Portable launch monitor

Abstract

A launch monitor system and method for measuring flight characteristics of a golf ball are disclosed. The launch monitor system comprises a support structure, a smart device positioned to capture one or more images of the golf ball, a flash source, and an application configured to execute on the smart device. The software application processes images of the golf ball and determines one or more flight characteristics thereof. Also disclosed is a launch monitor system and method for displaying flight characteristics of a golf ball, and, optionally, a computed trajectory of the golf ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A launch monitor system for measuring and displaying flight characteristics of a golf ball moving in a predetermined field-of-view, the system comprising:
 a support structure;   a smart device secured to the support structure and having an onboard camera positioned to capture one or more images of the golf ball, wherein the smart device optionally comprising a flash source contained therein;   a software application configured to execute on the smart device and capture one or more images of the golf ball, wherein the software application processes the images and determines one or more flight characteristics of the golf ball selected from translation, rotation, initial velocity, backspin, side spin, rifle spin, and launch angle;   an optional trajectory model software program to compute a trajectory for the golf ball; and   an augmented reality device for displaying one or more of the flight characteristics of the golf ball selected from the group consisting of translation, rotation, initial velocity, backspin, side spin, rifle spin, and launch angle, and, optionally, displaying the trajectory.   
     
     
         2 . The launch monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the trajectory model software program is locally installed on the augmented reality device. 
     
     
         3 . The launch monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the trajectory model software program is locally installed on the smart device. 
     
     
         4 . The launch monitor system of  claim 1 , wherein the trajectory model software program is installed on a remote server. 
     
     
         5 . A method for measuring flight characteristics of a golf ball moving in a predetermined field-of-view, the method comprising:
 securing a smart device having an onboard camera to a support structure;   positioning the support structure in a known location relative to the golf ball;   executing a software application on the smart device;   capturing one or more images of the golf ball using the onboard camera and optionally a flash source;   processing the images of the golf ball to determine one or more flight characteristics of the golf ball selected from translation, rotation, initial velocity, backspin, side spin, rifle spin, and launch angle; and   transmitting one or more of the flight characteristics to an augmented reality device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method additionally comprises displaying one or more of the flight characteristics on the augmented reality device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 storing one or more of the flight characteristics;   computing an average for one or more of the flight characteristics based on the stored flight characteristics;   displaying one or more of the computed averages on the augmented reality device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 computing a trajectory of the golf ball; and   displaying the trajectory of the golf ball on the augmented reality device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method additionally comprises displaying one or more of the flight characteristics on the augmented reality device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 storing the trajectory of the golf ball;   computing an average trajectory based on the stored trajectories; and   displaying the computed average trajectory on the augmented reality device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the trajectory of the golf ball is computed using a trajectory model software program installed locally on the augmented reality device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method additionally comprises:
 transmitting one or more flight characteristics to a remote server;   computing a trajectory of the golf ball using a trajectory model software program installed on the remote server;   transmitting the trajectory to the augmented reality device; and   displaying the trajectory of the golf ball on the augmented reality device.