Arranging Apparatus of Destination Line in Golf and Golf Putter

Abstract

An aligning apparatus of a golf destination line is provided. The aligning apparatus aligns a putter face of a golf putter with a destination line connecting a golf ball and a destination. A rotation angle between the destination line and the putter face and an acceptance angle are set in a variance setting unit, and the acceptance angle is an acceptable error range of the rotation angle. A 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor measures a magnetic field strength applied to the golf putter, and a 3-axis accelerometer measures an acceleration applied to the golf putter. A processor calculates a tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor from the measured acceleration, and compensates the measured magnetic field strength with the tilt angle to calculate an azimuth of the putter face of the golf putter. An output unit outputs a reporting signal when a difference between the azimuth and an aligning azimuth determined by the rotation angle is within a range of the acceptance angle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line and a golf putter, and more particularly, to an apparatus for aligning a putting line or an address line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A user should accurately align a golf putter before putting and their position before swinging, otherwise a golf ball may not reach the desired destination of the putt or swing. That is, if a putter face of the golf putter is not perpendicular to a virtual destination line between a position where the golf ball is located and a destination for the golf ball, or if a virtual line connecting both shoulders of the user or connecting both feet of the user is not parallel to the virtual destination line, the golf ball cannot accurately reach the desired destination upon putting or swinging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Technical Problem

The present invention provides an apparatus for aligning a destination line before putting or swinging.

Technical Solution

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line is provided. The aligning apparatus aligns a putter face of a golf putter with a destination line connecting a golf ball and a destination, and includes a variance setting unit, a 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer, a processor, and an output unit. A rotation angle between the destination line and the putter face and an acceptance angle are set in the variance setting unit, and the acceptance angle is an acceptable error range of the rotation angle. The 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor is configured to measure a magnetic field strength applied to the golf putter, and the 3-axis accelerometer is configured to measure an acceleration applied to the golf putter. The processor is configured to calculate a tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor from the measured acceleration, and to compensate the measured magnetic field strength with the tilt angle to calculate an azimuth of the putter face of the golf putter. The output unit is configured to output a reporting signal when a difference between the azimuth and an aligning azimuth determined by the rotation angle is within a range of the acceptance angle.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line is provided. The aligning apparatus aligns a both shoulders line of a user with a destination line connecting a golf ball and a destination. A rotation angle between the destination line and the both shoulders line and an acceptance angle are set in a variance setting unit, and the acceptance angle is an acceptable error range of the rotation angle. A 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor is configured to measure a magnetic field strength applied to the user, and a 3-axis accelerometer is configured to measure an acceleration applied to the user. A processor is configured to calculate a tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor from the measured acceleration, and to compensate the measured magnetic field strength with the tilt angle to calculate an azimuth of the both shoulders line. An output unit is configured to output a reporting signal when a difference between the azimuth and an aligning azimuth determined by the rotation angle is within a range of the acceptance angle.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line is provided. The aligning apparatus aligns a reference line with a destination line connecting a golf ball and a destination. A rotation angle between the destination line and the reference line is set in a variance setting unit, and a 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor is configured to measure a magnetic field strength of the reference line. A 3-axis accelerometer is configured to measure an acceleration of the reference line, and an input unit is configured to input a start signal for indicating measurement of the magnetic field strength and the acceleration. A processor is configured to calculate an azimuth of the reference line from the measured magnetic field strength and the measured acceleration, and to compare the azimuth with an aligning azimuth determined by the rotation angle. An output unit is configured to output the result compared by the processor.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a golf putter is provided. The golf putter includes a shaft, a grip on the shaft, a head, a neck connecting the shaft and the head, a putter face being a putting part of the head, and an apparatus that aligns a golf destination line and is installed in at least one of the shaft, the neck, and the head.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, the putter face can be aligned to be perpendicular to the putting linear line, i.e., the destination line, before putting, or the both shoulders line can be aligned to be parallel to the destination line before swinging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a golf destination line aligning apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a golf putter in which the aligning apparatus of FIG. 1 is installed.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which a putter face is sighted to be parallel to the destination line.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which a putter face is aligned to be perpendicular to the destination line.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of the aligning apparatus of the golf destination line according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which a both shoulders line is sighted to be perpendicular to the destination line.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which a both shoulders line is aligned to be parallel to the destination line.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 8 are schematic block diagrams respectively showing a golf destination line aligning apparatus according to third to fifth exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

