JP2004105350A - Golfer supporting device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golfer supporting device or the like showing a direction in which a ball is intuitively shot to a golfer. <P>SOLUTION: The existing direction of a cup at a present location as shown by arrow 51 is displayed by an absolute direction on a display unit by utilizing a device direction obtained based on information of a gyroscope or a terrestrial magnetism sensor in addition to information regarding the present location and information regarding the cup location. Therefore, even when the cup cannot be seen from a swinging location, the golfer can intuitively recognize the existing direction of the cup. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golfer support device that provides information to a golfer, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a device for assisting a golfer, a distance between a current position and a cup in a golf course is measured using a GPS as shown in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 below, and the distance is given to the golfer. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a golfer assisting device that outputs a display. The method of measuring the distance is also described in Patent Document 3 below.
[0003]
In addition, as described in Patent Document 4 below, a landing point of a ball hit by a golfer is recorded, a score is calculated based on the history, and the score is presented to the golfer, thereby providing a handwritten score. There are known performance recording devices that eliminate the need for cards.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-276458
[Patent Document 2]
JP 10-113415 A
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-5-19035
[Patent Document 4]
JP-A-6-15022
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, among these, even if the distance from the current position to the cup can be indicated, the actual direction of the cup as viewed from the golfer, that is, the direction in which the ball is hit (swing direction) can be indicated to the golfer. Absent. Therefore, if the cup cannot be seen from the swing position, the golfer himself must estimate the direction of the cup by comparing the hole diagram displayed on the display device or the like with the actual hole, and determine the direction in which the ball should be hit. there were.
[0009]
However, the hole diagram displayed on the display device or the like is a simulated diagram, and it is difficult for a golfer to compare such a hole diagram with an actual hole to determine the direction in which the ball is hit, and the error is large.
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golfer support device and the like that can more intuitively show a golfer a direction in which a ball is hit.
[0010]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
The golfer assisting device according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, wherein the control means controls the information on the current position of the golfer assisting device acquired by the position acquiring means and the position of the cup stored in the storage means. From the information, the present direction of the cup at the current position is calculated, and the absolute direction of the calculated present direction of the cup is displayed on the display means in consideration of the information on the orientation of the golfer assisting device obtained by the direction obtaining means. Here, the “absolute direction display” means not displaying a direction relative to a hole diagram or the like, but displaying a direction in which the cup exists in the direction shown as it is. Therefore, the golfer can intuitively know the direction in which the cup exists.
[0011]
Further, the control means may calculate the distance from the current position to the cup and display the calculated distance on the display means.
By doing so, the distance can be known together with the direction of the cup, and the golfer can hit the ball more easily.
[0012]
Further, the control means may calculate the height difference between the current position and the cup position, and display the calculated height difference on the display means. In order to display such a height difference, the position obtaining means also needs to obtain altitude information on the current position. In addition, it is necessary that the position information of the cup stored in the storage means includes altitude information.
[0013]
With this configuration, the golfer can easily recognize the height difference between the current position and the cup position, which is convenient for the golfer.
Further, as described in claim 4, the control means may calculate a distance from the current position to the cup, and display a club suitable for the distance on the display means. As a method of selecting a suitable club, for example, a method is conceivable in which the reach range of the ball is determined for each club, and the club whose distance to the cup is closest to the median of the reach range is the suitable club. Note that the maximum value may be used instead of the median value.
[0014]
In this way, the club suitable for the distance to the cup can be easily known, and the golfer can easily aim at the cup.
By the way, the storage means may store only the position information of the cup, but may store the layout information of the whole hole of each hole as described in claim 5. Preferably, the control means also causes the display means to display the layout information of each hole. With this configuration, the golfer can easily grasp the layout of the entire hole. As a result, the golfer can avoid the bunker, which leads to an improvement in the score.
[0015]
Further, as described in claim 6, the golfer further comprises position designation means for designating an arbitrary position, wherein the control means causes the display means to display layout information of the whole hole of each hole, and the position from the current position. The direction to the position designated by the designation means may be displayed on the display means in an absolute direction.
