Method and system for shot tracking

• US 8,120,332 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Balardeta, Joseph, Denton, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US13/071,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20110269415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 320/166
• 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 2220/80 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 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging a capacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communication with a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The load switch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to the radiofrequency component.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a wireless signal from a device while conserving battery power of the device, the method comprising:

charging a capacitor using a battery, the battery in electrical communication with a resistor, the resistor in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch, the load switch in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor, the microprocessor in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component, wherein the resistor controls the rate at which the capacitor is charged from the battery in order to conserve power;

closing the load switch to power the microprocessor and the radiofrequency component, the power drawn from the capacitor;

transmitting a signal from the radiofrequency component, wherein a peak current of transmission of the signal is less than 2 milliamps;

receiving a confirmation signal at the radiofrequency component, wherein the radiofrequency component operates at 2.4 giga-Hertz;

opening the load switch; and

recharging the capacitor at a controlled rate;

wherein in order to conserve battery power, the radiofrequency component transmits a signal until the confirmation signal is received or until a threshold number of signals are sent from the radiofrequency component without a confirmation signal, the threshold number of signals ranging from 5 to 50.