Patent Application
20150297970
The present invention relates to a GPS unit for golf and more particularly to a GPS unit for golf which keeps track of golf game statistics.
The game of golf is one of the most widely enjoyed sports activities in the world. The number of persons participating in this activity, both at the professional and recreational level, is almost unparalleled to other sports. Not only is this activity already widespread, but also the ranks of golfers continue to swell at an unprecedented rate. The sport of golf is typically played on a course consisting of nine or eighteen “holes”. A set of clubs is used to strike a golf ball along each hole comprising the course. Each hole consists of a starting location wherein a golfer places a ball and initially strikes the ball towards a green. Each green includes a recessed cup, and it is the object of the golfer to strike the ball with a series of strokes into the cup. Different clubs are used to vary the height, distance and spin of the ball, and a set of clubs may number ten or more. The holes normally vary in length from short holes of approximately one hundred yards to longer holes of five hundred yards and greater. The holes are flanked by rough areas out of which it is more difficult to play, and hazards are provided to increase the intricacy and precision required in play.
Various golf GPS devices, both handheld and golf cart-mounted, have been described in the prior art. The GPS system determines the location of the device.
According to one aspect, a portable golf data system for providing golf game data on a golf course, the golf course having a number of holes, each hole having a hole number and a par value. The system includes a portable data collection unit adapted to be carried by a user, the portable data collection unit includes a receiver configured to receive at least one external locating signal from which a current location on the golf course can be determined. A course data storage is disposed within the data collection unit is configured to store data related to the location of a plurality of golf course feature. A processor is disposed within the data collection unit and operatively connected to the receiver and to the data storage. The processor is configured to determine the current location on the golf course and to calculate one or more distances between the current location and at least one of the plurality of golf course features retained in the data storage. A display is disposed on or in the data collection unit so as to be viewable. The display is electrically coupled to the processor and configured to display the distance between the current location and the at least one of the plurality of golf course features. The system also includes a plurality of golf club identifiers. Each golf club identifier is configured to contain information. Each of the golf club identifiers is configured to have an association with a golf club to which the golf club identifier is mechanically affixed. A golf club identifier reader is configured to read the information from the golf club identifiers when one of the golf club identifier is positioned in a close proximity to the golf club identifier reader. The system also includes a stroke register within or coupled to the processor. The stroke register is configured to register each stroke taken by a user. The stroke register is configured to be actuated by detection of one of the golf club identifiers being in close proximity to the golf club identifier reader so as to record each stroke. The processor is configured to be responsive to the stroke register to maintain a count of the strokes taken during a round, wherein the count is incremented each time a stroke is registered. The processor is also configured to be responsive to the golf club identifier reader to calculate, based on the external locating signal, a distance a golf ball has traveled between strokes. A stroke data storage of the data collection unit is configured to store a distance a golf ball has traveled between each stroke and to associate the distance the ball has traveled between each stroke with a particular club used during the each stroke.
In one embodiment, the display is configured to indicate a number of strokes taken by the user during the game.
In another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate and the display is configured to indicate a difference between a number of strokes a user has taken and a par value total for the holes played.
In yet another embodiment, the display is configured to indicate a number of strokes the user has taken for each hole.
In yet another embodiment, the display is configured to indicate a hole number played and a par value for the hole played.
In yet another embodiment, the portable data collection unit is configured to accept a user input of a custom location of a golf course feature.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate for each club an average distance a golf ball has traveled after being stroked by a user.
In yet another embodiment, the processor compares an average distance the ball has traveled after being stroked by each club to a distance to a golf course feature and determines which club has an average distance closet to the distance to the golf course feature and the display is configured to indicate such club.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate a number of holes in which a user has reached a feature of the hole in a par value minus two.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to determine a number of strokes taken by a particular RFID tagged club.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate an average distance hit for a first stroke per hole.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to keep track of an event selected from group consisting of pars, birdies, eagles, and bogeys.
In yet another embodiment, the golf club identifier reader includes a near field communication reader.
In yet another embodiment, the receiver includes a GPS receiver.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate a recommend club to use for a given shot based on a displayed yardage and the display is configured to display the recommended club.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate a recommend club to use for a given shot based on a displayed yardage and previous shot data and the display is configured to display the recommended club.
In yet another embodiment, the processor is configured to calculate a recommend club to use for a given shot based on a number of yards to a center of a green and an average yards hit per club and the display is configured to display the recommended club.