In the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise/include” and variations such as “comprises/includes” and “comprising/including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, in the specification, “a destination line” means a virtual linear line between a position where a golf ball is located and a destination for the golf ball.

Now, an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line and a golf putter according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. The aligning apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied to a golf putter 1 (FIG. 2), and it is assumed that a reference line for aligning is parallel to a surface of a putter face 1e (FIG. 2).

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the golf destination line aligning apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a golf putter in which the aligning apparatus of FIG. 1 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the aligning apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a variation setting unit 10, an input unit 20, a 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30, a 3-axis accelerometer 40, a processor 50, an output unit 60, and an interface 70. Referring to FIG. 2, a golf putter 1 includes a shaft 1a, a grip 1b of the shaft 1a, a head 1c, a neck 1d connecting the shaft 1a and the head, and a putter that is a putting part of the head 1c. The aligning apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be inserted into a folder (not shown) that is installed in the shaft 1a, the neck 1d, or the head 1c of the golf putter 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the variation setting unit 10 sets a rotation angle and an acceptance angle based on the reference line and the destination line, and the rotation angle and the acceptance angle may be set in the variation setting unit 10 by the user. The rotation angle is a value for setting an angle variance between the reference line and the destination line, and in a normal state, the angle between the reference line and the destination line is maintained at the rotation angle. The acceptance angle is an acceptable error angle of the rotation angle, and in a normal state, the reference line moves within a range corresponding to the sum of the rotation angle and the acceptance angle with respect to the destination line. That is, the sum of the rotation angle and a sighted azimuth, which is sighted at the time of putting, is an aligning azimuth. For example, when the reference line, i.e., the surface of the putter face 1e (FIG. 2), is sighted to be parallel to the destination line, the rotation angle may be set to 90°, and the acceptance angle may be set to ±0.5°.

The input unit 20 receives a start signal from the user after the user sights the reference line and the destination line. The 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30 includes three resistance sensors that are respectively disposed to the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, and measures a 3-axis magnetic field strength of the putter 1 when the putter 1 is rotated. The 3-axis accelerometer 40 includes three accelerometers that are respectively disposed to the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis of the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, and measures a 3-axis acceleration of the putter 1 when the putter 1 is rotated. The processor 50 determines a tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30 by using a 3-axis gravity acceleration measured in the 3-axis accelerometer 40, and corrects the 3-axis magnetic field strength measured in the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30 based on the determined tilt angle so as to determine an azimuth of the earth. The processor 50 compares the determined azimuth with the aligning azimuth, and outputs a reporting signal through the output unit 60 when the difference between the determined azimuth and the aligning azimuth is within the range of the acceptance angle.

The aligning apparatus 100 transmits signal from/to the variation setting unit 10, the input unit 20, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30, the 3-axis accelerometer 40, and the output unit 60 through the interface 70 to/from the processor 50. In addition, the aligning apparatus 100 may include a memory (not shown) storing a program such as the processing routine of the processor 50 and a power supplying unit for supplying power to these elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60. The processor 50, the interface 70, and the memory may be formed by a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, etc.

