System for locating golf balls

• US 6,620,057 B1
• Filed: 04/15/1999
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flite Traxx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flite Traxx, Inc.
• Inventors: Pierce, Thomas R., Imblum, Raymond, Pirritano, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US09/293,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 473/353, 342/51, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• 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 29/021 Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• 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 3/38 using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity characteristic of an antenna or an antenna system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that antenna or antenna system, e.g. to give a maximum or minimum signal G01S3/16, G01S3/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/20 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for locating lost golf balls which includes a golf ball that incorporates an array of passive transponders and a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter/receiver capable of energizing the passive transponder array and of detecting a signal emitted by the array. Each passive transponder functions as a tuned LC circuit that is charged by the RF transponder/receiver and emits an RF signal, detectable by the RF transmitter/receiver, for a finite period of time after the RF transmitter/receiver is turned off.

Claims

1. A locator apparatus comprising:

a retrievable object including a passive transponder device formed by a plurality of loop transponders oriented at an angle of 90 degrees to each other;

said transponder device being configured to resonate at a selected radio frequency and to emit a radio frequency return signal upon being illuminated by a source RF signal at said selected frequency;

an active RF transmitter/receiver including a circuit for illuminating said passive transponder with an RF signal at said selected frequency to excite said passive transponder and including a circuit for detecting said emitted return signal and further including a helical antenna for transmission of said selected source signal and detection of said return signal; and

at least one indicator included within said RF transmitter/receiver, responsive to said return signal, to communicate a perceptible signal to a user.

2. The locator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said passive transponder is in the form of a discontinuous loop which includes a capacitance gap and is constructed of a lamination of an insulative material and a metal foil conductor.

3. The locator apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said metal foil conductor is copper.

4. The locator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a portable housing houses said transmitter, receiver, antenna and indicator.

5. The locator apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said capacitance gap is laser trimmed to achieve a preselected resonance frequency.

6. The locator apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said passive transponder is configured to resonate at substantially 2.45 ghz for substantially 800 nanoseconds after said illuminating source RF signal is turned off.

7. The locator apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said retrievable object is a golf ball.

8. The locator apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said indicator is responsive to said return signal to communicate an audio signal to a user.

9. The locator apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said indicator is responsive to said return signal to communicate a visual signal to a user.

10. The locator apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said RF transmitter/receiver is hand held.

11. The locator apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said RF transmitter/receiver is battery operated.