Self-recording golf ball, golf ball cup, and reading device system

• US 6,884,180 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian S. Corzilius, Luis Perez
• Original Assignee: Brian S. Corzilius, Luis Perez
• Inventors: Perez, Luis, Corzilius, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US10/165,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 473151-155, 473/175, 473/176, 473/178, 473/180, 473/183, 473/190, 473/192, 473/198, 473/199, 473/200, 473/353
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• 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 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0088 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/357 for golf cups or holes, e.g. flags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/40 Golf cups or holes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

The present invention provides a self-recording golf ball having an inner core defined by an outer cover, said golf ball further comprising a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and housed within said inner core of said golf ball; wherein the microprocessor further is programmed to record data corresponding to strokes received by the ball and to transmit the data, via the receive and transmit device, to a second microprocessor.

Claims

1. A self-recording golf ball and cup system comprising:

a. a golf ball having an inner core surrounded by an outer cover;

b. said golf ball having a microprocessor pre-programmed with identification information corresponding to said ball, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and housed within said inner core of said golf ball;

c. said microprocessor further pre-programmed (i) to record data corresponding to one stroke upon activation of said microprocessor by said piezo sensor, (ii) to record a magnitude of force of said one stroke, and (iii) to subsequently ignore signals transmitted by said piezo sensor after said one stroke is received by said ball for a period of time thereafter correlative to said magnitude of force of said one stroke;

d. said microprocessor further programmed to record subsequent stroke data upon activation by said piezo sensor until later activated to erase said subsequent stroke data; and

e. a golf ball cup for receiving said golf ball when said golf ball is struck therein, said cup having a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and mounted on or within said cup, such that when said ball strikes said cup piezo sensor upon entering said cup, said cup sensor activates said cup microprocessor, wherein said cup microprocessor is programmed to receive and record said data stored within said ball microprocessor and subsequently transmit, via said cup device, at least a portion of said data to a remote computer for display or storage therein.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said golf ball microprocessor is further programmed such that upon transmission of data to said cup microprocessor, said data correlating to said number and magnitude of force of said strokes received by said ball is erased from said ball microprocessor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said ball microprocessor is programmed to remain in a low power sleep mode prior to activation by said ball piezo sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, said inner core of said golf ball further including a centrally disposed compartment, wherein said microprocessor and power source of said golf ball are housed within said compartment and said piezo sensor and device of said golf ball are disposed between said compartment and said outer cover.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said receive and transmit device is selected from radio frequency coils, ultrasonic devices, audio devices, vibratory devices, and optical devices.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said receive and transmit device is a radio frequency coil.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote computer is operatively connected to a score terminal to display at least a portion of said data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said power source of said cup is rechargeable and designed further to recharge said power of source housed within said ball.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said ball microprocessor is pre-programmed with golf ball identification data and wherein said cup microprocessor is further programmed to receive and record said golf ball identification data and subsequently transmit, via said cup receive and transmit device, at least a portion of said golf ball identification data to a remote computer for display or storage therein.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said golf ball microprocessor is further programmed such that upon transmission of data to said cup microprocessor, said data correlating to said number and magnitude of force of said strokes received by said ball is erased from said ball microprocessor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said ball microprocessor is programmed to remain in a low power sleep mode prior to activation by said ball piezo sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said ball microprocessor is programmed to remain in a low power sleep mode prior to activation by said ball piezo sensor.