GOLF CLUB APPARATUSES AND METHODS

• US 20100308105A1
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Original Assignee: Tag Golf LLC
• Inventors: Savarese, Chris, Marshall, Noel H. C., McGill, Susan, Gilliland, Kenneth P., Vickers, Marvin L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,624,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2055/402 Warning devices for indicating missing golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• 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 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1481 : with optical detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 : Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 : Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining whether a golf club has been removed from a golf bag, comprising:

a first light sensor which has an output;

a light pipe, the light pipe being configured to direct light toward the first light sensor; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the first light sensor, the RF transmitter being configured to transmit one or more signals indicating that a golf club has been removed from or replaced into a golf bag, the one or more signals being generated in response to a change of state of the first light sensor.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a second light sensor;

a battery;

an antenna; and

a logic circuit coupled to the battery and coupled to the antenna and coupled to the first light sensor and coupled to the second light sensor, the logic circuit being configured to cause the RF transmitter to transmit the one or more signals; and

wherein the light pipe is adapted to block light from a first direction and to allow light to enter the light pipe from a second direction.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the light pipe comprises:

an opaque portion, the opaque portion configured to block light from entering in the light pipe; and

a transparent or translucent portion coupled to the opaque portion, the transparent or translucent portion configured to allow light to enter the transparent or translucent portion.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 the opaque portion further comprising a reflective layer being disposed between the opaque portion and the transparent or translucent portion.

5. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the transparent or translucent portion allows light to enter from 360 degrees.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 the light pipe further comprises a light redirecting feature to direct light toward the first light sensor.

7. The apparatus as in claim 5 the light pipe further comprises a light redirecting feature to direct light toward the first light sensor, and the apparatus includes a diffusely reflective surface.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature is substantially parabolic.

9. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature is a countersink.

10. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature is filled with a material to direct the light toward the at least one sensor.

11. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the light redirecting feature further comprises a reflective surface.

12. A method of determining whether a golf club has been removed from a golf bag, comprising:

comparing one or more measurements of light intensity to a first stored value to provide a first comparison;

activating a processing system based on the first comparison of the one or more measurements of light intensity with the first stored value;

determining whether to change a status of the processing system based on a second comparison between the one or more measurements of light intensity and a plurality of second stored values; and

enabling a sleep mode when one or more light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

13. The method as in claim 12 wherein the processing system is a microcontroller and wherein activating the microcontroller is triggered by a change in the one or more measurements of light intensity.

14. The method as in claim 12 wherein the processing system is a microcontroller and wherein activating the microcontroller is triggered by an elapse of time.

15. The method as in claim 12 wherein the plurality of second stored values comprises a dark average and a light average.

16. The method as in claim 12 wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value, the processing system adds the one or more measurements to one of a plurality of a stored averages and the status does not change;

and wherein;

when the second comparison is greater than the first value, the processing system compares the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor with a second value;

wherein;

when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is greater than the second value, the status is changed, and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted; and

wherein;

when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is less than the second value, the status does not change.

17. The method as in claim 12 further comprising:

receiving light;

diffusing the light through a light pipe, the light pipe configured to diffuse light toward one or more light sensors, the one or more light sensors configured to receive the diffused light and to provide the one or more measurements of light intensity to the processing system.

18. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising executable instructions which when executed on a processing system cause said processing system to perform a method comprising:

comparing one or more measurements of light intensity to a first stored value to provide a first comparison;

activating a processing system based on the first comparison of the one or more measurements of light intensity with the first stored value;

determining whether to change a status of the processing system based on a second comparison between the one or more measurements of light intensity and a plurality of second stored values; and

enabling a sleep mode when one or more light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

19. The medium as in claim 18 wherein activating the processing system is triggered by a change in the one or more measurements of light intensity.

20. The medium as in claim 18 wherein activating the processing system is triggered by an elapse of time.

21. The medium as in claim 18 wherein the plurality of second stored values comprises a dark average and a light average.