According to another aspect, a portable golf data system includes a golf data system unit includes a processor is communicatively coupled to a non-volatile memory configured to store a firmware. A display is communicatively coupled to the processor. A near field communication component is communicatively coupled to the processor. The near field communication component is electrically coupled to a NFC antenna. A navigation receiver is communicatively coupled to the processor. The navigation receiver is electrically coupled to a navigation receiver antenna. At least one user entry device is communicatively coupled to the processor. The at least one user entry device is configured to allow a user to control the portable golf data system. The system unit includes a means to accept power to operate the portable golf data system. At least one NFC tag is configured to be mechanically coupled to a golf club and to be read by the near field communication component.
In one embodiment, the receiver includes a GPS receiver.
In another embodiment, the portable golf data system further includes an audible signaling component configured to signal an event or a successful accomplishment of a set up or configuration feature.
In yet another embodiment, the means to accept power to operate the portable golf data system is configured to accept power from a rechargeable battery disposed within the golf data system unit.
According to yet another aspect, method for automatically logging a use of each golf club of a plurality of golf clubs at one or more locations on a golf course as determined by a navigation receiver including the steps of: providing a processor based golf data system unit including a navigation receiver and a near field communication component and a plurality of golf clubs, each of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag which is configured to be readable by the near field communication component of the golf data system unit; carrying the golf data system unit and at least one of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag to a location on a golf course; positioning the at least one of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag near a NFC antenna of the near field communication component and registering by the processor the use of the at least one of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag; recording the use of the at least one of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag at a holed defined by a correlation of a present position of the golf data system unit as determined by the navigation receiver at about a time when the step of positioning the at least one of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag near a NFC antenna of the near field communication component was performed; hitting a golf ball from the location on a golf course to another location on the golf course; carrying the golf data system unit and at least one of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag to the another location on the golf course about where the golf ball landed; calculating one or more golf game parameters or statistics based at least on which of the plurality of golf clubs was used and a distance between the location and the another location as determined by the navigation receiver; saving the one or more golf game parameters or statistics to a non-volatile memory; and repeating the steps from the step positioning the at least one of said golf clubs having affixed thereto a tag near a NFC antenna to the step of saving the one or more golf game parameters or statistics to a non-volatile memory during the course of a golf game.
In one embodiment, the step of providing a processor based golf data system unit including a navigation receiver and near field communication component includes providing a processor based golf data system unit including a GPS navigation receiver and a RFID near field communication component and a plurality of golf clubs, each of the golf clubs having affixed thereto a RFID tag which is configured to be readable by the near field communication component of the golf data system unit.
In another embodiment, the method for automatically logging a use of each club further includes following the step of carrying the golf data system unit and before the step of positioning the at least one of the golf clubs, recommending a club to use for a given shot based on at least a selected one of: a displayed yardage and a previous shot data.
In another embodiment, the method for automatically logging a use of each club further includes following the step of carrying the golf data system unit and before the step of positioning the at least one of the golf clubs, recommending a club to use for a given shot based on a number of yards to a center of a green, and an average yards hit per club.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.
The objects and features of the invention can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.
Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
As described hereinabove, golf GPS units have been available in the prior art. However, it was realized that there is a need for a golf GPS unit that can calculate one or more golf game parameters based on a location of the golf GPS unit, as well as to log information of which particular golf club was used for each golf stroke.
One solution includes a portable golf data system for providing golf game data to a user which is referred to herein as a “portable golf data system”. The user is typically a golfer playing a game of golf by stroking (i.e. hitting) a golf ball on a golf course. The golf course has a number of holes, which are typically numbered 1 through 9 or 1 through 18. Each hole typically has a par value, which is a number of strokes which a zero handicap golfer should need to complete the hole. The system includes portable data collection as part of a “portable golf data system unit” which is adapted to be carried by the user including a receiver for receiving at least one external locating signal, such as, for example, a GPS signal, from which the user's current location on the golf course can be determined. The data collection unit includes course data storage for storing data relating to the location of golf course features, such as greens and bunkers.
In some embodiments, the user can also optionally add input information about the location of golf course features. The data collection unit includes a processor operatively connected to the receiver and to the data storage for determining a user's current location on the course from the external locating signal and for calculating distances between the current location and at least one of the golf course features retained in the data storage. The data collection unit includes a display connected to the processor and is operative to display the distance between the current location and at least one selected golf course feature.
