Device for generating virtual golf holes for use on traditional greens

Abstract

A device for generating virtual golf holes on a green includes a housing configured for coupling to a golf pin at a distance above a green, one or more cameras located within the housing, the one or more cameras configured to gather data from an area of the green surrounding the golf pin, one or more speakers located within the housing and a processor located within the housing and communicably connected with the one or more cameras and the one or more speakers, the processor configured for generating an internal representation of one or more virtual golf holes around the golf pin, reading the data from the one or more cameras, determining whether a golf ball detected by the one or more cameras has entered the one or more virtual golf holes, and activating the one or more speakers to play one or more audible sounds if the golf ball detected by the one or more cameras is determined to have entered the one or more virtual golf holes.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for generating virtual golf holes on a green, the device comprising:
 a) a housing configured for coupling to a golf pin at a distance above a green;   b) one or more cameras located within the housing, the one or more cameras configured to gather data from an area of the green surrounding the golf pin;   c) one or more speakers located within the housing; and   d) a processor located within the housing and communicably connected with the one or more cameras and the one or more speakers, the processor configured for generating an internal representation of one or more virtual golf holes around the golf pin, reading the data from the one or more cameras, determining whether a golf ball detected by the one or more cameras has entered the one or more virtual golf holes, and activating the one or more speakers to play one or more audible sounds if the golf ball detected by the one or more cameras is determined to have entered the one or more virtual golf holes.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cameras are further configured to determine position and speed of golf balls in the area of the green. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein a first of the one or more virtual golf holes has a diameter of 8.5″. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein a second of the one or more virtual golf holes has a diameter of 15″. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein a third of the one or more virtual golf holes has a diameter of 30″. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery within the housing or within the pin situated in each hole. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a solar panel coupled to an external portion of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lights coupled to an exterior of the housing, the one or more lights communicably coupled with the processor. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured for activating the one or more lights if the golf ball detected by the one or more cameras is determined to have entered the one or more virtual golf holes. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights comprise different colors, wherein each color of the one or more lights corresponds to a particular one of the one or more virtual golf holes, and wherein the processor is further configured for activating a particular light of the one or more lights according to the particular hole of the one or more virtual golf holes determined to have been entered by the processor. 
     
     
         11 . A device for generating virtual golf holes on a green, the device comprising:
 a) a housing integrally manufactured as part of a golf pin at a distance above a green;   b) one or more sonar devices located within the housing, the one or more sonar devices configured to gather sonic data from an area of the green surrounding the golf pin;   c) one or more lights coupled to an exterior of the housing; and   d) a processor located within the housing and communicably connected with the one or more sonar devices and the one or more lights, the processor configured for generating an internal representation of one or more virtual golf holes around the golf pin, reading the sonic data from the one or more sonar devices, determining whether a golf ball detected by the one or more sonar devices has entered the one or more virtual golf holes, and activating the one or more lights if the golf ball detected by the one or more sonar devices is determined to have entered the one or more virtual golf holes.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sonar devices are further configured to determine position and speed of golf balls in the area of the green. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein a first of the one or more virtual golf holes has a diameter of 8.5″. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a second of the one or more virtual golf holes has a diameter of 15″. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein a third of the one or more virtual golf holes has a diameter of 30″. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a rechargeable battery within the housing or within the pin situated in each hole. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a solar panel coupled to an external portion of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more speakers communicably coupled with the processor. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured for activating the one or more speakers to play an audible sound if the golf ball detected by the one or more sonar devices is determined to have entered the one or more virtual golf holes. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lights comprise different colors, wherein each color of the one or more lights corresponds to a particular one of the one or more virtual golf holes, and wherein the processor is further configured for activating a particular light of the one or more lights according to the particular hole of the one or more virtual golf holes determined to have been entered by the processor.