Arrow nock with remotely activated audio transducer

• US 10,317,180 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Russell, John Michael Watkins
• Original Assignee: Brian Russell, John Michael Watkins
• Inventors: Russell, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander R
• Application Number:
  US15/660,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20190033049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 473570, 473578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/362 Arrows or darts F42B12/38 takes precedence, having means for implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54; arrows or darts in general F42B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A tracking system for locating arrows used in bow-and-arrow hunting is disclosed. The tracking system comprises a hand-held transmitter operated by a user and a receiving module embedded in an arrow. A user may locate an arrow after shooting my activating the transmitter to emit an RF signal. The receiving module in the arrow receives the RF signal and emits a sound or illuminates a LED. The transmitter may be configured to locate specific arrows of a quiver by sending an individualized RF signal to which only a specific arrow receiving module is responsive.

Claims

1. An arrow nock assembly comprising:

a nock for an arrow, the nock having a bow string receiving portion and a nock internal cavity opposite from the bow string receiving portion; and

a receiving module coupled to the nock, the receiving module comprising;

a receiving antenna for receiving electromagnetic radiation;

a detection circuit coupled to the receiving antenna, the detection circuit analyzing the electromagnetic radiation to determine if an identification signal associated with the arrow was received;

a sound actuator coupled to the detection circuit, and,

a power source for energizing the receiving module,

wherein the receiving module is configured to be embedded in an arrow.

2. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1 further comprising a generally cylindrical locking portion coupled to the arrow nock assembly, wherein the locking portion is configured to couple with a shaft of the arrow.

3. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a microprocessor.

4. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a super-heterodyne receiver for use with amplitude-shifted keyed data.

5. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a Bluetooth receiving module.

6. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit further comprises an RFID device.

7. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a Light Emitting Diode.

8. The arrow nock assembly of claim 1, wherein the sound annunciator comprises a piezo-electric buzzer.

9. An arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in an arrow, the receiving module comprising:

an antenna for receiving electromagnetic radiation;

a detection circuit coupled to the antenna, the detection circuit analyzing the electromagnetic radiation to determine if an identification signal was received;

a sound actuator coupled to the detection circuit, the sound actuator generating sound when the identification signal was received; and

a power source for energizing the receiving module.

10. The arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in the arrow of claim 9, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a microprocessor.

11. The arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in the arrow of claim 9, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a super-heterodyne receiver for use with amplitude-shifted keyed data.

12. The arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in the arrow of claim 9, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a Bluetooth receiving module.

13. The arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in the arrow of claim 9, wherein the detection circuit further comprises an RFID device.

14. The arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in the arrow of claim 9, further comprising a Light Emitting Diode.

15. The arrow receiving module configured to be embedded in the arrow of claim 9, wherein the sound annunciator comprises a piezo-electric transducer.

16. An arrow having an arrow receiving module, the arrow comprising:

an arrow shaft having a distal and a proximal end;

a nock coupled to the proximal end of the arrow shaft;

the nock having a nock internal cavity; and

an arrow receiving module embedded within the arrow, the arrow receiving module comprising;

an antenna for receiving electromagnetic radiation;

a detection circuit coupled to the antenna, the detection circuit analyzing the electromagnetic radiation to determine if an identification signal was received;

a sound actuator coupled to the detection circuit, the sound actuator generating sound when the identification signal was received; and

,

a power source for energizing the receiving module.

17. The arrow having an arrow receiving module of claim 16, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a microprocessor.

18. The arrow having an arrow receiving module of claim 16, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a super-heterodyne receiver for use with amplitude-shifted keyed data.

19. The arrow having an arrow receiving module of claim 16, wherein the detection circuit further comprises a Bluetooth receiving module.

20. The arrow having an arrow receiving module of claim 16, wherein the detection circuit further comprises an RFID device.