The system typically includes a plurality of golf club identifiers, each golf club identifier contains information and the information is associated with a club of the user. The golf club identifier is mechanically affixed by any suitable means in any suitable way to its corresponding golf club. For example, the golf club identifiers could be RFID tags which are inserted into the tops of each of the clubs. In one embodiment, each RFID tag has a number associated with it, and that number can be associated with a single club. The portable golf data system includes a golf club identifier reader for reading the information from the golf club identifiers when the user places the golf club identifier in close proximity to the golf club identifier reader. For example, the portable golf data system typically includes a near field communication reader.
In some embodiments, the data collection unit includes a stroke register to register each stroke taken by a user. The stroke register is actuated by the user placing the golf club identifier in close proximity to the golf club identifier reader to record each stroke. The processor is responsive to the stroke register to maintain a count of the strokes taken during a round, and the count is incremented each time a stroke is registered. The processor is responsive to the golf club identifier reader to calculate, based on the external locating signal, the distance the ball has traveled between strokes. Stroke data storage stores the distance the ball has traveled between each stroke and associates the distance the ball has traveled between each stroke with the club used for each stroke.
In some embodiments, the display can show information about the game being played by the user. In some embodiments, the display can also show the number of strokes taken by the user during the game, the number of strokes the user has taken for each hole, the number of the hole being played and the par value for that hole. The display can also show, for example, based on calculations from the processor the difference between the number of strokes the user has taken and the par value total for the holes played.
In one embodiment, the processor calculates for each club the average distance the ball has traveled after being stroked by the user. The processor can also compare the average distance the ball has traveled after being stroked by each club to the distance to a golf course feature and determine which club has an average distance closet to the distance to the golf course feature and the display indicates such club. Additionally, the processor can calculate the number of holes in which the user has reached a feature of the hole in the par value minus two, known as the greens in regulation (GIR) number. The processor can also determine the number of strokes taken with one of the clubs, such as the number of strokes (puts) made with the putter. The processor can also calculate the average distance hit on the first stroke of every hole, so that the user can determine his average drive length. The processor can also keep track of statistics such as the number of pars, birdies eagles and bogeys made by the user
A GPS module 20 is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor 12 and a GPS antenna 22 is connected to the GPS module 20. The GPS module can be, for example, a Telit brand GPS module, available from the Telit Wireless Solutions Corporation of Morrisville, N.C.; however, any other suitable GPS module can be used. The GPS antenna 22 receives the GPS signal from the GPS satellites (not shown). The GPS module 20 transfers location information to the microprocessor unit 12. The GPS module is preferably an integrated circuit based GPS module which typically includes a GPS L1 band receiver (or, equivalent navigation system receiver) and a microcontroller. It is unimportant if the GPS chipset is based on a single, integrated microchip, or multiple microchips such as a processor and a separate receiver which are operably coupled to each other. Thus, the GPS module typically includes a GPS receiver, associated integrated circuit(s), firmware and/or software to control the operation of the microchip, and may also include one or more correction signal receiver(s). Alternatively, the correction signal receiver(s) may be integrated into a single receiver along with the GPS receiver. As is well known, the GPS unit 20 (or equivalent satellite navigation system receiver) receives signals from GPS satellites (or equivalent satellite navigation satellites) and/or other signals such as correction signals, and calculates the positional coordinates of the GPS unit 20. The portable golf data system utilizes this positional data to calculate and display distances to features or selected locations on a golf course, as described in more detail below. The portable golf data system calculates the distance between the determined location of the device 10 and the front, middle and back of the green and displays the distance from the unit 10 to the front, the middle, and back of the green. As the portable golf data system 10 is moved, the location of the device 10 is continually updated, and the distances displayed are updated accordingly.
A near field communication system 30 is also communicatively coupled to the microprocessor unit 12. A near field communication antenna 32 is electrically coupled to the near field communication system 30 for transferring information from a golf club identifier device disposed on or in one or more of the golf clubs to the near field communication system 30. In some embodiments, the near field communication system is configured as a RFID near field communication system, such as is available from the Texas Instruments Corporation of Dallas, Tex. The information from the near field communication system 30 is transferred to the microprocessor 12. The memory includes all memory of the device including both non-volatile memory 40 and volatile memory as can be provided on the microprocessor unit 12, and any other volatile or non-volatile memory storage such as flash memory, coupled to the microprocessor. The memory 40 typically includes at least some of the software and data used to control and operate the golf data system 10. The microprocessor unit 12 retrieves and executes instructions and reads and writes data to and from the memory 40. The golf data system 10 is powered by a battery 50, and the battery is charged by charger 52. A USB port 54 can be used to power the charger 52 as well as provide a serial communication link between the portable golf data system 10 and any suitable computer, notepad, or mobile device offering USB connectivity. A regulator 56 regulates power supply voltages to the various components of the portable golf data system 10.