[0016]
In this way, the golfer can easily recognize the direction from the current position to an arbitrary position, which is convenient for the golfer.
In addition, the control means may calculate the distance to the position specified by the position specifying means, and display the distance on the display means.
[0017]
With this configuration, the golfer can easily understand the distance from the current position to an arbitrary position, which is convenient for the golfer.
In addition, as described in claim 8, the control means may calculate a height difference between the position designated by the position designation means and the current position, and display the difference on the display means. In order to display such a height difference, the position obtaining means also needs to obtain altitude information on the current position. Also, the layout information stored in the storage means needs to include the altitude information.
[0018]
With this configuration, the golfer can easily recognize the height difference from the current position to an arbitrary position, which is convenient for the golfer.
Further, it is preferable that the control device further includes a swing position acquiring unit that acquires a position where the golfer swings, and the control unit stores the swing position acquired by the swing position acquiring unit. As a method of acquiring the swing position, for example, a golfer presses a button at a position where the swing is performed, and the swing position acquiring means acquires that the button is pressed, and at the timing, the current position is obtained from the position acquiring means. It is good to acquire a swing position by acquiring. Instead of acquiring that the button has been pressed, a signal from a sensor that detects a swing attached to the golfer's arm may be acquired to recognize that the swing has been performed.
[0019]
If the swing position is stored in this way, it is possible to look back on the play contents by looking at the history of the swing position after the play, or to automatically give a score.
Further, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising communication means for communicating with an external device to exchange information, wherein the control means uses the communication means to provide position information of a cup of each hole or a layout of each hole. Preferably, information is acquired and stored in the storage means.
[0020]
In this case, the latest information on the cup position and the layout information on each hole can be always obtained, and the golfer can be provided with accurate information such as the cup direction and the distance to the cup.
By the way, a computer may be made to function as the control means according to any one of the first to tenth aspects using a program as described in the eleventh aspect.
[0021]
Such a program can be used by recording it on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a memory card, and loading and activating the computer as needed. Further, it can also be used by loading and starting via a network. Therefore, functional enhancement and the like can be easily performed.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples at all, and it goes without saying that various embodiments can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the off-board navigation device 20 according to the present embodiment. An off-board navigation device is a navigation device configured to be small and light in size, and to be able to be carried out of the vehicle, as well as a navigation device mounted on a vehicle capable of executing a well-known map display and route guidance. It is. The off-board navigation device 20 of the embodiment has a function as a golfer support device that provides various information to a golfer in addition to a normal navigation function. First, a schematic configuration of the off-board navigation device 20 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
[0024]
The off-board navigation device 20 includes a position detector 21 for detecting a current position, an operation switch group 22 for inputting various instructions from a user, an external information input / output unit 24 for exchanging information with the outside, A map data input unit 25 for inputting map data and the like from an external storage medium storing map data and various information; a course layout data storage unit 26 for storing a layout of each hole of a golf course; , A voice output unit 28 for outputting various guide voices, etc., the position detector 21, the operation switch group 22, the external information input / output unit 24, the map data input unit 25, Control for executing various processes according to the input from the course layout data storage unit 26 and controlling the external information input / output unit 24, the display unit 27, and the audio output unit 28 And a road 29.
[0025]
The position detector 21 receives a transmission radio wave from an artificial satellite for GPS (Global Positioning System) via a GPS antenna, and detects a position, an azimuth, a speed, and the like of the own device, and a GPS receiver 21a. It has a gyroscope 21b for detecting the magnitude of the added rotary motion and a geomagnetic sensor 21c for detecting the traveling direction from the geomagnetism. Each of the sensors 21a to 21c has an error having a different property, and is configured to be used while complementing each other.
[0026]
The operation switch group 22 is configured integrally with the display unit 27, and includes a touch panel provided on a display screen and mechanical key switches provided around the display unit 27. Note that the touch panel and the display unit 27 are laminated and integrated, and there are various types of touch panels such as a pressure-sensitive type, an electromagnetic induction type, a capacitance type, and a combination thereof. You may.