Next, an operation of the aligning apparatus of the golf destination line according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the putter face is sighted to be parallel to the destination line, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the putter face is aligned to be perpendicular to the destination line, and FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of the aligning apparatus of the golf destination line according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the processor 50 receives a start signal from the user through the input unit 20 at step S410 after the destination line 3 connecting the golf ball 2 and the destination is sighted to be parallel to the reference line, which is the putter face 1e, as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the processor 50 reads the rotation angle and the acceptance angle from the variation setting unit 10 at step S420. The rotation angle and the acceptance angle have been set in the variation setting unit 10 by the user. Basically, the rotation angle may be set to +90°, and the acceptance angle may be set to ±0.5°.

Next, the processor 50 reads the magnetic field strengths H_X, H_Y, and H_Z of the respective axes X, Y, and Z measured in the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30 and the accelerations A_X, A_Y, and A_Z of the respective axes X, Y, and Z measured in the 3-axis accelerometer 40 at step S430. The processor 50 calculates a resultant vector A of the accelerations applied to the putter 1 as expressed in Equation 1, and compares the resultant vector A of the accelerations with 1[g] in accordance with the effect of acceleration due to gravity at step S440. Here, ‘g’ is a unit of acceleration due to gravity.

A=√{square root over (A_X²+A_Y²+A_Z²)}  (Equation 1)

The processor 50 repeats the step S430 when the magnitude of the resultant vector A of the accelerations is not 1[g]. The processor 50 calculates a pitch angle φ and a roll angle θ, which are the tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30, as expressed in Equation 2, at step S450 when the magnitude of the resultant vector A of the accelerations is 1[g].

φ=arcsin(A_X/A)

θ=arcsin(A_Y/A)  (Equation 2)

The processor 50 compensates the field strengths H_X, H_Y, and H_Z calculated at the step S430 with the pitch angle φ and the roll angle θ, i.e., the tilt angle, at step S460. That is, the processor 50 calculates compensated magnetic field strengths H_X and H_Y as expressed in Equation 3.

H_X=H_X cos θ+H_Y sin θ−H_Z cos θ sin φ

H_Y=H_Y cos θ+H_Z sin θ  (Equation 3)

Next, the processor 50 calculates the azimuth of the putter face 1e of the golf putter 1 from the magnetic field strengths H_X and H_Y compensated with the tilt angle as expressed in Equation 4 at step S470.

Azimuth=arctan( H_Y/ H_X)  (Equation 4)

The processor 50 determines whether the azimuth calculated at the step S470 is the sighted azimuth or not at step S480. The sighted azimuth is an azimuth that is sighted by the user. That is, the processor 50 determines whether the sighted azimuth corresponds to an azimuth that is first calculated by the processor 50 after the processor 50 receives the start signal through the input unit 20.

When the calculated azimuth is the sighted azimuth, the processor 50 adds the rotation angle to the sighted azimuth so as to calculate an aligning azimuth at step S481, and then, the processor 50 repeats the step S430. The aligning azimuth is an azimuth of the putter face 1e when the destination line 3 is perpendicular to the reference line, i.e., the putter face 1e of the golf putter. When the azimuth is not the sighted azimuth, the processor 50 determines whether the difference between the azimuth and the aligning azimuth is within the range of the acceptance angle at step S482.

When the difference is not within the range of the acceptance angle, the processor 50 repeats the step S430. When the difference is within the range of the acceptance angle, the processor 50 outputs the reporting signal through the output unit 60 at step S490. As shown in FIG. 4, the difference between the azimuth and the aligning azimuth is within the range of the acceptance angle when the rotation angle between the putter face 1e and the destination line 3 is substantially 90°.

According to the first exemplary embodiment, since the user can know when the angle between the reference line, i.e., the putter face 1e, and the destination line is within the acceptance angle, which is the acceptable error range of the rotation angle, the putter face 1e can be perpendicular to the destination line, i.e., a putting linear line.

While the aligning apparatus 100 has been applied to the golf putter to align the putting linear line in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the aligning apparatus 100 may be used to align an address setup position. A second exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

In the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the reference line for aligning is a virtual line (hereinafter referred to as “both shoulders line”) connecting both feet of the user and/or both shoulders of the user. An aligning apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment is installed on the user (not shown). The golf putter 1 (FIG. 2) of the second exemplary embodiment is a golf club.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the both shoulders line is sighted to be perpendicular to the destination line, and FIG. 7 shows a state in which the both shoulders line is aligned to be parallel to the destination line.

