Sports simulator

A golf simulator, comprising:

• a computer,
• a projector electrically connected to the computer;
• a housing having a tee area from which a golf ball can be accelerated;
• a screen attached to the housing and distanced from the tee area in the direction of motion of the golf ball for preventing the golf ball from passing beyond the screen, wherein the computer generates a first control signal representative of translational velocity and a second control signal representative of rotational velocity of the golf bal, and wherein the computer causes the projector to project a video image of the golf ball as it would have appeared, had it not encountered the screen, on the screen based on the first and second control signals;
• and
• means for generating a plurality of sensing signals in response to motion of the golf ball though the housing, the generating means comprising first and second arrays of motion sensors arranged in respective first and second planes within the housing, the planes being disposed between the tee area and the screen wherein the first and second array of motion sensors produce first and second sensing signals indicative of the position of the golf ball in the first and second planes respectively as the golf ball travels toward the screen and a third sensing signal indicative of the position of the golf ball in the second plane after the golf ball rebounds from the screen, wherein the computer uses the second and third sensing signals along with at least one rotational velocity data value selected from a plurality of rotational velocity data values stored in the computer to produce the second control signal representative of the rotational velocity of the golf ball.

A method for projecting a video image of a golf ball on a screen illustrating how the golf ball would have moved, had the golf ball not encountered the screen, comprising the steps of:

• accelerating the golf ball from a tee area toward the screen;
• sensing the passage of the golf ball through a first plane located between the tee area and the screen and generating a first signal in response thereto;
• sensing the passage of the golf ball through a second plane located between the first plane and the screen and generating a second signal in response thereto;
• computing, based on the first and second signals, the position and translational velocity of the golf ball as the golf ball struck the screen;
• sensing the passage of the golf ball through the second plane after the golf ball struck the screen and generating a third signal in response thereto;
• selecting at least one rotational velocity value form a plurality of rotational velocity values stored in a memory;
• computing the rotational velocity of the golf ball as the golf ball struck the screen using the second and third signals along with selected rotational velocity data values;
• and
• projecting a video image of the golf ball on the screen in accordance with the computed translational velocity and rotational velocity of the golf ball.

A sports simulator, comprising:

• a launching area for accelerating an object;
• a screen for displaying a projecting path of the accelerated object, which screen also prevents the object from travelling beyond said screen;
• a first sensor which detects the position of the object in a first plane interposed between the launching area and the screen, and which produces a first signal indicative thereof;
• a second sensor for detecting the location of the object in a second plane interposed between the launching area and the screen, said second sensor producing a second signal indicative of said location of the object in said second plane as the object travels from the launching area to the screen and said second sensor producing a third signal indicative of the location of the object in said second plane after the object has rebounded off of the screen;
• and
• a computer responsive to the first, second and third signals for determining translational velocity of the object using the first and second signals and for determining the rotational velocity of the object using the second and third signals along with at least one rotational velocity value selected from a plurality of rotational velocity values stored in the computer, wherein the computer uses the translational and rotational velocity to produce signals used to display the projected path of the object on the screen.

A method of projecting an image of an accelerated object on a screen illustrating the projecting path of the object, had the object not encountered the screen, comprising the steps of:

• accelerating the object from a launch area toward the screen;
• sensing the passage of the object through a first plane located between the launch area and the screen and generating a first signal in response thereto;
• sensing the passage of the object through a second plane located between the first plane and the screen and generating a second signal in response thereto;
• determining, based on the first and second signals, the position and translational velocity of the object as the object strikes the screen;
• sensing the passage of the object through the second plane after the golf ball has struck the screen and generating a third signal in response thereto;
• providing a plurality of rotational velocity data values selected to model the effects of rotation on the object;
• selecting at least one rotational velocity value from the plurality of rotational velocity values based at least in part on the second signal;
• determining the rotational velocity of the object at the time the object strikes the screen, based upon the second and third signals along with selected rotational velocity values;
• and
• projecting a video image of the object on the screen in accordance with the computer determined translational velocity and rotational velocity of the object.