JPH07134042A - Guiding device in golf course - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily measure the distance to a main target such as a cup and a banker in a golf course. CONSTITUTION:The layout data of each hole in a golfing course are stored at a ROM 11 along with such geographical data as latitude and longitude and the course drawing of a hole selected by a hole selection key 13a is read from the ROM 11 and is displayed on a display 16. A current position received by a GPS receiver 14 is displayed on a course drawing being displayed at the display 16 by operating a measurement key 13c and at the same time the distance from the current position to a main target such as banker and cup is calculated and displayed, thus accurately and rapidly measuring the distance to the target, reducing time required for selecting clubs, reducing time required for each party to make a round, or eliminating the need for an accompanying caddie.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention displays the course layout of a golf course and distances to major objects,
The present invention relates to a guide device on a golf course that can provide guidance to athletes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At a golf course, athletes have traditionally been
Judging the layout of each course from the course map distributed at the clubhouse, etc., when performing shots and putts, select the club and estimate the ball drop point,
The competition is taking place.

Therefore, the distance to a particularly important main target, such as the green or the bunker or the pond, is displayed in the course map or the like on the tee ground as a pre-measured value as shown in FIG. 6 (1). However, as shown in FIG. 6 (2), it is difficult to measure accurately once it leaves the tee ground. For this reason, conventionally, the athlete actually estimates the distance to the target objects by the eye-catching amount, or the distance is estimated by consulting with a caddy accompanying the party. However, especially at the time of launching from the valley bottom to the green on the hill, even the pin cannot be confirmed, and it may be almost impossible to estimate the distance.

[0004]

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the distance to the target cannot be accurately and promptly measured, and it takes a long time to select a club. Therefore, there is a problem that the time required for one party to make a round is long and the efficiency is low. Also, it is necessary to accompany a caddy for each party,
Alternatively, it is necessary to place a caddy in each major hole, which causes labor costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a guide device on a golf course which can accurately and quickly measure the distance to a main target.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention selects storage means for storing layout data of each hole in a golf course together with at least latitude and longitude geographical data, and an arbitrary hole desired by a player. Selection means, and measurement means for receiving signals from transmitters provided at a plurality of reference points to perform triangulation to measure the current position, and layout data for the holes selected by the selection means. And geographic data are read from the storage means, and drawing means for creating a hole diagram to be drawn by synthesizing the current position measured by the measuring means on the layout diagram, and geography of the main target object of the selected hole A calculation means for calculating at least the distance from the current position to the target object based on the data, and a hole created by the drawing means. When a guide device in the golf course, characterized in that it comprises a display means for displaying the calculation result of the calculating means.

The transmitter of the present invention is characterized in that it is a positioning satellite that orbits the earth.

Further, the transmitter of the present invention is characterized in that it is installed on the periphery of the course and transmits the signal by electromagnetic waves or sound waves.

Further, the storage means of the present invention stores information about a player, and the calculation means selects an optimum club corresponding to at least the calculation result and the information, and the display means. It is characterized by displaying recommendations.

Furthermore, the present invention is provided with a shot operation key which is operated each time one hits a ball, corresponding to each one or a plurality of players, and the arithmetic means is operable to perform a key operation to the shot operation key. In response, score calculation is performed.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the layout data of each hole on the golf course, for example, the layout of the position of the green and its cup, the layout of the bunker or the pond, together with at least the geographical data of their latitude and longitude, is read-only memory (abbreviated as abbreviated). It is stored in a storage means such as a ROM). In response to the operation to the selection means, the contents stored in the storage means are selected by the player to select an arbitrary hole, created by the drawing means in a hole diagram, and displayed by a liquid crystal display device or the like. Displayed on the means.

On the other hand, the measuring means receives the signals from the transmitters provided at a plurality of reference points, detects the phase difference between the signals from the respective transmitters, and obtains the phase difference. Triangulation based on the distance to each transmitter,
Measure the current position. The transmitter is, for example, a positioning satellite that orbits the earth, and the current position is measured by a so-called GPS (Global Positioning System) using this positioning satellite. Further, the transmitter may be installed at a peripheral portion of the course and transmit a signal by an electromagnetic wave or a sound wave. The present position measured in this way is combined on the hall drawing by the drawing means and displayed on the display means. Therefore, the athlete can confirm the current position on the hole map.

