Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Title of Invention: APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL
GOLF DRIVING RANGE SIMULATION
Technical Field
[11 The present invention relates to a virtual golf driving range
simulation apparatus and
method, and, more particularly, to a virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus and
method which sense a golf ball hit by a user and simulate the trajectory of
the ball so
that the user can practice a golf shot in a technical manner in a virtual
environment for
golf practice.
Background Art
[2] With the recent upsurge of the golfing population, a so-called screen
golf system,
which offers the same sense of reality that a golfer would feel playing a
round of golf
on a real golf course using a virtual golf simulation apparatus based on
virtual reality,
has gained popularity.
1131 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 so that the golfer feels as if they
were playing a
round of golf on a real golf course.
[4] The virtual golf simulation apparatus enables a user to play a round
of virtual golf so
that the user can improve his/her skill when playing a round of golf on a real
golf
course.
1151 However, golf is a hard sport in which it is necessary to take various
golf shots using
various golf clubs depending upon the distance to a hole cup. For this reason,
the user
must skillfully take almost all kinds of golf shots during a round of golf so
as to get a
good score. As long as the user is not a professional, however, some kinds of
golf shots
taken by the user may be poor, and the conventional virtual golf simulation
apparatus
is limited for the user to intensively practice his/her poor golf shots.
[6] This is because the conventional virtual golf simulation apparatus
realizes an image
regarding a virtual golf course on which a round of golf is played, and
therefore, it is
not possible to intensively practice only one or two golf shots.
1171 The user must practice a specific golf shot on a real golf driving
range so as to in-
tensively practice the golf shot. However, practice of the golf shot on the
real golf
driving range is too tiresome to stimulate the user's interest with the result
that im-
provement in golf skill of the user is very slow.
1181 Therefore, there is a high necessity for a new golf practice apparatus
concept that is
capable of enabling a specific golf shot, which is possible only on a real
golf driving
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range, to be intensively practiced through golf simulation based on virtual
reality and
providing various functions, which cannot be provided on the real golf driving
range,
to improve golf skill of a user based on golf simulation using various high-
technology
apparatuses and systems.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
191
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual golf
driving
range simulation apparatus and method that are capable of providing various
practice
modes for each kind of golf shot so that a user can intensively practice a
specific golf
shot through golf simulation based on virtual reality, realizing a virtual
environment
which cannot be experienced on a real golf driving range so that the user can
in-
tensively practice a golf shot that can be utilized in a real game with
interest, and
enabling the user to evaluate his/her golf shot through analysis based on the
simulation
result of the golf shot, thereby dramatically improving the user's golf skill.
Solution to Problem
[10] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and
other objects
can be accomplished by the provision of a virtual golf driving range
simulation
apparatus including a sensing device for sensing at least one of a golf club
and a ball
according to a golf swing performed by a user, an image processing device for
im-
plementing a virtual environment in which the user practices a specific golf
shot as an
image, a virtual environment control means for presetting a plurality of
practice modes
to intensively practice according to golf shot types and, when one of the
practice
modes is selected, realizing a virtual environment corresponding to the
selected
practice mode through the image processing device, and a simulation means for
simulating a trajectory of the ball based on the result sensed by the sensing
device in
the realized virtual environment.
[11] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a virtual
golf driving range simulation apparatus including a sensing device for sensing
at least
one of a golf club and a ball according to a golf swing performed by a user,
an image
processing device for implementing a virtual environment in which the user
practices a
specific golf shot as an image, a communication means for receiving data
regarding a
virtual golf course selected by the user from a server storing data regarding
a plurality
of virtual golf courses on which a round of virtual golf is played, a virtual
environment
control means for presetting a plurality of practice modes to intensively
practice
according to golf shot types and realizing a virtual environment in which a
golf shot
based on each of the practice modes can be taken at a position at which the
golf shot is
possible on a virtual golf course, and a simulation means for simulating a
trajectory of
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the ball based on the result sensed by the sensing device in the realized
virtual en-
vironment.