[0027]
The external information input / output unit 24 receives traffic information from a VICS center (not shown) via an antenna (not shown). The received traffic information is sent to the control circuit 29 and used for calculating a guidance route. Further, the external information input / output unit 24 receives layout information described below from a layout information providing server provided in the club house.
[0028]
The map data input device 25 is a device for inputting various data including so-called map matching data, map data, mark data, and intersection data for improving the accuracy of position identification. As a recording medium for these data, a CD-ROM or DVD is generally used because of the amount of data, but other media such as a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk or a memory card may be used.
[0029]
The course layout data storage unit 26 stores layout information of each hole. The position of the cup, the position of the bunker, the prescribed number of hits, etc. of each hole are also stored. Note that layout information such as a cup position and a bunker position is stored including altitude information.
[0030]
The display unit 27 is a color display device, and is configured by a portable display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display screen of the display unit 27 includes a mark indicating the current position specified from the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detector 21 and the map data input from the map data input device 25, a guidance route to the destination, and a name. It is possible to superimpose and display additional data such as marks, marks of various facilities, etc., and also to display various information for supporting golf play.
[0031]
The voice output unit 28 receives voices of facility guides and various types of guidance input from the map data input unit 25, traffic information received via the external information input / output unit 24, and various information for supporting golf play. It can output a reading voice.
The control circuit 29 is mainly composed of a well-known microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, and a bus line for connecting these components, and is based on a program stored in the ROM and the RAM. A map that calculates the current position of the vehicle as a set of coordinates and traveling direction based on each detection signal from the position detector 21 and displays a map near the current position read via the map data input device 25 on the display unit 27. Based on the display processing and the point data stored in the map data input device 25, a destination facility is selected according to the operation of the operation switch group 22, and an optimal route from the current position to the destination is automatically obtained. A route guidance process for performing route guidance by performing calculations is performed. In addition, “cup direction display processing” and “distance calculation processing to a designated position” described later are performed.
[0032]
Up to this point, the schematic configuration of the off-board navigation device 20 has been described. However, the GPS receiver 21a corresponds to the position acquisition unit described in the claims, and the gyroscope 21b and the geomagnetic sensor 21c correspond to the direction acquisition unit. The operation switch group 22 corresponds to a position designating unit, the external information input / output unit 24 corresponds to a communication unit, the course layout data storage unit 26 corresponds to a storage unit, the display unit 27 corresponds to a display unit, The control circuit 29 corresponds to control means.
[0033]
Next, the “cup direction display processing” and the “distance calculation processing to the designated position”, which are the golfer support functions executed by the control circuit 29, will be described below. Descriptions of processes such as a route guidance process normally performed by a conventional general off-board navigation device are omitted.
[0034]
First, the “cup direction display processing” will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. This processing is executed when the golfer operates the operation switch group 22. In S100, a signal from the position detector 21 is received to acquire the current position. This current position is information composed of latitude, longitude, and altitude.
[0035]
In S110, the cup position of the hole corresponding to the current position acquired in S100 is acquired from the course layout data storage unit 26. This cup position is also composed of latitude, longitude and altitude.
In S120, the distance and altitude difference between the two points are calculated from the current position acquired in S100 and the cup position acquired in S110.
[0036]
In S130, a suitable club type is calculated. As a method of calculating a suitable club type, a method is used in which a range of reach of the ball is determined for each club, and a club whose distance to the cup is closest to the median of the range of reach is determined as a suitable club. Note that the maximum value may be used instead of the median value.
[0037]
In S140, the direction of the off-board navigation device 20 (more precisely, the direction of the display unit 27) is calculated based on information from the gyroscope 21b and the geomagnetic sensor 21c. The off-board navigation device 20 is used in a state where the display unit 27 and the ground plane are parallel.
[0038]
In S150, the direction of the cup at the current position is calculated from the current position acquired in S100 and the cup position acquired in S110.
In S160, the direction of the cup at the current position calculated in S150 is displayed on the display unit 27 in the absolute direction. FIG. 3 shows a display example. The arrow 51 indicates the direction in which the cup exists at the current position. Further, the message 53 indicates the distance from the current position to the cup, the height difference between the current position and the cup position, and the type of the suitable club. Note that the content of the message 53 is also output from the audio output unit 28 as audio.