At least the distance from the geographical data of the main target such as the cup and bunker of the hole selected by the selecting means and the current position measured by the measuring means to the target by the calculating means. The distance is calculated, and the calculation result is also displayed on the display means via the drawing means. Therefore, the player can recognize the accurate distance to the target object, can shorten the time for selecting a club, and can efficiently perform the round.

Preferably, the storage means stores information about the athlete, for example, gender and handicap, and the calculation means corresponds to at least the calculation result of the distance to the cup and the information. Then, the club that seems to be the most suitable is selected and recommended on the display means. This also allows for more accurate club selection.

Still more preferably, a shot operation key which is operated each time the ball is hit is provided corresponding to each of the one or more players, and the computing means responds to the operation on the shot operation key. And calculate the score. As a result, it is not necessary to perform complicated score calculation, convenience can be improved, and, for example, in a competition or the like, totaling can be performed quickly.

[0016]

1 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of a guide device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This guiding device 1
In general, each player or each party is provided with a plurality of terminals 2 lent at a clubhouse or the like, and a host machine 3 installed in the clubhouse or the like.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the terminal 2. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal device 2 generally includes a read-only memory (abbreviated as ROM) 11 and a random access memory (abbreviated as RAM) 12 as storage means, and an operation key 13 as selection means. , GPS receiver 1 as measuring means
4 and the distance measuring machine 15 and a processing circuit 1 which is realized by a microcomputer or the like and is a drawing means and a calculating means
0, a display device 16 as a display unit, a plurality of pressure sensors 21, an FM transceiver 22, a buzzer 23 and a lamp 24.

The ROM 11 stores layout data of each hole and geographical data of at least latitude and longitude of main targets such as greens and pins, bunkers and ponds. The layout data and the geographic data of the ROM 11 are input to the processing circuit 10 when the operation of the hole selection key 13a of the operation keys 13 is input to the processing circuit 10. Read through. Based on the layout data thus read, the processing circuit 1
0 creates drawing data of the course map of the selected hole and displays it on the display device 16 realized by a liquid crystal display device or the like via the display drive circuit 19.

The front plate 4e of the body 4 of the terminal 2
The display device 16 is arranged in the center of the display device 16, the operation keys 13 are arranged so as to surround the display device 16, and the power switch 26 and the magnet 27 are arranged. A pressure sensor 21 is attached to each of the side surfaces 4a to 4d of the main body 4. The detection result of each pressure sensor 21 is digitally converted by the analog / digital converter 25 and then input to the processing circuit 10 via the communication bus 17. After the player points the terminal device 2 in a predetermined direction according to the instruction of the magnet 27, the wind direction measurement key 1 of the operation keys 13
3b is operated, the processing circuit 10 causes the pressure sensors 2
The measurement result of No. 1 is read, and the wind direction and the wind speed are displayed in the area of the corner of the display device 16 indicated by reference numeral A1, for example.

Further, an FM (frequency modulation) transceiver 22
Can be used to contact the clubhouse,
When a signal from the clubhouse is received by the antenna 22a, the buzzer 23 sounds and the lamp 24 blinks to notify the athlete. This allows the athlete to respond to phone calls and emergency calls. Furthermore, the FM transmitter / receiver 22 transmits a signal indicating the number of the hole in which the athlete is rounding and the lending number, which is an identification number unique to the terminal 2, and thereby the club house. Now you can see which hall each party is going around. The signal transmitted / received to / from the clubhouse may be a signal corresponding to the loan number of each terminal 2 displayed as indicated by reference numeral 4f on the front plate 4e, or It may be a signal including data indicating a message such as a call by telephone.

Further, in the main body 4 of the terminal 2, the power source terminal 28 and the data transmission terminal 29 are provided on the side surface 4c.
And a data output terminal 30 on the side surface 4a. When the competitor finishes the competition and returns the terminal device 2 to the clubhouse, the terminal device 2 is loaded into the charger, at which time power is supplied from the power supply terminal 28, and the terminal device 2 (not shown). The rechargeable battery inside is charged. The power from the rechargeable battery is supplied to each part in the terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1 when the power switch 26 is turned on, and the rechargeable battery is supplied to each part, for example.
It is selected as the capacity that can be energized for 2 hours. The data transmission terminal 29 is used for connection with the host machine 3, and the data output terminal 30 is used for connection with a printer or the like.

