US 5,438,518 AGranted

Player positioning and distance finding system

OwnerJoseph A. Bianco, Curtis A. Vock +1inventors

InventorsJoseph A. Bianco, Curtis A. Vock, John V. Bianco

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Abstract

The invention relates to a portable distance tracking system for use by a player on a playing field. The system includes a mobile interface unit that has a memory element, position interface electronics, a data processor, and a player interface. The memory element stores digitized map representations of playing fields. The position interface electronics receivers position indicative signals that are representative of a geographical location of the mobile unit from an external source. The data processor couples to the memory element and to the position interface electronics and correlates the geographical location to a field location of the mobile interface unit on the playing field. The processor also determines the distance from the mobile interface unit to a first landmark. The player interface is coupled to the data processor and communicates the distance between the mobile interface unit and the first landmark to the player. According to a preferred embodiment, the playing field is a golf course and the first landmark is a flag location at a select hole on the golf course.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A portable distance tracking system for use by a golfer on a golf course, wherein said golf course includes at least a first land mark, and wherein said system comprises at least one mobile interface unit including:

A. a memory element including means for storing digitized map representations of a plurality of golf courses;
B. position interface electronics including a first GPS receiver for receiving position indicative signals from a Global Positioning System satellite constellation located in orbit around the Earth, wherein said position indicative signals are representative of a geographical location of said mobile interface unit;
C. a data processor, coupled to said memory element and to said position interface electronics, and including means for processing said position indicative signals to determine said geographical location of said mobile interface unit, means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representations to automatically identify a particular golf course that a golfer has selected to play means for corresponding said geographical location of said mobile interface unit with said digitized map representation of said particular golf course to determine a field location of said mobile interface unit on said particular golf course, and means for determining a distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark;
and
D. a player interface, coupled to said data processor, and including means for communicating at least said distance between said mobile interface unit and said first landmark to said player.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/183,594Filed 19 Jan 1994
Granted: 1 Aug 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A63B 71/0619
Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities: displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially…
A63B 69/3605
For golf: golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
A63B 71/0622
Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills: visual, audio or…
G01C 22/004
Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers, using pedometers: for…