CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0002371, filed Jan. 6, 2023 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0002381, filed Jan. 6, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a virtual golf device and a hitting mat that may be used in the virtual golf device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as the golf population has increased, screen golf, which allows users to enjoy golf using a virtual golf device, has become popular. In screen golf images of a golf course are displayed through a screen. Therefore, it can give the feeling of playing a real golf game outside, and time and money can be saved in comparison with the play at an outdoor field. As a result, the screen golf is very popular among busy modern people who have difficulty in playing a real outdoor golf due to time or economic reasons, etc.
A virtual golf device for the screen golf may be installed in a house or a facility operated by a service provider. When the screen golf service is provided by a service provider, there may be a plurality of playrooms and users play screen golf together with their acquaintances in the same playroom. Just as in baseball where a left-handed batter hits a baseball at the left side of home plate and a right-handed batter hits a baseball at the right side of the plate, in golf, the position of hitting the golf ball varies depending on whether the golfer is left-handed or right-handed. In conventional screen golf, the playrooms are divided into rooms for left-handed users and rooms for right-handed users due to technical limitations. As a result, there is a problem that it is impossible for friends consisting of left-handers and right-handers to play screen golf together in the same room.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a multi-area hitting mat that makes possible left-handed hitting and right-handed hitting so that left-handed users and right-handed users can play together in the same place.
The present invention provides a virtual golf device that makes possible left-handed hitting and right-handed hitting so that left-handed users and right-handed users can play together in the same place.
The other objects of the present invention will be clearly understood with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a hitting mat according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a fairway area and a non-fairway area, wherein a real golf ball is placed on the fairway area or the non-fairway area when a user hits the real golf ball, and if a direction of hitting the real golf ball is called a front the fairway area is formed on both left and right sides and the non-fairway area is also formed on both left and right sides when viewed from the front.
In the hitting mat, a portion formed on the left side and a portion formed on the right side in the fairway area may be symmetrical to each other.
In the hitting mat, a portion formed on the left side and a portion formed on the right side in the non-fairway area may be symmetrical to each other.
A virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present comprises a hitting mat on which a real golf ball for a user to hit is placed and which has a fairway area and a non-fairway area, a display part displaying a virtual golf course, a calculating part calculating a movement of a virtual golf ball corresponding to the real golf ball in the virtual golf course when the user hits the real golf ball, and a state change means changing the hitting mat to a first state or a second state, wherein if a direction of hitting the real golf ball is called a front, the first and second states are symmetrical to each other when viewed from the front.
In the virtual golf device, the hitting mat comprises a first hitting mat and a second hitting mat, and the state change means changes the hitting mat to the first state by exposing the first hitting mat and the hitting mat to the second state by exposing the second hitting mat.
In the virtual golf device, the state change means changes the hitting mat to the first state or the second state by rotating the hitting mat.
A virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present comprises a hitting mat on which a real golf ball for a user to hit is placed, a sensing means performing a sensing operation of sensing a state of the real golf ball at least one of when the user hits the real golf ball and after the user hits the real golf ball, a display part displaying a virtual golf course and a virtual golf ball and a calculating part calculating a movement of the virtual golf ball in the virtual golf course by using a result of the sensing operation, wherein a right-handed hitting area for a right-handed user and a left-handed hitting area for a left-handed user are provided on both sides of the hitting mat.
In the virtual golf device, the sensing means performs the sensing operation at a first position when the right-handed user is located at the right-handed hitting area and performs the sensing operation at a second position when the left-handed user is located at the left-handed hitting area.
In the virtual golf device, the sensing means moves to the first position or the second position by moving along a guide member.
In the virtual golf device, the sensing means comprises a sliding camera that moves along the guide member.
In the virtual golf device, the hitting mat has a fairway area and a non-fairway area, and if a direction of hitting the real golf ball is called a front the fairway area is formed on both left and right sides and the non-fairway area is also formed on both left and right sides when viewed from the front.
According to a hitting mat and a virtual golf device of the present invention, there is the effect that left-handed users and right-handed users can play together in the same place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows one example of a virtual golf course displayed on a screen in the virtual golf device of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 3 to 5 show the structure of a hitting mat according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6A to 6C are views for explaining the play method when using a multi-area hitting mat.
FIGS. 7 to 11 are views for explaining the advantages of using a hitting mat according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 13 to 15B are views for explaining the operation of a state change means.
FIG. 16 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 shows a schematic structure of a system in which a plurality of virtual golf devices are connected through a network.
FIG. 18 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 shows the configuration of a hitting plate that can be used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
FIGS. 20 and 21 show examples of a sensing part that can be used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing one example of an operation method that can be applied to the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
FIG. 23 shows one example of a virtual golf course displayed on a screen in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
FIGS. 24 to 26 show the structures of various hitting mats that can be used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
FIGS. 27A to 27C are views for explaining the play method when using a multi-area hitting mat.
FIGS. 28 to 32 are views for explaining the advantages of using a left-right symmetrical hitting mat.
FIGS. 33 to 35B are views for explaining the operation of a state change means that may be provided in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
FIG. 36 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 37 shows a schematic structure of a system in which a plurality of virtual golf devices are connected through a network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of the present invention with reference to the following embodiments. The purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood through the following embodiments. The present invention is not limited to such embodiments but may be modified in other forms. The embodiments to be described below are nothing but the ones provided to bring the disclosure of the present invention to perfection and assist those skilled in the art to completely understand the present invention. Therefore, the following embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween.
The size of the element or the relative sizes between elements in the drawings may be shown to be exaggerated for more clear understanding of the present invention. In addition, the shape of the elements shown in the drawings may be somewhat changed by variation of the manufacturing process or the like. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be limited to the shapes shown in the drawings unless otherwise stated, and it is to be understood to include a certain amount of variation.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the virtual golf device comprises a hitting plate 10, a control part 20, a sensing part 30, an input part 40, a sound part 50 and a display part 60.
The hitting plate 10 is an area where a user is positioned to hit a golf ball. The hitting plate 10 may be a plate-shaped object or may not be a separate object but simply a part of the floor where the user is located in a place where the virtual golf device is installed. Although not shown in the drawing, the hitting plate 10 is equipped with a hitting mat on which a golf ball is placed and an auto tee that can move up and down is installed on the hitting mat. A golf ball to be hit can be automatically provided to the user through the auto tee.
The control part 20 controls the overall operation between the components of the virtual golf device. For example, the control part 20 can control the auto tee in order that the auto tee automatically provides the golf ball to the user at the time of hitting the golf ball. Additionally, when the user selects a specific golf course, the control part 20 executes necessary operations so that the user can play on the selected golf course. That is, the control part 20 may be equipped with an image processing means for processing an image, and when the user selects a specific golf course the image processing means creates a corresponding golf course image and transmits it to the display part 60. As a result, the image showing the selected golf course is displayed. The control part 20 has a calculation part 21 and a storage part 22. The calculation part 21 performs a calculation process to calculate a trajectory of the golf ball assuming that the golf ball moves on a real golf course with the physical state formed when the user hit the golf ball. The storage part 22 serves to store various programs or data necessary to perform the operation of the control part 20 and/or the calculation process.
