Claims
- 1. An apparatus comprising:
- a golf ball including only one reflective portion on its exterior surface;
- a single light source for impinging light upon said reflective portion of said golf ball; and
- photo detector array means for measuring change in the reflection of light from said reflective portion of said golf ball to detect spin applied to said golf ball when said golf ball is struck.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photo detector array means comprises:
- a first row of light responsive devices;
- a second row of light responsive devices; and
- means for identifying the time elapsed between the reflection of flight from said first row to said second row, said elapsed time corresponding to said spin applied to said golf ball when said golf ball is struck.
- 3. A golf apparatus comprising:
- (A) a simulator including:
- (1) means for projecting a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of golf holes to be played, each of said plurality of golf holes including a fairway, a bunker and a green;
- (2) means for generating signals indicative of the flight of a golf ball which is hit by a player, said generating means including:
- (a) a golf ball including only one reflective portion on its exterior surface,
- (b) a single light source for impinging light upon said reflective portion of said golf ball,
- (c) means for measuring change in the reflection of light from said reflective portion of said golf ball to detect spin applied to said golf ball when said golf ball is struck, said measuring means generating a spin signal;
- (d) a first conductor matrix including a plurality of conductors extending in a first direction,
- (e) a second conductor matrix closely positioned behind said first conductor matrix, said second conductor matrix including a plurality of conductors extending in a second direction which is at a substantial angle to said first direction, and
- (f) a switch array alternately coupled to said first conductor matrix and to said second conductor matrix, said switch array receiving a first conductor signal when a driven golf ball impinges said first conductor matrix, said switch array receiving a second conductor signal when said driven golf ball forces said first conductor matrix against said second conductor matrix;
- (3) means for correlating said spin signal, said first conductor signal, and said second conductor signal with one of said images of one of said golf holes to a golf ball position on one of said golf holes, said projecting means thereafter providing an image of said golf ball position on one of said golf holes; and
- (B) a multiple-hole chipping/putting area including (1) a chipping area with a plurality of bunkers, and (2) a putting green with a plurality of putting cups forming a green region, said plurality of bunkers and said plurality of putting cups corresponding to said plurality of golf holes, said plurality of bunkers and said plurality of putting cups forming a spatial region which is divisible into four 90.degree. regions, said plurality of bunkers and said plurality of putting cups of said green region enabling approaches to each of said plurality of golf holes from more than one of said 90.degree. regions.
Parent Case Info
This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/448,155, now abandoned, filed Dec. 8, 1989 in the name of Donald B. Curchod and entitled GOLF SIMULATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD which is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/357,059, now abandoned, filed May 25, 1989, in the name of Donald B. Curchod and entitled GOLD SIMULATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2618343 |
Jan 1989 |
FRX |
0146046 |
Nov 1980 |
JPX |
2154146 |
Sep 1985 |
GBX |
2206496 |
Jan 1989 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
448155 |
Dec 1989 |
|
Parent |
357059 |
May 1989 |
|