Advanced golf monitoring system, method and components

• US 8,801,529 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geogolf LLC
• Original Assignee: Geogolf LLC
• Inventors: Koudele, Larry J., Wagner, Guy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US13/589,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20120309553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 724 Days
• Field of Search: 473/151, 473/155, 473/198, 473/199, 473/200
• US Class Current: 473/155
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3655 Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction

Abstract

Monitoring of a golf ball and apparatus for doing so is described using differential time locating. Launch parameters of a golf ball can be characterized independent of any specific positional measurement on the basis of a ball signal that is transmitted from the ball. These parameters include initial spin, initial velocity, and initial trajectory. Ground proximity detection is described as well as a landing position and rollout position detection technique and associated apparatus. Calibration techniques are described for various kinds of range receivers that subsequently receive the ball signal.

Claims

1. In a system for monitoring a golf ball at least for a period of time following a launch of the golf ball after being hit, a method comprising:

configuring an oscillator within the golf ball to oscillate at an oscillation frequency that is dependent upon a proximity of the oscillator to the Earth such that the oscillation frequency changes responsive to the ball traveling with a vertical component of movement;

transmitting a radio frequency signal from said golf ball during said period of time based on the oscillation frequency;

receiving said radio frequency signal from the golf ball during said period of time, exclusive of any specific position of the golf ball during said period of time, to establish one or more parameters that characterize the launch of the golf ball, based solely on the received radio frequency signal while monitoring the change in said oscillation frequency; and

responsive to a predetermined change in the oscillator frequency, generating an output indication based on a vertical component of movement of the golf ball.

2. The method of claim 1 including selecting said one or more parameters as one or more of initial backspin at time of launch, initial velocity at time of launch and initial trajectory at time of launch.

3. The method of claim 1 including configuring the golf ball for monitoring proximity to a surface of the ground to generate a ground proximity signal and detecting that the golf ball has been hit based on said ground proximity signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said hit induces a spin on the golf ball and wherein transmitting the radio frequency signal includes emanating the radio frequency signal having a non-uniform antenna pattern and having a generally constant amplitude such that said spin produces an amplitude variation in the received radio frequency signal and said receiving includes detecting said amplitude variation and determining the spin, as at least one of said parameters, based on said amplitude variation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said output indication and said vertical component of movement are detected as being indicative of the golf ball being hit.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said output indication and said vertical component of movement are detected as being indicative of the golf ball landing.