Golf ball with RFID inlay in a molded impression

• US 9,370,694 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Original Assignee: Edge Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Jr., White, Warren, Grieshaber, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORTELL, JOHN F
• Application Number:
  US13/444,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/52 modulated by measured values
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/182 completely
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/18 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C43/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/546 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A compressible core with an RFID tag is described. The compressible core includes an RFID integrated circuit, a carrier material, a molded compressible core, and a fill material. The RFID integrated circuit includes a memory that stores at least one unique identifier. The carrier material includes an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit. The molded compressible core has a center and a spherical surface. Additionally, the molded compressible core includes a molded impression that receives the carrier material with the antenna and RFID integrated circuit. The fill material fills the molded impression occupied by the inlay.

Claims

1. An RFID golf ball system comprising:

an RFID golf ball including,

an RFID integrated circuit that includes a plurality of RFID contact pads and an RFID memory configured to store at least one unique identifier,

an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID Integrated circuit, wherein the RFID antenna includes a plurality of stranded wires that are fixedly coupled to the RFID contact pads,

a compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the compressible core includes an impression on the surface of the compressible core,

a flexible substrate that encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit, wherein the flexible substrate having the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit received by the impression includes Teslin,

a shell that encapsulates the compressible core generating an RFID golf ball, wherein the shell interfaces with the compressible core and the flexible substrate having the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit; and

an RFID reader antenna disposed near a tee area, wherein the RFID reader antenna is configured to read the unique identifier associated with the RFID golf ball.

2. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 wherein the flexible substrate encapsulating the RFID integrated circuit includes Teslin.

3. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of stranded wired are braided.

4. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 further comprising a fill material that fills the impression occupied by the flexible substrate.

5. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 wherein the impression comprises a planar slot disposed in the center of the compressible core, the planar slot configured to receive the flexible substrate.

6. The RFID golf ball system of claim 3 wherein the flexible substrate encapsulating the RFID integrated circuit includes Teslin.

7. The RFID golf ball system of claim 1 wherein the RFID antenna is electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit with a non-conductive adhesive.

8. A method for reading an RFID golf ball comprising:

dispensing an RFID golf ball within a driving range, wherein the RFID golf ball includes,

an RFID integrated circuit that includes a plurality of RFID contact pads and an RFID memory configured to store at least one unique identifier,

an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit, wherein the RFID antenna includes a plurality of stranded wires that are fixedly coupled to the RFID contact pads,

a compressible core having a center and a spherical surface, wherein the compressible core includes an impression on the surface of the compressible core,

a flexible substrate that encapsulates the RFID integrated circuit, wherein the flexible substrate having the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit received by the impression includes Teslin,

a shell that encapsulates the compressible core generating an RFID golf ball, wherein the shell interlaces with the compressible core and the flexible substrate having the encapsulated RFID integrated circuit; and

reading the RFID golf ball within a driving bay with at least one RFID reader.

9. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader includes an RFID reader antenna that is disposed above ground along a vertical plane.

10. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader includes an RFID reader antenna that is disposed along a horizontal plane.

11. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein each RFID reader is communicatively coupled to a plurality of antennas, in which each antenna corresponds to a particular golf driving bay.

12. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein a plurality of RFID readers are networked and communicate RFID data to a central database.

13. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein the flexible substrate encapsulating the RFID integrated circuit includes Teslin.

14. The RFID ball reading method of claim 13 wherein the RFID antenna is electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit with a non-conductive adhesive.

15. The RFID ball reading method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of stranded wires for the RFID antenna are braided.