[0039]
When the process of S160 is completed, the process returns to S140 again, and the processes of S140 to S160 are repeated until the golfer operates and stops the operation switch group 22. With this configuration, even after the arrow 51 and the message 53 are displayed on the display unit 27 and the off-board navigation device 20 is rotated while the ground and the display unit 27 are kept parallel, the current The direction in which the cup exists at the position can be continuously displayed.
[0040]
Next, the “distance calculation processing to the designated position” will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. This processing is executed when the golfer operates the operation switch group 22. First, in S200, a signal from the position detector 21 is received to acquire a current position. This current position is information composed of latitude, longitude, and altitude.
[0041]
At S210, the hole layout data of the hole at the position where the off-board navigation device 20 is present is read from the course layout data storage unit 26, and the display unit 27 displays the hole layout. FIG. 5 shows a display example. A hole layout 61 is displayed above the display unit 27, and a cursor 63 indicates the current position of the offboard navigation device 20. In addition, a message 65 is displayed below the display unit 27, and an instruction for the golfer is displayed. In this example, "Please specify the position" is displayed. Note that the content of the message 65 is also output from the audio output unit 28 as audio.
[0042]
Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 4, in S220, position information designated by the golfer on the hole layout displayed on the display unit 27 in S210 is acquired. Since the display surface of the display unit 27 is integrated with the touch panel, information obtained by being touched by the golfer is used.
[0043]
In S230, the distance and the height difference between the current position acquired in S200 and the designated position acquired in S220 are calculated.
In subsequent S240, an appropriate club type is selected based on the distance and the height difference calculated in S230. The selection method conforms to the method described in S130 of the “cup direction display processing”.
[0044]
At S250, in addition to the hole layout displayed at S210, the distance and height difference calculated at S230 and the club calculated at S240 are displayed on the display unit 27, and the process ends. FIG. 6 shows a display example. A hole layout 71 is displayed on the upper part of the display unit 27, a cursor 73 indicates the current position of the offboard navigation device 20, and a black point 75 indicates a designated position. The cursor 73 and the black point 75 are connected by a straight line. In addition, a message 77 is displayed below the display unit 27, and information for the golfer is displayed. In this example, it is displayed that "100 yards to the designated position, a height difference of +1 m, and an 8-iron are suitable." Note that the content of the message 77 is also output from the audio output unit 28 as audio.
[0045]
As described above, according to the off-board navigation device 20, the present position of the cup at the current position is displayed in the absolute direction, so that the golfer can intuitively know the present direction of the cup. In addition to providing not only the direction of the cup but also the distance to the cup position and information on the height difference between the current position and the cup position, the golfer can know the position of the cup more accurately. . It also provides the golfer with information about the appropriate club type, thus assisting the golfer in selecting the club type.
[0046]
In order to provide the golfer with information on the distance to an arbitrary point on the hole designated by the golfer, the height difference from the current position, and the type of club suitable for the golfer, the golfer should use reference information for playing. Conveniently obtained.
Further, since the layout information used by the off-board navigation device 20 can be obtained from the layout information providing server of the club house via the external information input / output unit 24, it is possible to always use the latest layout information. Information can be provided.
[0047]
Further, since the off-board navigation device 20 can also perform route guidance processing and the like that can be normally performed by a general navigation device, it executes route guidance processing when going to and from a golf course, and executes the above-described processing at a golf course. One can play two roles. In this case, the position detector 21, the operation switch group 22, the display unit 27, and the like can be shared.
[0048]
Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described.
(1) Also in the case of “distance calculation processing to the designated position”, the direction from the current position to the designated position may be displayed on the display unit 27 in the absolute direction. In this case, similarly to the case of the “cup direction display processing”, the direction of the off-board navigation device 20 (more precisely, the direction of the display unit 27) is calculated based on information from the gyroscope 21b and the geomagnetic sensor 21c, The direction of the designated position may be displayed on the display unit 27 based on the information.
