Infra-red laser device and method for searching for lost item

• US 6,803,575 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lost ITEM Retreival Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lost ITEM Retreival Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: McLaughlin, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gabor, Otilia
• Application Number:
  US10/015,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.1, 340/540, 473/353
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• 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 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

An ordinary golf ball is cleaned and then treated with an emulsion depositing in the dimples a hologram having the capacity to reflect a pre-selected wavelength of laser-beam. If a player temporarily looses such ball, a hand-held unit directs an infra-red laser beam of said pre-selected wavelength, desirably one not absorbed by atmospheric moisture, such as 1310 nm. Said hand-held unit contains an analyzer evaluating the light reflected back to such analyzer and attributable to such laser beam of said pre-selected wave-length. By evaluating the intensity of such reflected light, the golfer can target the location of the temporarily lost ball. Upon approaching the lost ball the angle at which the unit would be held would be modified for focusing on the ball. Earphones, meters, or other diagnostic equipment can monitor the intensity of the light reflected back from such laser beam. Such hand held analyzer of reflected light involves an investment which is small enough that a golf club can include the rental of such a unit as a part of the rental for a golf cart. Preliminary estimates indicated that any country club failing to utilize the present invention will encounter greater losses from lost balls than those practicing the present invention, because the cost of periodically regenerating the hologram for a ball represent such a small fraction of the cost of a replacement ball.

Claims

1. A monitoring device useful in seeking to retrieve a lost item, said lost item having a hologram attributable to surface components selectively responsive to a laser beam having an explicit wavelength selected from the atmospheric-penetrative identifying group consisting of 880 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm, said monitoring device comprising:

a source of electric power;

means actuated by said electrical power for generating a laser beam having a wavelength matching the wavelength for which said components are selectively responsive;

receptor cells responsive to the feedback light from said laser beam;

amplifier means amplifying the electrical signal generated by said feedback when the laser beam scans a search zone possibly containing such temporarily lost item; and

indicating means alerting a searcher to the varying intensity of such feedback when the laser beam scans a search zone possibly containing such temporarily lost item.

2. The monitoring means of claim 1 in which the indicating means is an audio signal.

3. The monitoring means of claim 1 in which the laser beam has a wavelength of 1310 nm.

4. A method of seeking to retrieve an item that potentially might become temporarily lost which method comprises:

imparting to an outer surface of said item a hologram by depositing thereon components selectively responsive to a laser beam having an explicit wavelength selected from the atmospheric penetrating identifying group of wavelengths consisting of 880 nm, 1310 nm, and 1550 nm;

directing from a monitoring device controlled by the searcher and initially remote from said temporarily lots item a laser beam having the explicit wavelength corresponding to the wavelength for which said hologram is selectively responsive, said laser beam being directed into a search zone in which the temporarily lost item is believed to be, and said laser beam stimulating the reflection from such components of feedback light;

said monitoring device comprising receptor cells responsive to such feedback light, such receptor cells generating an electrical signal;

said monitoring device comprising amplifying means for amplifying such electric signal;

said monitoring device comprising indicating means actuated by such amplifying means for alerting the searcher to the varying intensity of such indicating means when the laser beam scans a search zone possibly containing such temporarily lost item.

5. The method of claim 4 for locating a temporarily lost item in which the hologram is responsive to a laser beam having a wavelength Identified as the atmospheric penetrating wavelength of 1310 nm.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the lost item is a launched experimental device.

7. The method of claim 4 in which the lost item is a golf ball.

8. A golf ball having a hologramized badge on its surface selectively responsive to a laser beam having an atmospheric-penetrating identifying wavelength selected from the group consisting of 880 nm, and 1550 nm.