to differentiate between true strokes and other impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different sensing qualities to different aspects of stroke detection. The accelerometer monitors putter head motion characteristics while the magnetometer specifically detects magnetic field changes near the ball, creating localized detection zones with specialized sensing properties that together differentiate true strokes from other impacts
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 smart putter system offers accurate, automatic, and user-friendly scoring by reliably detecting strokes and minimizing miscounts, enhancing the gaming experience by reducing manual input and improving scoring accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the combination of sensors includes at least an accelerometer and a magnetometer. In some embodiments, the accelerometer data is filtered and processed to provide a signal indicating an impact is detected between the smart putter and an object
Implementation Method 2
the magnetometer is configured to detect changes in a magnetic field between the smart putter and another object, where the system includes a magnetic golf ball, such that when the smart putter is within a threshold proximity of the magnetic golf ball, the smart putter provides a signal indicating the smart putter is within proximity of the magnetic golf ball
Implementation Method 3
the smart putter includes a radio frequency identifier (RFID) transmitter and the track includes an RFID reader that reads the RFID tag of the smart putter when the player holds the smart putter near a sign-in point at the track to sign-in the smart putter with the putter game system
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for a smart putter and a putter gaming system. The smart putter may be configured with a plurality of sensors. The smart putter may be configured to process information from the plurality of sensors to determine whether a stroke has been performed by a user of the smart putter. Detecting a stroke has occurred may include detecting that the smart putter has impacted a golf ball on a field of play. The smart putter may further be configured to sign-in with a track associated with the putter gaming system. The putter gaming system may be configured to perform automatic scoring based, in part, on the stroke detection performed by the smart putter. The putter gaming system may further be configured to detected when a golf ball has been holed, indicating completion of a track.