The sensing part 30 is used to detect the movement of the golf club and/or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user to obtain the information necessary for the calculation process. As the sensing part 30, a sensing means such as cameras capable of photographing the movement of the golf club and/or the movement of the golf ball or sensors may be used. Various sensing methods such as image sensing, light emission/light reception sensing, laser sensing and so on may be applied to the sensing means, and information on the state of the golf club used by the user and/or the golf ball hit by the user can be obtained through those sensing methods. The camera or the sensor may be used alone or used together, and only one sensing unit may be used or several sensing units may be used if circumstances need. The information detected by the sensing part 30 is transmitted to the control part 20 and is used for the calculation process.
The input part 40 is needed for the user to input various information. As the input part 40, a keyboard, a mouse or a touch screen may be used. In the screen golf, the information input by the user is needed for various cases. For example, when the user inputs ID or password for login or selects a golf course or a play difficulty level, the user needs to input the related information. The input part 40 is used for this object.
The sound part 50 may include audio apparatus such as a speaker and serves to inform the user of the information about the progress of the golf play and reproduce various sound effects according to the progress of the golf play.
The display part 60 may include apparatus for display operations such as a projector, screen, etc. The projector gives the golf-related image showing the golf ball and/or the golf course to the screen, and the screen displays the given image to provide it to the user. Although not shown in the drawing, the display part 60 may further include display apparatus such as a kiosk that serves as an auxiliary display in addition to the screen.
Hereinafter, some objects displayed on the screen may be expressed by using the term ‘virtual’. This means that it does not exist in the real world and is displayed on the screen. For example, ‘virtual golf course’ means a golf course displayed on the screen and ‘virtual golf ball’ means a golf ball displayed on the screen.
By using the virtual golf device, the user can play screen golf. When the user plays screen golf, the virtual golf device operates as follows. When the user hits a golf ball the sensing part 30 detects the physical state such as the movement of the golf club and/or the moving speed or direction of the golf ball hit by the user. The information sensed by the sensing part 30 is delivered to the control part 20. The calculation part 21 of the control part 20 performs the calculation process for computing the trajectory of the golf ball based on the delivered information. After that, the image of the virtual golf ball moving along the computed trajectory is displayed in the screen. The virtual golf ball in the screen lands at one location in the virtual golf course, and the user redoes the screen golf play from the location where the virtual golf ball landed by hitting the golf ball. The process is repeated until the virtual golf ball is put into the hole cup of the virtual golf course.
FIG. 2 shows one example of a virtual golf course displayed on a screen in the virtual golf device of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 to 5 show the structure of a hitting mat according to various embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 6A to 6C are views for explaining the play method when using a multi-area hitting mat.
Referring to FIG. 2, the screen of the virtual golf device displays the virtual golf course where the user is currently playing. A real golf course can be reproduced by the virtual golf course displayed in the screen because the virtual golf course is made based on a real golf course in existence. Just as an actual golf course includes various terrain such as fairway, rough and bunker, various virtual terrain such as virtual fairway, virtual rough and virtual bunker is also displayed on the virtual golf course of the screen. In the actual golf course, the fairway is a region with grass that is kept short and it is easy to hit a golf ball in the grass of the fairway. The rough is a region with grass that is not well maintained. The glass of the rough is longer than that of the fairway so that it is not easy to hit a golf ball in the rough. A bunker is a region that consists of sand and it is difficult to hit a golf ball in the bunker because the sand bounces when the user hits a golf ball. The order of the difficulty of hitting a golf ball is the bunker, the rough, the fairway. In this specification, regions other than the fairway, such as the rough and the bunker, may be referred to as ‘non-fairway area’.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a multi-area hitting mat having a plurality of areas may be used as a hitting mat used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 1. The plurality of areas include a fairway area 1 and a non-fairway area 2. The fairway area 1 corresponds to the virtual fairway in the screen, and the non-fairway area 2 corresponds to the virtual non-fairway in the screen. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the non-fairway area 2 may be comprised of a single area, or as shown in FIG. 5 the non-fairway area 2 may be comprised of multiple areas. When the non-fairway area 2 is comprised of a single area, the single area may be formed to correspond to a rough or a bunker. For example, if the single area corresponds to the rough, both the fairway area 1 and the non-fairway area 2 are formed of artificial turf, and the artificial turf of the non-fairway area 2 may be made of longer turf or rough material in comparison with the artificial turf of the fairway area 1. When the non-fairway area 2 is composed of multiple areas, the multiple areas may be formed to correspond to the rough and the bunker, respectively. For example, in the hitting mat, the fairway area and the rough area may be formed of artificial turf with different lengths that can give a feeling of hitting a golf ball in the fairway and the rough of the actual golf course, and the bunker area may be formed of a material that can give a feeling of hitting a golf ball in sand. In actual golf, there may be terrain such as water hazards other than fairways, roughs and bunkers, and roughs or bunkers can also be subdivided into light rough, heavy rough, fairway bunkers, green bunkers, etc. Therefore, the multi-area hitting mat may be formed in various structure in order to reflect various topographical characteristics of an actual golf course.
When we assume an imaginary line passing through the center of the hitting mat in the vertical direction, the fairway area 1 and the non-fairway area 2 are formed on both left and right sides of the imaginary vertical line in the hitting mat of the present embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. In other words, if the upper part of the hitting mat in FIGS. 3 to 5 is called a front where the screen is placed, the user hits a golf ball placed on the hitting mat frontward toward the screen, the fairway area 1 is formed on both left and right sides and the non-fairway area 2 is also formed on both left and right sides when viewed from the front. In particular, the portion formed on the left side and the portion formed on the right side when viewed from the front may be symmetrical to each other in the fairway area 1. In addition, the portion formed on the left side and the portion formed on the right side when viewed from the front may be symmetrical to each other in the non-fairway area 2. FIGS. 3 to 5 show several examples in which the fairway area 1 and the non-fairway area 2 are formed on both left and right sides or the left and right sides portions are symmetrical to each other, but the hitting mat is limited to the structures shown in the drawings and may have other structures not shown in the drawings. For reference, the fairway area and the non-fairway area have asymmetrical structures in the multi-area hitting mat according to the prior art. That is, the fairway area is formed only on either left side or right side when viewed from the front, and the non-fairway area is formed only on the opposite side of the fairway area. The multi-area hitting mat according to the prior art and the multi-area hitting mat according to the present invention will be compared and described in detail later.
