Golf ball locator

• US 20050101411A1
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nelson Adrian Blish, Sharon Stiller
• Original Assignee: Nelson Adrian Blish, Sharon Stiller
• Inventors: Blish, Nelson Adrian, Stiller, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US10/704,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/353
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories

Abstract

A system for locating golf balls includes a golf ball (12) containing a transmitter (14) and a locator (16) carried by a golfer (20). The locator detects a signal (18) from the transmitter (14) and indicates a direction of the transmitter and hence the golf ball. In one embodiment, the distance to the golf ball is also indicated.

Claims

1. A system for locating golf balls comprising:

a golf ball containing a transmitter; and

a locator which detects a signal from said transmitter and a direction of said transmitter.

2. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 1 wherein said locator determines a distance to said transmitter.

3. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 2 wherein said locator determines said distance to said transmitter based on a strength of said signal.

4. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 1 wherein said transmitter has a unique radio frequency identification code.

5. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 1 wherein said locator determines said direction to said transmitter based on an orientation of an antenna on said locator.

6. A system for locating golf balls comprising:

a golf ball containing a global positioning satellite (GPS) detector and a transmitter;

a locator which contains a GPS detector, a receiver, and a microprocessor;

wherein said transmitter transmits golf ball GPS position coordinates to said locator;

wherein said receiver detects a signal from said transmitter;

wherein said microprocessor calculates a distance and direction to said golf ball based on a GPS position of said golf ball and a GPS position of said locator.

7. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 6 wherein said locator is mounted in a handheld device.

8. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 6 wherein said locator is mounted in golf bag.

9. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 6 wherein said locator is mounted on a golf cart.

10. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 6:

wherein said locator is mounted at a clubhouse;

a golf cart GPS detector;

a golf cart transmitter which transmits golf cart GPS position coordinates to said locator;

a golf cart receiver; and

a clubhouse transmitter which transmits a golf ball position and cart position to said golf cart receiver.

11. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 6 wherein said locator comprises a display screen, which displays a geographical map showing a location of said golf ball and said locator.

12. A system for locating golf balls comprising:

a golf ball containing a transponder; and

a locator comprising a detector, a transmitter, and a microprocessor;

wherein said transmitter broadcasts a signal;

wherein said transponder amplifies and retransmits said signal; and

wherein said detector detects said retransmitted signal; and

wherein said microprocessor calculates a direction to said transponder.

13. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 12 wherein said microprocessor determines a distance to said transmitter.

14. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 13 wherein said locator determines said distance to said transmitter based on a strength of said retransmitted signal.

15. A system for locating golf balls as in claim 12 wherein said microprocessor is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).