Method and system for shot tracking

• US 7,801,575 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Denton, Scott, Balardeta, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US12/728,056
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/574, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/100, 340/7.32, 340/7.63, 340/10.1, 340/568.6, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 473/131, 473/151, 473/222
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• 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 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0705 the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for transmitting a signal while conserving battery power by utilizing a resistor in series with a power source prior to a capacitor, allowing that capacitor to be charged at a controlled rate and further comprising an automatic switch, allowing power to flow when desired.

Claims

1. A transponder for transmitting a RFID signal for shot tracking a golfer'"'"'s round of golf while conserving battery power, the transponder comprising:

a battery in electrical communication with a resistor, wherein the battery is a three volt battery and the resistor controls the rate at which a capacitor is charged from the battery, the battery having 75 milli-amps hours of capacity;

the resistor in electrical communication with the capacitor and a load switch, wherein the capacitor is a one micro-Farad capacitor;

the load switch in electrical communication with a microprocessor, wherein when the load switch is closed, current drawn from the capacitor is allowed to flow to the microprocessor and radiofrequency component, wherein when the load switch is opened, the capacitor is recharged at a controlled rate and current does not flow to the microprocessor or the radiofrequency component, the load switch closed when a golf club strikes a golf ball, and the load switch with no impact transitions thus deactivating allowing the power to be conserved;

the microprocessor in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component, wherein a signal is transmitted from the radiofrequency component and a confirmation signal is received from a receiver at the radiofrequency component, wherein the signal comprises the identification of a golf club and the radiofrequency component operates at 2.4 giga-Hertz;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to deactivate transmission of the signal when a threshold number of signals are transmitted by the shot tracking device and the confirmation signal is not received by the shot tracking device; and

a housing for enclosing the transponder, wherein the housing comprises a main body and a projection body for insertion into a grip of the golf club head, wherein a peak current of transmission of the signal is limited to 2 milliamps.