Electronic golfing aid apparatuses and methods thereof

Abstract

A golfing apparatus includes an imager, an inclinometer, and a display coupled to a processing device comprising a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The memory coupled to the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to: obtain image data from the imager comprising at least one of a playing surface, a ball, or a location spaced from the ball on the playing surface and inclination data of the imager from the inclinometer; determine at least one type of spatial data and at least one type of playing surface data relating to the playing surface, the ball and the location from the obtained image and inclination data; compute an overall trajectory, a starting direction, and an initial velocity of the ball to reach the location which accounts for at least one airborne segment based on the spatial data and the playing surface data relating to the playing surface; and display the computed overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic golfing aid apparatus, comprising:
 a digital processing device comprising a processor, a memory, and a communication interface which are coupled together;   an imager device coupled to the digital processing device;   an inclinometer device coupled to the digital processing device;   a portable display device coupled to the digital processing device;   wherein the memory coupled to the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to:
 obtain image data from the imager device comprising at least one of a playing surface, a ball, or a designated location spaced from the ball on the playing surface and inclination data of the imager device from the inclinometer device; 
 determine at least one type of spatial data and at least one type of playing surface data relating to the playing surface, the ball and the designated location from the obtained image data and the inclination data; 
 compute an overall trajectory, a starting direction, and an initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location based on the determined spatial data and the at least one type of playing surface data relating to the playing surface, wherein the compute the overall trajectory identifies and accounts for at least one airborne segment based on a determination of rotational velocity and translational velocity of the at least one airborne segment; and 
 display on the portable display device the computed overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein for the compute the overall trajectory, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 determine one of a plurality of types of airborne segments anticipated for the ball; and 
 adjusting an angular velocity and a translational velocity in the computation of the overall trajectory based on the determined one of the plurality of types of airborne segments anticipated for the ball. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the types of airborne segments from which the determine one of a plurality of types of airborne segments identifies comprises: at least one parabolic airborne segment anticipated for the ball; a substantially linear skidding segment anticipated for the ball; and a discontinuity in the surface between the ball and the designated location. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the determine the one of the plurality of types of airborne segments anticipated for the ball is based on obtaining from the imager device at least one of: practice image data of at least one practice swing with a sporting device to simulate a practice speed and practice direction or surface image data comprising at least one of the playing surface, wherein the playing surface comprises surface sections which extend along different planes at the discontinuity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein for the obtain image data from the imager device, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 capture, with the imager device, the obtained image data comprising three-dimensional image data that comprises at least one of the playing surface, the ball, or the designated location spaced from the ball on the playing surface. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein for the capture image data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 execute object recognition on the image data from the imager device to determine when the ball and the designated location are in the image data; and 
 continue to capture additional image data with the imager device until the executed object recognition on the additional image data determines the ball and the designated location are in the additional image data. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein for the determine the at least one type of spatial data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 determine based on the three-dimensional image data at least a distance and any elevation difference between the ball and the designated location on the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the determined distance and any elevation difference. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wind sensor device coupled to the digital processing device; 
 wherein the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 obtain from the wind sensor wind data on the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the obtained wind data. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein for the determine at least one type of playing surface data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 obtain green speed data related to the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the obtained green speed data. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein for the determine at least one type of playing surface data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 receive, with the interface system, an input of green grain data between the ball and the designated location on the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the obtained green grain data. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 capture, with the imager device, practice image data of at least one practice swing with a sporting device to simulate a practice speed and practice direction; 
 compute the practice trajectory, the practice direction, and the practice velocity of the ball to reach the designated location; 
 compare the practice trajectory, the practice direction, and the practice velocity of the ball against the computed overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball; and 
 display on the portable display device feedback data based on the comparison. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the portable display device comprises a head-mounted display device, a mobile phone display device, or tablet display device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tactile transducer device coupled to the digital processing device; 
 wherein for the provide the feedback data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 provide with the tactile transducer device tactile feedback relating to the at least one of the practice direction or the practice velocity of the ball with respect to a corresponding one of the starting direction or the initial velocity of the ball. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one speaker device coupled to the digital processing device; 
 wherein for the provide the feedback data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 provide with the least one speaker device audio feedback relating to the at least one of the practice direction or the practice velocity of the ball with respect to a corresponding one of the starting direction or the initial velocity of the ball. 
 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of making an electronic golfing aid apparatus, the method comprising:
 provide a digital processing device comprising a processor, a memory, and a communication interface which are coupled together;   coupling an imager device to the digital processing device;   coupling an inclinometer device to the digital processing device;   coupling a portable display device to the digital processing device;   wherein the memory coupled to the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to:
 obtain image data from the imager device comprising at least one of a playing surface, a ball, or a designated location spaced from the ball on the playing surface and inclination data of the imager device from the inclinometer device; 
 determine at least one type of spatial data and at least one type of playing surface data relating to the playing surface, the ball and the designated location from the obtained image data and the inclination data; 
 compute an overall trajectory, a starting direction, and an initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location based on the determined spatial data and the at least one type of playing surface data relating to the playing surface, wherein the compute the overall trajectory identifies and accounts for at least one airborne segment based on a determination of rotational velocity and translational velocity of the at least one airborne segment; and 
 display on the portable display device the computed overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein for the compute the overall trajectory, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 determine one of a plurality of types of airborne segments anticipated for the ball; and 
 adjusting an angular velocity and a translational velocity in the computation of the overall trajectory based on the determined one of the plurality of types of airborne segments anticipated for the ball. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the types of airborne segments from which the determine one of a plurality of types of airborne segments identifies comprises: at least one parabolic airborne segment anticipated for the ball; a substantially linear skidding segment anticipated for the ball; and a discontinuity in the surface between the ball and the designated location. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the determine the one of the plurality of types of airborne segments anticipated for the ball is based on obtaining from the imager device at least one of: practice image data of at least one practice swing with a sporting device to simulate a practice speed and practice direction or surface image data comprising at least one of the playing surface, wherein the playing surface comprises surface sections which extend along different planes at the discontinuity. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein for the obtain image data from the imager device, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 capture, with the imager device, the obtained image data comprising three-dimensional image data that comprises at least one of the playing surface, the ball, or the designated location spaced from the ball on the playing surface. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein for the capture image data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 execute object recognition on the image data from the imager device to determine when the ball and the designated location are in the image data; and 
 continue to capture additional image data with the imager device until the executed object recognition on the additional image data determines the ball and the designated location are in the additional image data. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein for the determine the at least one type of spatial data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 determine based on the three-dimensional image data at least a distance and any elevation difference between the ball and the designated location on the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the determined distance and any elevation difference. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising:
 coupling a wind sensor device to the digital processing device; 
 wherein the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 obtain from the wind sensor wind data on the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the obtained wind data. 
 