When using a multi-area hitting mat having multiple areas corresponding to multiple areas displayed on the screen, the user can hit the real golf ball after placing the real golf ball on the specific area of the hitting mat corresponding to the area where the virtual golf ball in the screen is placed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the virtual golf ball is located at the virtual fairway in the virtual golf course on the screen, the user can place the real golf ball on the fairway area of the hitting mat and hit it. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, when the virtual golf ball is located at the virtual rough/virtual bunker in the virtual golf course on the screen, the user can place the real golf ball on the rough area/bunker area of the hitting mat and hit it. By using this multi-area hitting mat, the user can hit the real golf ball after forming the hitting situation (the situation where the real golf ball is placed on any one of the areas such as fairway area/rough area/bunker area of the hitting mat) corresponding to the situation of the virtual golf ball displayed on the screen (the situation where the virtual golf ball is located at any one of the terrains such as virtual fairway/virtual rough/virtual bunker). As a result, even in screen golf, the user can experience the feeling of a fairway shot/a rough shot/a bunker shot in real golf. FIGS. 7 to 11 are views for explaining the advantages of using a hitting mat according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a hitting mat for a right-handed user that is in use, and FIG. 8 shows a hitting mat for a left-handed user that is in use. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the multi-area hitting mat includes a fairway area 5 and a non-fairway area 6, and the non-fairway area 6 has a plurality of areas. The plurality areas of the non-fairway area 6 may be a rough area 6a and a bunker area 6b. If the upper part in the hitting mat of FIG. 7 is called ‘front’, in the hitting mat for a right-hander, the fairway area 5 is located at the right side when viewed from the front and the non-fairway area 6 is located at the left side when viewed from the front. In the multi-area mat in FIG. 7, the portions of left and right sides are asymmetric to each other, the fairway area 5 is approximately formed only on the right side when viewed from the front, and the non-fairway area 6 is formed only on the left side when viewed from the front. Likewise, if the upper part in the hitting mat of FIG. 8 is called ‘front’, in the hitting mat for a left-hander, the fairway area 5 is located at the left side when viewed from the front and the non-fairway area 6 is located at the right side when viewed from the front. In the multi-area mat in FIG. 8, the portions of left and right sides are asymmetric to each other, the fairway area 5 is approximately formed only on the left side when viewed from the front, and the non-fairway area 6 is formed only on the right side when viewed from the front. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when viewed from the front a right-handed user is located at the right side of the hitting mat for a right-handed user and hits the golf ball frontward, and a left-handed user is located at the left side of the hitting mat for a left-handed user and hits the golf ball frontward. In the multi-area hitting mat shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fairway area 5 is close to the user's position when the user hits the golf ball and the non-fairway area 6 is far from the user's position when the user hits the golf ball. Right-handed users and left-handed users cannot play together using the same hitting mat, and a hitting mat for a right-handed user and a hitting mat for a left-handed user must be used separately depending on whether the user is right-handed or left-handed.
Referring to FIG. 9, since the hitting mat is formed symmetrically, when the hitting mat according to the embodiment of the present invention is used, the hitting situation where a right-handed user is located at the right side of the hitting mat when viewed from the front is the same as the hitting situation where a left-handed user is located at the left side of the hitting mat when viewed from the front. Therefore, right-handed users and left-handed users can use one hitting mat in common.
Referring to FIG. 10, when the multi-area hitting mat shown in FIG. 10 is used, the distance between the user and the golf ball is varied depending on whether the user hits the golf ball on the fairway area 5 or the non-fairway area 6. For example, when a right-handed user uses a hitting mat shown in FIG. 10, the distance D1 between the user and the golf ball placed on the fairway area 5 is shorter than the distance D2 or D3 between the user and the golf ball placed on the non-fairway area 6. The golf swing can be greatly affected by even a single small variable, and the distance between the golf ball and the user can also be an important variable affecting the golf swing. There may be some users who want to maintain the same distance from the golf ball without changing the swing mechanism when taking fairway shots/non-fairway shots. These users may be nervous about changes in the distance when taking fairway shots/non-fairway shots in the hitting mat shown in FIG. 10, and it can have a negative impact on their hitting results.
Referring to FIG. 11, when the multi-area hitting mat according to the embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the user and the golf ball is not varied regardless of whether the user hits the golf ball on the fairway area 1 or the non-fairway area 2. For example, when a right-handed user uses the hitting mat according to the embodiment of the present invention, the distance D1 between the user and the golf ball placed on the fairway area 1 is identical to the distance D2 or D3 between the user and the golf ball placed on the non-fairway area 2. Therefore, the multi-area hitting mat according to this embodiment has the advantage of allowing the user to maintain the same distance from the golf ball without changing the swing mechanism when taking fairway shots/non-fairway shots.
FIG. 12 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 13 to 15 are views for explaining the operation of a state change means.
Referring to FIG. 12, the virtual golf device comprises a hitting plate 10, a control part 20, a sensing part 30, an input part 40, a sound part 50, a display part 60 and a state change means 70.
The hitting plate 10 is an area where a user is positioned to hit a golf ball. Although not shown in the drawing, the hitting plate 10 is equipped with a hitting mat on which a golf ball is placed and an auto tee that can move up and down is installed on the hitting mat. A golf ball for hitting may be automatically provided to the user through the auto tee.
The control part 20 controls the overall operation between the components of the virtual golf device. The control part 20 has a calculation part 21 and a storage part 22. The calculation part 21 performs a calculation process to calculate a trajectory of the golf ball assuming that the golf ball moves on a real golf course with the physical state formed when the user hit the golf ball. The storage part 22 serves to store various programs or data necessary to perform the operation of the control part 20 or the calculation process.
The sensing part 30 is used to detect the movement of the golf club and/or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user to obtain the information necessary for the calculation process. As the sensing part 30, a sensing means such as cameras capable of photographing the movement of the golf club and/or the movement of the golf ball or sensors may be used. The input part 40 is needed for the user to input various information. As the input part 40, a keyboard, a mouse or a touch screen may be used. The sound part 50 may include audio apparatus such as a speaker and serves to inform the user of the information about the progress of the golf play and reproduce various sound effects according to the progress of the golf play. The display part 60 may include apparatus for display operations such as a projector, screen, etc. The projector gives the golf-related image with the golf ball and/or the golf course to the screen, and the screen displays the given image to provide it to the user.
The state change means 70 is for changing the state of the hitting mat. Due to the state change means 70, the effect from the symmetrical hitting mat can occur even though the virtual golf device according to the embodiment of the present invention does not use the symmetrical hitting mat as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
Referring to FIG. 13, the state change means 70 is disposed under the hitting plate 10. The state change means 70 has first and second supporters 71 and 72, a longitudinal moving member 73 and a transverse moving member 74. A hitting mat is seated on the upper surface of each supporter. Concretely, a hitting mat in a first state is seated on the first supporter 71 and a hitting mat in a second state is seated on the second supporter 72 (The first and second states of the hitting mat will be described later). The longitudinal moving member 73 is attached to the lower surface of the first and second supporters 71, 72 to move the supporters 71, 72 in the longitudinal direction. The transverse moving member 74 moves the longitudinal moving member 73 in the transverse direction. An opening 11 is formed in the hitting plate 10, and the hitting mat in the first state or the hitting mat in the second state can be exposed outwardly through the opening 11. That is, when the hitting mat in the first state is needed, the longitudinal moving member 73 attached to the lower surface of the first supporter 71 moves the first supporter 71 upward so that the first supporter 71 ascends to the height of the hitting plate 10 and the hitting mat in the first state can be exposed to the outside. In addition, when the hitting mat in the second state is needed, the longitudinal moving member 73 attached to the lower surface of the second supporter 72 moves the second supporter 72 upward so that the second supporter 72 ascends to the height of the hitting plate 10 and the hitting mat in the second state can be exposed to the outside. The conventional technology may be applied to the technical configuration of the longitudinal moving member 73 and the transverse moving member 74. For example, the longitudinal moving member 73 may include a device such as a rod that can be extended up and down by a hydraulic device or a drive motor, and the transverse moving member 74 may include a device such as a belt that can be moved laterally by a driving roller or the like so that the transverse moving member 74 can move the longitudinal moving member 73 in the transverse direction.
