WIRELESS GOLF CLUB SHOT COUNT SYSTEM

• US 20120052971A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newlight Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blast Motion Incorporated
• Inventors: BENTLEY, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Wireless golf club shot count system configured to obtain spatial data from at least one sensor that is coupled with a microcontroller wherein the apparatus fits into a golf club handle or weight port or otherwise couples to a golf club. The apparatus may send a unique identifier and spatial data over a self-contained radio and antenna wirelessly to an external system that may analyze and display the spatial data in a user-friendly manner. The unique identifier and/or radio through use of non-interfering communications mechanisms allows for multiple clubs one or more players to be within range of a wireless receiver and not interfere. Adapters that may be specific to each golf club manufacture allow for coupling the apparatus to any type of golf club.

Claims

1. A wireless golf club shot count system comprising:

a golf club;

an identifier coupled with said golf club wherein said identifier is associated with a golf club number and wherein said identifier is passive and does not couple with a battery;

a mobile device comprising

a computer,

an input device configured to accept a user input,

a display configured to display information including said golf club number;

said mobile device further coupled with an identifier reader;

said computer programmed to obtain said identifier and query a golfer whether to increment a shot count.

2. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to accept an input to said input device to indicate that said shot count should be incremented for said golf club number.

3. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to accept an input to said input device to indicate that said shot count should not be incremented or should be decremented for said golf club number.

4. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises an accelerometer configured as said input device to accept an input from said golfer to increment of said shot count so that said golfer can respond to said query while wearing golf gloves.

5. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 4 wherein said input to increment said shot count comprises a first motion while said input to not increment said shot count comprises a second motion.

6. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID.

7. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID mounted on an end of said golf club.

8. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier is a passive RFID mounted on a shaft of said golf club.

9. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader configured to indicate proximity to said golf club with said golf club number when only one golf club is detected within a time threshold and query said user when said proximity is indicated.

10. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said identifier reader is an RFID reader configured to indicate proximity to said golf club with said golf club number through attenuation of an input signal to said RFID reader so that said RFID reader indicates only a closest golf club.

11. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further programmed to query said golfer when said golfer has moved over a threshold distance after detecting said golf club with said golf club number when only one golf club is detected within a time threshold.

12. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device further comprises a vibration component and wherein said computer is further programmed to assert said vibration component when said golfer has moved over a threshold distance after detecting said identifier.

13. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device further comprises a vibration component and wherein said computer is further programmed to assert said vibration component when said golfer has moved over a threshold distance after detecting said identifier with a power threshold that indicates close proximity to only one club.

14. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a position determination component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count.

15. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a position determination component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count and present said location on a map shown on said display of said mobile device.

16. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a GPS component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count.

17. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a GPS component configured to mark a location associated with said increment of said shot count and present said location on a map shown on said display of said mobile device.

18. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 wherein said golf club does not comprise a switch to increment a shot count.

19. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine when said golf club strikes a golf ball.

20. The wireless golf club shot count system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor configured to determine when said golf club strikes a golf ball via vibration analysis.