Smart golf receptacle system

• US 20110081978A1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philip A. Williams, Wilbert Q. Murdock
• Original Assignee: Philip A. Williams, Wilbert Q. Murdock
• Inventors: Murdock, Wilbert Quinc, Williams, Philip Alister
• Application Number:
  US12/799,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/745 using a holographic display
• 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 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 : Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• 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 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 : Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• 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 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 : Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/357 : for golf cups or holes, e.g. flags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/40 : Golf cups or holes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/405 : Cups with automatic ball ejector means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 : Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• 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 69/36 : for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 : using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• 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 69/3676 : for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3688 : Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 : characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 : using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 : Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 : by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 : involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 : involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 : using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 : involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 : for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 : Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 : Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 : Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 : according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 : Music games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 : Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/26 : involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A golf ball receptacle and optional directionality system that wirelessly integrates actual golf equipment and sports implements with a computer and the internet to allow players to practice and improve their golfing skills, play a competitive game with one or more players locally, or if desired engage players remotely located from one another to play a competitive real or simulated game of golf. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing techniques. The system includes smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing device, all containing circuits and contact or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, to thereby wirelessly communicate game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays player information and visually simulates and controls a golf game between players and standard golf clubs may be utilized with the golf ball receptacle system or retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such clubs into “smart clubs” for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information between players, generate and control visual imagery and or simulations and display player performance information.

Claims

1. A golf ball receptacle device, comprising:

(a) a receptacle having one or more open ends for receiving a golf ball;

(b) a transducer located in the receptacle at a location to be impacted by a golf ball entering the receptacle;

(c) a microprocessor connected to said transducer;

(c) a communications circuit connected with said microprocessor to transmit an electromagnetic signal upon the transducer being impacted by the golf ball.

(d) a ball ejector

2. The golf ball receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the communications circuit includes a wireless electromagnetic radio frequency signal transmitter and receiver.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said golf club microprocessor is further programmed such that upon transmission of data to said golf ball receptacle microprocessor, said data correlating to said number and magnitude of force of said strokes received by said golf ball is erased from said doff club microprocessor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said doff ball receptacle microprocessor is programmed to remain in a low power sleep mode prior to activation by said ball piezo sensor.

18. The system of claim 17, said inner core of said golf ball receptacle further including a centrally disposed compartment, wherein said microprocessor and power source are housed within said compartment and said piezo sensor of said golf ball receptacle and are disposed between said compartment and outer cover.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said receive and transmit device is selected from radio frequency coils, ultrasonic devices, audio devices, vibratory devices, and optical devices.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said power source of said receptacle is rechargeable and designed further to recharge said power of source housed within said receptacle.

3. A positioning and alignment device comprising:

a) a positioning object with a first transmitter and a first receiver or transmitting positioning signals to a target object when receiving alignment signals from the target object when the positioning object and the target object literally aligned in a communication path between the positioning object in the target object;

b) a second transmitter and a second receiver but for transmitting the alignment signals from the positioning object and for receiving the positioning signals at the target object, when the positioning object in the target object are aligned in the communications path between the positioning object at the target object; and

c) an indicator that indicates when the positioning object and the target are aligned as a positioning object is moved to a trajectory in the communications path between the positioning object and the target object and towards the target object.

4. The positioning and alignment device of claim 3, wherein the first transmitter is a laser or photodiode for generating laser light positioning signals and the second receiver is a photo-sensor for detecting the laser light positioning signals.

5. The positioning and alignment device of claim 4, wherein the display element is configured to generate light.

6. The positioning and alignment device of claim 4, further comprising a second optical configuration for filtering background light from the second receiver.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for detecting the positioning signals comprises a photo-detector device, wherein the photo-detector device is configured to selectively detect pulsed laser light.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising means to communicate when the trajectory of the source is laterally aligned with the target.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means to communicate comprises an infra-red light beam and a light display element.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for detecting the positioning signals is configured to detect the axial alignment of the object.

11. The positioning and alignment system of claim 3, monitoring the trajectory of an object along a path towards a target, the system comprising:

a) target unit for positioning near the target; and

b) a positioning unit for coupling to the source, wherein the positioning unit communicates a positioning signal to the target unit along the path and the target unit communicates an alignment signal to the positioning unit along the path when the positioning unit and the target unit are in alignment and, wherein the system monitors the direction of the source as it moves along the path towards the target, wherein the positioning unit is configured to illuminate light when the target unit communicates the alignment signal to the positioning unit.

12. The positioning and alignment system of claim 11, wherein the positioning unit comprises an optical transmitter for communicating with the target unit.

13. The positioning and alignment system of claim 11, wherein the target unit comprises a radio transmitter for communicating with the positioning unit.

14. Processing and alignment system of claim 11, wherein the positioning unit is configured to couple to a golfing putter in the target unit is configured to be positioned near a golf ball target, wherein the positioning alignment system monitors positioning and alignment of a golfer'"'"'s putting trajectory.

15. A system for monitoring the alignment of an object with a target, the system comprising means for providing a two-way communication path between the object and the target, the means for providing the two way communications comprising:

a) positioning unit for detachably coupling to the object, the positioning unit comprising a first transmitter, first receiver and an indicator; and

b) a target unit for positioning near or at the target, the target unit comprising a second transmitter, a second receiver, wherein the first transmitter, the first receiver, the second transmitter in the second receiver provides the two-way communication path between the object and the target for monitoring the alignment of an object and wherein the indicator provides an indication when the object is laterally moved in or out of the trajectory along the two-way communication path between positioning unit and the target unit.