FIG. 14 show the state change means 70 with a different structure. Referring to FIG. 14, the state change means 70 is disposed under the hitting plate 10. The state change means 70 has a supporter 75, a longitudinal moving member 76 and a rotating member 77. A hitting mat is seated on the upper surface of the supporter 75. The longitudinal moving member 76 is attached to the lower surface of the supporter 75 to move the supporter 75 in the longitudinal direction. The rotating member 77 rotates the longitudinal moving member 76. An opening 11 is formed in the hitting plate 10, and the hitting mat can be exposed outwardly through the opening 11. Due to the operation of the rotating member 77, the supporter 75 seated on the longitudinal moving member 76 can be rotated, and thus the hitting mat seated on the supporter 75 becomes a first state or a second state (The first and second states of the hitting mat will be described later). Therefore, when the hitting mat in the first state is needed, the hitting mat that is in the first state or whose state is changed from the second state to the first state by the operation of the rotating member 77 is exposed to the outside through the opening 11, and when the hitting mat in the second state is needed, the hitting mat that is in the second state or whose state is changed from the first state to the second state by the operation of the rotating member 77 is exposed to the outside through the opening 11. The conventional technology may be applied to the technical configuration of the longitudinal moving member 76 and the rotating member 77. For example, the longitudinal moving member 76 may include a device such as a rod that can be extended up and down by a hydraulic device or a drive motor, and the rotating member 77 may include a device such as a rotating plate that can get rotatory force from a drive motor.
Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a multi-area hitting mat having a fairway area 7 and a non-fairway area 8 can be used as a hitting mat seated on the supporters 71, 72, and 75. The non-fairway area 8 includes a plurality of areas and the plurality of areas of the non-fairway area 8 may be a rough area 8a and a bunker area 8b. As shown in of FIG. 15A, when the hitting mat is in the first state, the fairway area 7 is located at the left side and the non-fairway area 8 is located at the right side. It is assumed that the screen is installed on the upper part of the hitting mat in FIGS. 15A and 15B, and the user hits a golf ball toward the screen. When the direction where the user hits the golf ball is called ‘front’ (screen's location), the first state shows the state of the hitting mat when the right-handed user hits the golf ball. In this state, the fairway area 7 is located at the right side and the non-fairway area 8 is located at the left side when viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 15B, when the hitting mat is in the second state, the fairway area 7 is located at the right side and the non-fairway area 8 is located at the left side when viewed from the front. The second state shows the state of the hitting mat when the left-handed user hits the golf ball.
If the state change means 70 shown in FIG. 13 is used, the control part 20 controls the state change means 70 to expose the hitting mat in the first state to the outside when the right-handed user hits the golf ball. Likewise, the control part 20 controls the state change means 70 to expose the hitting mat in the second state to the outside when the left-handed user hits the golf ball. In addition, if the state change means 70 shown in FIG. 14 is used, when the right-handed user hits the golf ball the control part 20 controls the state change means 70 to form the hitting mat of the first state (If the hitting mat is in the first state the current state is maintained, and if the hitting mat is in the second state the hitting mat is rotated to be changed from the second state to the first state) expose the hitting mat in the first state to the outside. Likewise, when the left-handed user hits the golf ball the control part 20 controls the state change means 70 to form the hitting mat of the second state (If the hitting mat is in the second state the current state is maintained, and if the hitting mat is in the first state the hitting mat is rotated to be changed from the first state to the second state) expose the hitting mat in the second state to the outside.
According to this embodiment, despite using an asymmetrical multi-area hitting mat, the state of the hitting mat can be changed through the state change means 70 according to whether the user is right-handed or left-handed, and thus left-handed users and right-handed users can play together in the same place.
FIG. 16 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 16, the virtual golf device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of booths 101, 102, 103. Each booth has the same structure. For example, the first booth 101 includes a hitting plate 101a, a simulator 101b with a small display such as a kiosk, a screen 101c, etc., and the other booths 102 and 103 also include the same components. The simulator 101b can serve as the control part in the above-described embodiments. Although not shown in FIG. 16, each of the booths 101, 102, 103 may further include other components. For example, each of the booths 101, 102, 103 has a camera for detecting the movement of a golf ball and/or a golfclub. In each of the booths 101, 102, 103, a plurality of users can take turns playing golf. Alternatively, in each of the booths 101, 102, 103, one user can play golf while being separated from users of other booths. In the virtual golf device according to this embodiment, a multi-area hitting mat such as that shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 may be used, or an asymmetrical multi-area hitting mat may be used if the state change means such as that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is used, and thus right-handed users and left-handed users can play together in the same place.
FIG. 17 shows a schematic structure of a system in which a plurality of virtual golf devices are connected through a network.
Referring to FIG. 17, the virtual golf system comprises at least one virtual golf device 100 and a service device 200. As the virtual golf device 100, a virtual golf device such as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, etc. may be used. The virtual golf device 100 may be installed in a house or a facility operated by a service provider. If there are multiple houses and/or facilities, the virtual golf device 100 is installed at each place of multiple houses and/or facilities and thus there may be a plurality of virtual golf devices in total. The virtual golf device 100 is connected to the service device 200 through a wired/wireless communication network or the like. The service device 200 may include a central server used by a service provider providing screen golf service using the virtual golf device(s) 100 to manage the virtual golf device(s) 100.
If a log-in process is applied, a user needs to log in in order to receive the screen golf service. When a user logs in, the service device 200 checks the user's identity and determines whether to approve the login. The service device 200 includes a storage part 210 that stores information necessary for checking the identity of the user. Additionally, the storage part 210 may store not only information for user identification but also user play records. Since various user information is stored in the storage part 210, the virtual golf device(s) 100 connected to the service device 200 by wire and/or wireless communication network can use the information stored in the storage part 210 and there is no need to separately store user information in the virtual golf device(s) 100.
In the virtual golf device 100, a multi-area hitting mat such as that shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 may be used or an asymmetrical multi-area hitting mat may be used if the state change means such as that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is used, and thus right-handed users and left-handed users can play together in the same place.
FIG. 18 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 18, the virtual golf device comprises a hitting plate 10, a control part 20, a sensing part 30, an input part 40, a sound part 50 and a display part 60.
The hitting plate 10 is an area where a user is positioned to hit a golf ball. The hitting plate 10 may be a plate-shaped object or may not be a separate object but simply a part of the floor where the user is located in a place where the virtual golf device is installed. Although not shown in the drawing, the hitting plate 10 is equipped with a hitting mat on which a golf ball is placed and an auto tee that can move up and down is installed on the hitting mat. A golf ball for hitting may be automatically provided to the user through the auto tee.
