Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080207357 | COMBINED RANGE AND TAG FINDER - A combined range and tag finder for determining distances to objects in an environment is described. Such a combined range and tag finder includes a system for determining distances to objects on a golf course and for finding golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls. In the case of one exemplary integrated device, the device has at least two receivers, one to receive an RFID signal from the golf ball, another to receive a signal for positioning of the device location. At least one processor is coupled to both the receivers and can determine at least a direction and/or distance of the device from an object on the golf course. Other embodiments of a combined range and tag finder are also described. | 08-28-2008 |
20090017944 | APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATING TO AUTOMATIC GOLF DATA COLLECTING AND RECORDING - In one exemplary embodiment, an integrated GPS device & RFID transceiver is used with passive RFID tagged golf balls and clubs and sequences of events and rules that enable accurate automatic golf data collection. Active tags may also be used in place of passive tags. | 01-15-2009 |
20090111602 | APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATING TO SEMI-AUTOMATIC GOLF DATA COLLECTING AND RECORDING - Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to golf data collecting and recording are described. In one embodiment an apparatus on a golf club includes an integrated reminder and a stroke cancellation system and is semi-automatic in that the recording of the stroke is directly in response to changing the state (e.g. activating) of a switch which indicates that the golfer has pressed a button on the golf club. The pressing of the button indicates that the golfer will or has taken a stroke with the golf club and that the stroke is to be recorded, optionally with the location of the stroke and an identifier of the club (e.g. 9 iron). | 04-30-2009 |
20090314423 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS RELATING TO FINDABLE BALLS - Golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls and methods for making such golf balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell, a core material and a tag having a diode which is coupled to an antenna which has at least a portion formed from an elastic conductive material, such as an elastic conductive ink. The core material may include a void for receiving at least part of the diode. Other golf balls are described and methods for making balls are also described. | 12-24-2009 |
20100293777 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES RELATING TO FINDABLE BALLS - Golf balls and methods and systems for manufacturing golf balls. In one exemplary embodiment, a portion of a golf ball comprises a core material having a void, a semiconductor component disposed at least partially in the void, and a filler material in the void and surrounding the semiconductor component, the filler material being placed in the void in a liquid state and occupying a first volume in the liquid state and the filler material transforming into a solid state which occupies substantially the first volume. Methods for manufacturing golf balls and fixtures and apparatuses for manufacturing golf balls are also described. | 11-25-2010 |
20100308105 | GOLF CLUB APPARATUSES AND METHODS - Apparatuses, methods and systems related to an improved golf data collecting and golf club notification system. The system reminds golfers when a club has been mistakenly left behind on the golf course and notifies the golfer when a golf club or clubs are in or out of the golf bag. The system can notify a golfer if a club or golf bag has been removed without authorization. In one preferred embodiment an apparatus that attaches to a golf club includes dual light sensors—one light sensor configured as a switch and one light sensor configured as a light meter. Algorithms make use of the light sensor data to determine whether a golf club is in or out of a golf bag. | 12-09-2010 |
20110316192 | APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATING TO FINDABLE GOLF BALLS - Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association. | 12-29-2011 |
20120139729 | GOLF CLUB APPARATUSES AND METHODS - Methods, apparatuses, machine readable non-transitory storage media, and systems which process measured light values in order to determine the status of a golf club relative to a golf club bag are described. In one embodiment, a system uses a floating threshold, which is between a running bright average and a running dark average, to determine whether to add a current light meter value to one or the other of these running averages. In another embodiment, a system resets or re-seeds the running averages so that re-seeded averages are used after exiting from a sleep state such as a dark sleep state. In another embodiment, a system uses light sensor information or other sensor information to determine when a club is in use. In another embodiment, an active golf ball tag includes a sensor (e.g. one or more impact sensors) to detect when a golf ball is hit and to cause an RF transmitter to transmit an RF signal to an RFID reader. | 06-07-2012 |
