GOLF BALL LOCATOR

• US 20110207553A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley K. Hunt, Deron Reid, Dion J. Reid
• Original Assignee: Bradley K. Hunt, Deron Reid, Dion J. Reid
• Inventors: Reid, Deron, Reid, Dion J., Hunt, Bradley K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,500,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00223 Colour tone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values

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.

Claims

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.

2. The locator of claim 1 further comprising:

a global positioning system receiver; and

a network interface configured to receive geographic information system data;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

receive a global position for the ball locator from the global positioning system receiver;

calculate a global position of the ball based on the global position of the locator;

receive map data from the network interface; and

draw a map indicating the positions of the ball locator and the ball.

3. A method of preparing a golf ball for use with a locator, the method comprising the steps of:

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.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the applying the paint comprises applying the paint uniformly to the entire surface of the ball.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein applying the paint comprises applying the paint in a cross hairs pattern.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein applying the paint comprises applying the paint in a striped pattern.

7. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

before applying the paint, applying a base layer of a second paint, wherein the first paint and the second paint have a high contrast in radar reflectivity;

whereby the ball is provided with a high-contrast radar signature.

8. An improved golf ball, including a core golf ball having a prior art golf ball size and shape, and further comprising:

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.

9. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein the first region is highly reflective.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 wherein the second region is highly absorbent.

11. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein the highly-reflective paint is applied in cross hairs configuration.

12. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein the highly-reflective paint is applied in a striped configuration.

13. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein the first region is a radar absorbent paint.

14. The golf ball of claim 13 wherein the radar absorbent paint is a black iron ball paint.

15. The golf ball of claim 13 wherein the radar absorbent paint includes a crosshairs configuration.

16. The golf ball of claim 13 wherein the second region has a visually conspicuous color.

17. The golf ball of claim 13 wherein the second region is highly reflective.

18. The golf ball of claim 13 wherein the radar absorbent paint is applied to the ball in a striped pattern.

19. A golf ball comprising:

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.

20. A golf ball comprising:

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.