Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Anchored projectile
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-15
2003-06-17
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3714)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Anchored projectile
C473S156000, C473S405000, C473S406000, C473S407000, C473S199000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06579190
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field to the Invention
The present invention relates to a ball motion measuring apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball motion measuring apparatus for measuring various kinds of motions of balls such as a golf ball, a baseball ball, a tennis ball, and the like after hitting.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been provided apparatuses and methods for measuring various kinds of motions of balls such as a golf ball after hitting, namely, the speed, rotational amount, the angle of elevation, and the deflection angle thereof with respect to a predetermined flight direction.
FIG. 5
shows a method
1
of measuring a golf ball disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.3-210282. In the measuring method
1
, the image of the golf ball immediately after hitting is photographed by a first camera
2
disposed vertically to the golf ball and higher than the golf ball and a second camera
3
disposed horizontally or by only the first camera
2
, with a strobe
4
emitting light to the golf ball.
FIG. 6A
shows a method
5
of measuring a golf ball disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.10-186474. In the measuring method
5
, the motion of the golf ball after hitting is measured by first and second cameras
7
-
1
and
7
-
2
installed in front of a tee
6
. The first and second cameras
7
-
1
and
7
-
2
photograph images
9
-
1
and
9
-
2
of the golf ball at different times by differentiating shutter opening/closing times determined by detection of a sensor
8
installed rearward from the tee
6
, as shown in FIG.
6
B.
In addition, in a measuring apparatus disclosed in each of Japanese Registered Patent Nos.2879881 and 2950450, two cameras are used to photograph the image of a golf ball immediately after hitting. The motion of the golf ball such as its speed, its rotational amount, and the like is computed by a controlling/computing device, based on the image of the golf ball photographed by the above-described measuring methods or apparatuses.
In the measuring method
1
shown in
FIG. 5
, the shutter of each camera is always open to photograph the golf ball at predetermined intervals by flashing the strobe
4
two or more times. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the degree of aperture opening of each camera to keep the shutter always open. The amount of light emitted by the strobe is insufficient outdoors because there is too much sunlight outdoors. Thus, it is difficult to obtain an image having a clear contour of the ball. Therefore, to compensate for clearness of the golf ball in analyzing the motion of the golf ball, it is necessary to put a required mark on the golf ball surface to be photographed. It is also necessary to locate the first camera
2
at a position immediately above the golf ball. Thus, much time and labor are required in preparation for measurement.
The camera
7
-
1
and
7
-
2
which are used in the measuring method
5
shown in
FIG. 6A
captures only one ball image into one image frame. Moreover, because the opening/closing speed of the shutter is not high enough to capture a plurality of images of the ball at a very high speed, a plurality of cameras are required to capture a plurality of ball images into the image frame at short intervals. Thus, the measuring method
5
causes the measuring apparatus to be complicated and large-scaled. Normally, the motion of the golf ball is photographed outdoors. Thus, it is important that the measuring apparatus is easy to carry. In this respect, the measuring apparatus is not easy to carry and much time and labor are required in installing each camera at a predetermined position.
The measuring apparatus with two cameras disclosed in Japanese Registered Patent Nos.2879881 and 2950450 respectively is also disadvantageous because they have the same problem as that of the measuring method
5
. In addition, they require the use of a golf ball on which a reflective dot pattern has been put to compensate for clearness of the image of the ball. In the Registered Patent No.2879881, there is also disclosed that the apparatus can photograph a ball image by only one camera. But a ball image photographed by one camera is incapable of measuring a deflection angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ball motion measuring apparatus capable of photographing a ball image with one CCD camera having a multi-shutter, analyzing various motions of a hit ball with high accuracy, easy to carry, and compact.
To solve the problem, there is provided A ball motion measuring apparatus comprising a CCD camera having a multi-shutter capable of successively opening and closing at a plurality of times at a high speed; a triggering sensor detecting a movement of a ball-hitting means or that of a ball and outputting a trigger signal to set opening/closing times of said multi-shutter; and a controlling/computing device connected to said CCD camera and said triggering sensor and having a storing medium for an image frame and an image display means.
Owing to a plurality of successive openings/closings of said multi-shutter caused by detection of said triggering sensor, said CCD camera photographs a plurality of ball images on a one-image frame, and said image display means displays said ball images in said one-image frame.
The conventional shutter-provided CCD camera can capture only one image into the one-image frame. Thus, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of cameras to photograph a plurality of ball images. According to the present invention, it is possible to photograph a plurality of ball images by using one multi-shutter-provided CCD camera. That is, the multi-shutter can successively open and close at a plurality of times at intervals as short as 1.5 ms to 3.0 ms. Therefore, the CCD camera can capture a plurality of ball images into the one-image frame and the ball images can be displayed on a monitor at same time. Because one CCD camera photographs the ball images, it is possible to make the entire measuring apparatus compact and lightweight. Thus, it is possible to reduce time and labor required to carry the component parts of the measuring apparatus and install the camera at a predetermined position.
The multi-shutter is initially opened and closed in association with a trigger signal of the triggering sensor detecting the passage of the ball and so on. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shutter opening/closing time from being unsynchronous with the passage of the ball and capture the ball image reliably and automatically. As the triggering sensor, it is possible to use a sensor detecting passage of a ball-hitting means, a reflective-type sensor detecting passage of a hit ball, a sound sensor detecting a hitting sound, and the like. A plurality of ball images captured in the one-image frame are sent to the controlling/computing device connected to the CCD camera. Upon receipt of the ball images, the controlling/computing device computes motions of the ball with high accuracy.
According to the present invention, strobes whose number is equal to or more than the number of opening/closing times of said multi-shutter are connected to said controlling/computing device, and said strobes flash sequentially and synchronously with opening/closing times of said multi-shutter. Because a plurality of strobes flash sequentially and synchronously with opening/closing times of said multi-shutter, a ball can be photographed with only the ball irradiated with flashlight owing to a high speed opening/closing of the multi-shutter. Thus, it is possible to prevent capturing of light emitted from objects such as a background other than an object to be photographed and obtain a ball image having a clear contour. Accordingly, it is possible to photograph a ball image clearly and securely when the ball is photographed outdoors although a large amount of light is present there. To irradiate the ball with a sufficient amount of light, it
Martin-Wallace Valencia
White Carmen D.
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