Traceable playing ball and tracking system for the same

• US 7,815,525 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Calvin Small
• Original Assignee: Calvin Small
• Inventors: Small, Calvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US11/946,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20090137340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 423/349, 463/30, 463/39, 463/40, 473/349, 473/351, 473/353
• US Class Current: 473/351
• 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 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed are a ball for use in a sporting activity, and a tracking system for tracking the ball. The ball comprises a microchip embedded in the ball. The microchip is adapted to transmit an information specific to a location of the ball to the tracking system. The tracking system is configured to locate the ball based on the information specific to the spatial location of the ball.

Claims

1. A ball for use in a sport activity, comprising:

a microchip embedded in the ball, the microchip adapted to transmit an information specific to a spatial location of the ball to a tracking system, wherein the tracking system is configured to locate the ball based on the information specific to the spatial location of the ball, and wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball includes slope of the ground on which the ball is located.

2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball includes at least one of a location of the ball from the tracking system, distance from a reference point of the ball, and an elevation of the ball.

3. A tracking system for locating a ball used in a sport activity, the tracking system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an information specific to a spatial location of the ball, wherein the ball is configured to transmit the information specific to the spatial location of the ball, wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball includes slope of the ground on which the ball is located;

a processing module communicably coupled to the receiver for determining the location of the ball based on the information specific to the spatial location of the ball; and

a display mechanism for displaying the location of the ball determined by the processing module.

4. The tracking system of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one button for guiding a display pattern at the display mechanism; and

a slot configured to receive a removable battery for charging the tracking system.

5. The tracking system of claim 3, wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball comprises at least one of a location of the ball from the tracking system, distance of the ball from a reference point, and an elevation of the ball.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the ball is a golf ball and the displaying system selectively displays the slope of the ground on which the ball is located and distance from the ball to a particular hole on a golf course.

6. A method of locating a ball during a sport activity, the method comprising:

receiving an information specific to a spatial location of the ball by a tracking system form the ball; and

determining a location of the ball based on the information specific to the spatial location of the ball by the tracking system, wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball includes slope of the ground on which the ball is located.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying the location of the ball by the tracking system.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball comprises at least one of location of the ball from the tracking system, distance from a reference point, and elevation of the ball.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the slope.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ball is a golf ball.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information specific to the spatial location of the ball includes distance from the ball to a particular hole on a golf course.