[12] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
virtual golf driving range simulation method including being selected to any
one from
among a plurality of practice modes to intensively practice each kind of golf
shot,
realizing a virtual environment corresponding to the selected practice mode so
that the
golf shot is taken based on the selected practice mode, sensing at least one
of a ball and
a golf club according to a golf shot taken by a user, and simulating a
trajectory of the
ball based on the sensed result in the realized virtual environment.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[13] The virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus and method
according to the
present invention have the effect of providing various practice modes for each
kind of
golf shot so that a user can intensively practice a specific golf shot through
golf
simulation based on virtual reality, realizing a virtual environment which
cannot be ex-
perienced on a real golf driving range so that the user can intensively
practice a golf
shot that can be utilized in a real game with interest, and enabling the user
to evaluate
his/her golf shot through analysis based on the simulation result of the golf
shot,
thereby dramatically improving the user's golf skill.
Brief Description of Drawings
[14] 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:
[15] FIG. 1 is a view showing the construction of a virtual golf driving
range simulation
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[16] FIG. 2 is a view showing the construction of a virtual golf driving
range simulation
apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[17] FIGS. 3 to 7 are views showing an example of a virtual environment
realized by the
virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus according to the present
invention; and
[18] FIGS. 8 to 10 are flow charts showing various embodiments of a virtual
golf driving
range simulation method according to the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[19] Now, exemplary embodiments of a virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus
and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[20] First, a virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus according to
an embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is
a block
diagram showing the construction of a virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus
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according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[21] As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus according to
the embodiment of the present invention may include a sensing device 10, a
database
20, an image processing device 30, an image output device 40, a club
recognition
device 50, and a controller M.
[22] Basically, the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus
according to the present
invention realizes a virtual environment for allowing a user to practice golf
on a golf
driving range and simulates a golf shot taken by the user so that the user can
evaluate
his/her golf shot.
[23] A golf driving range embodied by the present invention is a 'virtual
golf driving
range' on which a virtual environment that can be experienced on a real golf
driving
range is realized so that a user can practice a golf shot which is more
exciting, more
intensive, and more practically useful in a real game.
[24] The virtual environment regarding the virtual golf driving range is
realized by the
virtual environment control means 200 through the image processing device 30
using
data obtained from the database 20. In the virtual environment realized as
described
above, a golf club which a user uses to take a golf shot is recognized by the
club
recognition device 50. When the user takes a golf shot, the sensing device 10
senses
the golf shot taken by the user, and the simulation means 100 calculates a
trajectory of
the ball based on the sensed result and the recognized club information so
that the ball
is simulated in the realized virtual environment.
[25] The virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus according to the
present
invention and a conventional virtual golf simulation apparatus are similar to
each other
in terms of hardware but are different from each other in terms of software.
[26] That is, the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus according
to the present
invention realizes a virtual environment which provides contents for golf
practice. On
the other hand, the virtual golf simulation apparatus realizes a real golf
course (or a
golf course which is not really present but is imaginarily designed) as an
image based
on virtual reality (hereinafter, referred to as a 'virtual golf course') so
that a user can
play a round of virtual golf in the same manner as playing a round of golf on
a real golf
course in the virtual reality in which the virtual golf course is implemented
as an
image.
[27] Consequently, the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus
according to the
present invention may be implemented in a manner similar to a so-called screen
golf
system, in which the conventional virtual golf simulation apparatus is
implemented, in
terms of hardware, and therefore, the virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus
according to the present invention may be composed so that a hitting plate, on
which a
user performs a golf swing to hit a ball, and a screen disposed in front of
the hitting
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plate for displaying an image regarding a virtual golf driving range are
provided in a
space for golf practice having a predetermined size.
[28] Hereinafter, the respective components of the virtual golf driving
range simulation
apparatus according to the present invention to embody the above-mentioned
charac-
teristics will be described in more detail.
[29] The sensing device 10 senses the motion of a golf club and/or a ball
according to a
golf swing performed by a user.
[30] The sensing device 10 may be embodied in various forms. For example,
the sensing
device 10 may be implemented by an infrared sensor which emits infrared light,
receives an infrared light component reflected by a golf club head moved when
a user
hits a ball and the ball hit by the user, and analyzes the received infrared
light
component, a laser sensor which irradiates a laser, senses a laser component
blocked
by a golf club head moved when a user hits a ball and the ball hit by the
user, and
analyzes the sensed laser component, or an image sensor which collects images
regarding a ball hit by a user as the result of a golf swing and analyzes the
collected
images.
[31] Meanwhile, the database 20 stores all data necessary for virtual golf
driving range
simulation. Specifically, the database 20 stores data regarding a virtual golf
course im-
plemented by imaging a real golf course. Consequently, it is possible to
realize a
virtual environment in which a user can practice a golf shot based on a
practice mode
selected by the user on a virtual golf course selected by the user.