A signal representing a hole number is transmitted to the FM transceiver 22 in the tee ground of each hall in an extremely small reception area, and the processing circuit 10 receives signals of different hall numbers. Holds the hall number up to and displays as shown below. When the player operates the hole selection key 13a to select a desired hole number such as the next hole, the processing circuit changes the held hole number. When the hole number is selected in this way, the processing circuit 10 reads out the course map of the corresponding hole stored in the ROM 11 via the communication bus 17 and displays it on the display device 16 as shown in FIG.
In addition to the display as shown in (1), the hole number is displayed in the area indicated by reference numeral A2 in the corner portion of the display device 16, and the total number of yards of the hole is displayed in the area indicated by reference numeral A3. Is displayed, and the number of pars is displayed in the area indicated by reference numeral A4.

When the measurement key 13c is operated after the course map is displayed in this manner, the processing circuit 10 causes the communication bus 1 to operate.
At least the latitude and longitude of the current position measured by the GPS receiver 14 are read via 7. GPS receiver 14
Receives signals from at least four satellites out of a plurality of positioning satellites orbiting the earth, calculates the distance to each satellite from the difference in the reception times, and based on the distances thus calculated, It is possible to measure the current position by surveying, for example, the latitude and longitude, the altitude, and the moving speed when moving at a predetermined speed or more.

At this time, the GPS receiver 14 uses the RA
The above calculation is performed based on the error data stored in M12. The error data is obtained from the error between the position data measured by GPS in the host machine 3 installed at a fixed position and the position data of the host machine 3 which is measured and obtained in advance. Thus, in the GPS receiver 14, the measurement accuracy is improved by calibrating the measurement error by GPS and calculating the current position.

On the other hand, the distance measuring device 15 is installed at a plurality of positions measured in advance in the vicinity of the peripheral portion of each course, receives a signal from each transmitter which transmits a unique identifiable signal, and The current position is calculated from the position of each transmitter stored in the ROM 11 and, for example, the phase difference of the received signal. The signals may be carried in electromagnetic waves, including light, or they may be carried in sound waves.

When the measurement key 13c is operated, the processing circuit 10 obtains, for example, a weighted average based on the measurement result of the GPS receiver 14 and the measurement result of the distance measuring device 15 measured as described above. The current position is determined in this way, and drawing data is created by synthesizing the current position on the course diagram and displayed as shown in FIG. 3 (2). At this time, the processing circuit 10 calculates the distance from the current position to a main target object such as a bunker and displays it along with the course map, and displays the remaining distance to the cup in the corner portion of the display device 16. It is displayed in the area A5. The recommended club corresponding to the distance is displayed in the area A6.

The athlete selects a club by referring to the above display and makes a shot or putt. After this, the player operates the numeric keys 13d and the club key 13e to determine whether the club that shot or put the shot is a wood, an iron, a sand edge, or a putter, for example. Enter the club type and number, such as "No." As a result, the point at which the shot or putt was made and the club used were
It is stored in AM12. Further, by operating the previous key 13f, the position where the shot or putt has been performed before the currently displayed position is displayed. Furthermore, by operating the player selection key 13g, the number of shots or putts can be input for athletes other than the athlete carrying the terminal device 2.

In this manner, the player can confirm the position of the golf course at any position on the golf course, and at the same time, measure the distance to the main target accurately and quickly. can do. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time required for club selection and the time required for one party to make a round. In addition, it is not necessary to accompany each party with a caddy or the like, and labor costs can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is possible to save the troublesome entry of the score card. In this case, the score calculation can be automatically performed by setting and inputting the gender and handicap of each athlete corresponding to the athlete name.

