Method for detecting the spin of a ball in motion, virtual golf device and virtual golf system using the same

Abstract

Disclosed in a method for detecting the spin of a ball in motion, a virtual golf device and a virtual golf system using the same. The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion comprises an image acquisition step of acquiring a first image of the ball at a first time and acquiring a second image of the ball at a second time, the ball being in motion with spin and having an identifier, an identification information acquisition step of acquiring first identification information of the identifier from the first image and acquiring second identification information of the identifier from the second image, and a spin detection step of determining an estimated spin by using cumulative spin data, and applying the estimated spin to the first and second identifier information to detect the spin of the ball in motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting the spin of a ball in motion, comprising:
 an image acquisition step of acquiring a first image of a ball at a first time and acquiring a second image of the ball at a second time, the ball being in motion with spin and having an identifier;   an identification information acquisition step of acquiring first identification information of the identifier from the first image and acquiring second identification information of the identifier from the second image; and   a spin detection step of determining an estimated spin by using cumulative spin data, and applying the estimated spin to the first and second identifier information to detect the spin of the ball in motion.   
     
     
         2 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball is a golf ball, and as a user hits the golf ball with a golf club, the golf ball moves with spin, and
 wherein the cumulative spin data is formed using information associated with the spin of the golf ball when the user who hits the golf ball of which the spin is currently to be detected and other users having a same golf skill level as the corresponding user have played golf in the past.   
     
     
         3 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball is a golf ball, and as a user hits the golf ball with a golf club, the golf ball moves with spin,
 wherein the method further comprises detecting a state change by the motion of the golf ball between the first time and the second time, and   wherein after spin data corresponding to the state change of the golf ball is determined, the cumulative spin data is formed using the determined spin data.   
     
     
         4 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 1 , wherein in the spin detection step, a result of applying the estimated spin to the first identification information is compared with the second identification information, and according to a result of comparing with the second identification information, the estimated spin is determined as the spin of the ball in motion or a new estimated spin is determined and the spin detection step is performed again. 
     
     
         5 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 4 , wherein the cumulative spin data exhibits a Gaussian distribution, and the estimated spin includes a plurality of estimated spins determined by extracting a plurality of random spins differently located in the Gaussian distribution. 
     
     
         6 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 4 , wherein the cumulative spin data exhibits a Gaussian distribution, and the estimated spin is initially determined in a range between a minus (−) standard deviation and a plus (+) standard deviation with respect to a mean in the Gaussian distribution. 
     
     
         7 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 4 , wherein the new estimated spin is determined such that with an increasing value of the result of comparing the result of applying the estimated spin to the first identification information with the second identification information, a difference between the estimated spin and the new estimated spin increases. 
     
     
         8 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing additional steps including a step of acquiring a third image of the ball at a third time, a step of acquiring third identification information of the identifier from the third image, and a step of verifying the detected spin by using the third identification information.   
     
     
         9 . The method for detecting the spin of the ball in motion according to  claim 8 , wherein the spin detected in the spin detection step includes a plurality of spins, and
 wherein the result of applying the plurality of spins to the first identification information or the second identification information is compared with the third identification information, and according to a result of comparing with the third identification information, any one of the plurality of spins is definitely determined as the spin of the ball in motion or a new estimated spin is determined and the spin detection step and the additional steps are performed again.   
     
     
         10 . A virtual golf device comprising:
 a calculation unit to perform a calculation process of calculating a motion of a virtual golf ball corresponding to a real golf ball when a user hits the real golf ball; and   a display unit to display a virtual golf course and the virtual golf ball moving in the virtual golf course as calculated in the calculation process,   wherein the virtual golf device detects the spin of the real golf ball after the user hits the real golf ball by a method for detecting the spin of a ball in motion including an image acquisition step of acquiring a first image of the ball at a first time and acquiring a second image of the ball at a second time, the ball being in motion with spin and having an identifier, an identification information acquisition step of acquiring first identification information of the identifier from the first image and acquiring second identification information of the identifier from the second image, and a spin detection step of determining an estimated spin by using cumulative spin data, and applying the estimated spin to the first and second identifier information to detect the spin of the ball in motion.   
     
     
         11 . The virtual golf device according to  claim 10 , wherein the calculation process reflects a result of detecting the spin of the real golf ball. 
     
     
         12 . A virtual golf system comprising:
 a service device; and   at least one virtual golf device connected to the service device via communication,   wherein the virtual golf device includes a calculation unit to perform a calculation process of calculating a motion of a virtual golf ball corresponding to a real golf ball when a user hits the real golf ball, and a display unit to display a virtual golf course and the virtual golf ball moving in the virtual golf course as calculated in the calculation process, and   wherein the virtual golf device detects the spin of the real golf ball after the user hit the real golf ball by a method for detecting the spin of a ball in motion including an image acquisition step of acquiring a first image of the ball at a first time and acquiring a second image of the ball at a second time, the ball being in motion with spin and having an identifier, an identification information acquisition step of acquiring first identification information of the identifier from the first image and acquiring second identification information of the identifier from the second image, and a spin detection step of determining an estimated spin by using cumulative spin data, and applying the estimated spin to the first and second identifier information to detect the spin of the ball in motion.   
     
     
         13 . The virtual golf system according to  claim 12 , wherein the service device includes a storage unit to store user information, and
 wherein the user information is used to form the cumulative spin data during the detection of the spin of the real golf ball.