Golf putting game with means for automatically monitoring the movement of the ball

• US 7,040,998 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: World Golf Systems Limited (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Jolliffe, David V., Jolliffe, Steven P., Emmerson, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US10/169,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 700 90- 92, 473/131, 473150-155, 473/165, 473173-178, 473/180, 473/190, 473/192, 473198-200, 473/351, 473/353, 473/385, 473/387, 473405-407, 473/409, 473/196, 273/317.2, 273/108.2, 273459-460, 273/182.A
• US Class Current: 473/151
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• 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 2220/13 Relative positions
• 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 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A golf game employing r.f-tag coded golf balls has a playing area with r.f. antennae located underneath to enable the number of strokes taken by a player to be counted. Separate antennae are provided for the tee area and hole, respectively, and the antennae around the hole are smaller to improve resolution. The antennae are connected to a computer which monitors successive moving and stationary phases of a golf ball to count the number of strokes taken by a player.

Claims

1. A golf game comprising

golf balls comprising identification means,

a tee area having a detecting member,

a playing area,

a control device comprising means for monitoring successive moving and stationary phases of a golf ball, and

golf ball detecting means comprising a plurality of golf ball detection members located at increasing distances from the tee area adjacent to the playing area, connected to the control device for counting the number of strokes

wherein, the control device detects the number of times a ball moves by tracking the ball over distance and time.

2. A golf game according to claim 1, further comprising a hole and wherein the golf balls contain radio frequency identification tags and the detecting member comprises r.f.-antennae located under the surface of the playing area from the tee area to a hole.

3. A golf game according to claim 2, wherein the hole has its own antenna.

4. A golf game according to claim 2, wherein antennae in the region of the hole are smaller than antennae under the remainder of the playing area.

5. A golf game according to claim 1 comprising means for warning if a hole should not be played next.

6. A golf game according to claim 1, wherein the control device comprises means for distinguishing between a ball being struck by a club when it is a player'"'"'s turn and the ball being moved at other times.

7. A golf game comprising

golf balls incorporating identification means comprising radio frequency identification tags,

a tee area,

a playing area,

a hole,

a control device comprising means for monitoring successive moving and stationary phases of the golf ball,

golf ball detecting means connected to the control device for counting number of strokes and located adjacent to the playing area comprising radio frequency antennae located under a surface of the playing area from the tee area to the hole, and

a plurality of golf ball detection members located at increasing distances from the tee area,

wherein the control device detects a number of times a ball moves by tracking the ball over distance and time, and wherein the antennae are interrogated periodically, with no directly adjacent antennae being interrogated simultaneously.

8. A golf game comprising

a tee area,

a playing area,

a hole,

a golf ball incorporating identification means,

golf ball detecting means located adjacent to the playing area, and

a control device comprising means for monitoring successive moving and stationary phases of the golf ball, connected to the golf ball detecting means for counting the number of strokes,

wherein the golf ball detecting means comprises a plurality of golf ball detection members located at increasing distances from the tee area so that the control device detects the number of times a golf ball moves by tracking the golf ball over distance and time, and

wherein the golf ball contains radio frequency identification tags and the detecting members comprise r.f.-antennae located under the surface of the playing area from the tee area to a hole, and

wherein the tee area has its own antenna.

9. A golf game comprising

a tee area,

a playing area,

a hole,

a golf ball incorporating identification means,

golf ball detecting means located adjacent to the playing area, and

a control device comprising means for monitoring successive moving and stationary phases of the golf ball connected to the golf ball detecting means for counting the number of strokes,

wherein the golf ball detecting means comprises a plurality of golf ball detection members located at increasing distances from the tee area so that the control device detects the number of times a golf ball moves by tracking the golf ball over distance and time, and

wherein the golf ball contains radio frequency identification tags and the detecting members comprise r.f.-antennae located under the surface of the playing area from the tee area to a hole, and,

wherein the antennae are interrogated periodically with no directly adjacent antennae being interrogated simultaneously.