Transmitter tag
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transmitter tag for a golf ball, the tag comprising:
- a transmitter configured to issue a location signal for location of said golf ball;
a power source for powering said transmitter;
activation means operable for activating said transmitter to switch to an on state in response to said golf ball being struck;
a latching portion connected to said activation means operable to switch from a high impedance off state to be latched in a low impedance on state when said activation means is switched to the on state; and
deactivation means comprising an omnipolar Hall effect switch operable when said latching portion is latched in the low impedance on state to deactivate said transmitter in response to the presence of a constant, polarity independent magnetic field;
wherein said transmitter further comprises a surface acoustic wave resonator for generating a transmitter carrier signal; and
said deactivation means incorporates a controlled clocking circuit for cycling power to a Hall element of said Hall effect switch thereby to reduce power consumption of said Hall effect switch.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transmitter tag for a ball, the tag comprises a transmitter configured to issue a signal for location of the ball, a power source for powering the transmitter, activation means operable for activating the transmitter when the ball is in use, and deactivation means operable for remote manual deactivation of the transmitter after the ball is located.
55 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A transmitter tag for a golf ball, the tag comprising:
-
a transmitter configured to issue a location signal for location of said golf ball; a power source for powering said transmitter; activation means operable for activating said transmitter to switch to an on state in response to said golf ball being struck; a latching portion connected to said activation means operable to switch from a high impedance off state to be latched in a low impedance on state when said activation means is switched to the on state; and deactivation means comprising an omnipolar Hall effect switch operable when said latching portion is latched in the low impedance on state to deactivate said transmitter in response to the presence of a constant, polarity independent magnetic field; wherein said transmitter further comprises a surface acoustic wave resonator for generating a transmitter carrier signal; and said deactivation means incorporates a controlled clocking circuit for cycling power to a Hall element of said Hall effect switch thereby to reduce power consumption of said Hall effect switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for locating a golf ball, the system comprising:
-
a transmitter tag for a ball; and a portable receiver for locating the transmitter tag; wherein the tag comprises; a transmitter configured to issue a signal for location of said ball; a power source for powering said transmitter; activation means operable for activating said transmitter to switch to an on state in response to said ball being struck; a latching portion connected to said activation means operable to switch from a high impedance off state to be latched in a low impedance on state when said activation means is switched to the on state; and deactivation means comprising an omnipolar Hall effect switch operable when said latching portion is latched in the low impedance on state to deactivate said transmitter in response to the presence of a constant, polarity independent magnetic field; wherein said transmitter further comprises a surface acoustic wave resonator for generating a transmitter carrier signal; and said deactivation means incorporates a controlled clocking circuit for cycling power to a Hall element of said Hall effect switch thereby to reduce power consumption of said Hall effect switch; and the receiver comprises; a receiver circuit configured to receive said signal; and a signal peak detector configured to indicate the strength of said signal and therefore the distance of said transmitter tag from said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification