Portable golf ball launch monitor

Abstract

A portable golf ball launch monitor including at least one camera, a processor and memory, a power source, a case, and at least one additional component. The processor is electronically connected to a memory and is programmed to determine golf ball flight information based upon information from the camera. The case maintains the camera, processor, memory and power source. The at least one additional component includes at least one of, optionally two or more of, a mobile device interface unit, a wireless charging unit, a near field communication (NFC) unit, a color LCD display, a barometer device, a support arm, and a strap, each of which optionally carried by, or connected to, the case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable golf ball launch monitor comprising:
 at least one camera;   a processor electronically connected to a memory and programmed to determine golf ball flight information based upon information from the at least one camera;   a power source;   a case maintaining the at least one camera, the processor, the memory and the power source; and   a mobile device interface unit carried by the case and configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device interface unit includes a transceiver contained within the case for wirelessly communicating with the mobile electronic device, and an electronic device support assembly formed at an exterior of the case for receiving and maintaining the mobile electronic device relative to the transceiver. 
     
     
         3 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic device support assembly includes a platform sized and shaped to receive and support a major face of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 3 , wherein the case has an elongated shape, extending from a base end to an upper region, wherein the platform is formed along the upper region, and further wherein a major plane defined by the platform is non-perpendicular and non-parallel with a major plane defined by the base end. 
     
     
         5 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 4 , wherein the platform defines a top edge opposite a bottom edge, and wherein relative to an upright orientation of the case in which the base end rests on a horizontal surface, the bottom edge is vertically below the top edge, and further wherein the electronic device support assembly further includes a floor body defining a contact face proximate the bottom edge. 
     
     
         6 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic device support assembly is configured such that with the case in the upright orientation and the mobile electronic device lying flat on the platform, the mobile electronic device bears against and is supported by the contact face. 
     
     
         7 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 3 , wherein the transceiver is maintained proximate an underside of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless charging unit carried by the case and configured to wirelessly charge a battery of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless charging unit includes a transmitter coil maintained within the case for electrically interfacing with a receiver coil of the mobile electronic device, and an electronic device support assembly formed at an exterior of the case for receiving and maintaining the mobile electronic device relative to the transmitter coil. 
     
     
         10 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device support assembly includes a platform sized and shaped to receive and support a major face of the mobile electronic device, and further wherein the transmitter coil is located at an underside of the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a near field communication (NFC) unit carried by the case. 
     
     
         12 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 11 , wherein the NFC unit includes an NFC transmitter maintained within the case for wirelessly communicating with an NFC receiver of the mobile electronic device, and an electronic device support assembly formed at an exterior of the case for receiving and maintaining the mobile electronic device relative to the transmitter coil. 
     
     
         13 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device support assembly includes a platform sized and shaped to receive and support a major face of the mobile electronic device, and further wherein the NFC transmitter is located at an underside of the platform. 
     
     
         14 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a color LCD display carried by the case and operable to display at least a portion of the determined golf ball flight information. 
     
     
         15 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a barometer device carried by the case and configured to sense a parameter indicative of atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         16 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 15 , wherein the barometer device includes a barometric pressure sensor, and further wherein the processor is programmed to account for atmospheric pressure as measured by the barometric pressure sensor in determining golf ball flight information. 
     
     
         17 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a support arm selectively extending from a base end of the case. 
     
     
         18 . The portable golf ball launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap selectively secured to the case. 
     
     
         19 . A portable golf ball launch monitor comprising:
 at least one camera;   a processor electronically connected to a memory and programmed to determine golf ball flight information based upon information from the at least one camera;   a power source;   a case maintaining the at least one camera, the processor, the memory and the power source;   a mobile device interface unit carried by the case and configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile device interface unit includes a near field communication (NFC) transmitter; and   a wireless charging unit carried by the case and configured to wirelessly charge a battery of the mobile electronic device;   
     
     
         20 . A portable golf ball launch monitor comprising:
 at least one camera;   a processor electronically connected to a memory and programmed to determine golf ball flight information based upon information from the at least one camera;   a power source;   a case maintaining the at least one camera, the processor, the memory and the power source;   a color LCD display carried by the case and operable to display at least a portion of the determined golf ball flight information;   a barometer device carried by the case and configured to sense a parameter indicative of atmospheric pressure;   a support arm selectively extending from a base end of the case; and   a strap selectively secured to the case.