[0049]
With this configuration, the golfer can intuitively know the direction of an arbitrary position.
(2) It is preferable that the golf player can register the swing position when the golfer stands at the swing position. This is because, for example, when an input to register a swing position is made from the golfer to the operation switch group 22, the control circuit 29 calculates the current position based on a signal from the position detector 21, and the position is controlled by the control circuit. It may be realized by storing the data in a RAM or the like inside. With this configuration, it is possible to look back on the contents of the play and automatically assign a score. The stored information on the swing position may be taken in and used by a PC or the like via the external information input / output unit 24.
(3) In the above embodiment, the function of the golfer assisting device is realized by the off-board navigation device 20. However, the mobile phone having the current position acquiring function by GPS and the azimuth acquiring function by the geomagnetic sensor is provided with the golfer assisting device. The function may be realized. Of course, the golfer support device having the above-described golfer support function may be realized alone.
(4) It is preferable to communicate with various external devices via the external information input / output unit 24 and control the external devices. For example, it may be configured to be able to control a camera that shoots a swing of a golfer installed on a tee ground. Further, it is preferable that the communication with a restaurant reservation computer installed in the club house be performed so that a restaurant reservation can be made on the course. This improves the convenience of the golfer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an off-board navigation device.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of a cup direction display process.
FIG. 3 is a screen display example showing a cup direction.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the content of a distance calculation process to a designated position.
FIG. 5 is a screen display example when a position is designated.
FIG. 6 is a screen display example showing a distance to a designated position and the like.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 20: off-board navigation device, 21: position detector, 21a: GPS receiver, 21b: gyroscope, 21c: geomagnetic sensor, 22: operation switch group, 24: external information input / output unit, 25: map data input device 26: course layout data storage unit, 27: display unit, 28: audio output unit.

Claims (11)

A golfer support device that provides information to a golfer to support play,
Position acquisition means for acquiring information on the current position of the golfer assistance device;
Direction obtaining means for obtaining the direction of the golfer support device;
Storage means for storing the position information of the cup of each hole;
Display means for displaying various information to a golfer;
The golfer assisting apparatus calculates the direction of the cup at the current position from the information on the current position obtained by the position obtaining means and the position information of the cup stored in the storage means, and obtains the direction by the direction obtaining means. Control means for displaying the calculated direction of the cup in the absolute direction on the display means, taking into account the information on the orientation of the cup,
A golfer support apparatus comprising: The golfer assisting device according to claim 1,
A golfer support apparatus, wherein the control means calculates a distance from a current position to a cup, and displays the calculated distance on the display means. The golfer assisting device according to claim 1 or 2,
A golfer support apparatus, wherein the control means calculates a height difference between a current position and a cup position, and displays the calculated height difference on the display means. The golfer assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A golfer assisting apparatus, wherein the control means calculates a distance from a current position to a cup, and causes the display means to display a type of club suitable for the calculated distance. The golfer assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The golfer assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores layout information of the whole hole of each hole, and said control means displays said layout information on said display means. The golfer assisting device according to claim 5,
Further, the golf ball player further includes a position designation unit that designates an arbitrary position in the layout information displayed on the display unit,
A golfer assisting apparatus, wherein the control means causes the display means to display a direction from a current position to a position designated by the position designation means in an absolute direction. The golfer assisting device according to claim 6,
The golfer assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means further calculates a distance from a current position to a position designated by the position designation means, and displays the computed distance on the display means. The golfer assisting device according to claim 6 or 7,
The golfer support apparatus, wherein the control means further calculates a height difference between a position designated by the position designation means and a current position, and displays the calculated height difference on the display means. The golfer assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The golfer assisting apparatus further includes a swing position obtaining unit that obtains a position at which the golfer has swung, wherein the control unit stores the swing position obtained by the swing position obtaining unit. The golfer assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Furthermore, a communication unit for communicating with an external device to exchange information is provided.
The golfer assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means acquires the position information of the cup of each hole or the layout information using the communication means and stores the information in the storage means. A program for causing a computer to function as control means of the golfer assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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