Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Simulated game
Patent
1993-09-10
1995-03-21
Millin, Vincent
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Simulated game
273185A, 273 87R, 273 872, 273433, 434252, A63B 6936
Patent
active
053989368
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a golfing apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for simulating golf course play using actual pre-recorded golf shots by the user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various golfing simulation systems have been developed and used over the years for simulating play on a golf course, including famous golf courses such as Pebble Beach or Augusta National. These conventional golfing simulation systems typically are used at home and involve playing a simulated hole or golf course using computer simulated shots by the user. Although these type of systems may somewhat educate the user about the game of golf, these systems produce only nominal, if any, information representative of the player's actual ability and/or a simulation of the player's interaction with the golf course based on the player's skills. Without some type of actual correlation to the user's actual golf skills, these systems primarily serve as games for promoting golf.
Other golfing simulation systems have also been developed that use actual shots taken toward a simulated screen or onto a distance-marked driving range. These systems allow the golfer to hit a golf ball and then either simulate the distance of travel or manually enter a shot into a computer for playing a simulated course. These systems, however, are not practical for home use. Moreover, simulation accuracy is still limited because the quality of information of user's actual golf shot is limited with these devices.
The common assignee of the present invention has developed systems using acoustics and/or optics for tracking a golf ball during actual flight and for determining the impact point of the ball. Examples of these systems may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,388 by Beard, III et al. entitled "Apparatus And Method For Determining Projectile Impact Locations"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,866 by Beard, III et al. entitled "Apparatus And Method For Determining Projectile Impact Locations"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,068 by Barnes entitled "Apparatus And Method For Detecting Sharp Signal Variations Against Ambient Signals." These systems have made major improvements which increase the value and enjoyment of driving range practice.
Despite substantial improvements in golf simulation systems and despite substantial commercial interest in these systems, the present choices for golfing simulation systems are either playing the simulated golfing systems at home on a computer with no real simulation of the golfer's actual skills or traveling to a driving range.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a golfing apparatus and method for simulating golf play using data representative of actual golf shots by the user. The user's actual golf shots are recorded on a recording medium, for example, at a driving range or on a golf course by one or more techniques such as by use of optics, acoustics, radar, or the like. The recorded actual shots of the user are then transferred to a golf course simulation system, e.g., at the golf range or in a home, for interaction therewith. The play of the simulated golf course is performed using the golfer's actual shots and not the simulated shots as with conventional systems.
In preferred embodiments, the golfing apparatus of the invention has a golf shot file providing a representation of at least one actual golf shot by the user. The golf shot representation includes at least a time and a distance of actual golf ball travel. The apparatus also has a golf course file for providing a geographic representation of at least a portion of a golf course and simulation means for combining selected portions of the golf shot file and selected portions of the golf course file to simulate at least one golf shot on the selected portions of the golf course based upon the actual golf shot by the user. An image display responsive to the simulation means displays at least one simulated golf shot on the selected portions of the golf course.
The golfing apparatus may also have means for monitoring a golf shot by a golfe
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Crockett Charles L.
Kluttz James W.
Roberts Edgar P.
Accu-Sport International, Inc.
Millin Vincent
Owens Kerry H.
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