Sports simulator and simulation method

Abstract

A sports simulator calculates spin of a sports object using image analysis. A velocity vector is also calculated. These are combined to produce a predicted future trajectory of the sports object. In one embodiment, the sports object is a golf ball and the sports simulator simulates golf.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for simulating a sports activity where a future trajectory of a sports object is predicted, the apparatus comprising:
 a camera comprising a shutter;   at least one strobe light;   a strobe controller coupled to the at least one strobe light;   a triggering device coupled to the strobe controller and the camera, the triggering device configured to, in response to detecting a striking of the sports object:
 cause the shutter to open, and 
 cause the strobe controller to flash the at least one strobe light such that the sports object is illuminated multiple times while the shutter is open, thereby allowing the camera to capture multiple images of the illuminated sports object on a single image frame before the shutter is closed; 
   processing circuitry configured to:
 utilize at least two of the multiple images of the illuminated sports object from the single image frame to compute a spin of the sports object, and 
 predict the future trajectory of the sports object based at least in part on the computed spin; and 
   a screen configured to display the predicted future trajectory of the sports object.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one strobe light emits infrared light and the camera is sensitive to infrared light. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the axis of the at least one camera is mounted approximately normal to the ground above a launch area for the sports object. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an infrared filter on the at least one camera. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the triggering device comprises a microphone. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the triggering device comprises a motion detector. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an inclinometer mounted on the camera. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the screen is disposed in a launch path of the sports object. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first sensor plane disposed between a launch area for the sports object and the screen, the first sensor plane configured to sense a first position of the sports object passing therethrough at a first time; and   a second sensor plane disposed between the first sensor plane and the screen, the second sensor plane configured to sense a second position of the sports object passing therethrough at a second time.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine a translational trajectory of the sports object based at least in part on the first position and the second position;   determine a speed of the sports object based at least in part on a time of travel characterized by the first time and the second time; and   predict the future trajectory of the sports object further based at least in part on the determined translational trajectory and the determined speed of the sports object.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to predict the future trajectory of the sports object before the sports object strikes the screen. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first sensor plane and the second sensor plane comprise an infrared beam sensor. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for simulating a sports activity where a future trajectory of a sports object is predicted, the apparatus comprising:
 a camera;   a strobe controller coupled to at least one strobe light;   a triggering device coupled to the strobe controller and the camera, the triggering device configured to, in response to detecting a striking of the sports object:
 cause the camera to capture multiple images of the sports object on a single image frame while the strobe controller flashes the at least one strobe light multiple times to illuminate the sports object during capture of each of the multiple images; 
   processing circuitry configured to:
 utilize at least two of the multiple images of the illuminated sports object from the single image frame to compute a spin of the sports object, and 
 predict the future trajectory of the sports object based at least in part on the computed spin; and 
   a screen configured to display the predicted future trajectory of the sports object.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one strobe light emits infrared light and the camera is sensitive to infrared light. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the triggering device comprises at least one of a microphone and a motion detector. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the screen is disposed in a launch path of the sports object. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a first sensor plane disposed between a launch area for the sports object and the screen, the first sensor plane configured to sense a first position of the sports object passing therethrough at a first time; and   a second sensor plane disposed between the first sensor plane and the screen, the second sensor plane configured to sense a second position of the sports object passing therethrough at a second time.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine a translational trajectory of the sports object based at least in part on the first position and the second position;   determine a speed of the sports object based at least in part on a time of travel characterized by the first time and the second time; and   predict the future trajectory of the sports object before the sports object strikes the screen further based at least in part on the determined translational trajectory and the determined speed of the sports object.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first sensor plane and the second sensor plane comprise an infrared beam sensor. 
     
     
         28 . A method for predicting a future trajectory of a golf ball in a golf simulator, using at least one processor, the method comprising:
 detecting, utilizing the at least one processor, a striking of the golf ball;   in response to the detecting the striking of the golf ball, utilizing the at least one processor to:
 trigger a shutter of a camera to open, 
 trigger a strobe controller to flash at least one strobe light such that the golf ball is illuminated multiple times while the shutter is open, and 
 trigger the camera to capture multiple images of the illuminated golf ball on a single image frame before the shutter is closed; 
   compute a spin of the golf ball, utilizing the at least one processor, based on at least two of the multiple images of the illuminated golf ball from the single image frame; and   predict, utilizing the at least one processor, the future trajectory of the golf ball based at least in part on the computed spin; and   provide the predicted future trajectory of the golf ball to a screen for subsequent display.