The control part 20 controls the overall operation between the components of the virtual golf device. For example, the control part 20 can control the auto tee in order that the auto tee automatically provides the golf ball to the user at the time of hitting the golf ball. Additionally, when the user selects a specific golf course, the control part 20 executes necessary operations so that the user can play on the selected golf course. That is, the control part 20 is equipped with an image processing means for processing an image, and when the user selects a specific golf course the image processing means creates a corresponding golf course image and transmits it to the display part 60. As a result, the image showing the selected golf course is displayed. The control part 20 has a calculation part 21 and a storage part 22. The calculation part 21 performs a calculation process to calculate a trajectory of the golf ball assuming that the golf ball moves on a real golf course with the physical state formed when the user hit the golf ball. The storage part 22 serves to store various programs or data necessary to perform the operation of the control part 20 and/or the calculation process.
The sensing part 30 is used to detect the movement of the golf club and/or the movement of the golf ball hit by the user to obtain the information necessary for the calculation process. As the sensing part 30, a sensing means such as cameras capable of photographing the movement of the golf club and/or the movement of the golf ball or sensors may be used. Various sensing methods such as image sensing, light emission/light reception sensing, laser sensing and so on may be applied to the sensing means, and information on the state of the golf club used by the user and/or the golf ball hit by the user can be obtained through those sensing methods. The camera or the sensor may be used alone or used together, and only one sensing unit may be used or several sensing units may be used if circumstances need. The information detected by the sensing part 30 is transmitted to the control part 20 and is used for the calculation process.
The input part 40 is needed for the user to input various information. As the input part 40, a keyboard, a mouse or a touch screen may be used. In the screen golf, the information input by the user is needed for various cases. For example, when the user inputs ID or password for login or selects a golf course or a play difficulty level, the user needs to input the related information. The input part 40 is used for this object.
The sound part 50 may include audio apparatus such as a speaker and serves to inform the user of the information about the progress of the golf play and reproduce various sound effects according to the progress of the golf play.
The display part 60 may include apparatus for display operations such as a projector, screen, etc. The projector gives the golf-related image showing the golf ball and/or the golf course to the screen, and the screen displays the given image to provide it to the user. Although not shown in the drawing, the display part 60 may further include display apparatus such as a kiosk that serves as an auxiliary display in addition to the screen.
Hereinafter, some objects displayed on the screen may be expressed by using the term ‘virtual’. This means that it does not exist in the real world and is displayed on the screen. For example, ‘virtual golf course’ means a golf course displayed on the screen and ‘virtual golf ball’ means a golf ball displayed on the screen.
By using the virtual golf device, the user can play screen golf. When the user plays screen golf, the virtual golf device operates as follows. When the user hits a golf ball the sensing part 30 detects the physical state such as the movement of the golf club and/or the moving speed or direction of the golf ball hit by the user. The information sensed by the sensing part 30 is delivered to the control part 20. The calculation part 21 of the control part 20 performs the calculation process for computing the trajectory of the golf ball based on the delivered information. After that, the image of the virtual golf ball moving along the computed trajectory is displayed in the screen. The virtual golf ball in the screen lands at one location in the virtual golf course, and the user redoes the screen golf play from the location where the virtual golf ball landed by hitting the golf ball. The process is repeated until the virtual golf ball is put into the hole cup of the virtual golf course.
FIG. 19 shows the configuration of a hitting plate that can be used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18, FIGS. 20 and 21 show concrete examples of a sensing part that can be used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18, and FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing one example of an operation method that can be applied to the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
Referring to FIG. 19, the hitting plate 10 includes a hitting mat, a right-handed hitting area 10a and a left-handed hitting area 10b. A golf ball providing means such as an auto tee that provides a golf ball to a user is installed under the hitting mat, and the golf ball provided by the golf ball providing means is placed on the hitting mat. The user is located at the right-handed hitting area 10a or the left-handed hitting area 10b to hit the golf ball placed on the hitting mat. The right-handed hitting area 10a, where a right-handed user is located, is on the left side of the hitting mat, and the left-handed hitting area 10b, where a left-handed user is located, is on the right side of the hitting mat. If the direction in which the user hits the golf ball is called the front, the front corresponds to the upper direction of the hitting plate 10 shown in FIG. 19. When viewed from the front, the right-handed hitting area 10a is on the right side of the hitting mat and the left-handed hitting area 10b is on the left side of the hitting mat. In the hitting plate 10, the hitting mat is an independently existing physical object, while the right-handed hitting area 10a and the left-handed hitting area 10b may not be a separate object. That is, separate objects such as plates may be provided as the right-handed hitting area 10a and the left-handed hitting area 10b. Or, without separate objects areas near the hitting mat on the floor of the place where the virtual golf device is installed may serve as the right-handed hitting area 10a and the left-handed hitting area 10b.
Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the sensing means used as the sensing part 30 detects the movement of the golf club and/or the movement or physical state of the golf ball hit by the user, and a camera can be used as the sensing means. According to the embodiment of the present invention, only one camera can be used for both a right-handed user and a left-handed user, and in this case the camera may be placed above the hitting plate (or the hitting mat). Concretely, the camera may be installed on the ceiling of the place where the virtual golf device is installed. For example, the camera may be located at a position slightly moved toward the screen from the portion of the ceiling corresponding to where the hitting mat is placed. When located at this position, the camera can point its lens at a slightly downward angle to capture the user and/or the golf ball in front of the user. Alternatively, the camera may be located at a position slightly moved toward the opposite side of the screen from the portion of the ceiling corresponding to where the hitting mat is placed. When located at this position, the camera can point its lens at a slightly downward angle to capture the user and/or the golf ball behind the user. In other words, when the camera is positioned at a position moved toward the screen, it captures the user and/or the golf ball from the front, and when the camera is positioned at a position moved toward the other side of the screen, it captures the user and/or the golf ball from the back.
A guide member such as a rail is installed on the ceiling. The camera is mounted on the guide member and can move left and right on the ceiling along the guide member. As shown in FIG. 20, when a right-handed user hits the golf ball, the camera moves to the right end of the guide member and captures images of the user and/or the golf ball. Also, as shown in FIG. 21, when a left-handed user hits the golf ball, the camera moves to the left end of the guide member and captures images of the user and/or the golf ball.
Hereinafter, the position of the camera when the right-handed user hits the golf ball is referred to as a first position (see FIG. 20), and the position of the camera when the left-handed user hits the golf ball is referred to as a second position (see FIG. 21). When the right-handed user hits the golf ball, the camera can be pointed slantly at the user and/or the golf ball from the first position to obtain images of the user and/or the golf ball. In addition, when the left-handed user hits the golf ball, the camera can be pointed slantly at the user and/or the golf ball from the second position to obtain images of the user and/or the golf ball.
Since the camera is placed on the upper ceiling and is a sliding camera that can move left and right through the guide member, the information necessary for the calculation process such as the movement and/or physical state of the golf ball and/or the golf club can be obtained from the user's swing motion by only one camera regardless of whether the user is left-handed or right-handed. In addition, the user's swing image can be obtained by only one camera. If the camera that is not the sliding camera is installed in the first position, there is no difficulty in obtaining the user's swing image or the image of the hit golf ball when a right-handed user hits the golf ball. However, when the left-handed user hits the golf ball, it is difficult to obtain the user's swing image or the image of the hit golf ball because the camera's view is blocked by the user. According to this embodiment of the present invention, since the sliding method using the guide member is applied, necessary images can be obtained using only one camera regardless of whether the user is right-handed or left-handed.
