Verification system and method having dual ball rejection

• US 10,463,923 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Luciano, Jr., Robert A., White, Warren R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US15/707,314
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2047/004 having means preventing bridge formation during dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 : Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 : electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 : Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/021 : for picking-up automatically, e.g. by apparatus moving over the playing surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/04 : for cleaning balls apparatus for cleaning balls, as accessories for bowling- or table alleys A63D5/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/0006 : Automatic teeing devices devices for automatically dispensing balls in general A63B47/002
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/40 : Golf cups or holes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/06 : Revolving targets ; Moving targets, e.g. moving or revolving on impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/02 : Special golf games, e.g. miniature golf or golf putting games played on putting tracks; putting practice apparatus having an elongated platform as a putting track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3655 : Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3661 : Mats for golf practice, e.g. mats having a simulated turf, a practice tee or a green area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3694 : for driving only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/10 : Recognition assisted with metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 : Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/38 : Ball games; Shooting apparatus

Abstract

A golf ball verification system and method is described. The illustrative golf ball verification system includes balls, bays and at least one target. Each of the balls includes a unique ID indicator. Additionally, each of the bays includes a ball dispenser, a first ball ID reader, a first diverter, and a first reject ball chute. The first ball ID reader identifies any of the balls having unreadable ID indicators. The first diverter selects any of the balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the first reject ball chute. Furthermore, each target includes a ball detector, a second ball ID reader, a second diverter, and a second reject ball chute. The second ball ID reader identifies any of the balls having unreadable ID indicators. The second diverter selects the balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the second reject ball chute.

Claims

1. A golf ball verification system comprising:

a plurality of balls, each ball including a unique ID indicator;

a plurality of bays, each bay including a ball dispenser, a first ball ID reader, a first diverter, and a first reject ball chute, the first ball ID reader identifying any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators, the first diverter selecting any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the first reject ball chute;

a ball collection module, the ball collection module including a third ball ID reader, a third diverter, and a third reject ball chute, the third ball ID reader identifying any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators, the third diverter selecting the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the third reject ball chute;

at least one target, in which each target includes a ball detector, a second ball ID reader, a second diverter, and a second reject ball chute, the second ball ID reader identifying any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators, the second diverter selecting the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the second reject ball chute;

a range collection module including a third ball ID reader, a third diverter, and a third reject ball chute;

a ball washing module including a fourth ID reader, a fourth diverter, and a fourth reject ball chute, the fourth ball ID reader identifying any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators, the fourth diverter selecting any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the fourth reject ball chute.

2. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 wherein the ball washing module includes a stationary ball washing module.

3. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 wherein the ball collection module includes a mobile range collection module.

4. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 wherein the third diverter included in the range collection module is configured to select readable balls for collection by the ball washing module.

5. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 further comprising an RFID reader associated with at least one of the first ID reader and the second ID reader.

6. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 wherein the first diverter is communicatively coupled to a tee controller so that when the first ball ID reader reads a ball, and the tee controller activates the first diverter.

7. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 wherein the second diverter is communicatively coupled to a target control unit so that when the second ball ID reader reads a ball, and the target control unit activates the second diverter.

8. The golf ball verification system of claim 1 wherein the third diverter is communicatively coupled to a collection control unit so that when the third ball ID reader reads a ball, the collection control unit activates the third diverter.

9. A golf ball verification method comprising:

determining, by a first ball reader located at a hitting bay, that one or more of the plurality of balls having unique ID indicators is unreadable;

selecting, by a first diverter located at a hitting bay, the one or more unreadable balls for collection by a first reject ball chute;

receiving, at a target, one or more of the plurality of balls having unique ID indicators struck from the hitting bay;

detecting, by a ball detector, one or more of the plurality of balls having unique ID indicators at the target;

determining, by a second ball reader located at the target, that one or more of the plurality of balls having unique ID indicators received at the target is unreadable;

selecting, by a second diverter located at the target, unreadable balls for collection by a second reject ball chute

collecting, by a ball collection module, a plurality of balls having unique ID indicators, wherein the ball collection module further comprises a range collection module and a ball washing module;

determining, by a third ball reader located at the ball collection module, that one or more of the plurality of collected balls having unique ID indicators is unreadable; and

selecting, by a third diverter located at the ball collection module, unreadable balls for collection by a first reject ball chute;

wherein the range collection module includes a third ball ID reader, a third diverter, and a third reject ball chute; and

wherein the ball washing module includes a fourth ID reader, a fourth diverter, and a fourth reject ball chute, the fourth ball ID reader identifying any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators, the fourth diverter selecting any of the plurality of balls having unreadable ID indicators for collection by the fourth reject ball chute.

10. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein the ball collection module includes a stationary ball washing module.

11. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein the ball collection module includes a mobile range collection module.

12. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein the third diverter included in the range collection module is configured to select readable balls for collection by the ball washing module.

13. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first ID reader and the second ID reader are associated with an RFID reader.

14. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein the first diverter is configured to be communicatively coupled to a tee controller so that when the first ball ID reader reads a ball, the tee controller activates the first diverter.

15. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein the second diverter is configured to be communicatively coupled to a target control unit so that when the second ball ID reader reads a ball, the target control unit activates the second diverter.

16. The golf ball verification method of claim 9 wherein the third diverter is configured to be communicatively coupled to a collection control unit so that when the third ball ID reader reads a ball, the collection control unit activates the third diverter.