Golf gps device and system

Abstract

A portable golf GPS device comprising a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, an input device such as a keypad (or touch screen) operably coupled to the microprocessor, and a display such as a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) operably coupled to the microprocessor. A program memory system which contains at least some of the software and data to operate the device is also operably coupled to the microprocessor. The portable golf GPS device is preferably contained in a housing such that the entire device has a very compact and lightweight form factor, and is preferably handheld and/or pocket size. The golf GPS device is configured to display distances to course features overlaid onto photographic satellite/aerial images of a golf course.

1 . A golf GPS device, comprising:
 a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, a user input device, a program memory and a display,   said microprocessor, GPS unit, user input device, program memory and display contained in a handheld housing; and   wherein said golf GPS device is configured to:
 store golf course data in said program memory, said golf course data including positional data for a plurality of golf course features; 
 determine the position of the device using the GPS unit; 
 calculate the distance between said golf GPS device and at least one of said golf course features; and 
 display said distance on said display in at least two different display modes, a first mode in which said distance is displayed along with a text or icon identification of said golf course feature, and a second mode in which said distance is displayed overlaid onto a photographic image of a portion of a golf course which includes said golf course features. 
   
   
   
       2 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1  wherein said photographic images are one of satellite photographs or aerial photographs. 
   
   
       3 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1  wherein in said second mode said distance is displayed in close vicinity to said golf course features. 
   
   
       4 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1  wherein said golf GPS device is further configured to perform a viewport generation function to automatically determine a viewport in said second mode based on the location of the device and at least one of a pre-determined length window of a golf course hole or a characteristic of a golf hole. 
   
   
       5 . The golf GPS device of  claim 4  wherein said characteristic of a golf hole comprises the location of the end of said golf hole such that said determination of said viewport results in a viewport that does not extend beyond the end of said golf hole. 
   
   
       6 . The golf GPS device of  claim 4  wherein said golf GPS device is further configured such that said viewport generation function also performs a display collision management in which certain distances to features within the viewport are not displayed if they will overlap with other displayed distances. 
   
   
       7 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a length of 4 inches or less, a width of 2 inches or less, and a thickness of 0.6 inches or less. 
   
   
       8 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1 , wherein said golf GPS device is battery powered and self-contained. 
   
   
       9 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1 , wherein said golf GPS device is further configured to toggle between said first mode and said second mode. 
   
   
       10 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1 , wherein said golf GPS device is further configured to pan and zoom a displayed photographic image. 
   
   
       11 . A golf GPS device, comprising:
 a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, a user input device, a program memory and a display,   said microprocessor, GPS unit, user input device, program memory and display contained in a handheld housing; and   wherein said golf GPS device is configured to:
 store golf course data in said program memory, said golf course data including positional data for a plurality of golf course features; 
 determine the position of the device using the GPS unit; 
 calculate the distance between said golf GPS device and at least one of said golf course features; and 
 display said distance on said display, wherein said distance is overlaid onto a photographic image of a portion of a golf course which includes said golf course feature and said distance is displayed in the vicinity of a displayed marker located on the position of said golf course feature to which said distance is calculated. 
   
   
   
       12 . The golf GPS device of  claim 11 , wherein said marker is one of a dot, a colored dot, a cursor, a target, a crosshair, or an icon. 
   
   
       13 . The golf GPS device of  claim 11 , wherein said distance is displayed at a minimum text size which is adjustable by the user. 
   
   
       14 . A golf GPS device, comprising:
 a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, a user input device, a program memory and a display,   said microprocessor, GPS unit, user input device, program memory and display contained in a handheld housing; and   wherein said golf GPS device is configured to:
 store golf course data in said program memory, said golf course data including positional data for a plurality of golf course features; 
 determine the position of the device using the GPS unit; 
 calculate the distance between said golf GPS device and at least one of said golf course features; and 
 automatically and dynamically perform a viewport generation function to display on said display an area of a photographic image of a golf course, called a viewport, wherein said viewport is determined based on at least one of a pre-determined length window of a golf course hole or a characteristic of a golf hole. 
   
   
   
       15 . The golf GPS device of  claim 14 , wherein said golf GPS device is further configured such that said viewport generation function also performs a display collision management in which certain distances to features within the viewport are not displayed if they will overlap with other displayed distances. 
   
   
       16 . A golf GPS device, comprising:
 a microprocessor operably coupled to a GPS unit, a user input device, a program memory and a display,   said microprocessor, GPS unit, user input device, program memory and display contained in a handheld housing; and   wherein said golf GPS device is configured to:
 store golf course data in said program memory, said golf course data including positional data for a plurality of golf course features; 
 determine the position of the device using the GPS unit; 
 calculate the distance between said golf GPS device and at least one of said golf course features; and 
 perform a calibration method, comprising the following steps:
 locating the golf GPS device at a physical feature at a golf course; 
 displaying on said display a geo-referenced photographic image of said physical feature which stored in said program memory; 
 receiving an input of the location of said physical feature; 
 determining an offset between the apparent location as measured by the golf GPS device and the geo-referenced location of the feature on the photographic image; 
 using said offset to correct the positions measured by said GPS unit. 
 
   
   
   
       17 . The golf GPS device of  claim 16 , wherein said step of receiving an input of the location of said physical feature comprises a user moving a cursor displayed on the display to the location of said physical feature. 
   
   
       18 . The golf GPS device of  claim 16 , wherein said golf GPS device is further configured to:
 display said distance on said display, wherein said distance is overlaid onto a photographic image of a portion of a golf course which includes said golf course feature and said distance is displayed in the vicinity of a displayed marker located on the position of said golf course feature to which said distance is calculated.   
   
   
       19 . The golf GPS device of  claim 1 , wherein said golf GPS device is further configured to:
 display on said display a geo-referenced photographic image of a portion of a golf course; and   receive a first input of a first location on said photographic image; and   determine and display the distance between the location of the golf GPS device and said first location.   
   
   
       20 . The golf GPS device of  claim 19 , wherein said golf GPS device is further configured to:
 receive a second input of a second location on said photographic image; and   determine and display the distance between said first location and said second location.