Circuit for transmitting a RFID signal

• US 7,979,030 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Denton, Scott, Balardeta, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US13/036,178
• Time in Patent Office: 134 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/66.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 340/669
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• 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 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A circuit for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving the battery power for a circuit in continuous operation is disclosed herein. The circuit includes a RFID component, a microprocessor, an accelerometer and a battery. The battery preferably has no more than 225 milliamp hours of power. The accelerometer is preferably a multiple axis accelerometer. The circuit is preferably utilized with a device for shot tracking.

Claims

1. A circuit for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving the battery power for the circuit, the circuit comprising:

a battery having no more than 225 milliamp hours of power;

a microprocessor in electrical communication with the battery;

a multi-axis accelerometer for determining movement, monitoring movement and communicating the movement to the microprocessor, the multi-axis accelerometer in electrical communication with the microprocessor;

a radiofrequency component in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the radiofrequency component transmitting a signal comprising data related to the movement monitored by the multi-axis accelerometer;

wherein the circuit is in continuous operation;

wherein the circuit consumes less than 600 nano-amps during a sleep mode, the sleep mode having a time period ranging from 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the microprocessor operates during the sleep mode, a sampling mode, an analysis mode, a monitoring mode and a transmission mode of the circuit.

3. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the power for the multi-axis accelerometer is drawn from the battery, and the multi-axis accelerometer is only active during a sampling mode, an analysis mode and a monitoring mode of the circuit.

4. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the radiofrequency component is only operable during a transmission mode, wherein the radiofrequency component transmits the signal from the radiofrequency component during the transmission mode.

5. A device for tracking a golfer'"'"'s shot during a round of golf, the device comprising:

a housing;

a battery having no more than 225 milliamp hours of power, the battery positioned within the housing;

a microprocessor positioned within the housing, the microprocessor in electrical communication with the battery;

a multi-axis accelerometer for determining movement, monitoring movement and communicating the movement to the microprocessor, the multi-axis accelerometer positioned within the housing;

a radiofrequency component positioned within the housing, the radiofrequency component in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the power for the radiofrequency component drawn from the battery;

wherein the device is in continuous operation; and

wherein the device consumes less than 600 nano-amps during a sleep mode, the sleep mode having a time period ranging from 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the microprocessor operates during the sleep mode, a sampling mode, an analysis mode, a monitoring mode and a transmission mode of the device.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein the multi-axis accelerometer is in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the power for the multi-axis accelerometer is drawn from the battery and the multi-axis accelerometer is only active during a sampling mode, an analysis mode and a monitoring mode of the device.

8. The device according to claim 5 wherein the radiofrequency component is only operable during a transmission mode, wherein the radiofrequency component transmits a signal during the transmission mode, the signal comprising data related to the movement monitored by the multi-axis accelerometer.

9. The device according to claim 5 wherein the housing is composed of a rubberized material formed around the battery and a circuit board, the circuit board comprising the microprocessor, the radiofrequency component and the multi-axis accelerometer.

10. The device according to claim 5 wherein the housing has a main body and a projection body extending from the main body, the projection body having a length ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm and a diameter ranging from 20 mm to 25 mm.

11. The device according to claim 5 wherein the microprocessor is configured to deactivate transmissions of the signal when a threshold number of signals are transmitted by the device and a receipt signal is not received by the device.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the threshold number of signals preferably ranges from 5 to 50, more preferably from 15 to 30 and is most preferred to be 20 and each signal transmitted consumes approximately 2 milliamps of power.

13. The device according to claim 5 wherein during a sampling mode, the microprocessor becomes more active and the accelerometer is activated to determine if there is any movement or change from a last sampling mode.

14. A system for tracking a golfer'"'"'s shots during a round of golf, the system comprising:

a receiver comprising a GPS component, a wireless transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory and a display;

the device comprising a housing, a battery positioned within the housing, a microprocessor positioned within the housing, the microprocessor in electrical communication with the battery, a multi-axis accelerometer for determining movement, monitoring movement and communicating the movement to the microprocessor, the multi-axis accelerometer positioned within the housing, the multi-axis accelerometer in electrical communication with the microprocessor, and a radiofrequency component positioned within the housing, the radiofrequency component in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the radiofrequency component transmitting a signal to the receiver, wherein the microprocessor is configured to deactivate transmissions of the signal when a threshold number of signals are transmitted by the device and a receipt signal is not received by the device.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the system further comprises a set of golf clubs comprising at least a wood-type golf club, an iron-type golf club and a putter-type golf club, each golf club of the set of golf clubs comprising a device positioned at a butt end of the golf club.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the signal comprises data related to the movement monitored by the multi-axis accelerometer.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the housing has a main body and a projection body extending from the main body, the projection body having a length ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm and a diameter ranging from 20 mm to 25 mm.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the radiofrequency component operates at 2.4 giga-Hertz.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein a resolution for determining movement of the multi-axis accelerometer is higher for the putter type golf club than the iron-type golf club, and a resolution for determining movement of the multi-axis accelerometer is higher for the iron-type golf club than the wood-type golf club.