GOLF BALL LOCATOR
First Claim
1. A locator for locating a golf ball, the locator comprising:
- a radar transceiver;
a display;
a processor communicatively coupled to and configured to control the radar transceiver and the display; and
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having stored therein software instructions that when executed instruct the processor to;
send a radar pulse on the radar transceiver;
receive a radar return signal on the radar transceiver;
compare the radar return signal to a stored radar signature characteristic of the golf ball;
calculate a position of the ball; and
provide a display informing a user of the position of the ball.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for locating lost golf balls is described. In one embodiment, a plurality of small RFID chips are applied to or embedded in a ball. When the ball is to be located, a user uses a ball finder to receive RF signals from the RFID chips and locate the ball. The ball finder may have useful additional features such as overlaid maps to help and GIS data to help the user find the ball. In an alternative embodiment, a ball is prepared by applying a highly-reflective paint, such as a metallic paint, or a highly-absorbent paint such as a black iron ball paint, to create a characteristic radar signature for the ball. The ball finder may then be configured to locate the ball using the characteristic radar signature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A locator for locating a golf ball, the locator comprising:
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a radar transceiver; a display; a processor communicatively coupled to and configured to control the radar transceiver and the display; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having stored therein software instructions that when executed instruct the processor to; send a radar pulse on the radar transceiver; receive a radar return signal on the radar transceiver; compare the radar return signal to a stored radar signature characteristic of the golf ball; calculate a position of the ball; and provide a display informing a user of the position of the ball. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of preparing a golf ball for use with a locator, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a paint at regular intervals over the surface of the golf ball, the paint having a characteristic radar reflectivity; whereby the ball is provided with a characteristic radar signature. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An improved golf ball, including a core golf ball having a prior art golf ball size and shape, and further comprising:
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a coating divided into at least two regions; the first region having a first characteristic reflectivity; and the second region having a second characteristic reflectivity substantially different from the first characteristic reflectivity; whereby the golf ball is provided with a characteristic radar signature being a composite of the first region'"'"'s reflectivity and the second region'"'"'s reflectivity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A golf ball comprising:
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a golf ball core of standard size and shape; and a highly-reflective outer coating; whereby the golf ball is provided with a radar signature substantially stronger than a radar signature for an ordinary golf ball.
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20. A golf ball comprising:
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a golf ball core of standard size and shape; and a highly absorbent outer coating; whereby the golf ball is provided with a radar signature substantially weaker than a radar signature for an ordinary golf ball.
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Specification