Sports ball with sensors and transmitter
First Claim
1. A sports ball for communicating parameters to an external electronic device related to an impact of the sports ball by a sporting implement, comprising:
- a resilient shell;
a resilient core fixed within the shell;
an electronic circuit including at least one sensor, a transmitter, and a power source, the electronic circuit adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter and cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core; and
a transport package configured for holding a plurality of the sports balls and that includes a magnet for each sports ball held therewith, whereby while the sports ball is transported the electronic circuit is deactivated by the respective magnet, preserving battery life, whereinthe at least one sensor includes a multi-axis accelerometer adapted to report acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions;
the at least one sensor includes an orientation sensor adapted to measure a spin speed and spin direction of the sports ball;
the parameters include the acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions, the spin speed of the sports ball, and the spin direction of the sports ball; and
the multi-axis accelerometer is a 9-axis accelerometer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sports ball for communicating to an external electronic device various parameters related to an impact with a sporting implement, such as a golf club. The sports ball comprises an outer resilient shell within that is contained a resilient core. An electronic circuit comprises at least one sensor, a transmitter, optionally a light-emitting diode, and a power source. The electronic circuit is cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core. The electronic circuit is adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter. The at least one sensor is taken from the group of sensors comprising: a GPS receiver, a multi-axis accelerometer, an orientation sensor, an altitude sensor, and a microphone. The transmitter may be an RFID chip that passively transfers data from the at least one sensor and a unique ID number of the sports ball.
51 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A sports ball for communicating parameters to an external electronic device related to an impact of the sports ball by a sporting implement, comprising:
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a resilient shell; a resilient core fixed within the shell; an electronic circuit including at least one sensor, a transmitter, and a power source, the electronic circuit adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter and cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core; and a transport package configured for holding a plurality of the sports balls and that includes a magnet for each sports ball held therewith, whereby while the sports ball is transported the electronic circuit is deactivated by the respective magnet, preserving battery life, wherein the at least one sensor includes a multi-axis accelerometer adapted to report acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions; the at least one sensor includes an orientation sensor adapted to measure a spin speed and spin direction of the sports ball; the parameters include the acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions, the spin speed of the sports ball, and the spin direction of the sports ball; and the multi-axis accelerometer is a 9-axis accelerometer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of manufacturing a sports ball that communicates parameters to an external electronic device related to an impact of the sports ball by a sporting implement, comprising the steps:
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providing a two-piece resilient shell, a resilient core fixed within the shell, and an electronic circuit including at least one sensor, a transmitter, and a power source, the electronic circuit adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter and cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core; applying a center-of-gravity indicia to a first piece of the two-piece resilient shell; affixing the electronic circuit and resilient core together within the first piece of the two-piece resilient shell, the electronic circuit positioned so that an axis line through both the center of the resilient core and the center of gravity of the electronic circuit is aligned with the center-of-gravity indicia; sealing a second piece of the two-piece resilient shell around the resilient core and electronic circuit; and providing a transport package for holding a plurality of the manufactured sports balls, wherein a magnet is provided for each sports ball held therewith, whereby while the sports ball is transported the electronic circuit is deactivated by the respective magnet, preserving battery life, wherein the at least one sensor includes a multi-axis accelerometer adapted to report acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions; and the at least one sensor includes an orientation sensor adapted to measure a spin speed and spin direction of the sports ball.
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14. A method of manufacturing a sports ball that communicates parameters to an external electronic device related to an impact of the sports ball by a sporting implement, comprising the steps:
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providing a resilient core and an electronic circuit including at least one sensor, a transmitter, and a power source, the electronic circuit adapted for communicating sensor data to the external electronic device via the transmitter and cushioned from the impact of the sporting implement by the resilient core; aligning the resilient core and electronic circuit within a mold for forming a resilient shell; injecting molten plastic material around the resilient core and electronic circuit; applying a center-of-gravity indicia to the resilient shell so that an axis line through both the center of the resilient core and the center of gravity of the electronic circuit is aligned with the center-of-gravity indicia; and providing a transport package for holding a plurality of the manufactured sports balls, wherein a magnet is provided for each sports ball held therewith, whereby while the sports ball is transported the electronic circuit is deactivated by the respective magnet, preserving battery life, wherein the at least one sensor includes a multi-axis accelerometer adapted to report acceleration forces experienced by the sports ball in three dimensions; and the at least one sensor includes an orientation sensor adapted to measure a spin speed and spin direction of the sports ball.
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Specification