22. The medium as in claim 18 wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value, the processing system adds the one or more measurements to one of a plurality of a stored averages and the status does not change;

and wherein;

when the second comparison is greater than the first value, the processing system compares the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor with a second value;

wherein;

when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is greater than the second value, the status is changed, and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted; and

wherein;

when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is less than the second value, the status does not change.

23. The medium as in claim 18 further comprising:

receiving light;

diffusing the light through a light pipe, the light pipe configured to diffuse light toward one or more light sensors, the one or more light sensors configured to receive the diffused light and to provide the one or more measurements of light intensity to the processing system.

24. A tag configured to be attached to a golf club, the tag comprising:

a first light sensor which has a first output;

a second light sensor which has a second output;

a processing system coupled to the first output and coupled to the second output;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the processing system, the RF transmitter being configured to transmit one or more signals indicating that a golf club has been removed from or replaced into a golf bag, the one or more signals being generated in response to signals from the second output; and

wherein the processing system is configured to be activated based on a comparison of one or more measurements of light, from the first light sensor, with a first stored value, and wherein the processing system is configured to determine whether to change a status of the processing system based on a comparison between one or more measurements of light intensity, from the second light sensor, and a plurality of second stored values, and wherein the processing system is configured to enter a sleep mode when the first and the second light sensors do not detect light for a period of time.

25. The tag as in claim 24 wherein the plurality of second stored values comprises a dark average and a light average.

26. The tag as in claim 25 wherein when the second comparison is smaller than a first value, the processing system adds the one or more measurements to one of a plurality of a stored averages and the status does not change;

and wherein;

when the second comparison is greater than the first value, the processing system compares the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor with a second value;

wherein;

when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is greater than the second value, the status is changed, and a golf club identifier and the status are transmitted; and

wherein;

when the one or more measurements of light intensity from the second light sensor is less than the second value, the status does not change.

27. The tag as in claim 26 further comprising:

a light pipe, the light pipe configured to diffuse light toward one or more light sensors, the one or more light sensors configured to receive the diffused light and to provide the one or more measurements of light intensity to the processing system.

28. A golf rangefinder apparatus comprising:

a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver configured to determine a position of the golf rangefinder;

a radio receiver configured to receive data from at least one tag mounted on a golf club;

an output device configured to present a message to a golfer that ambient light may be too low to rely on a golf club reminder system in the golf rangefinder;

a processing system coupled to the SPS receiver and to the radio receiver and to the output device, the processing system configured to cause the output device to present the message in response to a signal that indicates that the ambient light level is below a value.

29. The golf rangefinder apparatus as in claim 28 wherein the output device is at least one of (a) a display;

(b) a speaker; and

(c) a vibrator; and

wherein the value is predetermined and represents an ambient light level; and

wherein the signal is generated by a light sensor.

30. The golf rangefinder apparatus as in claim 29 further comprising:

the light sensor which is coupled to the processing system, the light sensor being integrated in a housing of the golf rangefinder.

31. The golf rangefinder apparatus as in claim 29 wherein the light sensor is on a remote device and wherein the signal is received wirelessly by the radio receiver.

32. A tag apparatus that is configured to be mounted to a golf club, the tag apparatus comprising:

a first light sensor which has a first output;

a processing system coupled to the first light sensor;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter coupled to the processing system, the RF transmitter being configured to transmit one or more signals indicating that a golf club has been removed from or replaced into a golf bag, the one or more signals being generated in response to a change detected by the first light sensor;

a first antenna resistively coupled to the RF transmitter;

a second antenna inductively coupled to the first antenna, the first antenna being in a first plane and the second antenna being in a second plane.

33. The tag as in claim 32 wherein the combination of the first antenna and the second antenna improves the transmitting distance of the RF transmitter and wherein the second antenna has a circular form and includes a gap in the circular form and wherein the first antenna is disposed under the second antenna.

34. The tag as in claim 32 wherein the first antenna is disposed under the second antenna and wherein the tag further comprises:

a light pipe having a lens, the light pipe being configured to direct light toward the first light sensor; and

wherein the light pipe is disposed between the first antenna and the second antenna.

