Opto-electric golf club swing sensing system having vertically offset sensors

A golf club swing sensing system for sensing a golf club head moving along a club head path and supplying the sensed information to a personal computer having a microprocessor, an input port, a monitor and a golf video game operable on the microprocessor, the sensing system comprising:

• a horizontal pad having a top side and a bottom side, the top side having an opening formed therein;
• a first array of light sources mounted on the pad in the opening beneath the top side;
• an first array of light detectors mounted on the pad in the opening beneath the top side adjacent the first array of light sources to detect light from the light source reflected off an underside of the club head as the head passes over the light source;
• a second array of light sources mounted on the pad beneath the top side by a second predetermined distance and spaced along the pad from the first array of light sources and the tee;
• a second array of light detectors mounted on the pad beneath the top side and adjacent the second array of light sources to detect light from the light sources of the second array reflected off the underside of the club head as the head passes over the second array of light sources;
• means coupled to the arrays of light detectors for converting the detected light to club head parameters;
• means coupled between the converting means and the personal computer for transmitting the club head parameters to the personal computer for input to the golf video game;
• a tee positioned along the club head path adjacent the first array;
• and
• the first predetermined distance that the first array of light sources mounted beneath the top side being greater than the second predetermined distance that the second array of light sources is mounted beneath the top side.

A golf club swing sensing system for sensing a golf club head moving along a club head path and supplying the sensed information to a personal computer having a microprocessor, an input port, a monitor and a golf video game operable on the microprocessor, the sensing system comprising:

• a horizontal pad having a top side and a bottom side, the top side having an opening formed therein;
• an array of light sources mounted on the pad in the opening beneath the top side;
• an array of light detectors mounted on the pad in the opening beneath the top side adjacent the array of light sources to detect light from the light source reflected off an underside of the club head as the head passes over the light source;
• means coupled to the array of light detectors for converting the detected light to a club head parameter;
• and
• means coupled between the converting means and the personal computer for transmitting the club head parameter to the personal computer for input to the golf video game;
• the array of light sources and array of light detectors being recessed in the pad a predetermined elevation from the top side thereof so that light from at least one of the sources is reflected to an adjacent detector when a club head is positioned over the source in contact with the top side of the pad and in which the arrays are positioned in groups comprising a detector and at least one source, each group being recessed within an opening sized to exclude ambient light when covered by the golf club head.

A golf club swing sensing system for sensing a golf club head moving along a club head path and supplying information about the club head to a personal computer operable under control of a golf video game, the golf club head attached at an end of a shaft and having a club face for impacting a golf ball, the sensing system comprising:

• a horizontal pad;
• a first array of sensors mounted on the pad to detect the head as the head passes over the first array of sensors, each sensor in the array generating a respective first sensor signal indicating a first club head position relative to the first array of sensors;
• a second array of sensors mounted on the pad to detect the head as the head passes over the second array of sensors, the second sensor array disposed a predetermined distance from the first sensor array along the club path, and wherein each sensor in the second array generates a respective second sensor signal indicating a second club head position relative to the second array of sensors;
• means for measuring elapsed time between the club head passing at least one sensor in the first array and at least one sensor in the second array;
• means for converting the elapsed time between the club head passing at least one sensor in the first array and at least one sensor in the second array to a club head velocity;
• means for converting the first sensor signals to an offset angle of the club face relative to a swing vector as the club head moves past the first array of sensors along the club path;
• means for classifying the offset angle as a hook, a slice, or a straight offset angle;
• a signal converter coupled to the first and second array of sensors for converting the club head velocity and swing classification to first and second club head parameters in a digital format for input to the golf video game and
• means for transmitting the first and second club head parameters to the personal computer for input to the golf video game.

A method of playing a simulated golf game operating on a personal computer under control of a video golf game, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a first club head position as a club head passes over a first array of sensors, the first array of sensors proximate to a tee location;
• generating a first club head position signal as the club head is detected by the first array of sensors, the first club head position signal including an electrical representation of a club face hook or slice angle as the club passes over the tee location;
• converting the first club head position signal to a first club head parameter including said club face hook or slice angle, the club head parameter in a digital format for input to the golf video game;
• and
• transmitting the first club head parameter to the personal computer whereby the video golf game is responsive thereto.