20120142443 | GOLF CLUB APPARATUSES AND METHODS - Methods, apparatuses, machine readable non-transitory storage media, and systems which process measured light values in order to determine the status of a golf club relative to a golf club bag are described. In one embodiment, a system uses a floating threshold, which is between a running bright average and a running dark average, to determine whether to add a current light meter value to one or the other of these running averages. In another embodiment, a system resets or re-seeds the running averages so that re-seeded averages are used after exiting from a sleep state such as a dark sleep state. In another embodiment, a system uses light sensor information or other sensor information to determine when a club is in use. Other embodiments are also described. | 06-07-2012 |
20120249330 | GOLF DATA RECORDER WITH INTEGRATED MISSING CLUB REMINDER AND THEFT PREVENTION SYSTEM - Apparatuses, methods and systems relating to at least one or more of golf club reminding and golf data collecting and recording. In one embodiment an apparatus on a golf club includes an integrated reminder and a stroke cancellation system and is semi-automatic in that the recording of the stroke is directly in response to changing the state (e.g. activating) of a switch which indicates that the golfer has pressed a button on the golf club. The pressing of the button indicates that the golfer will or has taken a stroke with the golf club and that the stroke is to be recorded, with the location of the stroke and an identifier of the club (e.g. 9 iron). The system may also be equipped with a missing club reminder and theft prevention function that notifies the golfer is a golf club has been left behind or if a club or golf bag has been removed without authorization. | 10-04-2012 |
20120313758 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ACTIVATING AND POWERING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS AND LABELS - Methods and apparatuses for activating and powering RFID labels and tags are described herein. A label is activated from an “off” mode in response to receiving an activating signal. The label may include an integrated circuit and one or more powering devices coupled to the IC. The one or more powering devices may include a rechargeable battery, a solar power device, a non-rechargeable battery, or any combination thereof In one embodiment, a power from at least one of the one or more powering devices is provided to the integrated circuit in response to receiving of the activating signal. | 12-13-2012 |
20130144411 | GOLF CLUB APPARATUSES AND METHODS - Methods and systems for managing golf clubs and for collecting golf data, such as golf strokes, are described. In one embodiment, a golf data collection system includes a golf accessory worn on the golfer's wrist, such as a watch, equipped with a GPS receiver, impact sensing and motion sensing means, and a transceiver to communicate with golf club tags (e.g. at 2.4 GHz such as Bluetooth). The golf accessory senses the motion of the golf club being swung by the golf and/or senses the impact of the golf club striking the golf ball. When swinging motion or impact is sensed the device uses the transceiver to communicate with golf club tags. The closest golf club (i.e. the club in the golfer's hand during the swing) is captured as the club used by the swing based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). Other embodiments are also described. | 06-06-2013 |
20140197951 | GOLF CLUB GRIP WITH USER NOTIFICATION AND TRACKING CAPABILITY - Methods and apparatuses related to golf club grips with attached or embedded RFID tags are described. In an embodiment, a RFID tag is attached to or embedded into a golf club grip and a RFID reader incorporated into a personal computing device may read or capture information associated with the RFID tag. The device may be configured to provide notifications to the golfer based on the captured information. | 07-17-2014 |
20140235364 | GOLF CLUB GRIP WITH RFID ASSEMBLY - Methods and apparatuses related to golf club grips with attached or embedded RFID tags are described. In an embodiment, a RFID tag is attached to or embedded into a golf club grip in a manner that does not compromise either the functionality or aesthetics of the grip. In an embodiment, the embedded or attached RFID tag is located in the butt-end of the grip, perpendicular to the shaft of the golf club. | 08-21-2014 |
20140329613 | GOLF DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM WITH RFID IN GOLF CLUB - A golf data collection system can use a near field communication system in a data processing application to record golf club identifiers and golf strokes, taken (with the identified club) at GPS identified positions. | 11-06-2014 |
20150020377 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS RELATING TO FINDABLE BALLS - Golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls and methods for making such golf balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell, a core material and a tag having a diode which is coupled to an antenna which has at least a portion formed from an elastic conductive material, such as an elastic conductive ink. The core material may include a void for receiving at least part of the diode. Other golf balls are described and methods for making balls are also described. | 01-22-2015 |