The installation location of the camera is not limited to the ceiling. For example, the sliding camera may be installed on the back wall (when the wall on which the screen is installed is referred to as the ‘front wall’, the back wall means the opposite wall of the front wall). However, it is not desirable to install the camera on the left wall or the right wall. If the camera is installed on the left wall or the right wall, there may be difficulty in capturing the golf ball/the golf club/the user depending on whether the user is left-handed or right-handed. For example, if the camera is installed on the right wall when viewed from the screen, there is no problem when the left-handed user hits the golf ball. However, when the right-handed user hits the golf ball, the user himself blocks the camera's view so that there is difficulty in obtaining the necessary images. Conversely, if the camera is installed on the left wall when viewed from the screen, there is no problem when the right-handed user hits the golf ball. However, when the left-handed user hits the golf ball, the user himself blocks the camera's view so that there is difficulty in obtaining the necessary images.
When using one camera using the sliding method as in this embodiment, the virtual golf device may be operated in an operation method different from a previous operation method. Referring to FIG. 22, the operation method applicable to the virtual golf device according to this embodiment includes first to eighth steps S1 to S8.
In the first step S1, the user is checked. In the second step S2, it is detected whether the user is right-handed or left-handed. The first and second steps S1 and S2 can be carried away in several ways.
For example, when a user plays screen golf using a virtual golf device after log-in, the user's identity can be confirmed through the log-in and it can be detected whether the user is left-handed or right-handed from the personal information stored about the identified user. If a service provider providing screen golf services operates a plurality of facilities for screen golf and the plurality of facilities are managed by a central server connected by a network, the log-in may be handled by the central server and the personal information may be stored separately for each user in the central server.
Alternatively, it is possible for the control part (see reference numeral 20 in FIG. 18) to perform the first and second steps S1 and S2. If the control part controls the operation of the camera, the user can be identified by checking the image captured by the camera that is adjusted to a specific position by the control part. For example, if the camera is adjusted to the first position by the control part and then an image is obtained by the camera at the first position, it can be detected whether the user is right-handed or left-handed by the obtained image. That is, if the user preparing to hit and the golf ball are normally shown the user is considered right-handed, and if the golf ball is obscured by the user and not properly identified the user is considered left-handed.
If the user is right-handed, the third step S3 for locating the camera in the first position is performed. That is, if the camera's location is the first position no action is taken, and if the camera's location is the second position, the camera is moved to the first position. If the user is left-handed, the fourth step S4 for locating the camera in the second position is performed. That is, if the camera's location is the second position no action is taken, and if the camera's location is the first position, the camera is moved to the second position. In the fifth step S5, the user hits a golf ball. In the sixth step S6, a sensing step is performed to detect the movement of the golf ball/golf club by photographing the hit golf ball/golf club. In the sensing stage, the user's swing motion can be further photographed and added as the sensed object. In the seventh step S7, a calculation step is performed to calculate the movement of the virtual golf ball corresponding to the hit golf ball based on the detection result in the sensing step. In the eighth step S8, a display step is performed in which the virtual golf ball moving as calculated in the calculation step is displayed on the screen.
In order that right-handed users and left-handed users can play together, in addition to the sensing means such as the sliding camera described above, another component that are different from those of the prior art can be used and the hitting mat is described below as one example of another component.
FIG. 23 shows one example of a virtual golf course displayed on a screen in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18, FIGS. 24 to 26 show the structures of various hitting mats that can be used in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18, and FIGS. 27A to 27C are views for explaining the play method when using a multi-area hitting mat.
Referring to FIG. 23, the screen of the virtual golf device displays the virtual golf course where the user is currently playing. A real golf course can be reproduced by the virtual golf course displayed in the screen because the virtual golf course is made based on a real golf course in existence. Just as an actual golf course includes various terrain such as fairway, rough and bunker, various virtual terrain such as virtual fairway, virtual rough and virtual bunker is also displayed on the virtual golf course of the screen. In an actual golf course, the fairway is a region with grass that is kept short and it is easy to hit a golf ball in the grass of the fairway. The rough is a region with grass that is not well maintained. The glass of the rough is longer than that of the fairway so that it is not easy to hit a golf ball in the rough. A bunker is a region that consists of sand and it is difficult to hit a golf ball in the bunker because the sand bounces when the user hits a golf ball. The order of the difficulty of hitting a golf ball is the bunker, the rough, the fairway. In this specification, regions other than the fairway, such as the rough and the bunker, may be referred to as ‘non-fairway area’.
Referring to FIGS. 24 to 26, a multi-area hitting mat that has a plurality of areas and is different from that of the prior art may be used as a hitting mat in order that right-handed users and left-handed users can play together. The plurality of areas include a fairway area 1 and a non-fairway area 2. The fairway area 1 corresponds to the virtual fairway in the screen, and the non-fairway area 2 corresponds to the virtual non-fairway in the screen. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 the non-fairway area 2 may be comprised of a single area, or as shown in FIG. 26 the non-fairway area 2 may be comprised of multiple areas. When the non-fairway area 2 is comprised of a single area, the single area may be formed to correspond to a rough or a bunker. For example, if the single area corresponds to the rough, both the fairway area 1 and the non-fairway area 2 are formed of artificial turf, and the artificial turf of the non-fairway area 2 may be made of longer turf or rough material in comparison with the artificial turf of the fairway area 1. When the non-fairway area 2 is composed of multiple areas, the multiple areas may be formed to correspond to the rough and the bunker, respectively. For example, in the hitting mat, the fairway area and the rough area may be formed of artificial turf with different lengths that can give a feeling of hitting a golf ball in the fairway and the rough of the actual golf course, and the bunker area may be formed of a material that can give a feeling of hitting a golf ball in sand. In actual golf, there may be terrain such as water hazards other than fairways, roughs and bunkers, and roughs or bunkers can also be subdivided into light rough, heavy rough, fairway bunkers, green bunkers, etc. Therefore, the multi-area hitting mat may be formed in various structure in order to reflect various topographical characteristics of an actual golf course.
As shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, when we assume an imaginary line passing through the center of the hitting mat in the vertical direction, the fairway area 1 and the non-fairway area 2 are formed on both left and right sides of the imaginary vertical line. This structure of the hitting mat makes it possible for right-handed users and left-handed users to play together (this hitting mat may be referred to as an ‘ambidextrous hitting mat’ for convenience). In other words, if the upper part of the hitting mat in FIGS. 24 to 26 is called a front where the screen is placed, the user hits a golf ball placed on the hitting mat frontward toward the screen, the fairway area 1 is formed on both left and right sides and the non-fairway area 2 is also formed on both left and right sides when viewed from the front. In particular, the portion formed on the left side and the portion formed on the right side when viewed from the front may be symmetrical to each other in the fairway area 1. In addition, the portion formed on the left side and the portion formed on the right side when viewed from the front may be symmetrical to each other in the non-fairway area 2. FIGS. 24 to 26 show several examples in which the fairway area 1 and the non-fairway area 2 are formed on both left and right sides or the left and right side portions are symmetrical to each other, but the ambidextrous hitting mat is limited to the structures shown in the drawings and may have other structures not shown in the drawings. For reference, the fairway area and the non-fairway area have asymmetrical structures in the multi-area hitting mat according to the prior art. That is, the fairway area is formed only on either the left side or right side when viewed from the front, and the non-fairway area is formed only on the opposite side of the fairway area. The multi-area hitting mat according to the prior art and the multi-area hitting mat according to the present invention will be compared and described in detail later.
When using a multi-area hitting mat having multiple areas corresponding to multiple areas displayed on the screen, the user can hit the real golf ball after placing the real golf ball on the specific area of the hitting mat corresponding to the area where the virtual golf ball in the screen is placed. For example, as shown in FIG. 27A, when the virtual golf ball is located at the virtual fairway in the virtual golf course on the screen, the user can place the real golf ball on the fairway area of the hitting mat and hit it. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 27B and 27C, when the virtual golf ball is located at the virtual rough/virtual bunker in the virtual golf course on the screen, the user can place the real golf ball on the rough area/bunker area of the hitting mat and hit it. By using this multi-area hitting mat, the user can hit the real golf ball after forming the hitting situation (the situation where the real golf ball is placed on any one of the areas such as fairway area/rough area/bunker area of the hitting mat) corresponding to the situation of the virtual golf ball displayed on the screen (the situation where the virtual golf ball is located at any one of the terrains such as virtual fairway/virtual rough/virtual bunker). As a result, even in screen golf, the user can experience the feeling of a fairway shot/a rough shot/a bunker shot in real golf.
FIGS. 28 to 32 are views for explaining the advantages of using a left-right symmetrical hitting mat.
FIG. 28 shows a hitting mat for a right-handed user that is in use, and FIG. 29 shows a hitting mat for a left-handed user that is in use. Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, the multi-area hitting mat includes a fairway area 5 and a non-fairway area 6, and the non-fairway area 6 has a plurality of areas. The plurality areas of the non-fairway area 6 may be a rough area 6a and a bunker area 6b. If the upper part in the hitting mat of FIG. 28 is called ‘front’, in the hitting mat for a right-hander, the fairway area 5 is located at the right side when viewed from the front and the non-fairway area 6 is located at the left side when viewed from the front. In the multi-area mat in FIG. 28, the portions of left and right sides are asymmetric to each other, the fairway area 5 is approximately formed only on the right side when viewed from the front, and the non-fairway area 6 is formed only on the left side when viewed from the front. Likewise, if the upper part in the hitting mat of FIG. 29 is called ‘front’, in the hitting mat for a left-hander, the fairway area 5 is located at the left side when viewed from the front and the non-fairway area 6 is located at the right side when viewed from the front. In the multi-area mat in FIG. 29, the portions of left and right sides are asymmetric to each other, the fairway area 5 is approximately formed only on the left side when viewed from the front, and the non-fairway area 6 is formed only on the right side when viewed from the front. As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, when viewed from the front a right-handed user is located on the right side of the hitting mat for a right-handed user and hits the golf ball frontward, and a left-handed user is located on the left side of the hitting mat for a left-handed user and hits the golf ball frontward. In the multi-area hitting mat shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the fairway area 5 is formed close to the user's position when the user hits the golf ball and the non-fairway area 6 is far from the user's position when the user hits the golf ball. Right-handed users and left-handed users cannot play together using the same hitting mat, and a hitting mat for a right-handed user and a hitting mat for a left-handed user must be used separately depending on whether the user is right-handed or left-handed.
Referring to FIG. 30, since the hitting mat is formed symmetrically, when the ambidextrous hitting mat according to the embodiment of the present invention is used, the hitting situation where a right-handed user is located at the right side of the hitting mat when viewed from the front is the same as the hitting situation where a left-handed user is located at the left side of the hitting mat when viewed from the front. Therefore, right-handed users and left-handed users can use one hitting mat in common.
Referring to FIG. 31, when the multi-area hitting mat shown in FIG. 31 is used, the distance between the user and the golf ball is varied depending on whether the user hits the golf ball on the fairway area 5 or the non-fairway area 6. For example, when a right-handed user uses a hitting mat shown in FIG. 31, the distance D1 between the user and the golf ball placed on the fairway area 5 is shorter than the distance D2 or D3 between the user and the golf ball placed on the non-fairway area 6. The golf swing can be greatly affected by even a single small variable, and the distance between the golf ball and the user can also be an important variable affecting the golf swing. There may be some users who want to maintain the same distance from the golf ball without changing the swing mechanism when taking fairway shots/non-fairway shots. These users may be nervous about changes in the distance when taking fairway shots/non-fairway shots in the hitting mat shown in FIG. 31, and it can have a negative impact on their hitting results.
Referring to FIG. 32, when the ambidextrous multi-area hitting mat according to the embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the user and the golf ball is not varied regardless of whether the user hits the golf ball on the fairway area 1 or the non-fairway area 2. For example, when a right-handed user uses the ambidextrous hitting mat, the distance D1 between the user and the golf ball placed on the fairway area 1 is identical to the distance D2 or D3 between the user and the golf ball placed on the non-fairway area 2. Therefore, the ambidextrous multi-area hitting mat has the advantage of allowing the user to maintain the same distance from the golf ball without changing the swing mechanism when taking fairway shots/non-fairway shots.
As above, in the virtual golf device capable of ambidextrous hitting according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding camera can be used as the sensing means, and the multi-area hitting mat such as the symmetrical hitting mat in which both the fairway area and the non-fairway area are formed on the left side and the right side can be used with the sliding camera. However, the hitting mat with the above-mentioned structure is not essential, and it is possible for right-handed users and left-handed users to play together in the same place despite using the multi-area hitting mat according to the prior art. For this, a state change means described below is used.
FIGS. 33 to 35 are views for explaining the operation of a state change means that may be provided in the virtual golf device of FIG. 18.
Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, the state change means 70 is for changing the state of the hitting mat. Due to the state change means 70, the effect from the symmetrical hitting mat can occur even though the symmetrical hitting mat as shown in FIGS. 24 to 26 is not used.
There may be various structures for the state change means 70 and two exemplary structures will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 33, the state change means 70 is disposed under the hitting plate 10. The state change means 70 has first and second supporters 71 and 72, a longitudinal moving member 73 and a transverse moving member 74. A hitting mat is seated on the upper surface of each supporter. Concretely, a hitting mat in a first state is seated on the first supporter 71 and a hitting mat in a second state is seated on the second supporter 72 (The first and second states of the hitting mat will be described later). The longitudinal moving member 73 is attached to the lower surface of the first and second supporters 71, 72 to move the supporters 71, 72 in the longitudinal direction. The transverse moving member 74 moves the longitudinal moving member 73 in the transverse direction. An opening 11 is formed in the hitting plate 10, and the hitting mat in the first state or the hitting mat in the second state can be exposed outwardly through the opening 11. That is, when the hitting mat in the first state is needed, the longitudinal moving member 73 attached to the lower surface of the first supporter 71 moves the first supporter 71 upward so that the first supporter 71 ascends to the height of the hitting plate 10 and the hitting mat in the first state can be exposed to the outside. In addition, when the hitting mat in the second state is needed, the longitudinal moving member 73 attached to the lower surface of the second supporter 72 moves the second supporter 72 upward so that the second supporter 72 ascends to the height of the hitting plate 10 and the hitting mat in the second state can be exposed to the outside. The conventional technology may be applied to the technical configuration of the longitudinal moving member 73 and the transverse moving member 74. For example, the longitudinal moving member 73 may include a device such as a rod that can be extended up and down by a hydraulic device or a drive motor, and the transverse moving member 74 may include a device such as a belt that can be moved laterally by a driving roller or the like so that the transverse moving member 74 can move the longitudinal moving member 73 in the transverse direction.
FIG. 34 show the state change means 70 with a different structure. Referring to FIG. 34, the state change means 70 is disposed under the hitting plate 10. The state change means 70 has a supporter 75, a longitudinal moving member 76 and a rotating member 77. A hitting mat is seated on the upper surface of the supporter 75. The longitudinal moving member 76 is attached to the lower surface of the supporter 75 to move the supporter 75 in the longitudinal direction. The rotating member 77 rotates the longitudinal moving member 76. An opening 11 is formed in the hitting plate 10, and the hitting mat can be exposed outwardly through the opening 11. Due to the operation of the rotating member 77, the supporter 75 seated on the longitudinal moving member 76 can be rotated, and thus the hitting mat seated on the supporter 75 becomes a first state or a second state (The first and second states of the hitting mat will be described later). Therefore, when the hitting mat in the first state is needed, the hitting mat that is in the first state or whose state is changed from the second state to the first state by the operation of the rotating member 77 is exposed to the outside through the opening 11, and when the hitting mat in the second state is needed, the hitting mat that is in the second state or whose state is changed from the first state to the second state by the operation of the rotating member 77 is exposed to the outside through the opening 11. The conventional technology may be applied to the technical configuration of the longitudinal moving member 76 and the rotating member 77. For example, the longitudinal moving member 76 may include a device such as a rod that can be extended up and down by a hydraulic device or a drive motor, and the rotating member 77 may include a device such as a rotating plate that can get rotatory force from a drive motor.
Referring to FIGS. 35A and 35B, a multi-area hitting mat having a fairway area 7 and a non-fairway area 8 can be used as a hitting mat seated on the supporters 71, 72, and 75. The non-fairway area 8 includes a plurality of areas and the plurality of areas of the non-fairway area 8 may be a rough area 8a and a bunker area 8b. As shown in of FIG. 35A, when the hitting mat is in the first state, the fairway area 7 is located at the left side and the non-fairway area 8 is located at the right side. It is assumed that the screen is installed on the upper part of the hitting mat in FIGS. 35A and 35B, and the user hits a golf ball toward the screen. When the direction where the user hits the golf ball is called ‘front’ (screen's location), the first state shows the state of the hitting mat when the right-handed user hits the golf ball. In this state, the fairway area 7 is located at the right side and the non-fairway area 8 is located at the left side when viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 35B, when the hitting mat is in the second state, the fairway area 7 is located at the right side and the non-fairway area 8 is located at the left side when viewed from the front. The second state shows the state of the hitting mat where the left-handed user hits the golf ball.
If the state change means 70 shown in FIG. 33 is used, the control part (see reference numeral 20 in FIG. 18) controls the state change means 70 to expose the hitting mat in the first state to the outside when the right-handed user hits the golf ball. Likewise, the control part controls the state change means 70 to expose the hitting mat in the second state to the outside when the left-handed user hits the golf ball. In addition, if the state change means 70 shown in FIG. 34 is used, when the right-handed user hits the golf ball the control part controls the state change means 70 to form the hitting mat of the first state (If the hitting mat is in the first state the current state is maintained, and if the hitting mat is in the second state the hitting mat is rotated to be changed from the second state to the first state) expose the hitting mat in the first state to the outside. Likewise, when the left-handed user hits the golf ball the control part controls the state change means 70 to form the hitting mat of the second state (If the hitting mat is in the second state the current state is maintained, and if the hitting mat is in the first state the hitting mat is rotated to be changed from the first state to the second state) expose the hitting mat in the second state to the outside.
According to this embodiment, despite using an asymmetrical multi-area hitting mat, the state of the hitting mat can be changed through the state change means 70 according to whether the user is right-handed or left-handed, and thus left-handed users and right-handed users can play together in the same place.
FIG. 36 shows a schematic structure of a virtual golf device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 36, the virtual golf device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of booths 101, 102, 103. Each booth has the same structure. For example, the first booth 101 includes a hitting plate 101a, a simulator 101b with a small display such as a kiosk, a screen 101c, etc., and the other booths 102 and 103 also include the same components. The simulator 101b can serve as the control part in the above-described embodiment. Although not shown in FIG. 36, each of the booths 101, 102, 103 may further include other components. For example, each of the booths 101, 102, 103 has a camera for detecting the movement of a golf ball and/or a golfclub. In each of the booths 101, 102, 103, a plurality of users can take turns playing golf. Alternatively, in each of the booths 101, 102, 103, one user can play golf while being separated from users of other booths. In the virtual golf device according to this embodiment, the above-described sliding camera may be used. In addition, a multi-area hitting mat such as that shown in FIGS. 24 to 26 may be used or an asymmetrical multi-area hitting mat may be used if the state change means such as that shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 is used, and thus right-handed users and left-handed users can play together in the same place.
FIG. 37 shows a schematic structure of a system in which a plurality of virtual golf devices are connected through a network.
Referring to FIG. 37, the virtual golf system comprises at least one virtual golf device 100 and a service device 200. As the virtual golf device 100, a virtual golf device such as those shown in FIGS. 18 to 36, etc. may be used. The virtual golf device 100 may be installed in a house or a facility operated by a service provider. If there are multiple houses and/or facilities, the virtual golf device 100 is installed at each place of multiple houses and/or facilities and thus there may be a plurality of virtual golf devices in total. The virtual golf device 100 is connected to the service device 200 through a wired/wireless communication network or the like. The service device 200 may include a central server used by a service provider providing screen golf service using the virtual golf device(s) 100 to manage the virtual golf device(s) 100.
If a log-in process is applied, a user needs to log in in order to receive the screen golf service. When a user logs in, the service device 200 checks the user's identity and determines whether to approve the login. The service device 200 includes a storage part 210 that stores information necessary for checking the identity of the user. Additionally, the storage part 210 may store not only information for user identification but also user play records. Since various user information is stored in the storage part 210, the virtual golf device(s) 100 connected to the service device 200 by wire and/or wireless communication network can use the information stored in the storage part 210 and there is no need to separately store user information in the virtual golf device(s) 100.
In the virtual golf device 100, the above-described sliding camera may be used. In addition, a multi-area hitting mat such as that shown in FIGS. 24 to 26 may be used or an asymmetrical multi-area hitting mat may be used if the state change means such as that shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 is used, and thus right-handed users and left-handed users can play together in the same place.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be embodied in other specific ways without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not restrictive but are illustrative. The scope of the present invention is given by the claims, rather than the specification, and also contains all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims.
Patent Application
20240226658
