GPS SLOPE DETERMINATION
Disclosed are a device, computer program and method, for determining a range to a target, the device comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a controller; wherein the method comprises determining the device's geographic location based on coordinates from the GPS receiver and the device's elevation based on pressure and temperature data from the sensors; obtaining a location and elevation of a landmark based on GPS coordinates from a database; determining a distance between the device and the landmark using GPS coordinates; applying a slope compensation based on the difference in elevation between the device's elevation and the landmark; and converting the distance to a signal perceptible to a user.
1 . A device for determining elevations, the device comprising:
a controller and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions embodied thereon which, when executed by the controller, causes the controller to:
determine a first geographic location of the device;
obtain a reference elevation of the first geographic location;
determine the device's pressure elevation based on pressure and temperature values at the first geographic location;
compare the device's pressure elevation to the reference elevation; and
determine an elevation offset factor based on the difference between the device's pressure elevation and the reference elevation.
2 . The device according to claim 1 that is used to determine location and elevation information on a golf course.
3 . The device according to claim 2 wherein the first geographic location is at a tee box or a green.
4 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to
determine the device's geographic location at a second geographic location different from the first geographic location;
determine the device's pressure elevation based on pressure and temperature values at the second geographic location; and
apply the elevation offset factor to the pressure elevation to provide a corrected elevation at the second geographic location.
5 . The device according to claim 4 wherein the second geographic location is at a current lie of a golf ball on a golf course.
6 . The device of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to
obtain a landmark location and elevation;
determine a geographic distance between device's geographic location and the landmark's location;
determine a difference between the device's corrected elevation and the landmark's elevation; and
determine an elevation-corrected distance from the device's location and corrected elevation to the landmark's location and elevation.
7 . The device according to claim 6 wherein the landmark is selected from the group consisting of green fronts, green centers, backs of greens, flagsticks, pin positions, cups, green perimeters, hazards, bunkers, traps, water features, roughs, fairway boundaries and cart paths.
8 . The device according to claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to
determine shot information comprising a slope-compensated distance based on the landmark's location and elevation and the device's location and elevation at the second geographic location applied to a ballistic trajectory from the device's location and elevation toward the landmark; and
convert the shot information to a signal perceptible to a user.
9 . The device according to claim 8 wherein the shot information further comprises an elevation-compensating factor to the slope-compensated distance based on the effect of the device's elevation on ballistic flight of a golf ball.
10 . The device according to claim 8 wherein shot information further comprises a temperature-compensating factor to the slope-compensated distance based on the effect of a current temperature on ballistic flight of a golf ball.
11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions embodied thereon wherein the instructions, when executed by a controller of a device, causes the controller to:
determine a first geographic location of the device;
obtain a reference elevation of the first geographic location;
determine the device's pressure elevation based on pressure and temperature values at the first geographic location;
compare the device's pressure elevation to the reference elevation; and
determine an elevation offset factor based on the difference between the device's pressure elevation and the reference elevation.
12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the instructions further cause the controller to
determine the device's geographic location at a second geographic location different from the first geographic location;
determine the device's pressure elevation based on pressure and temperature values at the second geographic location; and
apply the elevation offset factor to the pressure elevation to provide a corrected elevation at the second geographic location.
13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the instructions further cause the controller to
obtain a landmark location and elevation;
determine a geographic distance between device's geographic location and the landmark's location;
determine a difference between the device's corrected elevation and the landmark's elevation; and
determine an elevation-corrected distance from the device's location and corrected elevation to the landmark's location and elevation.
14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the instructions further cause the controller to
determine shot information comprising a slope-compensated distance based on the landmark's location and elevation and the device's location and elevation at the second geographic location applied to a ballistic trajectory from the device's location and elevation toward the landmark; and
convert the shot information to a signal perceptible to a user.
15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the shot information further comprises
an elevation-compensating factor to the slope-compensated distance based on the effect of the device's elevation on ballistic flight of a golf ball; or
a temperature-compensating factor to the slope-compensated distance based on the effect of a current temperature on ballistic flight of a golf ball; or
the elevation compensating factor and the temperature-compensating factor.
16 . A method for determining elevations executed by a controller on a device, the method comprising the controller
determining a first geographic location of the device;
obtaining a reference elevation of the first geographic location;
determining the device's pressure elevation based on pressure and temperature values at the first geographic location;
comparing the device's pressure elevation to the reference elevation; and
determining an elevation offset factor based on the difference between the device's pressure elevation and the reference elevation.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising the controller
determining the device's geographic location at a second geographic location different from the first geographic location;
determining the device's pressure elevation based on pressure and temperature values at the second geographic location; and
applying the elevation offset factor to the pressure elevation to provide a corrected elevation at the second geographic location.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising the controller
obtaining a landmark location and elevation;
determining a geographic distance between device's geographic location and the landmark's location;
determining a difference between the device's corrected elevation and the landmark's elevation; and
determining an elevation-corrected distance from the device's location and corrected elevation to the landmark's location and elevation.
19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising the controller
determining shot information comprising a slope-compensated distance based on the landmark's location and elevation and the device's location and elevation at the second geographic location applied to a ballistic trajectory from the device's location and elevation toward the landmark; and
converting the shot information to a signal perceptible to a user.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the shot information further comprises
an elevation-compensating factor to the slope-compensated distance based on the effect of the device's elevation on ballistic flight of a golf ball; or
a temperature-compensating factor to the slope-compensated distance based on the effect of a current temperature on ballistic flight of a golf ball; or
the elevation compensating factor and the temperature-compensating factor.