Further, a function selection key 13h is provided on the front plate 4e of the main body 4. Function selection key 1
In response to the operation of 3h, first the locker mode is entered, and when the player inserts the terminal device 2 into the holder of the locker corresponding to the lending number in the club house, the input / output interface 9 via the data transmission terminal 29. Both are connected. When athletes change their clothes and go on the course,
When the door of the locker is closed and the terminal 2 is subsequently removed from the holder, the door is locked. After the round is completed, when the terminal 2 is inserted into the holder in the locker mode, the door is unlocked. In this case, in consideration of the case where a locker is used for each player of a party, for example, each locker stores the loan number so that one terminal 2 can use a plurality of arbitrary lockers. Good.

Further, when the restaurant mode is selected by the function selection key 13h, a menu is displayed on the display device 16 and an input from the touch switch 13i provided on the display device 16 becomes possible. The clerk inputs the menu ordered by the athlete from the touch switch 13i, the athlete confirms the order, and operates the confirmation button area to automatically place the order via the FM transceiver 22 in the kitchen. Sent to. Furthermore, by using the function selection key 13h and the touch switch 13i, it is possible to collectively process the settlements at all the facilities such as shops that require payment, as will be described later.

On the other hand, the host machine 3 includes a processing device 31, an input device 32, a GPS receiver 33, a printing device 34,
The display device 35 and the like are provided. The terminal device 2 of the player who has finished the round as described above is connected to the processing device 31 from the input / output interface 9 through the data transmission terminal 29 and the input / output interface 36 of the host device 3. . The score and the like stored in the RAM 12 are processed by the processing device 3 via the communication bus 37.
Input to 1. The data of the RAM 12 collected from each athlete or party is totaled by the processing device 31 in this way, and the totaled result is displayed on the display device 35 realized by a cathode ray tube or the like, or the printing device 3 such as a printer.
4 is printed out.

In the host machine 3, the use of the locker as described above and the charges in the restaurant are read from the input / output interface 9 and the data transmission terminal 29 through the input / output interface 36, and the processing unit is processed. At 31, the usage fees at all facilities are totaled. As a result, the competitor does not need to make a payment for each facility, but can make a lump sum payment when returning home, which improves convenience. When the settlement is completed, the terminal 2 is loaded into the charger as described above, whereby the contents stored in the RAM 12 are erased.

Furthermore, an IC is provided on one side surface 4a of the main body 4.
The card 5 is fitted. The IC card 5 is provided with a ROM 11 and a RAM via an output interface 8.
The memory contents of 12 are copied, and the athlete can purchase this IC card 5 and take it home. Correspondingly, a reproducing device such as a so-called video game machine having an input interface of the IC card 5 and a drawing processing device may be manufactured for home use. As a result, along with a character that looks like an athlete on the course map, an image depicting the trajectory of the ball hitting each hole, the selected club or score, etc. is displayed on the television receiver and the game of the day is reproduced and enjoyed. It is possible,
Or you can use it for your next reference.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the course map display operation in the terminal 2 described above. At step n1, it is judged whether or not the hole selection is performed by the operation of the hole selection key 13a or the reception of a new hole number. If so, the process proceeds to step n2,
The course map of the selected hole is read from the ROM 11. At step n3, the drawing process of the read course diagram is performed and displayed on the display device 16, and then the process proceeds to step n4. If no hole is selected in step n1, the process directly goes to step n4.

At step n4, it is judged whether or not the measurement key 13c is operated, and if so, the routine proceeds to step n5, where the GPS receiver 14 and the distance measuring device 15 measure the latitude and longitude of the current position. Be seen. In step n6, a drawing process is performed on the current position measured in step n5 at a corresponding position in the course map, and the drawing is displayed.

In step n7, the remaining distance from the measured current position to the cup is calculated and displayed in the area A5. In step n8, information about the athlete,
For example, the handicap, gender, etc. are read from the RAM 12, and in step n9, the recommended club corresponding to the read information is calculated and displayed in the area A6, and then the process returns to step n1 and the measurement key is pressed in step n4. When 13c is not operated, the process directly returns to step n1.

When the course map is displayed, the plan view can be displayed as shown in FIG. 3 described above, and in response to the display switching operation, for example, in FIG. A view cut in the center of the fairway labeled A may be displayed as shown in FIG. This allows you to check not only the flat course layout, but also the height difference and slope of the course,
It can be useful for club selection and shot direction determination. In addition, only the green may be enlarged, and cross-sectional views viewed from a plurality of cut surfaces may be selectively or collectively displayed. In a plan view in which only the green is enlarged,
You may make it indicate the grass with an arrow.