The aligning apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is used to align the both shoulders line 4 to be parallel to the destination line when the user swings the golf club. As shown in FIG. 6, a start signal is input to the input unit 20 after the reference line, i.e., the both shoulders line 4, is sighted to be perpendicular to the destination line. Then the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30 and the 3-axis accelerometer 40 measure an azimuth of the both shoulders line 4 when the user rotates. Next, when the azimuth of the both shoulders line 4 according to the rotation of the user's body is within the range of the acceptance angle (e.g., +0.5°) compared with the aligning azimuth, the processor 50 outputs the reporting signal through the output unit 60. As a result, the user can find the address setup position for aligning the both shoulders line 4 to be parallel to the destination line as shown in FIG. 7.

While the aligning apparatus 100 has been described to be formed by one apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 in the first and second exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the aligning apparatus 100 may be formed by at least two modules, and these modules may communicate with each other. Exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 10.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 are schematic block diagrams respectively showing golf destination line aligning apparatuses 101, 102, and 103 according to third to fifth exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the aligning apparatus 101 according to the third exemplary embodiment includes an input and output module 121, and a main body module 111. The input and output module 121 includes the input unit 20 and the output unit 60 shown in FIG. 1, and the main body module 111 includes the variation setting unit 10, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30, the 3-axis accelerometer 40, the processor 50, and the interface 70 shown in FIG. 1. The main body module 111 can communicate with the input unit 20 and output unit 60 of the input and output module 121 through the interface 70 by wire.

Referring to FIG. 9, the aligning apparatus 102 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment includes a wireless input and output module 122, and a wireless main body module 112. The wireless input and output module 122 includes a wireless transmitting/receiving unit 122a as well as the input unit 20 and output unit 60 shown in FIG. 1. The wireless input and output module 122 may also include a microcontroller (not shown) for processing data transmitted from/to the wireless transmitting/receiving unit 122a to/from the input unit 20 and output unit 60. The wireless main body module 112 includes a wireless transmitting/receiving unit 112a as well as the variation setting unit 10, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30, the 3-axis accelerometer 40, the processor 50, and the interface 70 shown in FIG. 1. The input unit 20 and the output unit 60 of the wireless input and output module 122 can communicate with the processor 50 through the interface 70 of the wireless main body module 112 by using the wireless transmitting/receiving units 112a and 122a.

Referring to FIG. 10, the aligning apparatus 103 according to the fifth exemplary embodiment includes a wireless input module 123 and a wireless main body module 113. The wireless input module 123 includes a wireless transmitting unit 123a as well as the input unit 20 shown in FIG. 1. The wireless input module 123 may also include a microcontroller for processing data between the input unit 20 and the wireless transmitting unit 123a. The wireless main body module 113 includes a wireless receiving unit 113a as well as the variation setting unit 10, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor 30, the 3-axis accelerometer 40, the processor 50, the output unit 60, and the interface 70 shown in FIG. 1. The input unit 20 of the input and output module 123 can transmit data to the processor 50 through the interface 70 of the main body module 123 by using the wireless transmitting unit 123a and the wireless receiving unit 113a.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to an aligning apparatus of a golf destination line, and the aligning apparatus can align the destination line before putting or swinging.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. An aligning apparatus of a golf destination line for aligning a both shoulders line of a user with a destination line connecting a golf ball and a destination, the apparatus comprising:

a variance setting unit in which a rotation angle between the destination line and the both shoulders line and an acceptance angle are set, the acceptance angle being an acceptable error range of the rotation angle;

a 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor configured to measure a magnetic field strength applied to the user;

a 3-axis accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration applied to the user;

a processor configured to calculate a tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor from the measured acceleration, and to compensate the measured magnetic field strength with the tilt angle to calculate an azimuth of the both shoulders line; and

an output unit configured to output a reporting signal when a difference between the azimuth and an aligning azimuth determined by the rotation angle is within a range of the acceptance angle.