35. The tag as in claim 34, the tag further comprising:

a second light sensor coupled to the processing system;

a battery coupled to the processing system; and

wherein the light pipe comprises a reflector.

36. The tag as in claim 35, wherein the first light sensor operates as a light switch to wake up the processing system and the second light sensor operates as a light meter to allow the processing system to determine whether the golf club has been removed from or replaced into a golf bag.

37. The tag as in claim 36, wherein measurements from the second light sensor are compared to a dark running average and a light running average.

38. A golf rangefinder apparatus comprising:

a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver configured to determine a position of the golf rangefinder;

a radio receiver configured to receive data from at least one tag mountable on a golf club;

a display;

a processing system coupled to the SPS receiver and to the radio receiver and to the display, the processing system being configured to store information for a new tag in a learn tag mode, wherein the processing system is configured, when in the learn tag mode, to request a user to confirm learning of the new tag by requesting the user to perform an action on the new tag or the golf club having the new tag.

39. The golf rangefinder as in claim 38 wherein the action comprises at least one of:

(a) placing a portion of the golf club having the new tag in a dark environment and then placing the portion in a lighted environment;

(b) placing the portion in a lighted environment and then placing the portion in a dark environment;

or (c) pressing a button coupled to the new tag on the golf club.

40. The golf rangefinder as in claim 39 wherein the processing system is configured to prompt the user to perform the action after the user has entered information about the golf club into the golf rangefinder and wherein the processing system is configured to accept a confirmation of learning of the new tag only if the user performs the action within a predetermined period of time.

41. The golf rangefinder as in claim 40 wherein the confirmation provides a secure learn mode to prevent other golfers from discovering information about golf club use during playing of a golf game.

42. A method to program data about a new tag into a golf rangefinder;

the method comprising;

placing a new tag into a dark environment;

placing the golf rangefinder into a learn tag mode;

exposing the new tag to a lighted environment;

entering information about the new tag into a golf rangefinder after exposing the new tag to the lighted environment;

performing an action on the new tag in response to a request from the golf rangefinder to perform the action in order to cause the golf rangefinder to confirm the learning of the information.

43. The method as in claim 42 wherein the action comprises placing the new tag, after the request, into a dark environment and then, within a predetermined period of time, placing the new tag in a lighted environment.

44. A method of operating a golf rangefinder, the method comprising:

receiving a command from a user to place the golf rangefinder into a learn tag mode;

receiving, at the golf rangefinder, an identifier from a new tag in response to the new tag being exposed to a lighted environment;

receiving, at the golf rangefinder, information about a golf club associated with the new tag after the new tag has been exposed to the light environment;

requesting the user to confirm learning, by the golf rangefinder, of the information by requesting the user to perform an action, within a period of time, on the new tag.

45. The method as in claim 44 wherein the action comprises placing the new tag, after the request, into a dark environment and then, within the period of time, placing the new tag into a lighted environment.

46. A method to operate a data collection system, the method comprising:

recording identifiers from tags into a database maintained by a golf club manufacturer;

distributing the tags with the golf clubs after recording the identifiers;

receiving, for each of the tags, information about the golf club attached to the tag, the information being received, through a data network, from a user of the golf club through a golf rangefinder device that received RF transmissions from the tag, and wherein the information is accumulated by the golf rangefinder as the user uses the golf club.

47. The method as in claim 46 wherein the golf club comprises a visual bar code that can be scanned, the bar code having an identifier that matches the identifier in the tag of the golf club.

48. The method as in claim 46 wherein the information comprises:

(a) a list of golf courses played using the golf club;

(b) how often the golf club was used over a period of time;

(c) how often the user plays golf.

49. A method implemented by a golf rangefinder, the method comprising:

determining locations of use of the golf rangefinder;

storing information about a golf club having a tag, the tag having an RF transmitter, the information including;

(a) number of uses of the golf club;

(b) the golf courses that the golf club was used at, the golf courses being determined from the locations of use;

(c) the dates of use of the golf club; and

wherein the information is stored in response to receipt of RF transmissions from the golf club;

transmitting the information to a data processing system for delivery to a manufacturer of the golf club or a distributor of golf clubs.