Systems and Methods for Locating Arrows

• US 20170261295A1
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryan Emrich
• Original Assignee: Breadcrumb LLC
• Inventors: Emrich, Bryan, Daoura, Daniel Jabre, Pearson-Franks, Nicholas Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2220/13 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 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/362 Arrows or darts F42B12/38 takes precedence, having means for implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54; arrows or darts in general F42B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/382 emitting an electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser beam or infrared emission
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/00 Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00

Abstract

In one aspect, an example system includes an arrow nock configured to couple to an arrow, a transmitter coupled to the arrow nock, and a controller. The controller is configured to (i) determine that the arrow has been shot from a bow and (ii) responsive to determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow, cause the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal at a variable rate that varies based on an amount of time elapsed since determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a computing system, that an arrow has been shot from a bow, wherein the arrow comprises a transmitter; and

responsive to determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow, causing, by the computing system, the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal at a variable rate that varies based on an amount of time elapsed since determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable rate is inversely related to the amount of elapsed time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the arrow further comprises an accelerometer or a shock sensor, and wherein determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow comprises determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow based on a signal output by the accelerometer or the shock sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing system comprises a controller coupled to the arrow and a remote computing device that is uncoupled to the arrow, wherein causing the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal comprises the controller causing the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the remote computing device, the transmitted beacon signal; and

displaying, via an interface of the remote computing device, an indication of a location of the arrow based on the received beacon signal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising performing a controller activation process to activate the controller, wherein the controller activation process comprises positioning the transmitter within a threshold distance from the remote computing device, and wherein the controller causing the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal occurs responsive to both (i) the controller being activated and (ii) determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the arrow further comprises a light source, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting a duty cycle of the light source based on the amount of elapsed time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the arrow further comprises a sound-emitting device, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting a duty cycle of the sound-emitting device based on the amount of elapsed time.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the arrow further comprises a light source, and wherein the method further comprises activating, by the controller, the light source based on a proximity of the remote computing device to the arrow.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the arrow further comprises a light source, and wherein the method further comprises activating, by the controller, the light source based on an input received via the interface of the remote computing device.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the arrow further comprises a sound-emitting device, and wherein the method further comprises activating, by the controller, the sound-emitting device based on a proximity of the remote computing device to the arrow.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the arrow further comprises a sound-emitting device, and wherein the method further comprises activating, by the controller, the sound-emitting device based on an input received via the interface of the remote computing device.

12. A system for use in connection with an arrow, the system comprising:

an arrow nock configured to couple to the arrow;

a transmitter coupled to the arrow nock; and

a controller configured to (i) determine that the arrow has been shot from a bow and (ii) responsive to determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow, cause the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal at a variable rate that varies based on an amount of time elapsed since determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the variable rate is inversely related to the amount of elapsed time.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising an accelerometer or a shock sensor, wherein the controller determines that the arrow has been shot from the bow based on a signal output by the accelerometer or the shock sensor.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a computing device that is remote from the arrow nock, wherein the remote computing device is configured to (i) receive the transmitted beacon signal and (ii) display, via an interface of the remote computing device, an indication of a location of the arrow based on the received beacon signal.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a light source or a sound-emitting device coupled to the arrow nock, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the at least one light source or sound-emitting device responsive to determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a light source or a sound-emitting device coupled to the arrow nock, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a duty cycle of the at least one light source or sound-emitting device based on the amount of elapsed time after determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a light source or a sound-emitting device coupled to the arrow nock, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the at least one light source or sound-emitting device based on a proximity of the remote computing device to the arrow nock.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one of a light source or a sound-emitting device coupled to the arrow nock, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the at least one light source or sound-emitting device based on an input received via the interface of the remote computing device.

20. A system for use in connection with an arrow, the system comprising:

an arrow nock configured to couple to the arrow;

a transmitter coupled to the arrow nock; and

a controller configured to (i) determine that the arrow has been shot from a bow and (ii) responsive to determining that the arrow has been shot from the bow, cause the transmitter to transmit a beacon signal at a variable rate, wherein the variable rate is a first rate at a first time, wherein the variable rate is a second rate at a second time, and wherein the second rate is less than the first rate and the second time is later than the first time.