# US 8,540,583 B2 · System for tracking a golf ball and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,583 B2 - Document ID: US8540583B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/341,442 - Filed: 2011-12-30 - Published: 2013-07-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-30 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: Nicholas A. Leech - Inventors: Nicholas A. Leech - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540583B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/3608: {Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining (A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence)} - A63B 24/0021: {Tracking a path or terminating locations} - A63B 37/0072: {with a specified number of layers} - A63B 43/008: {with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours (illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06)} - A63B 43/06: with illuminating devices {; with reflective surfaces} - A63B 69/36: for golf - A63B 71/0619: {Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills} - G01S 17/74: Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe - G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging - G02B 27/017: {Head mounted} - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - G06F 3/0304: {Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042)} - G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors - A63B 2024/0025: {Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game} - A63B 2024/0028: {Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch} - A63B 2024/0053: {for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball} - A63B 2071/0666: {worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses} - A63B 2220/12: Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS - A63B 2220/802: Ultra-sound sensors - A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors - A63B 2220/806: Video cameras - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2220/836: Sensors arranged on the body of the user - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B 2225/54: Transponders, e.g. RFID - G01S 13/89: for mapping or imaging - G02B 2027/0138: {comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera} - G02B 2027/014: {comprising information/image processing systems} - G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball is disclosed. The system may display an enhanced image of the golf ball on a display such that the enhanced image is imposed upon a user's real world view. Displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball may help a user view the trajectory of the golf ball and find the golf ball after the golf ball lands. The system may display an enhanced image of the golf ball on a heads-up display configured to be worn on a person's head such that the user may view the enhanced image while remaining hands-free. The enhanced image may enable a user to compare the golf ball's trajectory with an ideal trajectory. The system may display other information, such as launch and flight information about the ball, on the heads-up display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an image, comprising: a golf ball tracking system for tracking the location of a golf ball; and a display device associated with the golf ball tracking system, the display device being configured to be worn on a user's head and including a display system configured to use the tracked location of the golf ball to display an enhanced image of the golf ball imposed upon the user's real world view. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the golf ball tracking system includes: a golf ball including a signal emitter; and a signal receiver disposed on the display device and configured to receive a signal emitted by the signal emitter, the signal receiver being coupled to the processor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the display device includes one of eyeglasses, a helmet, and a visor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display system associated with the display device, the display system configured to display enhanced images imposed upon the user's real world view. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, wherein the enhanced images are transparent. ### Claim 7 A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an image, comprising: a display device configured to be worn on a person's head; a camera associated with the display device, the camera configured to capture and record images of the user's real world view; a golf ball tracking system configured to track the location of a golf ball; at least one processor configured to control at least one of the camera, the golf ball tracking system, and the display system; and wherein the display device includes a display system configured to display an enhanced image of a golf ball captured by the camera imposed upon the user's real world view. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the display device includes one of eyeglasses, a helmet, and a visor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, further comprising a display system disposed adjacent a lens of the display device, the display system configured to display enhanced images imposed upon the user's real world view. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the golf ball tracking system includes a golf ball sensor configured to detect a golf ball, wherein the processor is configured to process information provided by the golf ball sensor to determine the location of the golf ball. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, further comprising a golf ball having a signal emitter, wherein the golf ball sensor is configured to detect the golf ball by detecting signals emitted from the signal emitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, further comprising a user tracking system configured to track the location of the user, the user tracking system being disposed on the display device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to use information relayed by the user tracking system to determine the distance between the user and a landmark. ### Claim 14 A method of tracking a golf ball and displaying an image, comprising: capturing and recording images from a user's viewpoint; transmitting the recorded images to a processor; tracking the location of a golf ball disposed within a viewer's line of sight; and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball imposed upon the user's real world view, wherein the enhanced image is displayed on a display device configured to be worn on a user's head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the enhanced image of the golf ball includes a comet tail disposed over at least a portion of the golf ball's trajectory. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the enhanced image of the golf ball includes an image of the golf ball in which the golf ball has been brightened and/or enlarged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further including displaying launch information of the golf ball on the display device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein tracking the location of the golf ball includes emitting a signal from a signal emitter disposed within the golf ball and processing the signal to determine the location of the golf ball. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising tracking the location of the user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further comprising displaying the distance between the location of the user and a landmark on the display device.