Method and apparatus for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target
First Claim
1. An device for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target comprising:
- a simulated golfing green first target area having a hole-in-one aperture therein,a ball collector mounted under said aperture,a ball identification means cooperating with said ball collector for identifying uniquely identified game balls from non-uniquely identified golf balls and for transmitting identity information corresponding to each game ball of said game balls to a remote processing station for correlating the identity of a golfer with said identity information,a surveillance means cooperating with said first target area and surveying above said first target area so as to provide for remote monitoring of said first target area,a first signal means for signalling the golfer and a remote monitor when a uniquely identified game ball has entered said aperture,a first sensor means for detecting when a uniquely identified game ball lands in said first target area and for signalling the golfer and a remote monitor upon detection,wherein said ball identification means includes radio frequency identification transponders mountable into the uniquely identified game balls and corresponding radio frequency identification sensors mounted into cooperation with said ball collector,and wherein, said radio frequency identification sensors include a receiver antenna coil and wherein said radio frequency identification transponders are RFID tags having a sensitive axis whereby, when oriented perpendicular to a winding of said receiver antenna coil is readable by said receiver coil, and wherein said each tag has a non-sensitive axis of orientation where it is least sensitive corresponding to when a transmitting antenna coil of said each tag is in axial alignment with said receiver antenna coil, and wherein said ball identification means includes a curved conduit adapted so that a golf ball rolls through said receiver antenna coil along a curved path such that the ball changes its path direction by ninety degrees while rolling through said receiver antenna coil, said receiver antenna coil mounted adjacent said conduit corresponding to said curved path, and wherein said receiver antenna coil is formed into an ellipse and biased such that a coil-winding axis of said receiver antenna coil follows said curved path.
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Abstract
An apparatus for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target includes a simulated golfing green having one or multiple target area apertures therein. A ball collector is mounted under each aperture. A ball identification means cooperates with the ball collector for identifying uniquely identified game balls from non-uniquely identified golf balls and transmits identity information corresponding to each game ball of the game balls to a remote processing station for correlating the identity of a golfer with the identity information. A surveillance means cooperates with the first target area so as to provide for remote monitoring of the first target area. A first signal means is provided for signalling the golfer and a remote monitor when a uniquely identified game ball has entered the aperture. A first sensor means is provided for detecting when a uniquely identified game ball lands in the first target area and for signalling the golfer and a remote monitor upon such detection.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An device for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target comprising:
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a simulated golfing green first target area having a hole-in-one aperture therein, a ball collector mounted under said aperture, a ball identification means cooperating with said ball collector for identifying uniquely identified game balls from non-uniquely identified golf balls and for transmitting identity information corresponding to each game ball of said game balls to a remote processing station for correlating the identity of a golfer with said identity information, a surveillance means cooperating with said first target area and surveying above said first target area so as to provide for remote monitoring of said first target area, a first signal means for signalling the golfer and a remote monitor when a uniquely identified game ball has entered said aperture, a first sensor means for detecting when a uniquely identified game ball lands in said first target area and for signalling the golfer and a remote monitor upon detection, wherein said ball identification means includes radio frequency identification transponders mountable into the uniquely identified game balls and corresponding radio frequency identification sensors mounted into cooperation with said ball collector, and wherein, said radio frequency identification sensors include a receiver antenna coil and wherein said radio frequency identification transponders are RFID tags having a sensitive axis whereby, when oriented perpendicular to a winding of said receiver antenna coil is readable by said receiver coil, and wherein said each tag has a non-sensitive axis of orientation where it is least sensitive corresponding to when a transmitting antenna coil of said each tag is in axial alignment with said receiver antenna coil, and wherein said ball identification means includes a curved conduit adapted so that a golf ball rolls through said receiver antenna coil along a curved path such that the ball changes its path direction by ninety degrees while rolling through said receiver antenna coil, said receiver antenna coil mounted adjacent said conduit corresponding to said curved path, and wherein said receiver antenna coil is formed into an ellipse and biased such that a coil-winding axis of said receiver antenna coil follows said curved path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a simulated golfing green first target area having a hole-in-one aperture therein, (b) providing a ball collector mounted under said aperture and detecting golf balls entering the aperture, (c) providing a ball identification means cooperating with said ball collector and identifying uniquely identified game balls from non-uniquely identified golf balls and transmitting identity information corresponding to each game ball of said game balls to a remote processing station and correlating the identity of a golfer with said identity information, (d) providing a surveillance means surveying above said first target area and cooperating with said first target area for remotely monitoring said first target area, (e) providing a first signal means and signalling the golfer and a remote monitor when a uniquely identified game ball has entered said aperture, (f) providing a first sensor means and detecting by said first sensor means when a uniquely identified game ball lands in said first target area and signalling the golfer and a remote monitor upon said detection, (g) providing radio frequency identification transponders and mounting them into the uniquely identified game balls and providing corresponding radio frequency identification sensors mounted into cooperation with said ball collector and identifying the game balls by radio frequency identification, and wherein, said radio frequency identification sensors include a receiver antenna coil and wherein said radio frequency identification transponders are RFID tags having a sensitive axis whereby, when oriented perpendicular to a winding of said receiver antenna coil is readable by said receiver coil, and wherein said each tag has a non-sensitive axis of orientation where it is least sensitive corresponding to when a transmitting antenna coil of said each tag is in axial alignment with said receiver antenna coil, and wherein said ball identification means includes a curved conduit adapted so that a golf ball rolls through said receiver antenna coil along a curved path such that the ball changes its path direction by ninety degrees while rolling through said receiver antenna coil, said receiver antenna coil mounted adjacent said conduit corresponding to said curved path, and wherein said receiver antenna coil is formed into an ellipse and biased such that a coil-winding axis of said receiver antenna coil follows said curved path. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification