Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Title of Invention: VIRTUAL GOLF SIMULATION APPARATUS
AND METHOD ALLOWING USER-DEFINITION OF GOLF
BALL
Technical Field
[1-1 The present invention relates to a virtual golf simulation apparatus
and method, and,
more particularly, to a virtual golf simulation apparatus and method wherein a
virtual
golf ball defined by a user is simulated by a user hitting a ball.
Background Art
[2] With the recent upsurge of the golfing population, a so-called screen
golf system has
gained popularity, which allows a golfer to practice golf and to enjoy a
virtual golf
game using a virtual golf simulation apparatus.
[31 The screen golf system senses the velocity and direction of a golf
ball that a golfer
hits onto a screen installed indoors for displaying a virtual golf range, and
displays the
progress of the golf ball on the screen.
[4] The screen golf system realized by the virtual golf simulation
apparatus character-
istically offers the same sense of reality that a golfer would feel in a real
golf course,
when the golfer hits a golf ball in the same manner as in a golf practice
range.
[51 It is necessary for the virtual golf simulation apparatus to provide
various contents
based on various kinds of advanced apparatuses and systems, which cannot be
provided by a real golf course or a golf practice range, thereby inducing
interest of
golfers, in addition to provision of the same sense of reality that a golfer
would feel
playing a round of golf on a real golf course.
[6] Also, screen golf based on virtual golf simulation, which is different
from a round of
golf on a real golf course, occupies an independent culture or an e-sport
field.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide various contents such that people
wishing to enjoy
such an independent culture can sufficiently enjoy their culture.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[71 Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
virtual golf simulation
apparatus and method that allow a user to directly define a virtual golf ball
to be hit by
the user in a simulation image provided by the virtual golf simulation
apparatus,
including a so-called screen golf system, thereby inducing much more user
interest
with the result that the user can play a round of virtual golf using his/her
own virtual
golf ball.
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Solution to Problem
[81 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and
other objects
can be accomplished by the provision of a virtual golf simulation apparatus to
perform
a golf simulation on a virtual golf course, including a simulation means to
perform golf
simulation with respect to the virtual golf course and a user on the virtual
golf course
and a golf ball setting means for allowing the user to define and set a
virtual golf ball
to be hit by the user during the golf simulation.
[91 The virtual golf simulation apparatus may further includes a database
to store in-
formation regarding a plurality of golf balls, at least one selected from
among the kind,
structure, shape, form, color, and size of which is different from each other,
wherein
the golf ball setting means may be configured to set a ball selected by the
user from
among balls stored in the database as a virtual golf ball to be used by the
corresponding
user.
[10] The golf ball setting means may include a tool means to display a tool
related to at
least one selected from among text and a picture to be formed on the ball, and
the golf
ball setting means may be configured to set a ball designed by the user using
the tool
means as a virtual golf ball to be used by the corresponding user.
[11] Also, the golf ball setting means may include an object display means
to display in-
formation regarding an object comprising at least one selected from among a
sound,
voice, and image to be inserted into the ball, and the golf ball setting means
may be
configured to set a ball, into which a specific object selected by the user
using the
object display means has been inserted, as a virtual golf ball to be used by
the corre-
sponding user.
[12] Also, the golf ball setting means may include an object definition
means for allowing
the user to define information regarding an object comprising at least one
selected
from among a sound, voice, and image to be inserted into the ball, and the
golf ball
setting means may be configured to set a ball, into which a specific object
defined by
the user using the object definition means has been inserted, as a virtual
golf ball to be
used by the corresponding user.
[13] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a virtual
golf simulation method to perform golf simulation on a virtual golf course,
including
performing user login, user-defining a virtual golf ball to be used by a
corresponding
user during the golf simulation, setting the defined virtual golf ball as a
golf ball to be
used during the golf simulation with respect to the corresponding user, and
performing
the golf simulation with respect to the corresponding user using the set
virtual golf
ball.
[14] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
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virtual golf simulation method using a virtual golf simulation apparatus
connected to a
server via a network, including a golf ball setting step including accessing
the server
through user login via a predetermined terminal device, user-defining a
virtual golf ball
to be used by a corresponding user, and setting the defined virtual golf ball
as a golf
ball to be used during golf simulation with respect to the corresponding user,
and a
virtual golf simulation step including accessing the virtual golf simulation
apparatus
through login of the corresponding user, receiving information regarding the
virtual
golf ball set at the golf ball setting step through the server, and performing
the golf
simulation with respect to the corresponding user using the set virtual golf
ball.
[15] The virtual golf simulation step may include applying physical
properties of the
virtual golf ball defined and set by the corresponding user during the golf
simulation
with respect to the corresponding user in a simulation result.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[16] In the virtual golf simulation apparatus and method according to the
present
invention, it is possible for a user to directly define a virtual golf ball to
be hit by the
user in a simulation image provided by the virtual golf simulation apparatus,
including
a so-called screen golf system, thereby inducing much more user interest with
the
result that the user can play a round of virtual golf using his/her own
virtual golf ball.
Brief Description of Drawings
[17] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the
present invention
will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken
in con-
junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[18] FIG. 1 is a view showing a screen golf system to which a virtual golf
simulation
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied;
[19] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the construction of the
virtual golf
simulation apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[20] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the construction of a
virtual golf
simulation system including the virtual golf simulation apparatus according to
the em-
bodiment of the present invention;
[21] FIGs. 4 and 5 are views showing an example of an interface screen for
setting a golf
ball in the virtual golf simulation apparatus according to the embodiment of
the present
invention or in the system including the virtual golf simulation apparatus;
[22] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a text tool box in FIG. 5.
[23] FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a simulation image provided by
the virtual
golf simulation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention; and
[24] FIGs. 8 and 9 are divided from a flow chart showing a virtual golf
simulation method
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
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Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[25] Now, exemplary embodiments of a virtual golf simulation apparatus and
method
according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference
to the ac-
companying drawings.
[26] A virtual golf simulation apparatus according to the present invention
and a virtual
golf simulation system including the same include all components for allowing
a user
to define and use a virtual golf ball to be used in golf simulation.
[27] In a virtual golf simulation apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it
is possible for a
user to directly define a golf ball. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, user terminals
(for
example, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant
(PDA), a
smart phone, etc.) may be connected to a server via so that it is possible to
define a
virtual golf ball in the server. In this case, data regarding a user-defined
golf ball may
be transmitted and executed via a network when a golf game is played through
the
virtual golf simulation apparatus.
[28] First, a virtual golf simulation apparatus and a system including the
same will be
described in brief with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[29] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a virtual golf simulation apparatus
according to an em-
bodiment of the present invention may include a sensing device 50, a
manipulation
means 60, a simulator GS, and an image output unit 40.
[30] The image output unit 40 may be provided in the form of a beam
projector which
outputs an image to a screen 100 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, an
apparatus to
directly display an image through a large-sized screen may be used as the
image output
unit 40.
[31] The simulator GS, provided at one side of a golf booth, is a device to
store and
process all data necessary for virtual golf simulation. The simulator GS may
include an
image processing unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a controller M.
[32] The virtual golf simulation apparatus is an apparatus that senses a
golf ball 1, placed
on a golf mat 20, hit by a user P on a hitting box 10, provided at the floor
of the golf
booth, using the sensing device 50 and outputs a simulation image obtained
from the
sensed results to the screen using the image output device 40.
[33] At this time, an image of a virtual golf course 110 is output to the
screen 100. A
virtual golf ball 101 moves according to the trajectory of the simulated golf
ball in a
virtual golf course 110 on the screen 100 based on results obtained by sensing
the golf
ball 1 hit by the user using the sensing device 50.
[34] The storage unit 32 is provided to store various kinds of information
and data
regarding the virtual golf simulation apparatus and image data necessary to
realize
images of a golf course.
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[35] The image processing unit 31 is provided to process all images related
to virtual golf
simulation, such as images of a virtual golf course, images showing movement
of a
golf ball, and images for menu selection, stored in the storage unit 32. Image
data
processed by the image processing unit 31 are transmitted to the image output
unit 40,
which outputs an image like the screen 100 shown in FIG. 1.
[36] The controller M is provided to perform various kinds of calculation
for virtual golf
simulation and control of components.
[37] The simulator GS is provided with a data transmission unit, which
communicates
with the server S via a network, such as the Internet (both wireless Internet
and wired
Internet are included).
[38] Although not clearly shown in FIG. 1, the sensing device 50 (see FIG.
2) may be
constituted by infrared light transmitting and receiving sensors installed at
the hitting
box 10 side or by a camera sensor installed at the ceiling or the wall. Other
kinds of
sensing means may also be used.
[39] FIG. 3 shows an example of a virtual golf simulation system including
the virtual
golf simulation apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention. As
shown in FIG. 3, the virtual golf simulation system is configured so that a
plurality of
golf simulators GS is connected to the server S via a network, such as the
Internet.
[40] Various user terminals may be connected to the network so that users
can access the
server S through respective user terminals to receive desired information.
[41] As shown in FIG. 3, on the other hand, the server S may include
components for
allowing users to define a virtual golf ball. The users may access the server
S through
their user terminals and execute various means for allowing the users to
define virtual
golf balls to be used in golf simulation.
[42] As shown in FIG. 3, the server S includes a central processing unit
200, a database
300, and a golf ball setting means 400.
[43] The database 300 stores data related to various kinds of information
provided
through connection of the user terminals and data related to various kinds of
in-
formation provided through connection of the respective simulators GS. Also,
the
database 300 stores various data related to user definition of a virtual golf
ball.
[44] That is, the database 300 may include a system information storage
unit 310 to store
various data related to driving of the system, a user information storage unit
320 to
store information regarding users registered in the system, and a data storage
unit 330
to store all data regarding setting of a virtual golf ball.
[45] Here, the respective storage units 310, 320 and 330 may be provided as
individual
storage devices or as partial physical spaces in a single storage device.
[46] Meanwhile, the golf ball setting means 400 includes a means to define
the kind,
structure, shape, form, color, and size of a virtual golf ball from various
data necessary
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to set a virtual golf ball stored in the data storage unit 330 of the database
300, to form
specific text or a specific picture on the virtual golf ball, or to insert an
object, such as
a specific sound, voice and image, into the virtual golf ball.
[47] That is, the golf ball setting means 400 includes an interface 410 to
display in-
formation regarding a plurality of golf balls, at least one selected from
among the kind,
structure, shape, form, color, and size of which is different from each other,
stored in
the database 300 and to allow a user to select one of the golf balls.
[48] Also, the golf ball setting means 400 may include a tool means 420 to
display a tool
corresponding to at least one selected from among text and a picture to be
formed on a
golf ball. In addition, the golf ball setting means 400 may include an object
display
means 430 to display information regarding an object including at least one
selected
from among a sound, voice, and image to be inserted into a golf ball.
Furthermore, the
golf ball setting means 400 may include an object definition means 440 for
allowing a
user to define information regarding to an object including at least one
selected from
among a sound, voice, and image to be inserted into a golf ball.
[49] The golf ball setting means 400 may include one or more selected from
among the
interface 410, the tool means 420, the object display means 430, and the
object
definition means 440. Of course, the golf ball setting means 400 may include
the
interface 410, the tool means 420, the object display means 430, and the
object
definition means 440 in whole.
[50] Meanwhile, when a user sets a virtual golf ball using the golf ball
setting means 400
and performs golf simulation using the set virtual golf ball through the
virtual golf
simulation apparatus, the simulator GS (see FIG. 2) may apply physical
properties of
the set virtual golf ball to perform simulation.
[51] For example, a ball flight distance may be further increased, spin may
be further
increased, and accuracy may be further improved as the result of golf
simulation
depending upon what kind of golf ball is selected.
[52] Real golf balls may be configured to have various structures, such as
a one piece
structure, a two piece structure, a three piece structure, and a four piece
structure. Also,
physical properties of the golf balls may differ based on the structures of
the golf balls.
When a two piece golf ball is selected as a virtual golf ball through the golf
ball setting
means and when a four piece golf ball is selected as a virtual golf ball
through the golf
ball setting means, different simulation results may occur although the same
user hits
the golf ball through the same swing. This is because the simulator applies
different
physical properties to the two piece golf ball and the four piece golf ball
during
simulation.
[53] Also, the number and shape of dimples formed on a golf ball, the size
of the golf ball,
and the shape of the golf ball may affect physical properties of the golf
ball. Different
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physical properties are applied depending upon how the user sets the dimples
with
respect to the virtual golf ball with the result that different simulation
results may be
obtained.
[54] That is, the simulator constructs a database related to physical
properties of golf balls
of various kinds, structures, and shapes and applies the constructed database
in a
simulation result so that the virtual golf simulation can more closely
approximate real
golf, thereby further improving reality and accuracy of the virtual golf
simulation.
[55] Hereinafter, an example of user definition of a virtual golf ball
through the golf ball
setting means in the virtual golf simulation apparatus according to the
embodiment of
the present invention or in the system including the virtual golf simulation
apparatus
will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[56] As shown in FIG. 4, an interface screen 70 for golf ball setting
includes a golf ball
display unit 71 to display various golf balls stored in the database and a
setting menu
display unit 72 to display a golf ball setting menu. The interface screen 70
is preferably
configured to provide a preview screen so that a user can preview a virtual
golf ball
selected or defined by the user.
[57] The setting menu display unit 72 displays various setting items to
define a virtual
golf ball. In an example shown in FIG. 4, an item regarding 'definition of a
ball', an
item regarding 'definition of ball design', and an item regarding 'insertion
of an object'
are displayed.
[58] The item regarding definition of the ball may include sub-items
regarding the
structure, kind, shape, form, color, and size of a ball. Here, various kinds
of golf balls,
such as a one piece ball, a two piece ball, a three piece ball, and a four
piece ball, are
included based on the structure thereof. These golf balls are displayed
through the golf
ball display unit 71.
[59] The kind of the ball may include the brand-based kind of a golf ball.
Various balls,
such as a baseball, a football, a basket ball, and a billiard ball, may be
included based
on the kind thereof.
[60] The shape of the ball may include various shapes, such as a spherical
shape, a rugby
ball shape, and an egg shape. The form of the ball may include various forms
related to
dimples formed at a golf ball. The color of the ball is defined by a user so
that a golf
ball is painted with the defined color.
[61] In the item regarding definition of the ball design, on the other
hand, a tool means to
express text or a picture to be formed on a virtual golf ball is executed.
That is, when a
text tool is selected in the item regarding definition of ball design as shown
in FIG. 5, a
text tool box 73 is displayed(more detailed view of the text tool box shown in
FIG. 6).
A text input window 74 is displayed at one side of the interface screen 70 so
that a user
can input desired text.
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[62] The input text is displayed on the virtual golf ball. As shown in
FIGs. 5 and 6, it can
be seen that the text input in the text input window 74 is displayed on the
surface of the
golf ball in a preview window.
[63] Although not shown in the drawing, a picture tool box is displayed,
when a picture
tool is selected, so that a user can draw a desired picture on the virtual
golf ball.
[64] In the item regarding insertion of the object, on the other hand, the
object display
means 430 (see FIG. 3) or the object definition means 440 (see FIG. 3) for
allowing a
user to select or define an object to be inserted into a virtual golf ball is
executed.
[65] That is, the object display means displays various virtual golf balls,
in which prede-
termined objects stored in the database are inserted and allows a user to
select one of
the virtual golf balls, and the object definition means allows a user to
directly define an
object to be inserted into a virtual golf ball. That is, the object definition
means allows
the user to directly create an object or import an external object.
[66] In a case in which an object is inserted into a virtual golf ball, for
example in a case
in which a sound object, such as a fart sound or a thunder sound, is inserted
into a
virtual golf ball, the virtual golf ball may be simulated while making the
fart sound or
the thunder sound when a user hits a golf ball in the virtual golf simulation
apparatus.
[67] Also, in a case in which an image object regarding propulsion of a
rocket is inserted
into a virtual golf ball, the virtual golf ball may be simulated while
displaying an image
as if the golf ball were driven by rocket propulsion when a user hits a golf
ball in the
virtual golf simulation apparatus.
[68] Meanwhile, FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of an image screen in
which virtual
golf simulation is performed using the virtual golf ball set through the
interface screen
shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows a screen in which a virtual golf ball 101 is
putt on a
green G of a virtual golf course.
[69] In a main screen, the virtual golf ball 101 moves toward a hole cup H
in the green G.
At this time, the simulator displays a screen showing that a virtual golf ball
510 moves
toward the hole cup H as an enlarged image 500 at one side of the main screen
through
an enlarged image display means so that a user can view the virtual golf ball
510
defined by the user in more detail through the enlarged image 500.
[70] Hereinafter, a virtual golf simulation method according to an
embodiment of the
present invention will be described with reference to FIGs. 8 and 9. FIGs. 8
and 9 are
divided from a flow chart. "A", "B", "C" and "D" drawn in FIG. 8 are
correspondent to
the same alphabet in FIG. 9.
[71] As shown in FIGs. 8 and 9, a user accesses the system through user
login (S10), and
the golf ball setting means is executed (S20). If the golf ball setting means
is not
executed, another process may be performed (S21).
[72] The golf ball setting means may include at least one selected from
among an
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interface for definition of a ball, a tool means for definition of ball
design, and an
object display means and an object definition means for insertion of an
object. In FIGs.
8 and 9, all of these means are included.
[73] First, when a ball definition step is carried out (S30), the interface
for definition of a
ball may be executed, and the structure, kind, shape, form, color, and size of
the ball
may be defined in the interface screen (see FIG. 4). A plurality of balls,
with respect to
the above-mentioned features have been preset, may be displayed so that a user
can
select one of the balls, or the user may directly define the above-mentioned
features to
set a golf ball (S31).
[74] When a ball design definition step is carried out (S40), the tool
means for definition
of the ball design may be executed, and text and a picture to be formed on the
ball may
be defined in the interface screen (see FIGs. 5 and 6). A plurality of balls,
with respect
to specific text or a specific picture to be formed on the balls have been
preset, may be
displayed so that a user can select one of the balls, or the user may directly
define the
text or the picture using the tool means to set a golf ball (S41).
[75] When an object insertion step is carried out (S50), the object display
means for
insertion of the object may be executed, or the object definition means for
insertion of
the object may be executed. When the object display means is executed, objects
preset
as objects to be inserted into the ball may be displayed so that a user can
select one of
the objects to define a golf ball, and, when the object definition means is
executed, the
user may directly define an object to be inserted into a ball to define a golf
ball (S51).
[76] When setting of the golf ball is completed through the above-mentioned
processes
(S60), a virtual golf ball is set, and the set data are stored in the database
(S70).
[77] Consequently, the user may enjoy a round of golf on a virtual golf
course through the
virtual golf simulation apparatus using the set virtual golf ball (S80).
Mode for the Invention
[78] Various embodiments of a virtual golf simulation apparatus and method
have been
described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.
Industrial Applicability
[79] In the virtual golf simulation apparatus and method the according to
the present
invention as described above, it is possible for a user to directly define a
virtual golf
ball to be hit by the user in a simulation image provided by the virtual golf
simulation
apparatus, including a so-called screen golf system, thereby inducing much
more user
interest with the result that the user can play a round of virtual golf using
his/her own
virtual golf ball. Consequently, the present invention can be widely used in
industries
related to the virtual golf simulation apparatus and method.
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