[32] Also, the database 20 may store personal information of users
registered in the
system or previously recorded information of the respective users.
[33] Meanwhile, the image processing device 30 processes and implements an
image
regarding a virtual environment in which a user can practice a specific golf
shot.
[34] That is, the virtual environment control means 200 sets a virtual
environment in
which a user can practice a specific golf shot based on a practice mode
selected by the
user, image-processes the set virtual environment through the image processing
device
30, and outputs the image-processed virtual environment through the image
output
device 40.
[35] The image processing device 30 may be implemented as a modulated part
for
performing an image processing function in an independent apparatus or may be
im-
plemented as an independent apparatus.
[36] The image output device 40 outputs the image information processed by
the image
processing device 30 to a screen. The image output device 40 may beimplemented
as a
display device or a projector for projecting an image onto a screen to display
the
image.
[37] The club recognition device 50 is provided to recognize a golf club
held by a user
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when the user stands on the hitting plate while holding the golf club to take
a golf shot.
[38] The club recognition device 50 may be embodied in various forms. For
example, the
club recognition device 50 may be implemented as a radio frequency
identification
(RFID) reader, which is configured so that, when a user stands on the hitting
plate in a
state in which an RFID tag containing information regarding a golf club is
attached to
the golf club, the RFID reader (club recognition device) installed near the
hitting plate
reads the RFID tag attached to the golf club held by the user for receiving
information
regarding the golf club to recognize the golf club.
[39] Also, the club recognition device 50 may be implemented as a barcode
reader for
reading a barcode or a quick response (QR) reader for reading a QR code. A
barcode
or a QR code containing information regarding a golf club is attached to the
golf club,
and the barcode reader or the QR reader installed near the hitting plate reads
the
barcode or the QR code to recognize the golf club.
[40] Also, the club recognition device 50 may be implemented as a camera
device. A
mark is formed at the golf club, and the camera acquires an image regarding
the golf
club and recognizes the mark regarding the golf club to recognize the golf
club.
[41] Information regarding the golf club recognized by the club recognition
device 50 and
the result sensed by the sensing device 10 are processed by the simulation
means 100.
The processed result may be used to more accurately calculate the trajectory
of the
ball, to determine whether the golf club is suitable for the practice mode
selected by
the user, or to recognize what kind of golf club is used by the user so that a
virtual en-
vironment is realized based on a position at which a golf shot can be taken
using the
golf club.
[42] Meanwhile, the controller M is a component for controlling the virtual
golf driving
range simulation apparatus. The controller M includes a simulation means 100
and a
virtual environment control means 200.
[43] The simulation means 100 simulates the trajectory of the ball based on
the result
sensed by the sensing device 10 in the realized virtual environment. That is,
the
simulation means 100 receives specific physical information of the ball based
on the
motion of the golf club and/or the ball sensed by the sensing device 10,
calculates the
trajectory of the ball based on the received information of the ball, and
simulates the
calculated trajectory of the ball in the realized virtual environment.
[44] The virtual environment control means 200 presets a plurality of
practice modes to
intensively practice each kind of golf shot and realizes a virtual environment
corre-
sponding to the selected practice mode through the image processing device 30
and the
image output device 40.
[45] The virtual environment control means 200 presets a plurality of
practice modes for
each kind of golf shot. For example, the virtual environment control means 200
presets
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a long game practice mode to intensively practice at least one golf shot
selected from
among a driver shot, a wood shot and an iron shot and a short game practice
mode to
intensively practice an approach shot and/or putting. The virtual environment
control
means 200 realizes a virtual environment in which a golf shot can be taken
based on
each practice mode.
[46] The driver shot (also referred to as a tee shot) is a shot taken using
a driver, which is
one of the golf clubs, the wood shot is a shot taken using a wood driver, such
as
number 3 wood or number 4 wood, and the iron shot is a shot taken using number
1
iron to number 9 iron.
[47] The approach shot includes a pitch shot and a chip shot. The pitch
shot is a shot taken
using a pitch wedge or a sand wedge in the vicinity of a green so that a ball
is located
on the green, and the chip shot is a shot taken in the vicinity of the green
so that the
ball approaches a hole cup.
[48] The putting is a shot taken using a putter on the green so that the
ball enters the hole
cup.
[49] Although the virtual environment control means 200 defines and sets
the practice
modes, such as the long game practice mode and the short game practice mode,
based
on kinds of golf shots as described above, the virtual environment control
means 200
may also define and set a driver practice mode to practice a driver shot, a
wood
practice mode to practice a wood shot, an iron practice mode to practice an
iron shot, a
pitch practice mode to practice a pitch shot, a chip practice mode to practice
a chip
shot, and putting practice mode to practice putting.
[50] Also, the virtual environment control means 200 may set a real game
practice mode
in which a golf shot practiced in a different practice mode is practiced on a
virtual hole
as in a real game or a mission execution mode in which a goal is achieved step
by step
with respect to some kinds of golf shots and may realize a virtual environment
based
on the set modes.
[51] The virtual environment control means 200 preferably includes a mode
setting means
210 for presetting a plurality of practice modes to intensively practice
according to golf
shot types and a mode realization means 220 for realizing a virtual
environment for
golf shot practice based on information preset by the mode setting means 210
with
respect to the respective practice modes through the image processing device
30.
[52] In particular, the virtual environment control means 200 realizes a
virtual en-
vironment in which a golf shot based on each practice mode is taken at a
specific
position at which the shot can be taken on a virtual golf course (a golf
course based on
virtual reality including regular 18 holes and configured so that a round of
virtual golf
can be played at the conventional virtual golf simulation apparatus).
[53] That is, the mode setting means 210 sets a specific position at which
a golf shot is
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taken based on a practice mode selected by a user or selected according to a
preset in-
formation in a virtual golf course selected by the user or selected according
to a preset
information, and the mode realization means 220 realizes a virtual environment
regarding a specific virtual golf course so that a golf shot can be practiced
based on the
selected practice mode at the specific position set by the mode setting means
210.
11541 For example, when a user plays a round of virtual golf on Pebble
Beach Golf Course
(a virtual golf course obtained by realizing Pebble Beach Golf Links located
at Pebble
Beach, California, USA as virtual reality) through the virtual golf simulation
apparatus,
a driver shot on hole number 1 may be out of bounds (OB). In order to
intensively
practice such a driver shot, therefore, the user may select a practice mode to
intensively
practice a driver shot through the virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus
according to the present invention, and may select hole number 1 of Pebble
Beach Golf
Course as a virtual environment. In this case, the mode setting means 210 of
the virtual
environment control means 200 may set a virtual environment corresponding to a
tee
shot position of hole number 1 of Pebble Beach Golf Course, and the mode
realization
means 220 may realize a virtual environment based on information preset by the
mode
setting means 210 through the image processing device so that a driver shot
can be
practiced at the tee shot position of hole number 1 of Pebble Beach Golf
Course.
11551 Also, when a user plays a round of virtual golf on Pine Valley Golf
Club (a virtual
golf course obtained by realizing Pine Valley Golf Club located at southern
New
Jersey, USA as virtual reality) through the virtual golf simulation apparatus,
an
approach shot on hole number 3 may fail. In order to intensively practice such
an
approach shot, therefore, the user may select a practice mode to intensively
practice an
approach shot through the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus
according to
the present invention, may select hole number 3 of Pine Valley Golf Club as a
virtual
environment, and may select a specific position of the selected hole number 3
of Pine
Valley Golf Club at which an approach shot is to be taken, thereby realizing a
virtual
environment regarding the vicinity of a green of hole number 3 of Pine Valley
Golf
Club so that the approach shot can be intensively practiced at the selected
position.
11561 Meanwhile, the virtual environment control means 200 may include a
shot analysis
means 230 for analyzing a golf shot in each practice mode and providing the
analysis
result.
11571 For example, when a user selects a practice mode for driver shot
practice, the shot
analysis means 230 analyzes not only a speed of a club head when the user
takes a
driver shot, a face angle at the time of impact, an impact position of the
club head, and
a swing path, but also statistics of slice, hook and a flight distance based
on the result
of a plurality of driver shots, and provides the analysis result.
11581 When the user selects a practice mode for pitch shot practice, the
shot analysis means
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230 analyzes not only an impact position of a club head, a trajectory angle,
and a flight
distance but also statistics of a green location rate and proximity to a hole
cup, and
provides the analysis result.
[59] That is, the shot analysis means 230 is characterized not by analyzing
a golf shot
based on general items but by analyzing a golf shot based on a practice mode
selected
by a user according to specific items referring to the golf shot and providing
the
analysis result.
[60] In terms of hardware, the mode setting means 210, the mode realization
means 220
and the shot analysis means 230 may be implemented as a single controller
configured
to perform the functions of the respective means or as a plurality of
controllers corre-
sponding to the respective means. In terms of software, the mode setting means
210,
the mode realization means 220 and the shot analysis means 230 may be
implemented
as a single program configured to perform the functions of the respective
means or as a
plurality of programs corresponding to the respective means.
[61] Hereinafter, a virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus
according to another
embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
2.
[62] As shown in FIG. 2, the virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus according to
this embodiment of the present invention may be connected to a server S via a
network.
[63] The server S includes a network connection means connected to a
plurality of virtual
golf driving range simulation apparatuses via a network. The network
connection
means may be connected to a user's personal computer or mobile terminal via a
network, such as wireless Internet.
[64] The server S may include an interface means for providing an interface
screen
regarding the user's personal computer or mobile terminal connected via the
network.
Also, the server S may include a storage means for storing data regarding a
plurality of
virtual golf courses.
[65] The virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus preferably
includes a commu-
nication means 60 connected to the server S via the network. Other components,
such
as a controller M, a sensing device 10, an image processing device 30, and a
club
recognition device 50, of the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus
are
identical to those of the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus
according to the
previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Consequently, a detailed description of
the
components of the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus according to
this em-
bodiment identical to those of the virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus
according to the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be omitted.
[66] Meanwhile, a database 20 of the virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus
according to this embodiment does not store data regarding a virtual golf
course for
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realizing a virtual environment for each practice mode. The server S is
configured to
store the data regarding the virtual golf courses.
[67] When a user selects any one from among a plurality of virtual golf
courses, therefore,
the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus receives data regarding
the selected
virtual golf course from the server S through the communication means 60 and
tem-
porarily stores the received data in the database 20.
[68] Also, the server S may provide a practice mode in which a golf shot
that a user needs
to practice, a golf course, or the degree of difficulty in mission is adjusted
using record
information regarding previous use of the virtual golf driving range
simulation
apparatus registered in the system upon providing virtual environment data for
each
practice mode.
[69] Hereinafter, an example of a virtual environment realized by the
virtual golf driving
range simulation apparatus according to the present invention will be
described with
reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.
[70] First, when the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus is
operated as shown
in FIG. 3, kinds of practice modes are displayed so that a user can select one
of the
practice modes.
[71] In an example shown in FIG. 3, a long game practice mode Ml, a short
game
practice mode M2, a real game practice mode M3, and a mission execution mode
M4
are displayed. The long game practice mode M1 is a practice mode set to
intensively
practice at least one golf shot selected from among a driver shot, a wood shot
and an
iron shot and to realize a virtual environment based thereon. The short game
practice
mode M2 is a practice mode set to intensively practice at least one golf shot
selected
from among a pitch shot, a chip shot and putting and to realize a virtual
environment
based thereon. The real game practice mode M3 is a practice mode set to
practice a
golf shot practiced in a different practice mode on a simple golf course
having about
three or four holes as in a real game and to realize a virtual environment
based thereon.
The mission execution mode M4 is a practice mode set to achieve a goal step by
step
with respect to some kinds of golf shots and to realize a virtual environment
based
thereon.
[72] After one of the practice modes is selected, a virtual place at which
a golf shot based
on the selected practice mode is taken, i.e. a virtual golf course, may be
selected. FIG.
4 shows an example of a screen displaying various virtual golf courses, one of
which is
selected.
[73] In an example shown in FIG. 4, a golf course and a specific hole of
the golf course
can be simultaneously selected. However, the present invention is not limited
thereto.
For example, a golf course may be selected first, and then a user may directly
select a
desired one from among 18 holes of the selected golf course.
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[74] On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows an example of a virtual environment
realized based
on the practice mode and the virtual golf course selected by the user.
Specifically, FIG.
shows that a user selects drive shot practice in the long game practice mode
M1 and
hole number 14 of High 1 Country Club (CC), which is a virtual golf course,
and a
virtual environment is realized based on the position of a tee box (TB) at
which a user
takes a driver shot with respect to a ball B on hole number 14 of High 1 CC.
[75] Consequently, it is possible for the user to intensively and
repeatedly practice a
driver shot at the position of the tee box on hole number 14 of High 1 CC.
[76] If the user selects iron shot practice, a virtual environment is
realized based on the
position of the selected virtual golf course at which an iron shot can be
taken. Since the
iron shot can be taken at any position remote from a green by a predetermined
distance, it is possible for the user to select the position at which an iron
shot is to be
taken (at this time, several positions may be displayed so that the user can
select one of
the positions) or to directly designate the position at which an iron shot is
to be taken
and practice the iron shot. Alternatively, a virtual environment may be
realized so that
the user does not directly select or designate a specific position but takes
an iron shot at
a predetermined position.
[77] Meanwhile, FIG. 6 shows that a user selects pitch shot practice in the
short game
practice mode and hole number 14 of High 1 CC, which is a virtual golf course,
and a
virtual environment is realized based on the position at which a user takes a
pitch shot
on hole number 14 of High 1 CC.
[78] That is, a virtual environment regarding a region in the vicinity of a
green of hole
number 14 of High 1 CC selected by the user is realized, and the user may
select a
specific position, such as a fairway F, rough R, and a bunker BK, in the
vicinity of a
green G and may hit the ball B at the selected position to repeatedly and
intensively
practice the pitch shot.
[79] At this time, the user may select hole number 14 of High 1 CC and may
take a pitch
shot at a predetermined position at which the pitch shot is to be taken.
Alternatively, a
virtual environment may be realized so that the user can directly select or
designate the
position at which the pitch shot is to be taken and can practice the pitch
shot at the
selected/designated position.
[80] FIG. 7 shows an example of the user directly selecting/designating the
position at
which a pitch shot is to be taken in the virtual environment shown in FIG. 6.
[81] As shown in FIG. 7, a 30 m section, a 60 m section, or a 90 m section
may be set in
the vicinity of the green G, and the position at which the user directly takes
a pitch shot
in the set section may be designated. Alternatively, one section may be
selected from
among a plurality of sections so that a predetermined position of the selected
section is
set as the position at which a pitch shot is to be taken.
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[82] FIG. 7 shows that the user directly designates an arbitrary position
in the vicinity of
the 60 m section and practices a pitch shot at the position.
[83] A rough R and bunker BK as well as a fairway may be present in the
vicinity of the
green G, and the user may select or designate pitch shot practice in the rough
R or the
bunker BK.
[84] A virtual ball B is formed at the position at which the pitch shot is
to be taken, and a
virtual environment is realized based on the position.
[85] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible for the user to
directly select or
designate the position of a pin P (a flag put in a hole cup), i.e. position of
the hole cup,
on the green G. Candidate positions, at which the pin P is to be located, on
the green G
are displayed, as shown in FIG. 7, so that the user can select one of the
positions. Al-
ternatively, it is possible for the user to directly designate an arbitrary
position on the
green G.
[86] When the user selects or designates the position of the pin P, a
virtual environment is
realized so that a new hole cup and a new pin P are created at the position,
and the user
may practice a golf shot to the selected or designated position of the pin P
as a target.
[87] Hereinafter, various embodiments of a virtual golf driving range
simulation method
according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8
to 10.
[88] First, a virtual golf driving range simulation method according to an
embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8.
[89] A user selects a practice mode from among a plurality of preset
practice modes to
practice according to golf shot types (51).
[90] Subsequently, the user selects a virtual golf course from among a
plurality of virtual
golf courses (S2). At this time, as the user selects the virtual golf course,
a specific
hole of the selected virtual golf course may be automatically selected.
Alternatively,
the user may select a virtual golf course and may select a specific hole from
among a
plurality of holes of the selected virtual golf course.
[91] When the selection of the practice mode and the virtual golf course is
completed, the
user may select or designate the position at which a golf shot is to be taken
based on
the selected practice mode on the selected virtual golf course (S3). Of
course, the user
may not select or designate the position at which a golf shot is to be taken
but a golf
shot may be taken based on the selected practice mode at a predetermined
position on
the selected virtual golf course.
[92] When the selection of the practice mode, the selection of the virtual
golf course, and
the selection or designation of the position at which a golf shot is to be
taken on the
selected virtual golf course are completed as described above, the controller
realizes a
virtual environment in which the user can take a golf shot at the selected or
designated
position (or the predetermined position) on the selected virtual golf course
(S4).
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[93] As the user takes the golf shot at the selected or designated position
on the selected
virtual golf course, the sensing device senses the motion of a golf club or a
ball, and
the controller calculates the trajectory of the ball based on the sensed
result so that
simulation can be performed in the realized virtual environment (S5).
[94] The club recognition device recognizes the golf club held by the user
when the user
stands on the hitting plate while holding the golf club to take a golf shot.
In a case in
which the recognized golf club is not suitable for golf shot practice based on
the
practice mode selected by the user, the controller may output video or audio
in-
formation informing the user that it is necessary to replace the golf club.
[95] For example, if the user selects a practice mode for driver shot
practice and stands on
the hitting plate while holding number 7 iron, the club recognition device
recognizes
the golf club held by the user, informs the user that the golf club held by
the user is not
suitable, and guides the user so that the user can practice a golf shot using
a driver.
[96] After the simulation is performed, the shot is analyzed based on the
simulation result,
and the controller provides the analysis result to the user (S6).
[97] Next, a virtual golf driving range simulation method according to
another em-
bodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9.
[98] A user selects a practice mode from among a plurality of preset
practice modes to
practice according to golf shot types (S10). For example, the long game
practice mode
or the short game practice mode as described above may be selected.
[99] At this time, the user selects a kind of golf shot that can be taken
in the selected
practice mode (S20). For example, in case of selecting the long game practice
mode, it
is possible to select a golf shot from among a driver shot, a wood shot, and
an iron
shot. Subsequently, the user selects a virtual golf course from among a
plurality of
virtual golf courses (S30).
[100] When the above-mentioned selection is completed, the controller
realizes a virtual
environment in which the user can take a golf shot at a predetermined position
at
which the selected golf shot can be taken or at a position selected or
designated by the
user so that the selected golf shot can be taken on the selected virtual golf
course
(S40).
[101] As the user takes the golf shot, simulation is performed in the
realized virtual en-
vironment (S50). Subsequently, the shot is analyzed based on the simulation
result, and
the analysis result is provided to the user (S60).
[102] The club recognition device may recognize the golf club held by the
user when the
user stands on the hitting plate while holding the golf club to take a golf
shot. In a case
in which the recognized golf club is not suitable for golf shot practice based
on the
practice mode selected by the user, the controller may output video or audio
in-
formation informing the user that it is necessary to replace the golf club.
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[103] In the following, a virtual golf driving range simulation method
according to a
further embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference
to FIG.
10.
[104] A user selects a practice mode from among a plurality of preset
practice modes to
practice according to golf shot types (S100).
[105] Subsequently, the user selects a virtual golf course on which a golf
shot is to be taken
(S200).
[106] Subsequently, a golf club used by the user is recognized by the club
recognition
device (S300).
[107] At this time, the controller realizes a virtual environment based on
the position at
which the user can take a golf shot using the golf club recognized by the club
recognition device on the virtual golf course selected by the user (S400).
That is, the
controller realizes a virtual environment in which the user can take a golf
shot at a pre-
determined position at which the user can take the golf shot using the
recognized golf
club or at a position selected or designated by the user so that the user can
take the golf
shot using the recognized golf club on the selected virtual golf course
(S400).
[108] For example, when the user selects the short game practice mode and
stands on the
hitting plate while holding a sand wedge, the club recognition device
recognizes that
the golf club to be used by the user is a sand wedge, and a virtual
environment is
realized based on a position at which the user can take a golf shot using the
sand
wedge (it may be a predetermined position, or the user may select or designate
a more
concrete position from an approximate position at which the user can take the
golf shot
using the sand wedge) on the selected virtual golf course.
[109] After the virtual environment is realized as described above, the
user takes a golf
shot, the sensing device senses the golf shot taken by the user, and the
controller
simulates the trajectory of a ball based on the sensed result (S500).
Subsequently, the
shot is analyzed based on the simulation result, and the analysis result is
provided to
the user (S600).
Mode for the Invention
[110] Various embodiments of a virtual golf driving range simulation
apparatus and
method have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.
Industrial Applicability
[111] In the virtual golf driving range simulation apparatus and method
according to the
present invention as described above, it is possible to provide various
practice modes
for each kind of golf shot so that a user can intensively practice a specific
golf shot
through golf simulation based on virtual reality, to realize a virtual
environment which
cannot be experienced on a real golf driving range so that the user can
intensively
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practice a golf shot that can be utilized in a real game with interest, and to
enable the
user to evaluate his/her golf shot through analysis based on the simulation
result of the
golf shot, thereby dramatically improving the user's golf skill. Consequently,
the
present invention can be widely used in industries related to the virtual golf
driving
range simulation apparatus and method.
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