Furthermore, the fairway and the rough may be displayed in mutually different colors, contour lines that can show the height difference on the plan view may be displayed, or even the OB line may be displayed. May be.

The wind direction can be measured by reading the direction indicated by the magnet 27 and inputting it to the processing circuit 10 with the terminal device 2 horizontally oriented in any direction.
That is, by correcting the direction obtained from the detection result of each pressure sensor 21 with the relative angular difference from the pointing direction of the magnet 27, the wind direction can be measured in the absolute azimuth direction. Alternatively, without using the magnet 27, only the direction in which the wind is blowing with respect to the main body 4 of the terminal device 2 may be displayed on the display device 16 by, for example, an arrow.

Further, instead of measuring the absolute current position as described above, a transmitter / receiver is embedded in a cup using, for example, a pin as an antenna, and the transmitter / receiver of the signal transmitted from the terminal 2 is used by the transmitter / receiver. Only the distance may be obtained based on the response time or the like, or the method of using the GPS receiver 14 described above, the method of using the distance measuring device 15 and the method of obtaining only this distance may be combined arbitrarily. Alternatively, only one of them may be selected and used.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the layout data of each hole in the golf course is stored in advance together with at least the geographical data of latitude and longitude, and the layout data of the selected hole is read and displayed. In addition to displaying the current position on the hole map displayed on the means and the current position measured by the measuring means based on the geographical data of the hole and the received signals from the plurality of transmitters, such as cups and bunker Since at least the distance to the main target is calculated and displayed, the athlete can accurately and quickly measure the distance to the target.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the club selection time, thereby shortening the time required for one party to make a round and improving the efficiency. In addition, it is not necessary to accompany a caddy that is familiar with the layout of each hall, and labor costs can be reduced.

It is also preferable that information such as gender and handicap regarding the athlete is stored, and the optimum club is selected and recommended according to the calculation result of the distance to the cup and the information. Since the information is displayed, the club selection time can be further shortened and accurate club selection can be performed.

Still more preferably, a shot operation key which is operated each time the ball is hit is provided corresponding to one or more players, and score calculation is performed in response to the operation on the shot operation key. Therefore, it is possible to save the troublesome calculation of scores and to quickly perform totaling in a competition or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a guide device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a terminal device 2 that constitutes the guide device 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a guidance display example of a course on the terminal 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a course display operation in the terminal device 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another display example of a course on the terminal 2.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a typical prior art guidance method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Guide Device 2 Terminal Device 3 Host Device 5 IC Card 10 Processing Circuit 11 ROM 12 RAM 13 Operation Keys 14,33 GPS Receiver 15 Distance Measuring Machine 16,35 Display Device 22 FM Transceiver 31 Processing Device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing layout data of each hole on a golf course together with at least latitude and longitude geographical data, a selection means for selecting an arbitrary hole desired by a competitor, and a standard. From the storage means, measuring means for receiving signals from transmitters provided at a plurality of points, performing triangulation, and measuring the current position, and layout data and geographic data of the hole selected by the selecting means. Drawing means for creating a hole diagram to be read out by synthesizing the current position measured by the measuring means on the layout diagram, and the current position based on the geographical data of the main target object of the selected hole Calculation means for calculating at least the distance from the object to the target object, the hole diagram created by the drawing means, and the calculation result of the calculation means. Guiding device of a golf course, characterized in that it comprises a display means for displaying and. 2. The guide device in a golf course according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a positioning satellite that orbits the earth. 3. The guide device for a golf course according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is installed at a peripheral edge of the course and transmits the signal by an electromagnetic wave or a sound wave. 4. The storage means stores information about an athlete, and the calculation means selects an optimum club corresponding to at least the calculation result and the information and recommends it to the display means. It displays, The guide apparatus in the golf course in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. A shot operation key, which corresponds to each of one or more players and is operated each time a ball is hit, is provided, and the computing means is responsive to a key operation on the shot operation key, The score calculation is performed.
The guide device in the golf course according to any one of 1 to 3.