 
     
     
         23 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein for the determine at least one type of playing surface data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 obtain green speed data related to the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the obtained green speed data. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein for the determine at least one type of playing surface data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 receive, with the interface system, an input of green grain data between the ball and the designated location on the playing surface; 
 wherein the compute the overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball to reach the designated location is further based on the obtained green grain data. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 capture, with the imager device, practice image data of at least one practice swing with a sporting device to simulate a practice speed and practice direction; 
 compute the practice trajectory, the practice direction, and the practice velocity of the ball to reach the designated location; 
 compare the practice trajectory, the practice direction, and the practice velocity of the ball against the computed overall trajectory, the starting direction, and the initial velocity of the ball; and 
 display on the portable display device feedback data based on the comparison. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the portable display device comprises a head-mounted display device, a mobile phone display device, or tablet display device. 
     
     
         27 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising:
 coupling a tactile transducer device to the digital processing device; 
 wherein for the provide the feedback data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 provide with the tactile transducer device tactile feedback relating to the at least one of the practice direction or the practice velocity of the ball with respect to a corresponding one of the starting direction or the initial velocity of the ball. 
 
 
     
     
         28 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising:
 coupling at least one speaker device to the digital processing device; 
 wherein for the provide the feedback data, the processor is further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
 provide with the least one speaker device audio feedback relating to the at least one of the practice direction or the practice velocity of the ball with respect to a corresponding one of the starting direction or the initial velocity of the ball.