Golf ball dispenser with embedded display device, separate front waterfall panel and/or blower assembly
A system includes: a golf range; targets on the golf range; a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, each including a receptacle, a passageway, a gateway, and a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser; at least one golf ball sensor; one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to track a golf ball in flight on the golf range, identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range, identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range.
1. A system comprising:
a golf range;
targets on the golf range;
a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, wherein each of the golf ball dispensers is a golf ball dispenser that is associated with a golf bay and comprises
a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls,
a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf ball dispenser with the receptacle,
a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle, the gateway being configured to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway, and
a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser;
at least one golf ball sensor;
one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to
track the golf ball in flight on the golf range,
identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range,
identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and
present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range;
wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises at least one outflow vent located so as to facilitate natural convection and release of heated air from within the golf ball dispenser; and
wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises a waterproof, breathable fabric that allows air to pass out of the at least one outflow vent but prevents water from passing through the at least one outflow vent and into an interior of the golf ball dispenser.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one golf ball sensor comprises a radar sensor.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one golf ball sensor comprises one or more stereo camera sensors.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one golf ball sensor comprises a combination of a radar sensor and an optical sensor.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more computers are configured to present golf shot statistics on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more computers are configured to present an animation showing the golf ball in flight on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more computers are configured to present the animation in a computer generated representation of the physical world, the computer generated representation being shown on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more computers are configured to present the animation in a computer generated representation of a virtual world, the computer generated representation being shown on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, and the virtual world corresponding to a game being played.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more computers are configured to present the animation in a virtual world using golf ball flight characteristics determined from sensor data of the golf ball's actual flight in the real world.
10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the animation is a simulated golf shot animation in a virtual golf game.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises:
a back door; and
a ramp positioned between the back door and the receptacle, wherein each of two sides of the ramp are bent upward.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises a hinge that couples the ramp with the back door, such that the ramp extends out a back of the golf ball dispenser when the back door is opened.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gateway comprises a screw inside a hopper underneath an opening in a bottom portion of the receptacle.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises a steel frame positioned around the opening and between the bottom portion of the receptacle and the hopper containing the screw.
15. A system comprising:
a golf range;
targets on the golf range;
a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, wherein each of the golf ball dispensers is a golf ball dispenser that is associated with a golf bay and comprises
a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls,
a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf ball dispenser with the receptacle,
a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle, the gateway being configured to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway, and
a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser;
at least one golf ball sensor;
one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to
track the golf ball in flight on the golf range,
identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range,
identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and
present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range;
wherein the at least one golf ball sensor is at least two golf ball sensors, the one or more computers are three or more computers, at least a first of the at least two golf ball sensors is connected or integrated with at least a first of the three or more computers to create a first discrete sensor system, at least a second of the at least two golf ball sensors is connected or integrated with at least a second of the three or more computers to create a second discrete sensor system, and at least a third of the three or more computers is configured to
coordinate discrete trajectory predictions received from the first discrete sensor system and the second discrete sensor system; and
make a final determination as to which of the golf bays and which of the golf ball dispensers is confirmed and reported as the origin for a specific golf ball being tracked.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least a third of the three or more computers is part of a computer system that manages golf games and sends the information for presentation on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being a simulated golf shot animation in a virtual golf game.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the three or more computers are configured to present a visualization on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, wherein the visualization shows the golf ball in flight on the golf range or on a golf course.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the three or more computers are configured to present a visualization on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, wherein the visualization shows the golf ball in flight in a game world registered with the golf range.
19. A system comprising:
a golf range;
targets on the golf range;
a building including golf bays including golf ball dispensers, wherein each of the golf ball dispensers is a golf ball dispenser that is associated with a golf bay and comprises
a receptacle configured to hold multiple golf balls,
a passageway connecting an outlet of the golf ball dispenser with the receptacle,
a gateway coupled between the passageway and the receptacle, the gateway being configured to allow a golf ball to pass into the passageway, and
a display device embedded in the golf ball dispenser;
at least one golf ball sensor;
one or more computers communicatively coupled with the at least one golf ball sensor and the golf ball dispensers, the one or more computers being configured to
track the golf ball in flight on the golf range,
identify where the golf ball lands on the golf range,
identify the golf bay from which the golf ball was hit, and
present information, regarding the golf ball hit from the golf bay, on the display device of the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay, the information being in accordance with where the golf ball lands on the golf range;
wherein the golf ball dispenser associated with the golf bay comprises:
a first camera arranged to capture a full swing of a first golf club in the golf bay; and
a second camera arranged to capture a full swing of a second golf club in an adjacent golf bay.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises at least one outflow vent located so as to facilitate natural convection and release of heated air from within the golf ball dispenser.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises a waterproof, breathable fabric that allows air to pass out of the at least one outflow vent but prevents water from passing through the at least one outflow vent and into an interior of the golf ball dispenser.
22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the golf ball dispenser comprises a blower or fan configured and arranged to direct air at the display device.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the blower or fan is part of an assembly comprising a surface that is configured and arranged to shape the air into a curtain of air that passes between the display device and an impact resistant shield placed over the display device.