GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM USE FOR GOLF BALL TRACKING

• US 20100151955A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enfora Incorporated (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Enfora Incorporated (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Holden, Robert William
• Application Number:
  US12/337,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/199
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating a transmitter into an object, such as a golf ball, that becomes active upon the motion of the object. This transmitter sends a signal to a receiver that is configured to determine the location of the object. The receiver is the able to determine the location of the object and outputs the location to a display.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a object, wherein the object comprises a transmitter, wherein the transmitter becomes active for a short duration upon the motion of the object, and wherein the transmitter sends a signal during the period of time in which the object is in motion;

a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signal from the object, and wherein the receiver uses the signal from the object to determine the location of the object;

a display, wherein the position of the object is displayed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is powered through kinetic energy transferred to the object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is used to create a three-dimensional flight path of the object.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising creating a flight path of the object.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a golf ball.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises an inductively charged battery.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a Global Positioning System module.

9. A method, comprising:

moving an object that comprises a transmitter, wherein the transmitter becomes active upon the movement of the object;

tracking the object, wherein the tracking of the object is preformed by monitoring at least one signal transmitted by the transmitter; and

displaying information relating to the location of the object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the object is a golf ball.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the object further comprises a Global Positioning System module.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitter is powered by kinetic energy.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitter is power by an internal battery.

14. A system, comprising:

a position tracked object, wherein the object comprises a transmitter, power source, processor, motion sensor, and Global Positioning System (GPS) module, wherein the transmitter becomes active upon the motion of the object and remains active while the object is in motion, and wherein the transmitter transmits information from the GPS module;

a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signal from the position tracked object, and wherein the receiver uses the signal from the object to determine the location of the object;

a display, wherein the position of the object is displayed.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the power source is a battery.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the display is integrated into a GPS device that provides a relative direction and a distance of the position tracked object from the display.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is further capable of determining the location of the position tracked object based using the signal transmitted from the position tracked object.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the position tracked object is a golf ball.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein display is configured to display a flight path of the position tracked object.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.