6. The aligning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is installed on the user.

7. The aligning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rotation angle is set to 90° when the destination line is perpendicular to the both shoulders line.

8. The aligning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to:

calculate the acceleration from a resultant vector of 3-axis accelerations measured by the 3-axis accelerometer;

calculate a pitch angle and a roll angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor when the acceleration is equal to a gravity acceleration; and

calculate the azimuth of the both shoulders line by compensating the measured magnetic field strength with the pitch angle and the roll angle, wherein

the tilt angle comprises the pitch angle and the roll angle.

9. The aligning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the aligning azimuth corresponds to a sum of a sighted azimuth and the rotation angle.

10. The aligning apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an input unit configured to input a start signal for indicating measurement.

11. The aligning apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an input and output module comprising the input unit and the output unit; and

a main body module comprising the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, and the processor,

wherein the input and output module and the main body module communicate by wire.

12. The aligning apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an input and output module comprising the input unit, the output unit, and a first wireless transmitting/receiving unit; and

a main body module comprising the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, the processor, and a second wireless transmitting/receiving unit,

wherein the input and output module and the main body module communicate wirelessly.

13. The aligning apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an input module comprising the input unit and a wireless transmitting unit; and

a main body module comprising the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, the processor, the output unit, and a wireless receiving unit,

wherein the input module and the main body module communicate wirelessly.

14. An aligning apparatus of a golf destination line for aligning a reference line with a destination line connecting a golf ball and a destination, the apparatus comprising:

a variance setting unit, a rotation angle between the destination line and the reference line being set in the variance setting unit;

a 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor configured to measure a magnetic field strength of the reference line;

a 3-axis accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the reference line;

an input unit configured to input a start signal for indicating measurement of the magnetic field strength and the acceleration;

a processor configured to calculate an azimuth of the reference line from the measured magnetic field strength and the measured acceleration, and to compare the azimuth with an aligning azimuth determined by the rotation angle; and

an output unit configured to output the result compared by the processor.

15. The aligning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the aligning azimuth corresponds to a sum of a sighted azimuth and the rotation angle, and the sighted azimuth is an azimuth sighted by a user when the measurement is started.

16. The aligning apparatus of claim 15, wherein an acceptance angle is further set to the variance setting unit, and the acceptance angle is an acceptable error range of the rotation angle, and

wherein the result is output when a difference between the azimuth and the aligning azimuth is within a range of the acceptance angle.

17. The aligning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to:

calculate a tilt angle of the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor from the measured acceleration;

compensate the tilt angle with the magnetic field strength; and

calculate an azimuth of the reference line from the compensated magnetic field strength.

18. The aligning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reference line is parallel to a putter face of a golf putter.

19. The aligning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the rotation angle is set to 90° when the destination line is parallel to the putter face.

20. The aligning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reference line is parallel to a both shoulders line connecting both shoulders of a user.

21. The aligning apparatus of claim 20, wherein the rotation angle is set to 90° when the destination line is perpendicular to the both shoulders line.

22. The aligning apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a first module comprising at least one of the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, the input unit, the processor, and the output unit; and

a second module comprising the remaining elements of the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, the input unit, the processor, and the output unit,

wherein the first module and the second module communicate by wire.

23. The aligning apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a first module comprising a first wireless transmitting/receiving unit, and at least one of the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, the input unit, the processor, and the output unit; and

a second module comprising a second wireless transmitting/receiving unit, and the remaining elements of the variance setting unit, the 3-axis magnetic resistance sensor, the 3-axis accelerometer, the input unit, the processor, and the output unit,

wherein the first module and the second module communicate wirelessly.

24. (canceled)