Smart golf receptacle system

Abstract

A golf ball receptacle and optional directionality system that wirelessly integrates actual golf equipment and sports implements with a computer and the internet to allow players to practice and improve their golfing skills, play a competitive game with one or more players locally, or if desired engage players remotely located from one another to play a competitive real or simulated game of golf. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing techniques. The system includes smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing device, all containing circuits and contact or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, to thereby wirelessly communicate game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays player information and visually simulates and controls a golf game between players and standard golf clubs may be utilized with the golf ball receptacle system or retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such clubs into “smart clubs” for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information between players, generate and control visual imagery and or simulations and display player performance information.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60 / 13,722, filed May 12, 1999 for all subject matter common hereto. That provisional application is incorporated by reference herein. This is a divisional application and the parent application for this divisional application is, 09 / 570,233.REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0002]A microfiche appendix including 1 microfiche with 27 frames accompanies and forms a part of this application.FIELD OF INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to a smart golf system coupling real sports equipment and a computer. More particularly, this invention relates to a system wherein a golf ball receptacle and or a golf club communicate event and performance information wirelessly to a personal computer and thereby, if desired, to the internet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]A number of patented golf club devices embody various ball contact or club swing sensing components. Typically, these devices display infor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a system that connects golf equipment to a computer for real-time training and games. The system includes sensors on the golf club and golf ball receptacle that detect the impact of the player's swing and send data to the computer. The computer analyzes the data and sends it back to the player for improvement. The system can also be used for other sports equipment and can help improve player reflexes and coordination. The technology can be used for individual training or for team-based competitions. The system is wireless and can be used with different types of golf clubs and other sports equipment."

Problems solved by technology

Also, numerous conventional computer golf game software packages and video games use a variety of unrealistic techniques to emulate the striking of a golf ball with a club.

None of these cooperates with actual golf clubs, actual golf ball target or cup receptacles, or a swing detector that senses the actual golf stroke.

Resolving an object's direction post implement impact with respect to its target is a problem that has been addressed in the literature often with great complexity.

In addition, few high-tech solutions have been employed but may be unsuitable for use under repeated impact of the object and impact surface.

The problem is simply determining the orientation of an impact surface with respect to a fixed reference.

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