Method and system for detecting a state of a golf club

• US 9,361,781 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anton J. Holzapfel, Ken Knaub
• Original Assignee: Anton J. Holzapfel, Ken Knaub
• Inventors: Holzapfel, Anton J., Knaub, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US14/216,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.6, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/686.1, 340/686.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A method for detecting a lost club includes detecting an orientation characteristic of a golf club with a detection unit, transmitting the orientation characteristic from the detection unit to a mobile device, determining a distance between the golf club and the mobile device based on a signal transmitted from the detection unit to the mobile device and determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a lost golf club comprising:

detecting an orientation characteristic of a golf club with at least one motion analyzer of a detection unit disposed on a portion of the golf club;

transmitting the orientation characteristic from the at least one motion analyzer of the detection unit to a mobile communications device;

determining a distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device based on a signal transmitted from the detection unit to the mobile communications device; and

determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a last known position of the golf club.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position to a display of the mobile communications device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position to a remote server.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position to an additional mobile communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device comprises:

determining a lost club state by comparing the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device to one or more stored configuration profiles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device comprises:

determining the lost club state by comparing the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club to a selected orientation threshold and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device to a selected distance threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion analyzer includes:

at least one of an accelerometer or a compass.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting an orientation characteristic of a golf club comprises:

detecting an angle of orientation of the golf club.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises:

at least one of a smartphone, personal digital assistant, a tablet device, a table PC, a laptop a smart book or an ultra-book.

12. A method for detecting a lost golf club comprising:

detecting an orientation characteristic of a golf club with a detection unit;

transmitting the orientation characteristic from the detection unit to a mobile communications device;

determining a last known distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device via a signal transmitted from the detection unit to the mobile communications device;

determining a position of the mobile device via a satellite navigation signal at a time the detection unit and the mobile communications device stop communication;

determining a distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device based on a combination of the last known distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device and the position of the mobile communications device at the time the detection unit and the mobile communications device stop communication; and

determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing a last known position of the golf club.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position to a display of the mobile communications device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position to a remote server.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reporting the lost club state and the last known position to an additional mobile communications device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device comprises:

determining a lost club state by comparing the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device to one or more stored configuration profiles.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device comprises:

determining a lost club state by comparing the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club to a selected orientation threshold and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device to a selected distance threshold.

20. A lost golf club detection system comprising:

a club configuration detection unit including at least one motion analyzer configured to detect one or more orientation characteristics of a golf club, wherein the club configuration detection unit is mechanically coupled to an end region of the golf club,

wherein the club configuration detection unit includes a communication module communicatively coupled to the club configuration detection unit and configured to transmit one or more detected orientation characteristics from the club configuration detection unit;

one or more processors of a mobile communications device suitable for executing program instructions stored in a memory medium, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to receive the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club transmitted by the communication module, the program instructions further configured to cause the one or more processors to determine a lost golf club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device; and

a display unit communicatively couple to the one or more processors and configured to display the determined lost golf club state.

21. The system of claim 20, the memory medium is configured to store a last known position of the golf club.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the club configuration detection unit is housed in a stopper unit.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further configured to determine a lost club state based on the orientation characteristic of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device by comparing the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device to one or more stored configuration profiles.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further configured to determine a lost club state by comparing the detected one or more orientation characteristics of the golf club to a selected orientation threshold and the distance between the golf club and the mobile communications device to a selected distance threshold.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one motion analyzer includes:

at least one of an accelerometer or a compass.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the orientation characteristic comprises:

an angle of orientation of the golf club.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the club configuration detection unit is disposed within at least one of a handle or a grip of the golf club.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the mobile communications device comprises:

at least one of a smartphone, personal digital assistant, a tablet device, a table PC, a laptop a smart book or an ultra-book.