A power button 60 turns the portable golf data system 10 on and off. Buttons 62 allow the user to control the unit 10.A display 70 (e.g. a LCD color or mono-tone display) provides information to the user, as described hereinbelow. In some embodiments, a unit 10 can include a motor driver 80 for controlling a vibration motor 82 to provide a tactile indication related to preprogrammed events by mechanical coupling to a user, such as from through the pocket or belt clip of a portable golf data system 10 to the user. A buzzer 90 similarly can provide an optional audio indication related to preprogrammed events.
The system includes a plurality of golf club identifiers, each golf club identifier containing information and associated with a club of the user. For example, the golf club identifiers could be RFID tags which are inserted into the tops of each of the clubs. In some embodiments, each RFID tag has a number associated with it, and that number is associated with a single club. The portable golf data system includes a golf club identifier reader for reading the information from the golf club identifiers when the user places the golf club identifier in close proximity to the golf club identifier reader. For example, the portable golf data system could include a near field communication reader.
Summary of exemplary unit features: In some embodiments, a buzzer or beeper provides audio feedback for various events and/or functions. For example, there can be an audio indication that a club has been properly recognized and registered to the unit. In some embodiments, a vibration motor can provide an alternative or supplementary indication of an event or operation of a function, such as a successful operation to recognize a new RFID cap. Typically, the Flash memory will hold a full course database (typically including over 30 thousand courses) along with audio files (e.g. WAV files) that can be used for embodiments of the unit incorporating a voice feature of the unit (such as, for example reading various yardages). In some embodiments, on board non-volatile memory (e.g. one time writable ROM, EEPROM, etc.) can be used to store the unit's program code as firmware.
Thus, it can be seen that in preferred embodiments, the unit combines a Golf GPS and Game Tracking in one unit. One exemplary implementation can be supplied, for example, with 14 club RFID caps that can screw onto the top of each golf grip. Each of the caps has a uniquely coded passive RFID tag embedded within them.
The unit uses the NFC technology to recognize each club as it is held near or tapped closed to the unit before it is used. Preferred embodiments of the unit provide instant, accurate distance to front, center and back of the green and also keep track of a user's round data (without having to manually input any information) and allow a user to review their round. In some embodiments, users' can also transfer round data to the web and/or view a user's data for all rounds played.
Typically during a round, the unit performs at least some of the following functions: keeps the user's overall score (in stroke form and/or as +/− Par); auto advances to the next hole (e.g. by computer position awareness of position of the golf course with respect to holes and distances to points on the course including, for example, each hole and/or the center, front and back of each green); keeps a user's per number of strokes by hole, so you can see where you stand each hole; displays the hole number and par for each hole; allows a user to add at least one additional waypoint per hole which can provide a distance to another point on the hole (i.e.: dog leg, bunker, water hazard, etc.); records how far a user hits for each of the user's clubs. In some embodiments, the unit will only consider a shot that is within 80% of a user's previous shot, that way, wiffs, duffs and chips will not skew the overall average; recommend which club to hit (which club to use for a given shot) based on the current yardage shown and previous shot data collected (sometimes referred to as a “caddy feature” or “electronic caddy”); keep track of and record a user's GIR (Greens in regulation); keep track of and record a user's puts per round; and/or keep Track of and record a user's average driving distance; keep track of and record the number of Pars, Birdies, Eagles, Bogeys and Others per round.
Turning to the caddy feature in more detail, in some embodiments, the processor of the golf data system can be configured to calculate a recommend club to use for a given shot based on a displayed yardage and the display can show the recommended club. The processor of the golf data system can also be configured to calculate a recommend club to use for a given shot based on a displayed yardage and previous shot data and the display can show the recommended club. The processor of the golf data system can also be configured to calculate a recommend club to use for a given shot based on a number of yards to the center of the green and an average yards hit per club and the display can show the recommended club.
Exemplary method:
Caddy feature method: In some embodiments, the method includes a recommendation of what club to use for a given shot based on at least a selected one of: a displayed yardage and a previous shot data. There can also be a recommendation of what club to use based on a number of yards to the center of the green and an average yards hit per club.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
A computer readable non-transitory storage medium as non-transitory data storage includes any data stored on any suitable media in a non-fleeting manner. Such data storage includes any suitable computer readable non-transitory storage medium, including, but not limited to hard drives, EEPROM, non-volatile RAM, SSD devices, CDs, DVDs, etc.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be affected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
