Sports simulation device creating the illusion that sports objects interact with real world features

Abstract

A sports simulation device creating the illusion that a sports object is interacting with real world features. A system is used which tracks the movement of a sports object and calculates the future trajectory of the object. The system then displays the calculated trajectory. The simulated movement of the sports object is projected or otherwise displayed onto a transparent or semi-transparent screen, superimposing the displayed trajectory of the sports object over a real-world background, thus creating the illusion that the displayed image is interacting with real world features. In one embodiment, the illusion is created that a struck golf ball travels towards and makes contact with a real world feature (such as a building) when in actuality a net or barrier stops the struck golf ball's flight after a relatively short distance.

1 . A sports simulator, comprising:
 a launch area from which an object can be accelerated;   a net or barrier distanced from the launch area in the direction of travel of the object to limit the travel distance of the object;   a transparent or semi-transparent screen distanced from the launch area in the direction of travel of the object;   a sports object tracking system which collects physical data on the accelerated object;   a computer electrically connected to both the sports object tracking system and the transparent or semi-transparent screen for producing a displayed image of the estimated projected position of the object based on the data gathered by the tracking system;   
     
     
         2 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the net or barrier is a golf hitting net. 
     
     
         3 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the net or barrier and the transparent or semi-transparent screen are two separate items. 
     
     
         4 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the net or barrier and the transparent or semi-transparent screen are a single item with duel functionality. 
     
     
         5 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the semi transparent screen is a semi-opaque material which allows images to be projected onto the screen while still simultaneously allowing actual, physical features located behind the screen to be seen. 
     
     
         6 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein a laser projector is used to create the displayed image of the sports object on the transparent or semi-transparent screen. 
     
     
         7 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein an emissive projection display is used to display the moving sports object on a transparent screen. 
     
     
         8 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent screen is composed of a clear film which has been treated to reflect or otherwise display images from a laser projector. 
     
     
         9 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent screen is composed of a clear film which has been treated to reflect or otherwise display images from a standard light projector. 
     
     
         10 . The simulator of  claim 1  wherein the transparent or semi-transparent screen is composed of a translucent, semi-opaque film, which has been treated to reflect or otherwise display images from a laser projector. 
     
     
         11 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent screen is composed of a translucent, semi-opaque film which has been treated to reflect or otherwise display images from a standard light projector. 
     
     
         12 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent screen is built on HUD (Heads up display) technologies. 
     
     
         13 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent screen is built on hologram display technology. 
     
     
         14 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses infrared technology to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         15 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses radar technology to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         16 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses high speed cameras to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         17 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses stereoscopic cameras to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         18 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses a golf launch monitor to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         19 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses triangulation technology to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         20 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system uses a combination of available technologies to track and gather motion data about the moving sports object. 
     
     
         21 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system gathers motion data on the moving sports object by observing the object directly after it has been accelerated. 
     
     
         22 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system gathers motion data on the moving sports object by observing a golf club (or other sporting instrument) which was used to accelerate the sports object. 
     
     
         23 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the sports object tracking system gathers motion data on the moving sports object by observing both the golf club (or other sporting instrument used to cause the acceleration) and the sports object. 
     
     
         24 . A method for simulating sports wherein a sports object is accelerated from a launch area toward a transparent or semi-transparent screen, the progress of the sports object is impeded by a net or other barrier, a sports object tracking system gathers motion data from the sports object in motion, a computer uses the gathered motion data to extrapolate the estimated future trajectory of the sports object, the transparent screen displays the image of the sports object's estimated future trajectory superimposed over the background of real world features located behind (in the direction of object travel) the screen, and the illusion is given that the sports object is interacting with real world features.