System for locating a golf ball

• US 6,524,199 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheryl Goldman
• Original Assignee: Cheryl Goldman
• Inventors: Goldman, Cheryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/768,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/353, 473/407, 473/409, 342/450, 342/451, 342/458, 342/463, 342/419, 342/352, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.12, 342/357.17, 340/539, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/207 Golf ball position marker holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/353 Golf ball position markers

Abstract

A system for locating a golf ball on a golf course by a golfer using a golf cart. The system includes a signal generator, a microchip, and an amplifier. The signal generator is connected to a portable computer on the golf cart and generates a first signal. The microchip is disposed in the golf ball and receives the first signal and generates a second signal in response thereto that is received by a base computer which triangulates the location of the golf ball off the locations of fixed objects on the golf course and generates a third signal in response thereto that is received by the portable computer which displays the location of the golf ball relative to the location of the golf cart already displayed. The amplifier is operatively connected to the portable computer and receives and amplifies the second signal that is to be received by the base computer.

Claims

1. A system for locating a golf ball on a golf course by a golfer using a golf cart, wherein the golf course has fixed objects with locations and a base computer that reads and triangulates the locations of the fixed objects via a GPS, wherein the golf cart has a location and a portable computer that is linked by radio communication to the base computer, wherein the golf cart is in communication with the GPS and has a display that displays the locations of the fixed objects from the base computer, and wherein the golf cart and the base computer are linked to the GPS to allow the base computer to determine the location of the golf cart relative to the locations of the fixed objects already determined and relay the location of the golf cart back to the portable computer that displays to the golfer on the display the location of the golf cart relative to the fixed objects already displayed thereon, said system comprising:

a) a signal generator for operatively connecting to the portable computer, and generating a first signal when activated;

b) a microchip disposed in the golf ball and receiving said first signal from said signal generator and generating a second signal in response thereto for receiving by the base computer which triangulates the location of the golf ball off the locations of the fixed objects and generates a third signal in response thereto for receiving by the portable computer which displays on the display thereof the location of the golf ball relative to the location of the golf cart already displayed on the display thereof so as to allow the golfer to locate the golf ball; and

c) an amplifier for operatively connecting to the base computer, and receiving and amplifying said second signal from said microchip for receiving by the base computer.